SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. KAIAPOI v. CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5862, 3 May 1897, Page 1

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. KAIAPOI v. CHRISTCHURCH.

This game was played at Hurse's Part, Kaiapoi, with Mr F. L EvanS as referee. Christcliurch kicked off, and G. Duncan at once evoked applause by a good run well into the visitors' ground, and until Dacre mado a fine run back again, Kaiapoi was very troublesome. For a while Christchurch attacked, and a penalty shot by Appleby forced the Yellows. Dacre became very prominent for the Reds, aud only sound tackling by M'Grath, the local full-back, kept him out on, more than one occasion. In spite of a penalty kick against them, Christchurch maintained an offensive attitude, until at last a serviceable kick by Green cleared the play to the other end, and Christchurch were on the defensive. A few loose struggles ensued, and from one of them Thorne scored for the Northerners, and G. Duncan converted — s—o.5 — 0. The visiting team was .on top for a Avhile after this, and Appleby, with a good kick, converted a mark — 5 — 4 — just before half-time. A lot of centre-play followed after the kick-off in the second spell, neither side being able to claim more than' a temporary advantage. Then Kaiapoi came with a sweeping forward rush, and hesitation between Hobbs and Dacre enabled the local men to pen the Reds for some time. Penalties through over-eagerness, though, cleared the lino till Bennetts and P. Lynskey rushed back again, and Duncan had a long but re3ultless shot from a penalty. Middleton returned in good style, but Green and Revell ; went back again at once, and after a lot of give-and-take play Thorne broke away and ran in. No goal resulted, though, aud eight to four was noted. After a force-down against Christchurch, Middleton got over the line very cleverly from a good pass by Townsend, and as Appleby missed the goal by a few inches, time was called with Kaiapoi victors by eight points to seven. Final result : Kaiapoi, a goal from a try and a try (eight points) ; Christchurch, a goal from a mark and a try (seven points).