FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9513, 10 April 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

+ EASTER MATCHES. CHRISTCHURCH CLUBS SUCCESSFUL. I Three Christchurch football clubs played their annual Easter matches at Lancaster Park this afternoon and all were successful. Merivale beat Alhambra (Dunedin) By 13 points to 3 ; Christchurch beat Wellington by 8 points to 6, and Linwood beat Union (Dmiediri) by 12 points to; 6. , There was a fairly large gathering of spectators at the park and the games were quite as interesting as Easter games ever are. Most of the teams were not thoroughly representative of their clubs, but they comprised many players who had evidently given, gome little attention to training, and the play was on the whole fast. " Tho following are details of tne games:—CHRISTCHURCH V. WELLINGTON. Christchurch were soon aggressive and Morrison rtin. to the Wellington line, but lost the ball. The visitors were for some time on the defensive, though they frequently got possession in the scrums and always tried to open up the play, but the backs were uncertain in their passing and made little headway. Both sides endeavoured to make use of the toUch-hne, Cnristchurch being the more successful, and it was not until near the end of the first spell that Wellington got near the home team's line. A good piece of following up enabled Hunt to tackle Eutton. the Christchurch full-back, near hjdfway and Gray dribbled nicely to within five yards of the Christchurch line A couple of scrums followed and Malfi-oy dodged over cleverly, giving Wellington a lead of; three points, which Sheridan's kick failed to increase. A Good rush had the visitors in trouble, *sut Abercrombie outpaced the Christchurch forwards and forced down, the spell ending without further store. Wellington attacked early in the second spell, getting; some help from the wind, but Christchurch had the better of kicking and line-out Way and' reached the visitors' twenty-five. Pinwell got away from a scrum, making a good run, and a loose rush by the Christchurch forwards carried the ball to the line, Talbot securing it and dronninn- over. Morrison placed a fi^oal. The visitors W(ere soon back on the defensive and Tosswill sot away, passing after a fine run to Miller. He sent the ball to Clarke, who scored an easy try, but Morrison's kick at goal failed. A centre kick by Abercrombie Pure Wellington a chance and Sheridan picked up the bell »nd ran to the line. He was tackled jusf/ in time, but from the succeeding scrum the visitors pot possession, and -after some short, sharp passing Abercrombie scored a try. ' Sheridan failed in the attempt at go«l. and the frame ended in » win for Clm&tchurch by 8 ppmts (a goal and a try 1 * to 6 points (two tries). Mr F. T. 1 Evans was referee. LINWOOD y. UNION. Playing against the wind on the south ground., Linwood did not at first make much use of their superior forwards, and after up and down play, in which each side forced, Don took a mark for Union and kicked a goal. The Linwood forwards played up spiritedly, but in a rally by Union soon afterwards the backs were badly at fault, and Don leading a good rush, Fogarty scored again for Union. The LinwOdd paok got together, and after a lot of scrambling on the line Barrett got over. Shortly afterwards Prosper made a, good run from halfway, and although he lost the ball near the line, H. Wilson snapped it up and equalised the scores. Halftime was called with the scores even, Don, of Union, having made a poor attempt at goal from a mark by Dohney. In the second spell the Linwood footwork was far in advance of Union's. iSarly in thb spell the ball came out cleanly to H. Wilson, who sent it on to Prosper. That player dodged and made a good opening, and the ball went from Granger to A. Wilson, who scored. Linwood had much the better of the rest of the play, and just before time, from a scrum near the line, the. ball was handled by H. Wilson, Prosper and A. Wilson, the last-named scoring. _ The tries were not converted and Linwood won by 12 points (four tries) to 6 points (a try and a goal from a mark). Mr ;A. Hooper was referee. MERIYALEvV. ALHAMBRA. This match was played on the east ground, and ended in a win for. Merivale by ten points. Play was of a very straggling order, and the superiority of the Merivale backs won them the game. Merivale won the toes, and Alhambra kicked off against the sun, Merivale being forced almost immediately. Good passing _by the Merivale backs took play to Alhatnbra's twenty-five, but Given marked and relieved. Passing rushes by the Merivale forwards pressed Alhambra, and Cresswell had a pot at goal which went over the bar, but was touched *> by an opponent. Merivale continued to press, and Alhambra was forced. Off-side play gave Alhambra a shot at goal, M'Kenzie failing with the kick. Immediately from the ensuing play M'Kenzie had another kick, and Merivale were forced. Scrambling play ensued, in which Alhambra had the advantage, and, Reed miskicking, Choyce scored near the corner. M'Kenzie failed to convert. From a free-kick near the t\venty-five flag Cresswell had a' kick at goal, but the ball rebounded. Soon afterwards Ford got right away, but kicked too hard, and Alhambra forced. M'Kenzie took . a pass off-side and Cresswell kicked a fine goal from the touchline. ' The score at half-time was— Merivale 3, Alhambra 3. In the second spell, play was very even and mistakes on both sides were' frequent. A good passing rush by the Merivale backs let Cade over at the corner, Cresswell failing to convert. Good play by Fuller, Cresswell and Cade enabled the lasti named to score again in the same position, and Fuller made a good attempt at goal. Cleary relieved from a forward rush by Alhambra, and from a ruck in front of the goal Ford potted a goal for Merivale. From a freekick M'Kenzie had a long shot which went wide, and the ball went out near Merivale's line, where M'Kenzie had another free-kick and again failed. Time. was called with Alhambra- on the defensive, and Merivale won by 13 points to 3. Mr S. A. Orchard was referee.