FOOTBALL.

Colonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4170, 20 June 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

I COLLEGE V. PRINCE ALBERT; • :.i L ■:; .;^/; [By PASS.] , ■■,/•■ ,/. •'.;-.. the keen interest taken in this match was anip Iy"; l evinced ,by ; the , presence;of a , large niimber. of excited partisans and a goodly assemblage' of the' gentler 'sex. Nor were they disappointed'in their expectations, -for wei are' safe to say that. Nelsonians have not witnessed a morespiritedgame of football for many a day;,^ Both sides did all they knew, ;anil we're warmly backed by, their supporters. :So warm wasf the backing at times that we failed to see all the game and catch some.of: the umpires.decisions ; but we shall not slate tbk multitude, since their excitement did not carry them very far into the field of play. Talking of umpires; although we recognise'to the full the unpleasantness and thanklessness of! their task, we feel it necessary to call their attention to one or two points. It is contrary to; Rule ,33 to charge a kick-off, arid it was surprising that the ball was not called back ati the very beginning of the game. Again Rule 25 as to the: effect that.a ball may be passed back "to any player who is at the time behind," not alongside, and of course not in front.' Still another point— it1 is agaiust the spirit of Rule 45 for opponents to hold one another even in the scrummage by the legs or anything else. Before giving particulars of the play, we shall satisfy the non-footballing public by stating the general results. The game ended in a draw. The Reds' (Prince Albert) scored one goal kicked from the field, and the Blues (College) obtained one in like fashion The Reds had otherwise the advantage, for the contest was for the most part carried on in Blue territory. The Red forwards played a very aimless game, but the backs made a brilliant show, running fast, and passing freely, perhaps too freely. ' The Blue forsvards played a splendid game, well together, and making good use of their feet. For weight they could not hold a candle to the Reds, but in dribbling and thorough football they.carried off the palm. The Blues outside 'the■■'scrummage were a very mixed lot, some of them knowing all the game and doing it, but the quarters not worth their salt. The following are a few particulars of the play :— First Forty. The' Fifteens came on the ground precisely at three o'clock. ' Tha Blue kick-off was charged by the Reds, of whom Bolton secured the ball. The Reds gradually worked the ball forward, bat were sent back to the centre of the field by a good drop from A. Wither. Some smart passing' among the Red backs was counteracted by a useful left-looter from A. Wither. A smart run by Stallard brought the ball near the College goal, but a grand rush of Blue forwards, headed by F. Gibbs again put matters straight. Webley kicked to Collins, who was allowed a free kick, of which he made. good use, landing the ball well down the field. Ball, Simpson, and O'Neil, by some good passing, then rushed into the Blue 25. J. Wither now made a useful run, going through the forwards like a rocket, Ball returning the compliment with a good strong run. When the ball was thrown out of touch, near the Blue 25, one of the Red forwards kidked hard, and sent the ball over the goal-line.: After a\kick-out, Cresswell and. A. Wither gave a specimen of Blue dribbling, and took the ball to the oentre of the ground. After a deal of heavy work, the Reds got dangerously near their opponents' goal,- when the ball was passed to Simpson, and from him to O'Neil, who potted a goal. When the ball was again brought into play, the blues more than held their own, but a muck among their backs, allowed Hargreaves to get through, till he was brought to grass by J. Wither, a few yards from the goal. A speculator by Bennett, well backed up by j Cameron, freed the goal. Half-time, was now called, the ball being near the centre of the ground. Second Forty. The kick-off was well returned by Collins for the Blues, and some brilliant dribbling helped the ball forward, notably by Davidson, Talbot, Innes-Jones and F. and S. Gibb3. Bennett helped on by a kiok into touch. After some smart scrummaging, Thomson secured, the ball and passed to A. Wither; who dropped a goal sideways from.the 25, well meriting the congratulations of ins team. Shortly after the kick-off, Collins got a fair mark and landed the ball in touch well into Red territory. Talbot and Cresswell followed up with fine dribbling, and A*. Wither by a useful left-footer sent tide ball well to the enemy's line. Ball saved the Reds by a smart run across the field, taking the ball some fifteen yards away from the goal line. From the scrummage the ball was passed to A. Wither, who psssed to Bennet, who missed the goal by a foot or two. The excitement wis now on the increase, for the Blues looked very much like winning. However, during the rest of this forty the Reds threatened the Blue goal as much, as the Blues hail before threatened' theirs. The Reds kicked out very gently, and following up well carried the ball down the field, only to be returned by J. Wither. Again the Reds made a determined effort, and O'Neil and Simpson got into the Blue 25. Bolton dribbled the ball into touch near the goal-ine Ball gob the throw-out, and was brought to earth only within a yard or two of the posts. Bennett ventured to speculate again, and again with suocess. O'Neil then came to the front, bringing the ball to within 15 yards, of the line, then five yards, and soon he was over the line on all-fours, but was promptly called back; shortly after the Blues being forced down. Ball, O'Neil, and Simpson, did all they could to score, but without success. Mu'ssrs LiUltijohn and Cooke were the Umpires, aud Mr Walker, Referee. It is only fair to these much-abused officials to say that, barring an excited growler of two, all concerned were well satisfied.— ' Colonist,' June 8. ■ Football Union.--A meeting was held at the Masonic;. Hall on June .18, when the delegates of the several Clubs forming the Union were present, and Mr E. Jackson was voted to,the chair. The names of the delegates appointed by the Nelson Club, the Pi ince Albert Club, and the Star Club respectively have already been published, and in addition to these Messrs Littlejohn, S. Gibbs, Talbot, A. Wither, and J. Wither, as delegates of the College Club-were present last night at the Union meeting. Considerable business was despatched, including the passing of rules and then the officers and committees of

tne Football Union were elected by br.HoVtha - followingjappointments being mado :—Presi- ~. dent, the Eev 3. P. Kempthorne; VicePresiclents, Dr Leggatt and the Eev T. A. Oato; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr Walker. Committee of Management—Messrs Kitching, A. Wither,.Atkinson, Jackson, Louisson, and Littlejohn. • Match.Committee— Messrs Wai- * ker, Atkinson, Kitohing, Littlejohn, and Jackson. We believe that it is intended by the1 Union to arrange for a series of cup matches, some promises of subscriptions towards the obtaining of a suitable itrophy having been received, andf no doubt there are many who will be anxious,to give their support to the game in this, method. ■