HISTORIC FOOTBALL MATCH

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1935, Page 12

HISTORIC FOOTBALL MATCH

GOAL KICKED FROM OVER HALF-WAY ■ 1, CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL’S' VICTORY - ,j j■ >y THE most memorable of many fine games between tlie Christchurch Boys’ High School and Christ’s College was that played in 1897, and there is now living near Stratford one who took part to whom the match has been vividly recalled by the participation of Christchurch Boys’ Hjgh in the jubilee college tournament at present being held in Taranaki. '' ' “In your special issue of last Friday,” he says; “Bobbie Deans, the great 1905 centra, and Dr. Arthur O’Brien who played for.. t England, are mentioned. The test of the year for match against Christ’s College and the description df 'this particular encounter was written at the time by one ofJTie boys. It is a schoolboy’s letter but it tells the, tale well, even although,the event it recalls is nearly 40 years old.” i ’

The letter reads:— “Our team (High School) was about the best we could have ’ Ijad with the exception of Boag, ,who is away with a bad leg, which he caught'somewhere in tlie holidays. The team comprised A. O’Brien (capt), T. L. Gibbs (Te Popo). C. H. Mason, C. Pyne, G. C. Martin, a. F. Carpenter, P. Byrne, E. A. Maude, A. Baines, K. Bain, M* Burnett, H. Kitson, B. Fearon, W. J. (Burke, L, Coe, T. Pern? berton, Bob Deans. “Approaching 3 o’clock, the ground began to fill nearly to its limits and by three, there was practically no room left. It was the biggest crowd I’vq ever seen on College ground and, also, I think, the most excited. College came on first followed by our men. O’Brien carried a brand new ball and when he got on the ground, he let'off a drop kick that wept over 60 yards so, of course we hed to cheer hjm for. that. “College had the kick-off and played toward? ftm 'east. Lindsay.kicked off apd CJare Martin took’ft and’returned* ft was returned again and presently there was a .scrum about half-way. Here was a show for' the 'barrackers,' and didn’t we let ’em have it. From that time till the end of the spell ft was one continuous cry of ‘School’ Intermingled with ‘College,’ except for (about a minute when everybody was too ‘/excited to speak. ’ S.'“Well, after • a little slow play and scrums while we were gradually working towards College goal, somebody got off-side and we had a free kick. That free-kick is probably the most renowned in the School’s, history and is likely to remain so. We all wondered wjieft we saw O’Brien beckoning to Gibbs to come up,.and we murmured ‘surely he?? not going. to try a goal!’ But he was. He took the ball back untjl. ft was more than half-way and then began fo place it, There was not a sound fto be heard while Gibbs took his run, but when we saw the ball rise and sail gracefully, straight as an arrow, clean aver the cross-bar, then there were a good ‘many sounds to be heard. Gibbs was cheered again and again and had to shake hands with all the team before he was'allowed to go on. “The College barrackers’ faces-length-ened so suddenly that they nearly, went through the crowns of their hats, whereas, ours 1 widened .to such an extent that our hats came down'on our shoulders. After this more slow play followed' until thp ball began to work up in-the right direction. Presently there was another scrum about half-way, and no sooner. Was tlie ball in than'. Phil Byrne had it

and. was round to the right before anyone had time to see what wwr up. He passed to Clare'. Clare took it a few yards and passed to “Art," who, after dodging Fryer and getting up to the wing, passed to Harry Mason. Harry no sooner had the ball than’ everybody else seemed to stop running. He just burred past their wing and had plenty of time to dodge York, their full-back, before the others camo up. After passing York, of course, he had a clear field and he just got over in the corner.- By this time Fryer had come up,, sd he. tpuched down, and then we all went 'mad. Gibbs made a poster of it, but it was a very difficult kick-' ’ “After this College set their teeth and played for all they were worth, and soon brought the ball close to our This was where our defence began to shine., Phil Byrne was a sight to see, He would receive a' tyemepdous kick in the face, boot.’ ball 7 and everything, and would calmly mark; or he would be picking up the hall from their forwards’ legs, when someone would get him ' by the shoulders and swing him right round behind them, and he would fall, and then come out on the other side andtumble on the ball again. However, we kept them off all right till half-time. “At the beginning of the second spell we had slightly the best of it, and twice nearly scored, but they forced each time. • But,' after the spell was half through, then we had to go for it. Every single scrum Pascoe (their half) would crawl up and take the baft from, their front rank men’s heels, but the referee (Whits) did not 'seem to mind. Pascoe would pass'/.to Purnell, who would be killed by Clare, but not in time to prevent Fryer getting the, ball. Fryer would be slain by (‘Art” and Cotterill, who by that time had the hall, would be laid out by Pyne-or Gibbs. This happened time and again', but they only got through once, and that was when O’Brien was temporarily disabled.. However, they converted, and that made us 6—5, which was too close to be pleasant. Once Fryer got away and had i;o-one but Gibbs in front of him. We all held, our breath and Waited results. Gibbs'took him by the waist, lifted him about ten, feet, then brought, him down plump on the ground and Jay on. fop. Fryer, while up in the air-had passed to Cotterjll, but Phil Byrne had him by,the toes; •, *.>•’/•: * l ' ( “The last five minutes they were on cur line nearly all the time, and then their left wing three-quarter got away, and was just op the line when he was shoved oijt and tfien,’ joy of joys, the whistle went and we had won;” '