FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 431, 2 June 1902, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

By Tolegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Saturday. In senior football to day, Linwood beat Merivale by 22 points to 8, Christchurch boat Albion by 0 to 8, and Sydenham beat Old Boys by 6to nil. Tho championship points now stand : Linwood 7, Christchurch 0, Sydenham BJ, Albion 3, Merivale lOld Boys nil.

|By “ Tho Whistle.”| Anything but pleasant weather provailed on Saturday last. A strong southerly brought frequent heavy showers along with it throughout the day, and the weather became worse as tho afternoon wore on. Nevertheless, quite a number of enthusiasts journeyed to Victoria Domain about 3 o’clock, with the intention of watching the “ rnudded ” disporting .themselves. About this time, there was a lull in the gale, and the weather was quite fit for play. Kaiti-City and Huia were the teams set down to meet in the senior competition, but only a few of the Huia players were on tho ground. Kaiti-City had a full team on the field, but at 8.30 the Huia captain had no other course open to bim but to forfeit the match.

A rumor was widely circulated that a section of the Huia team refused to take tho field by way of protest at the action of the Rugby Union in refusing to pass a certain player. Whatever may have been the cause of the Huia team failing to take the field, in the interests of tho public the Union should promptly investigate the affair, and give some explanation to tho enthusiasts who braved the elements la3t Saturday only to leave tho ground very much disappointed.

Whon it became known that Huia had forfeited, tho majority of those present, including a number of ladies, left the ground, though a good number remained to witness the junior match between KaitiCity and West End, which was played on No. 1 ground. Neither team was strong, but it was gratifying to see that the players stove continuously to make tho game open. The public would witness much move attractive exhibitions if the seniors were animated by a similar desire. Quito a horde of small boys were standing, like Peris, without the gate, at Victoria Domain on Saturday, when a philanthropist, in the person of Mr Ewen Jackson, came along, and remembering how keen was his desire to witness football matches in his youth, he “ squared ” the genii at the gate, and took the surprised and delighted army of small boys in with him. Mr Jackson was naturally very much disappointed when no senior match was played. Hearing of Mr Jackson’s generous action, I looked that gentleman up on the ground, and had an interesting chat with him. He was an ardent follower of the Rugby game in his college days, when he playoi with the first fifteen of King William’s College, Isle of Man. I jestingly asked him if he ever came across “ The Deemster,” and he smilingly replied that he should know the Deemster if anyone did, as his grandfather had been Deemster for upwards of fifty years, and had only recently resigned tho office. Mr Jackson remarked that his grandfather was scarcely possessed of tho powers which were vested in Mr Hall Caine’s “ Deemster.” In a recent letter from his brother, Mr Jackson learns that the Rugby game is going out of favor largely in England. Many of the leading Colleges and schools are going over to the Association game. Mr Jackson still clings to the Rugby game, and thinks (here is none to equal it.

JUNIOR MATCH. KAITI-CITY v. WEST END. Owing to the senior match not taking place, the juniors had possession of No. 1 ground at the Domain on Saturday afternooa, and the Kaiti City and West End juniors gave a good display, considering the state of the weather, which kept the ball greasy during the whole of the play. West End were strengthened by the inclusion of G. Nolan and C. Hepburn, who are classified senior players, but the combined team had decidedly the best of the first spell. Just before the close of the first spell, Third, by a bit of good dribbling, took the ball over the West End line, where A. Moore scored a try, which Smith failed to convert. The second spell was very even. Power secured a try for West End, which was not improved, and the game ended in a draw, each side having scored a try (8 points). The most conspicuous piayers on the Kaiti-City side were Third (an ex-Oamaru Athletic junior), Smith, B. Bright, A. Moore, Green, H. Webb, and Nicholas, while Hepburn, Nolan, Clarke, Heaney, Roderick, and Power played best for West End. A player, who was familiarly greeted as “ Mac,” took the field in mufti in the second spell, and performed marvellous feats of valor for West End while his condition lasted.

Hepburn captained West End, and J. Smith acted for Kaiti-City. Two halfhour spells were played. The game was controlled in a free-and-easy manner by a referee, who carried a lighted cigarette in one hand and a whistle in the other, and who used each impartially.