Football.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 806, 8 August 1894, Page 3

Football.

Marlborough v. Bush Distriota

The Bush Union representative team s first match of the season took place on the Pahiatua ground on Monday afternoon, the opposing team being the representatives of the Marlborough Province. The visitors arrived by coach from Eketahuna on Sunday afternoon, and were quartered at the Commercial, Club, and Empire hotels. Monday „arn*d out beautifully fine and an unusually large crowd assembled to witness the match. Before the commencement of play, and at the interval during the match, the local band rendered selections.

The teams in the field were as follow : Marlborough—Full-back, Baillie; threequarters, Redwood, Connolly, A. Garter ; five-eight, Griffith ; half-back, W. Carter; wing-forwards, A. O’Dwyer, J. O’Dwyer ; forwards, Grigg, Morrin, Murphy, Stewart, Sinclair, Heal, Woolley. Bush: Full-back, Felling; three-quarters, Cushion, Udy. Ross; half-backs, Wood, Vile, Bodmin ; forwards. Iggulden, Pinfold, Gardner, Ross, Knight, Smith, Allan, Griffith.

Angus Stewart kicked off for the visitors. The leather was returned to Redwood and transferred to Rose, who marked. Very little was gained by the kick, and soon the Reds were penned within their quarter. A free was awarded to the Blues and the home players were forced on to their line, fast play shifting the ball down a few yard s. W. Carter got possession from a loose scrum, and like a Hash sent the ball to Connolly, who potted and drove the sphere fairly over the centre of the bar. The kiek was a grand one and was heartily applauded—Marlborough 4, Bush nil. After the kick off Baillie fumbled, with the result that the Blue line was in peril, and a force down was accepted. Scrums followed the kick out, then Bodmin by some spirited play again made the Blue line the scene of operation*, Griffith relieving, after a lot of pressure, by a good run and judicious kick into touch at the centre. Wood, Rosa,

and Cashion were prominent in some fast play, which sent the strife further down, then Bodmin again chipped in and carried the battle to the Blue line. The defending forwards responded by a counter rush, which was spoilt at the centre. The Reds again took eharge of affairs, and onoe more pinned the Blues on the line. Their efforts were nullified by a long kick by Carter, and some very injudicious passing amongst the home backs was responsible for an invasion of the Red territory. Wood shone out with a grand bit of play and Udy and Bodmin followed suit, but the superior passing of the Blues euchred them, and play wa* once more on the home line. Wood removed the danger by a mark and kick up the line. Knight was conspicuous for a moment with a nice dribble, but Carter and Griffith neutralised the advantage. Cashion and Ross by a fine passing ru*b got the leather once more into the Blues’ 25. Two or three frees were given against the Reds in quick succession. At this point of the game the Red forwards were playing magnificently and more than held their own, smothering the passing of the Blue bauks again and again. Stewart headed a Blue rush to the home 25, the latter forwards retaliating by a speedy return to the other end. Carter and Griffith were instrumental in making the centre the scene of strife. Wood here got possession and put in a fine run, slipping over when a score seemed inevitable. Iggulden and Bodmin took eharge of affairs and were pulled up on the visitors' line, where some hard scrums took place. Redwood relieved splendidly. Cashion, Udy, and Bodmin by a pretty passing run got once more within arm’s length of the converted line, but were foiled by Baillie forcing down. A minute ’or two afterwards Baillie again saved his side. Vile and Pinfold were the next to appear aggressive. In stopping their rush Baillie was kicked and rather severely hurt, though he refused to leave the field. Once more the Blues accepted the inevitable. The Reds wore playing determinedly but with hard luck. Vile passed to Udy and Udy to Cashion, and with a clear field before him the latter fell, and his opportunity was gone. By a magnificent rally the visitors’ forwards got away with a rush and carried the leather the full length of

the field to the home line, where Woolley snatched it up and touched down near the corner Hag. Baillie* failed to register the major point. Half-time was called at once—Marlborough 7 points, Bush nil. Knight set the ball rolling again, and Baillie returned to Udy. who transferred to Griffith. A free kick was awarded to Marlborough. The leather was sent to Cashion. who missed it, and the sphere rolled into touch. The Red forwards by a loose dribble carried the play to the visitors’ line, where Redwood marked and kicked to Ross, who returned into touch. Stewart, at the head of a ferward rush, reached the home quarter, when Felling, who was in this spell playing closer up, got away with a dribble, which was stopped at the centre. An exchange of kicks followed, then Felling failed to take the ball and knocked on, necessitating a scruru in front of the Reel’s goal, i Chiefly through Bodmin’s efforts the ! position of the home team was considerably improved. Pinfold, Udy, and ' Gardner were the next to show out, and I these three put in some excellent work. I which placsd the leather well within the ' Blue 25. The Blue forwards retaliated and Connolly potted, but went wide. After ' the kick out Wood intercepted a pass and set sail for the Marlborough line. He 1 was grassed by Carter, and paused wildly, j The ball was sent flying down the field with the Blue forwards following up fast.

Felling missed, and Cashion averted the danger by kicking into touch. After a free kick A. Carter put in a fine dodgy run. Soon afterwards the Reds were forced down. Pinfold headed a rush to the other end, where Griffith secured possession, and after a serviceable run ; passed to A. Carter. The latter was well under way, and slipped through his men in fine style, touching down near tho corner Hag amidst the applause of the speetators, who, to do them justice, wore remarkably impartial. Griffith took the | kick and placed a beautiful goal. Udy, I Ross, Iggulden and Vile were conspicuous after the kick off, and they carried tho play to tho visitors’ lino, whero, after some very determined plav, the defenders I accepted tho inevitable. The Rods were j given a free kick soon afterwards, and i from a difficult angle Wood took a shot at goal. lie made a good attempt, the ball striking one of the posts about twn feet above ti.e crossbar. The kick out was returung by Vile to Redwood, who marked and kicked down the field

Cashion marked soon afterwards, but in , fringed the rules and a scrum was the result, l or tho few minutes remaining i play was very even, and with the ball in 1 the centre “ m. side’ was called with the score standing—Marlborough 12 points, Bush i it ; I ),e visitors fairly earned their victory, I and proved that in all the fine points of . opponents, d heir pausing was smart and well-judged, and their kicking in every instance serviceable and judicious. The forwards were fast and constant, and with the veteran Stewart ut their head made scarcely a mistake made by any man in 1 tho team throughout the game, so that

to individualise would be quite unfair. The house team sadly needed the services of p -ry, Hodgins and Broughton, whose pr». ice might have changed the issue ef the contest. Cashion played well in the baok division, kicking and running with rare judgment. Wood played a brilliant game, and utterly silenced his critics by his dash and judgment. Bodmin was scarcely less successful, and put in some fine work. Udy and Ross also played safe games, and neither made a mistake. Vile was not in his usual form and did not take the ball well. Save for that he did good work. Polling was not a success at full, lacking ooolness and grit. In the forward division Gardner and Pinfold were repeatedly noticeable. Smith fairly won his spurs, and proved extremely valuable in the loose. George Griffith did not shin® in the open os he usually does, though he worked conscientiously. Iggulden, Knight, G. ltoss and Allen, the other four, worked honestly and gave the Marlborough forwards a merry time of it. The Rev. Father McKenna officiated as referee and gave entire satisfaction. Messrs Skinner and Ireland were the touchline judges.

Dinner and Smoke Concert.

In the evening the visiting team were entertained by the Bush Union at a dinner, which was served at the Commercial Hotel in Host Sullivan’s well-known firstclass style. Mr It. Smith, a Vice-president of the Bush Union, was in the chair, supported on the right by Mr Griffith, the Captain of the Marlborough team, and on his left by Mr Hessey, Vice-president of the Wairarapa Union. The vice-chair was occupied by Mr Udy, Captain of the Bush team. After full justice had been done to the toothsome viands the following toaste were honored : —“ The Queen; ” “ The visiting team,” proposed by the Chairman in a neat speech in which he referred to the gentlemanly manner in which the match had been played. Mr Griffith responded, and proposed in return the toast of the Bush team. This was responded to by Mr Udy. “ New Zealand Rugby Union,” proposed by Mr Skinner and responded to by Mr Angus Stuart (a member of last year’s New Zealand representative team) : “ Bush Union,” proposed by Mr Stuart, Mr Secretary McKenzie responding ; “ Wairarapa Union,” proposed by Mr McKenzie, Mr Hessey responding ; “ Referee and line umpires,” proposed by Mr Carter, responded to by Mr Skinner ; “ Ladies,” proposed by Mr Cashion, Mr A. Carter (Marlborough) and Mr O. Knight (Pahiatua) responding ; “ Unaffiliated Clubs,” proposed by the Chairman, responded to by Mr Perry on behalf of the Makuri Club : “ Press,” proposed by Mr L. Griffith, responded to on behalf of the Pahiatua Herald by Mr Lewis; “ Host and Hostess,” by the Chairman ; “ The Rahiatua Band,” (which had given its services gratuitously during the day), proposed by Mr Skinner, responded to by Bandmaster Morris. Songs and recitations by the following gentleman between the drinks were given : —Messrs Stuart, Griffith, A. Carter, Cashion, Allan, Skinner, Iggulden, Wood, Morris, Ilollin, Perry, Smith and Udy. The gathering was brought to a finish by the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne” and the rendering of cheers.