FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1911, 6 August 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

ASHBURTON BIGH 80H00L F CHBISTOHURCH HIGH SCHOOL.

• fc Ho ! the famous football, up ana down it goes, Dashing o'er the daisies, sweep the friendly foes; Merry is the pastime, manly ia the game, Fairly playea for honor, smartly played for fame. ;- In the spheric warfara, : coolness is mensesLike a flash attacking, steady m defenoe j Selfishness is baseness, speed the ball away Trusting one another beautifies the play. Dribbling m the oentre, flying on the wing, Sorewrog from the quarter, shooting on the spring. Glanoing ofi tha crossbar, grazing either pole, Rushing, orashing, pushing boys— Hurrah, another goall •

The annual football fixture between the Ashbnrton and Ohristohoroh High Sohools, was played m the Domain on riaturd&y under moat favorable conditions as to weathec and ground. Spectators were preßent In fair nnmbera, but the proportion of ladlei was very small. After the arrival of the teams on the ground, the field was plaoed as follows. Ashburton pitying down the hill with wind and sun m their favor. ASHBUBTOK. Full back— Ourfcla. Three-quarter baoks-Alf Buchanan, Alf Orr and Dalglelsh. Half baoks— A. Orr and R, Williams. Forwards— fl. Fooks, G. Clark, W. Olark, K. Buohanan, N, Orr, G. Ifoley, R. Foley, B. Shearman and R. Low. OHRISTGHUROH. Full back— Reas. Three-qaarter baoks —0. Johnston, Reeer, and Hyndman. Half baoka— ArmlUge and MoOonnell. Forwards— Norris, Thaoker, Lee, Burnett Rankln, Bates, Orr, Dawson, and W. Johnston. E. Buchanan captained the local team and Bees the visitors. Mr E, Stewart carried tho umpires flag for Ashburton, Mr J, Allen doing similar duty for Ohristohuroh, and Mr T. Mullin officiated with the Beferee's whistle Auhburton, though a lighter team all round soon showed up when the ball was kicked off and very few minuteß had e'apßed when Buchanan got over the Ghristchuroh line and tonohed down. The score was not enhanced by the try at goal, and from the' kick out Aishburton again pressed the Blue and B ack forwards back on their own gaol line, and only the efforts of Armitage, Bees McDonnell and Johnston averted an immediate score. The Christchurch boys were more powerful m the tight scrummages, and the few of these which were formed were all m their favor the local team being woefully at s^a when tbe scrum was screwed. In the open the local men nullified the efforts oE the Ohristchurch backs, and from a neat pass about the middle of the field Dalgleieh, who had been waiting for an opportunity got the leather" and getting up speed before he was tackled passed all the Christ church backs m really good style, and grounded the ball behind the goal line. Curtiß took the try but no further Bcere resulted. After kick out Ashburton was again agreaßive and Chriatohurch was m continual danger, though they played with Btern resolution. From a iooae tcrum m the Ohristchurch twenty-five, A. Orr secured the ball and running down the touch line uninterrupted by the backs touched down between the gaol posts. An appeal was made* that Orr had been forced into touch, but thig waß disallowed and the ball was brought up to be plaoed, Ob'ivious of the rule against touching the ball down m play before placing for the kick, Orr touohed it down again on the goal line and Ohristchurch at once declared the bull dead and no try at goal was allowed With three points against them Ohristchuroh payed up m the deßpetate hope of wiping off the Bcore, but they were naver dangerous, and half time was called with the ball m the middle of the field, and the score Ashburton 3 points, Uhrißtchurch nil. On play resuming Ohristohnroh had again to not on the. defensive, and It was not long before Dalgleish, by a grand run through his men, scored another try for Aehburton. No kick at goal wsb allowed, the bring or out of the ball making the same mistake as on the previous occasion. After thlß the Sohool warmed up, and It was generally thought training would tell. Time after time they oharged down on the Aahbnrton lines, the passing, dribbling, and running being very good. A splendid bit of passing between the Ohrlstohuroh '

backs took ihe ball from their own twentyfive right down the field, and & Boore was only prevented by the runner being forced Into touch In goal. From this out Aahbutton had to look to their Uurela. From a heel oat near Aahbnrton's line Bees dropped a splendid goal, but as the ball tonohed one of the players It did not count. Aahborfcon was foroed down several times, and Curtis panting oat allowed the other aide to claim a Borum m front of his goal. Some give and take play resulted, and generally the game wsb more open and Interesting. Bees was the piok of the Ohrlstcharoh baokp, and once getting the ball he travelled from the centre flag and eluding all pursuit scored under the goal posts amid considerable excitement. 0. Johnston took tjhe kick. Aahbnrton rushed before the ball was plaoed, and the charge was disallowed. A neat goal resulted, and as there were still a few minutes to ran It was thought that the scores would yet be equalised. Aehburton was alive to the danger, however, and prevented any addition, the game ending ; Ashburton, 4 points, Christchurch, 3.

Cheers were given for the winners and for the offiolalo, and the teams left the ground In company. The play throughout waa characterised by tho best of good feeling, bnt Ashburton should read up the latest rules. Many alterations have been adopted from the oode under which they are wont to play. The latest rules regarding umpires and referoea could with advantage be studied. The ABhburtoa team though called a High School one, could not properly be so designated, as there were players engaged In the match who had severed their connection with the local High Sohool, The match was none the less interesting on that aocount. The retnrn matoh will, we are flare, be looked forward to with Interest. After partaking of the hospitality of the Ashburton team, the Obrlstohuroh fellows left per express, the Ashburton school giving them a hearty cheer as the train left whioh was returned with int<weet by the vWtiog team.