FOOTBALL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3488, 16 June 1879, Page 3

FOOTBALL

; Jupiter Pluvius evidontly did na-toke touch interest in the match betwcmf the Eastern and Christchurch Clubs, ftr on Priday night and i Saturday mornhg he emptied the vials of his wetness to-sucheffect that Cranmer squaro was ina perfect state of ileluge. Anderson, Swinger, aud Hartland ■did not turn up for Christchurch, so Goodwyn, Baker, and Easlea took their place? and shortly after 2.30 the play commenced hj the ■Eastern kicking off from the northern goal. By a very slack piece of play on tho porfc of Cotterill, tho : ball was rushed almost up to the 0. P. C. (red) goal line, but the supsrior .weigty^ of tho reds took it back inch by inch hntil the centre of the ground was gained, jand there the play continued for a space until Ihe red3, working it on, forced tho vellows to touchdown. Shortly after this, ttiey had to Repeat trie defensive movement, and after a go?d loose scrimmage, the ball was carried Ovor the line, ond Keith tried to touch it r down again, but failed to render the ball dead, and two, of the reds throwing thempelves forward on to it, tho first try was obtained by- Field. The place, a verv hard one, was entrusted to Cotterill, but without any result. The ball was byvvthis time-W greasy, that it was impossible 'for the backs' io trust to their drop kicking, and:.indeedj it ,was no easy mattor to' hold it afc alhu. goon after this M'Cardell, afterta t shorfc riin,!made\ a capital shot at gooi,) and? it .was thought. hy; some from its proximity, Mliat ho hadaetually • scored eno, but, the.jballf.liai,-. passod ■-■ just* to the out side of thej. posts,! and 'the proverb that "a miss is as good as, -a' mile," was verified. Soon afterthis.the ball having been passed back to Mj'Cardpll, ho made agood run and obtained the second try, which was punted but to the reds, but with no favourable result. During the second spell, the reds again forced their adversaries" up to their end, and the'; game chiefly consisted of scrimmagos, ond .though, the yellows packed splendidly, and made the very utmost of their inferior weight, they woie forced over thoir goal lino several times, but woro too smart on the ball to allow thoir adversaries to gain the wished for points. Bolton, about the middle of this spell, by playing up hard on the ball, obtained the third try, which was disputed, but the umpire (Mr A. Ollivier) was firm in his decision, and Millton tried tho place, but the wind was too strong and the ball too wet, so the kick which was a very good one, did not come off. For the rest of the game tho reds, though they for tlie most part pressed their adversaries hard, were unablo to gain any further advantage, and when time was called they stood victorious by threo tries to nil. Tho yellows must be complimented on tho hard fight they madeStringer, Searell, Bell, and Shirreff all working splendidly in tho Bcrimmages, while Eenvig played capitally as quarter-back, and Robinson collarod faultlessly. Por tho reds, Field, Millton, and Bolton did good servico forward, whilo M'Cardell and Goodwyn were very useful behind.

: Next Saturday Southbridge will try conclusions with the C.P.C. on Cranmer square. The names of the team will be published during the week.

It may bo mentioned that tho Canterbury Times is now publishing the Rugby Union Rules as last amended ; the first half. appeared in last Saturday's issuo, and the remainder will be published this week.