CHRISTCHURCH v. EAST CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4793, 10 September 1883, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH v. EAST CHRISTCHURCH.

This matoh, whioh has been looked forward to by both Clubs ever since their first meeting at the beginning of the season, came off at Cranmer -square on Saturday after two postponements. The ground was vary slippery after the rain, though all that could he done was done to get it dry. Both Olubs put their strongest teams into the field, bnt there waß considerable differonce in their fitness. The East Christohuroh Football Club were a light team, but haye been ■training and practising night after nigh*-, so that they came on -to the ground as hard ac nails, and knowing one another's play, lhe Christohurch Football Club were a very heavy team, but they have not played together for months, and the two praotioes arranged were both stopped by wet, a very unfortunate circumstance for them, as the re-rult proved. There was no combined play, and no one knew exactly what his next door neighbour was going to do. The East Ohristohurch Football l*'lub oertainly deserved their victory beoause they had worked hard for it, but it is doubtful if the 'two teams met next Saturday, whether tha result wonld be the same, I'here was a largo crowd of spectators, who took great interest in tho proceeding?, but encroached upon the ground to the great annoyance of the players, several times im* peding their movements. Million kicked off from the south goal shortly after three, the play being at that end during the first part of the spell, the reds being forced down for the only time. The Christohuroh men were all abroad, and thoir opponents worked liko clockwork, Fuller, Blanohard and Parson being conspicuous. Eventually Bayner got hold of the ball, and by a smart kick dropped a goal for his side anud great cheering. Thiß was rather a good start for the yellows, but the reds warmed up and pressed their opponents hard. Millton obtained a mark in front of goal, but did not improve upon it. The ball was driven over the line by Anderson and H. H. Mathias, who, to all appearances, scoured a try, but the umpire ruled that Franoia had previously touohed it fairly dead. Had Anderson, however, used his head and not his feet, and pioked up the ball, he could have run in easily, and no doubt would have been possible. At half-time tbe score stood East Ohristohuroh one goal.) Ohristohurch -nil. The second spell was a repetition of the first in most respeot., the yellows doing best'during the early part and the reds towards the end. Several times the latter were stopped by the spectators. Bobinson made aome exoellent dashes, but the wet ground was against him. Onoe he was past all but the fuU baok, and slipped and fell just as the prize seemed in his grasp. The yellows were foroed down for the Becond time, and time was called with play in their quarters, leaving them winners by a goal to nil. Undoubtedly the training won them the matoh, as the reds were all abroad and not up to their usual form. For the winners Blanohard, J, Fuller, Withers, and Andrews were conspicuous among the forwards; F. Fuller, Bayner, and Francis played excellently baok, the latter, especially, never making a mistake. For Ohristohurch Millton, Lane, and H. H. Mathias forward, and Bobinson, Cotterill, and Helmore baok were the most successful.