FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1282, 17 June 1884, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND v. BATHXJEST.. [BY, TBX.BOBAFH-] (Per steamer at Auckland). Auckland, To-day.' At the Bathhurst match the weather • was bad, only 400 people being present. New Zealand kept Bathurst in a continual state of self defence in ' the early part of the game. There was no score until Tairoa passed the ball to Lecky, who sent it on to Dumbell. The latter by a drop kick potted it evenly over the bar. s New Zealand again tried. aggressive warfare, but Bathurst repeatedly changed the scene of operations to the other end. The repeated attempts of the visitors to score by “ potting” failed. At the end of the three-quarters of an hoar the scores stood, visitors, 4 points to nil. The wind went down, and when the kick-off took place the New Zealanders had not to contend with that disadvantage. The ball continued for a rime in the centre of the ground, play being tremendously fast,' when Davy got the ball out of scrimmage and passed it to Million. This resulted in a try which Ryan failed to convert into a goal. Some brilliant play on both sides followed by a try secured , by Lecky, and Millton, in the face of wind and rain, secured an easy goal. No further addition was made to the score, and the match was won by 11 points to nil. The game was the best the New Zealanders had since their arrival. For the visitors Braddon, Dumbell, Helmore, Millton, Taiaroa and O’Connor especially distinguished themselves, and the firstmentioned saved innumerable goals by his splendid play.