FOOTBALL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3744, 25 May 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

At the close of the sports at Geraldine yesterday the first Cup Match of the season was played between Geraldine and Timaru, when Timaru won by nine points to nil. H. Amos captained the Timaru men (Blues), and 11. Brain the Geraldine team (Beds), Mr W. J. Lewis acted as referee, and Messrs W. J. Moore and W. Grant were lino umpires. G oral dine won the toss, and Timaru kicked off against the wind and sun J. Joe took the ball from the kick and parsed to Brain, who set it going again, when Fitzgerald took it in hand, but was promptly smothered by J. Dean, and Geraldine got a free kick for a knock-on, but lost ground by it. The ball now got well into Timaru ground, when IV. Boys by a fine kick brought relief, and a good rush by Blues carried the leather back to Geraldine’s quarters. Beds again rushed it into the centre, when Amos got a mark for Timaru, and kicked into touch. Clouston showed up in a good rush, but a counter rush by Timaru upset the calculations of Geraldine, and enabled Fraser to simply walk in and gain first score; Geraldine making a very weak effort to defend their goal. Boys took the kick, but failed to enhance the score. Dean and O’Malley by by good passing runs managed to get the leather back into Timaru’s twenty-live, where it hung for some time, and Geraldine got a free kick. Dean and Clouston next got a good rush on, but the game was stopped and delayed for some time, owing to Koddick meeting with an accident, the calf of his leg being badly gashed by the spikes of a running shoe worn by a player on his own side. Geraldine continued with one man short. Brain got on to the ball and made a short kick, which Blisset followed up, and taking the ball up got away, passing to O’Malley, who made a fair run, but was brought down by Fitzgerald. Another free kick awarded to Geraldine gave O’Malloy a dangerous shot at goal, and Blues were forced down. This was repeated by a kick from Blissett, which was well followed up by Geraldine, and might have proved a score but for the smartness of Boys at full-back. Geraldine continued to make it warm for their opponents in the scrums, and the game got fairly exciting, in fact, so much so that one of the Geraldine players was sent off the field by the referee for using unparliamentary language, which made the home team two men short. Geraldine got another free kick at a fair angle to the goal posts, but O’Malley failed to get the ball over. Joe and Clouston headed a fast rush for Geraldiuc, which was cleverly stopped by Fitzgerald in front of the goal posts, giving reds a splendid chance to score. Doan passed to O’Malley, who passed to Blissett, but the latter just missed the ball as ho was making a fast pace for over the line. A scrum followed, and Geraldine continued to ho'd Timaru to their twenty-lives, where Fitzgerald proved an excellent safeguard, stopping every attempt to get across the line. Timaru at last broke through a scrum and gained ground by carrying the bail out of touch, but Brain, by a long kick, sent it back, and O'Malley and Blissett made every effort to score. After this the ball got dangerously near the Timaru goal line in the north easterly corner, where D Joe wriggled through a scrum and almost got in for a score, but a free kick granted to Geraldine abated the excitement. O’Malley took the kick, and made a very good attempt, but failed. Donnovan headed a grand rush for Timaru, currying the leather well into Geraldine

territory, where an attempt to score was prettily stopped by J. Burko. Before any further score was made by either side half time was called with the ball at the centre lino. In the second spell Collins passed out neatly to Fitzgerald, who tried to get off, but was well collared by Friel. Blissett stopped another rush by Timaru, and Geraldine got another free kick. Friel and D. Joe commenced a rush for Geraldine, but through a lot of wild passing nothing came of it. Shortly after this Mahoney, from the line out, secured the ball, and getting clear away, scored for Timaru. Boys failed in the kick. Connel, from a free kick, landed the ball right in front of the goal posts, where a scrum took place Collins passed out to Shirtclift'e, who passed t* Mahoney, but the latter was beautifully collared by Blissatt just as he was getting home. A free kick next gave Boys a shot at goal, which he was successful in making the score 9 points to nil, at which it stood till time was called During the rest of the play Timaru, with the wind in their favour, gave Geraldine a merry time of it to defend their line, and Amos exhibited some brilliant kicking The game was finished at 5 p.m. TEiIHKA RIFLES. The members of the Temuka Rifles met on the range yesterday, and fired for tho trophies presented by Captain Richardson, Sergeant Sim, and the Company. Tho Belt was won by Private C. Chapman, who won it last year, and takes with it Captain Richardson’s special prize, a biscuit barrel, also the first prize given by the Company. The following are tho prize-takers’ scores : Private C. Chapman ... ... ... 19 Private J. Moore... ... ••• ••• 49 Private R. AVilh.ams ... ... ••• 39 Private C. Chapman ... ... ... 3<S RECRUITS. Privates Battos ... ... ••• Private Orr ... ... ... ... 23 Private Harrison ... ... ••• 23 THE DANCE. For the Amlunteer Ball held last night the Drill Shod was gaily decorated with small red, white, and blue flags, about 330 in number. These intermingled with the gas lights presented a very pretty sight. The floor was in excellent order. About 120 couples attended, and ail .appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Among those present were Troopers Lilburne, AVorthingtou, Connolly, Moss and Bowie, of tho returned Contingents. The music was supplied by Messrs Heap, Murray, and Morris, and Sergeant W. McCallum acted as M.C. 3he catering was attended to Mr J. Anderson. At a suitable interval Captain Richardson, in a few brief remarks, congratulated the troopers present on their safe return from the war, and then asked Mrs J. HI. Twomey to present the present the prizes, which being done, dancing was resumed, and kept going till morning.