FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 190, 19 August 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY v. OTAGO. CANTERBURY WINS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, last night. The Canterbury-Otago football match was played before a fair attendance, in good weather, but cold. Canterbury won I by three points to nothing. Playing with the wind in the first spell Canterbury- on I every- occasion made the game tight. They had on the whole the best of the spell, and scored a try, mainly- owing to inattention of Otago backs. Harper, from | a scrum, made a long pass to Ormandy, who scored. Otago had the best of the second spell, but could not score, losing several chances by over-eagerness. The local team made every effort to make the game fast and open, and on the whole played a great game against the undoubtedly stronger Canterbury- pack.

WEST END v. KAITI. Notes by “ The Whistle.’ ]

A beautiful, sunny afternoon, with the voice of spring in the air, and a gentle zephyr blowing in from tho sea, were the prevailing conditions under which the

W'c-st End and Ivaiti Clubs mot in the third round of the Poverty Bay Kugby Union fixtures at Tucker’s paddock on Saturday afternoon last. Neither club was represented by its strongest team, but the fair number of spectators who ! attended were treutel to an interesting and even game, in which the interest was sustained right up till the referee's whistle sounded 11 no side." A characteristic of

of the match was the work of the forwards on both sides, who gave a creditable display of open foot-work. In fact, the play was almost entirely confined to the forwards, and but rarely the backs of either side gave an exhibition of combination. Two spells of_ 40 minutes each were played. Hr A. W. Rees controlled the game in his usual efficient manner. The only mistake ho made, in our opinion, was | in awarding a [try to Wepiha, who played the ball while on the ground. Messrs | T. F. Crawford and T. Watkins-Baker !

acicu its line-umpires. L. Sherrill' won tiie toss for West End (black), and McKellar kicked off for Kaiti (blue) from the harbor end, and Brown sent the ball out at the quarter-mark with a nieo punt. From the throw-in, L. Sherrill came away with a clever dribble down the line, but M. ATurphy secured possession about the centre of the field, and shifted play to the blacks’ line with a good kick. From a scrum some nice passing was witnessed between Eaton, Reynolds, Halbert and Ngatai, but the latter was well grassed by Clark close to tho West End line. Kaiti made a fierco attack on the blacks’ line, but tho defence was sound, and Wepiha headed a rush which cleared the line. Open play followed, the forwards on both sides putting in good open loot-work, and the ball travelled up and down the field at a merry pace. The football, viewed from a scientific standpoint, was not of a high class. Tho scrums were certainly not things of beauty, but were ragged and badly packed, and it was seldom that the halves on either side wore afforded an opportunity of giving thoir backs the ball. But tho forwards kept the game interesting, and played with considerable dash throughout. L. Shcrriff, Wepiha, Hakawai, l’otaka, Williams and liohcre wore prominent among the West End forwards, and played well, but Brown and Nolan were tho only two behind tho pack who showed anything like class form. There was absolutely no passing done on tho West End side behind tho pack, and the forwards bore the brunt of tho work all through tho game. Kaiti, on tho other hand, got on a good deal of passing, but Reynolds, Eaton, Halbert, and Ngatai, though they passed well, seldom gained ground by their work. They wore too prono to run across the ground instead of making straight dashos down the field, and frequently, after tho ball had passed through sevoral hands and a great deal of running had been done, it was seen that only about ten or a dozen yards had been gained. Tho first spell was very even and exciting, and there was but little to choose between tho sides. The only score in the first spoil was gained by Wepiha, who secured possession from a lino-out about the Kaiti quarter-mark, and made a sensational dash for the line, in which ho fended strongly, and successfully' eluded the opposing backs until within a few yards of tho line, where he was brought down by Ngatai, but scrambled over the lino and scored botween tho posts, amidst applause. A. Hepburn made a foeble attempt to convert. West End, iJ; Kaiti, nil.

The second spoil provided one of the most exciting finishes seen in the contests for the banner this season. From the kick-oil, Kaiti hotly attacked. Thomson made a strong run down tho field in response to the kick-off, and when he was grassed Hansen took up the running to tho quarter-mark. Wepiha, Williams, and Clarke brought play back to the contro with a nice passing run. After some fast and open play, which saw first one line and then the other threatened, the black forwards hoisted their standard on tho Kaiti line, and the battle waged fierco and long in the blue quarters. Eventually, Bennett slipped over, and scored West End’s second try, which Williams failod to improve. West End, 6 ; Kaiti, nil. Ngatai was the first to show up prominently on resuming, and made a strong run to the black twenty-five mark, whore Nolan upset him. Reynolds, Eaton, Halbert, and Ngatai got on some good passing, but ran too much across the ground, and did not gain material advantage. Kaiti kept- up a strong attack for somo time, and had all the best of the play at this stage. Ngatai, Eaton, Bright, Hansen, and Robinson did great things in their efforts to cross the line, but the black defence was fairly sound, aud the stars in their courses fought for them, as they just prevented a score by forcing on a couple of occasions. Tho blacks' worked the ball gradually to the centre. Here, some clever tactics of L. Sherriff jaud Kohero on the line, let the latter away, and he made a fast dash up the line, and passed in to Williams, who backed up well, when tackled. Tho latter got clear away, and showed his opponents a clean pair of heels, grounding the ball close to thsposts, amid the huzzas of the West End supporters. He took the .kick himself, and made no mistake with it. West End 11. Kaiti nil.

On resuming, Kaiti shook things up, and Eaton, Bright, Brophy, Hansen, and Robinson took play right down to the blacks' line, where a warm attack was j kept up for some time. At length, Hansen passed from the ruck to Bright, and the latter scored a clever trv, Ngatai making a creditable attempt to convert. .Kaiti i), West End 11. The kick-out brought no relief to West End, as Thomson came down the field from tho kick-out with a sensational run, and when his career was suddenly cut short, the Kaiti forwards, who were playing splendidly, took the play on into the blacks’ territory, where play hovered for a considerable time. Eventually, Kaiti were awarded a free kick for off-side plav,_ and Ngatai placed a splendid goal. Kaiti 6, West End 11. From this on to the call of time, play was of an even character, and the supporters of both sides were lavish in the encouragement meted out to their clubs. The game ended without further score in favor of West End by 11 points (a goal from a try and two tries) to 6 points (a try and a penalty goal). Tho game was a willing one from start to finish, and the spectators had certainly nothing to complain of in the way of entertainment.

For West End, Brown was the shining light among the backs, anddid a lot of fine work, both in attack and defence. Young Nolan also played really well, and will be a useful man when he has acquired a little more experience. Clarke showed he has some pace, and made some good runs. Of the forwards, L. Sherriff, Wepiha (who had a roving commission), Potaka, and Kobere were the pick, but all the forwards worked honestly. For Haiti, young Witty, at full-back, gave a-.-credit-able display. He tackled gamely, fielded' well, and found the line invariably with his kicks. He made mistakes, but he is young, and we expect to hear favorably of him in the future. Ngatai worked like a Hercules among the backs, aud did a lot of grand work, while

Halbert, Eaton and Reynolds also played well. Eaton, in particular, has seldom given a better display, and was on the ball from start to finish. Of the forwards, Bright, Brophy, Robinson, and Hansen were the pick. _________