Football.

Southern Cross, Volume 12, Issue 15, 9 July 1904, Page 9

Football.

By “ Goalpost.”

Results of week’s matches WELLINGTON. Old Boys ... 8 Oriental ... 3 Melrose ... 13 Wellington ... 3 Petone ... 0 Athletic (by default) CANTERBURY. Albion ... 3 Merrivale ... 0 Linwood ... 7 Christchurch ... 5 Sydenham ... 9 Old Boys ... 3 OTAGO. Zingari ... 3 Kaikorai ... 3 Southern ... 0 Alhambra ... 0 Pirates ... 0 Dunedin ... 0 Union ... 5 University ... 0 INVERCARGILL. Invercargill ... 3 Athletic ... 0 Britannia ... 16 Star ... 3 The positions of the various clubs up to date are as follows: —

Everything was in favour of fast games on Wednesday, the being in good order, with no wind and 1 * very little sun. The spectators were not disappointed. The Brits played the game of their lives in their match against the Star, having the upper hand from the start, and finishing up by giving the Star the severest defeat they have ever sustained in local matches. The Brits’ play, both forward and back, was much superior to the Star, beating them in every department of the game. The forward rushes on both sides were very fine, particularly the one which resulted in a try for the Star. It was started in the Star twenty-five and went along the touehline to J. Derbie, who failed to stop its progress, then kicked across the ground with Burley in pursuit, who finally scored at the corner. The referee certainly made a mistake (to my mind) in ordering a scrum (from which Eraser scored the Brits’ first try) against the Star for a knock on by Murphy, who appeared to knock the ball back, not forward. With this exception Mr J. Galbraith’s refereeing was very good. J. Derhie was not a success as fullback for the Brits. McKenzie’s play was an improvement on that of some of his earlier games. Matson did not have a great deal to do, but he did his part well. Leitch wrs not always reliable. Reid and the two Frasers bore the brunt of the hard work. Reid played brilliantly throughout (barring a speculator now and again), his running, fielding, kicking and tackling being of the highest order. He potted two splendid goals in the second spell. Peter Fraser was in his best form, being responsible for the two tries scored by his side, the first one from a scrum near the Star line. He went on his own and scored a brilliant try. For the second he worked the blind side, passing out to McKenzie, who scored unopposed. Reid converted this try. Dan Fraser was in the thick of it all the time, putting in some great defensive work. ' _ * It would be unfair to single out any of the Brits’ forwards as they worked hard to a man, in the scrams, in the loose, or on „ the line beating their opponents handsomely. McKenzie, who played in place of Hirst, was a failure, Murphy was not by any means

reliable. Raines was the pick of the threequarters. Bain at times made some great dashes, but usually into a crowd of opponents. He lost one or two good opportunities of scoring by doing this instead of using his pace. Why the Star played Stead halfback I cannot understand. He was simply wasted. This went a long way towards their defeat. As a fiveeighths he covers more ground and does more work than any two men. His defensive work was very sound, but would have been of more value to the team in his usual place. Field was very fair, but Hiller was below senior form. Taken all round the Star backs were poor. The forwards played a good uphill game—Jenkins, Burley and McGreath being about the pick. The Blues had the best of the game with the Athletic in the first spell, Christophers scoring a try. The Greens put more life into their play in the second spell, keeping the Blues on the defensive pretty well aH the time, but were unable to score. Hay, the Invercargill full-back, was verv safe, doing some verv good line kicking. Christophers, Reynolds and McLeod were the pick of the other backs. The more I see of McLeod the more I like him. Basstian, Laing, Thomson and Brown were always where the work was. Morton was the pick of the Athletic backs. Crawford and Grace put in some good defensiue work. Cavanagh stood out above the other forwards, being at the head of all the forward rushe*. P. Scnlly for his size is very hard to beat.

Next r Wednesday the first trial match will be played. The senior matches postponed on Jane Bth will be played on August 3rd. The Rugby Union Committee have arranged for a special train to Dunedin on August 10th for the English match, leaving Invercargill about 7 a.m. and getting back about midnight. The Wanganui team is expected here early in September.

u .s ‘S IS 43 M) CO Matchei Played d o £ 4S IQ o & a - cS fi TO s ‘o Pm .9 'o P* .2 ~<o S a M O P*fH Pirates 7 4 0 3 24 11 11 Britannia 8 3 1 4 33 12 10 Star 7 3 1 3 18 23 9 Invercargill 7 1 5 ; 1 18 34 3 Athletic 7 1 6 1 10 23 3