FOOTBALL ON SKATES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1910, 4 August 1888, Page 3

FOOTBALL ON SKATES.

(BY DOS SPECIAL REPORTER )

The long looked for return matoh between the Bluea and Colors took place at tha Oddfellowa' Hall laat evening before a large and fashionable concourse of spectators, tho fair Best boing especially well represented, Messrs D, Moore, Simpson, Bass, Clark and Curtis, essayed to do battle for the Blues, whilst Oliver, Grubb, Moss, Fred Field and Strange, stripped, for the Colors, Messrs: Death and S Clark did effeotive servloe as umpires.

The game was started with a tight scrum In the middle of the ball amid great excitement, and the fnn was soon fast and furious. Before many mlnutea were over lt became apparent that the Blues were suffering from a lamentable want of Grubb, but In spite of this they did their level beßt. Field, for the Colors, soon showed that he was no toft field to fall on, and tbat though he was a Fred, yet was not afraid, and Simpson for the opposition made It apparent that he was ln Earnest. Goalß were scored In rapid succession on both aides, and tho players plainly Indicated their entire Indifference to the fact of their close proximity to Death. Falls were numerous, but m many cases these were rendered harmless by tho players falling on Moss, which was plentifully strewed about the floor.

The two full-backs did not seem to bear as muoh of the heat and burden of the day as the forwardo, but when they did get a kick at the ball one soon showed the other that he had a Roland for his Oliver and moro s«.

Strange to say the gama again resulted In a draw, each side scoring b goal* and 5 behind. Eaoh Individual player had one goal and one behind to hla credit. It seems to ba tbe general opinion that some of tbe players soored more than one behind, but aa the umpires were very busy keeping their bones out of the way of the Infuriated akatere, they oould not see, and so the gamo resulted In a draw which seems to hiaye been very satisfactory to all parties concerned.

The game waa played m a most friendly spirit If anything, the moat courtesy being shown by the Blues, but tbis was rendered nugatory by the faot that the play of one Blue was somewhat of the base sort. If the players were m muoh amused ap the audience they must have had a merry £imp, but like some other youthful amusements there is unfortunately a next day, which is not so enjoyable. I fear that the Colors are likely to have a fit of tbe Blues to-day, and that the Blues will fiod themselves all the colors of tbe rainbow. Oar reporter wishes to express W flanks to Mr Bass for giving £'<n a jjafe and seotydgd spot where he oould view the proceedings without being subjected to any unnecessary danger