FOOTBALL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6259, 4 July 1890, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

OAM ABU T. TIMARU. The annual match between the Oamam and Timaru football clubs took place on the Amateur Athletic grounds yesterday. The Oamaru men arrived in town by the early train, taking up their quarters at the Club Hotel, and met their local rivals about 2 p.m. The latter had to defend the eastern goal, and on play being opened the visitors at once made it known that the game would he very fast. About 20 minutes’even play resulted, and then the blues (Timaru) got well into the colours’ (Oamaru) south-west corner, and from out some exciting play Jameson got over. Erom a difficult angle Macintosh made a grand attempt, but failed to attain the desired end. Excellent line play and exciting serums followed, varied occasionally by long shots about the field when A. O*. Perry, taking a difficult pass got across at the opposite corner to that named ; and again the attempt at goal bore no fruit, the wind rocketing- the leather too much. Oamaru had hardly got. on their feet again, when A C.P. made the sensational run of the day, and when pressed passed like the sterling player be is, to his skipper (Matheson), and the latter got a grand try between the posts amid great applause. Honours were then placed in Rhodes’ keeping, and he gallantly added the coveted points amidst enthusiasm. Directly afterwards the whistle sounded for the usual half time rest.- In commencing the second spell, both teams played hard for five minutes when Matlieaon got hold of the ball, passed cleverly to Macintosh, who in turn fed Rhodes, and’ the latter being pressed threw on Perry, who stalled off several determined rushes by the colours’ backs, and got over close to the posts. Rhodes just missed in a fine attempt at addition. Loose play followed, and then Perry in another grand attempt carried away the corner flag. From the line out an exciting serum followed just at the colours’ goal, the pressure being eased by the clever punting of an Oamaru forward. In the play which immediately followed, Rhodes was left unprotected, and Gifford getting (ho ball from him, easily ran over the Timaru line. R. Hewatt was entrusted with the place shot at goal, but his excellent attempt was of no avail. Both teams then fought on their best form, from side to side and from end to end swayed the battle, but no further scores resulted, and finally an outburst of cheering announced that the local men were the victors, their score being a. goal and three tries (6 points) to Oamaru’s one try (I point). The visitors’ weak point was passing, but they stuck to their work like Britons, and did it in a style that was most favourably commented on. They had bard lack in having one of their fast men (Cork) knocked out of time early in the game, a full he sustained over Macintosh hurting bis bead and left knee, and almost wholly- discounting his usefulness. The Hewatt brothers, Grenfell. Gifford, and the captain played a really sterling game, and were always at hand. For Timaru the captain was ever in the thick of the fight, and richly deserved congratulating for scoring so .ably. Macintosh and Perry worked well together, like a piece of machinery, and Rhodes, though off colour a little at the start, made ample amends afterwards. The passing was quite an athletic treat to witness, and the heeling out from scrum was so cleverly done at times as to quite paralyse the colours’ backs. The game was witnessed by a great many people, the ladies especially gracing the occasion by attending in force,, and all enjoyed the play very much. The spirit shown by both teams was of a very friendly kind.