FOOTBALL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 19 April 1901, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Christchurch v. Greymouth.

The match between teams representing the above were played at Lancaster Park on Saturday, when tdicro was a fair attendance. The weather was fine, but rather too warm to be pleasant far the players, and a fairly strong nnr’-west wind was blowing, which gave the team playing behind it ivdecided advantage. Christchurch won the loss and elected to pi ay with toe wind, and Sexton, the Grey cajtain, kicked off from the eastern goal a few minutes after three o'clock. After a scrummage or two in neutral territory, Harvey marked and kicked the ball over the Greymouth line, a force-down resulting. After the kick-out, Fisher returned well into the visitors’ twenty-five, and hi at. tray, receiving the ball from a pass by Harper, nearly scored, and just after, further passing between Harvey, Harper, and Lawrence ended in the last-named gaining a try, Harper converting by a good kick. Sexton Jacked out, and the West Coasters were forced by Fisher’s return, the performaace being repeated a coupio of

minutes later. Christchurch, who favoured by tho wind, indulged in a lot of kicking, soon had their opponents on the defensivs, and after a lot of scrumaging and loese play in the vicinity of tbs goalline, a passing run, in which Harvey, Rattray, and Harper wore prominent, saw the last-named score, and, taking tbo kick himself, ho added the major points. Score Christchurch 10 points, Greymouth nil. The visitors were again forced by Fisher’s return from tbo kick off, and then thn same player marked and placed the leather for Harper, whosell kick just failed. Two more forcedowns were registered against Grcymouth, who appeared hopelessly overmatched, and then a passing run between Harvey, Rattray, and Keating enabled the last-named to cross the line, Harper’s attempt at goal again being successful. A good kick by Harvey again placed the visitors upon the defensive, but after they had been forced again, a rush by their forwards, headed by Corby, Greaney, and Sexton, saw the ballji in the Christchurch twenty-five for the first time during the game. The local men being awarded a fi'ee kick, quickly shifted the scene of operations. Another penalty kick to Christchurch gave Harper another chance at goal, hut. the ball went wide, and a few minutes later Rattray crossed the line, Harper failing to improve upon the try. Christchurch continued to press, and just 011 half-time Kembcr scored from a line-out on the Greymoutli goal-line Harper again failing to convert, so the teams changed ends with Christchurch 21 points to nil. On resuming Greymoutli quickly had their antagonists on the defensive, and forced them down. Even play followed the kick-out, and then the Christchurch forwards worked the oval to their opponents’ lino, Pasco scoring and Harper converted. Play in neutral territory was then witnessed for a time, and then the visiting forwards got on a capital rush, and Dansey scored amid cheers, which were renewed when O’Donnell returned the kick-off out of touch by the Christchurch twenty-five, but Ayers, assisted by one or two others, dribbled back to past the centre, and after give and take play, Keating scored from a passing run, Harper’s kick at goal failing to increase the points. From thence to tho finish the play was of a fairly even character, Greymoutb, with the wind in their favor, managing to hold their own. Each side in turn was called upon to defend their line, but no further scoring took place and at the call of time Christchurch left the ground winners by 29 points (4 goals and 3 tries) to s(a goal from a try). Mr F. T. Evans was referee.