Football Notes.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 386, 1 October 1903, Page 4

Football Notes.

MANIOTOTO V VINCENT.

The annual football match between ■the above counties was played at Naseby on Saturday, splendid weathei prevailing, There was a large attendance of spectators, representatives from all parts of the county being present. ....... ~; The teams lined out as follows ;

Yincent (blue).—Full back, John Davidson ; three-quarters, T Wheeler, T Cahijl, R Varcoe; five-eighths, D Cahill fcapt), J Richardson; half; D Jolly; forwards, Riley, Morgan, Todd, Wilson, Joe Davidson, Partridge, Eady, T Richardson.

Maniototo (maroon and gold).— Full back, Allison; three-quarters, John Hore, M'K Marshall, L Moran ; five-eighths, D Marshall, D Glenn; half J Francis; forwards, Joe Hore leapt), Stewart. Blair, Blakely, m\»&* p m® m&*

Maniototo won the toes, and elected to defend the northern goal. M'K. Marshall returned Todd's kick into touch. From the throw-in a scrum took place, and the ball came out to Jolly who transferred to D. Cahill. The latter went through all the opposing backs, and a score seemed certain, but a knock-on by Wheeler spoilt the chance. The home team were kept on the defensive for some time, till a penalty kick was given against Maniototo for one of their backs coming round the scrum. From the penalty,'!', Oahill potted a goal from a diificultangle. 3—o. Maniototo then livened up, and some rough play took place, for which a Maniototo' forward was responsible, and a strict referee would have ordered him off the field. Scrum after sorum7, took place, and D, Marshall getting possession streaked for the line/but was collared by Davidson in the nick iof time. At this stage, Maniototo was awarded a free kick right in front j of the goal, for some infringement that | was not quite apparent to the Vincent men. Joe Hore had no difficulty in placing the ball over the bar, and the whistle went for half-tima B—3, After resuming, the Vincent forwards seemed to go to pieces, and this Maniototo boys got the ball from the scrum repeatedly, but the Vincent lines were saved by tne deadly tackling of their backs. Riley started a dribbling rush from a scrum, anyone of the Maniototo forwards fell on the ball. For pulling this player off the leather, Vincent was penalised a free kick, which may have bqen a correct decision, but no rule justifying ifrcan be found in the 0 RF U Annual. Play was shifted to the visitors' 25, where Maniototo started a dangerouslooking passing rush, which .wag stopped by Jolly. This player then made the run of the day, going from the Vincent line right through the whole of the opposing backs, and.had just reached the Maniototo line when ha was collared from behind. Had he been backed up a score was inevitable. Give and take play followed till the whistle went for " no-side." The game thus resulted in a draw, each side scoring 3 points.

The game, from a spectator's point of view, was a very poor exhibition of footbalJ, there being too much tight play. The game would have been more open and more interesting if the referee had paid less attention to appeals and had used the whistle less. For Vincent, Davidson at full-back played brilliantly, and saved his side repeatedly. Varcoe was the pick of the three-quarters, his line-kicking being a treat to witness. Jolly, at half, was the best back on the ground and well earned his place in the team. Of the forwards, Todd, Morgan, and Partridge were the pick of a very even lot.

For Maniototo, Allison, Moran, M>K Marshall (backs), Blair, Gallagher, and Hore (forwards) were the pick.

Mr A Kirby officiated as referee, whilst Messrs D Wheeler and J Marslin acted as touch judges, The visitors were right royally entertained at the Ancient Briton Hotel in the evening; and subsequently at a dance in the town hall. It may be stated that the Vincent team was somewhat weakened owing to four of their best players being unable to get away at the last moment, and' considering this it must be acknowledged that they gave a good account of themselves.