Football.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 9, 11 June 1898, Page 9

Football.

(By Goal Post.)

Results of Thursday’s matches — Star v Britannia, draw (no score). Star 2nd, 9 points, v. Britannia, nil. Invercargill, 3 points, v. Woodlands, nil.

The gate on Thursday must have gladdened Mr R. Galbraith’s heart, as it was the largest on record this season, and those who attended had their money’s worth, as the game was full of interest from start to finish. The Brits went off full steam ahead, and were within an ace of scoring several times, but the Star livened up and had their chip in, and so on throughout the game. There was a satisfactory absence of intentional rough play during the game Of course when two teams are so even it stands to reason hard knocks will be given and taken, but on no occasion had the referee to caution any player, as has been or ought to have been done in some other matches played this season. The Brits were very stiong forward and swept all before them at times, but the splendid defence of the Star backs was equal to the strain, Stead in particular playing a great game, and in the second spell, Shand. I question very much if there is a better trio of forwards playing for any club in the Colony than Todd, Purdue, and Williams ; their line-out play was simply immense, and they always seemed to share the ball between them. Todd in particular played in splendid style, and was a good deal the best on the ground, although Williams and Purdue were by no means far behind. Williams had very hard luck in not scoring a try. He got over the line, but in falling bad the ball kicked from under his arm, and the Star citadel was saved.

Jenkins was playing an in and out game, not half-back, and yet not forward. This may account for the comparatively poor display of Reynolds at half-back, who several times had his chance spoilt by Jenkins coming out of the scrum too soon, and passing the ball out to his backs. Dick Donaldson had a day off. Nearly every time he had a splendid chance to get away bang went the whistle. Shand was in great form in the second spell, playing wing threequarter, and his speed came in very useful on several occasions. Ben Bain played with great dash till near the finish, but came in for a good deal of rough handling, and in consequence had not much dash left at the end. Peter Fraser played a fine game behind the scrum, feeding his backs consistently and well, but Hannah was not up to his usual form. Ball and Reid must have a share in a gold mine somewhere, at least they are the two hardest speculators that play football in Southland. On Thursday they were both extremely fortunate, but it is a game one could hardly depend on. Hughie Murphy made some clinking runs, but the collaring of the Reds was a bit better than usual, and Hughie did not get quite so much of his own way. The ball was fairly evenly divided in the scrum, but perhaps the Brits had slightly the best of it in the second spell. Hughes came out of his shell on the side of the scrum, and did very well, getting around very quickly, but 1 thought Mr Galbraith, who gave good satisfaction throughout the game, might have been a little stricter on this point, as there was a fair amount of offside play that escaped his notice on both sides.

Maley was about the best of the Red back line, his taking of the ball being very clean, while his kicking j and collaring was first-class. I noticed a weakness, though, with both him and Ball of trying to cut off a pass. It won’t work ! De Joux and Hill played capital games, Charlie at one time having a

splendid chance to score, bat Stead laid him low.

Pat Purdue was slightly overshadowed by the three before mentioned, but he was always thereabouts, and he got some useful marks. Mcßee and Pasco deserve great credit for taking the ball so well against their doughty opponents, and Baggie also played up well in the open, while Les Murphy and Anderson divided honours in the Star pack of forwards. Mr R. Galbraith acted fairly to both teams, and the game certainly was not by any means made objectionable by rough play. The Star 2nd beat the Britannia by 9 points to nil. The game only lasted for about 15 minutes, when the Brits gave in. The referee appointed did not turn up, and a substitute who knew but little about the game took the whistle. This is the second time this has happened, and has caused no end of trouble and ill-feeling towards the Union.