INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 690, 5 September 1876, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

NELSON V. CANTERBURY. [By Telegraph.] {From a correspondent of tike Fress.) Nelson, September 4. The game began this afternoon at 3.18. The ground was fairly dry, considering the amount of rain that had fallen the night before. It was arranged to play four spells of half an hour each. Firtb, the Nelson captain, won the toss, and took the town goal, thus having the wind at hiß back. He arranged his men as follows:—-Backs, Firth, Nicholson, and Warnock ; half-backs, Askew, Gully, and C. Hodgson ; forwards, Burnett, Barnett, Ker, Kempthorne, Sharp, Galbraith, H. Hodgson, Wells, Baddeley, and Sheppard. Chapman played for Canterbury in place of Croxton, who stayed in Auckland. Nelson were very light and quite out of proportion with Canterbury. Moore started the game for Canterbury, and Evans nearly succeeded in running the ball behind Nelson's goal line, but went over the touch line. After about ten minutes' play Canterbury obtained their first force down ; their play was far superior to that of their opponents', who lacked discipline terribly. Considering that three of their best players were kept away from the match by Bank business, and that five College boys were picked to play, the lightness of the team must not be wondered at. Stringer was the first to show up after the force down was scored, running well up, but being held by Nicholson, who is very sure of his man. Play was by this means brought into the very front of Nelson goal, and G. Potts almost immediately obtained a touch down. Moore made the try, Anderson placing the ball, but the partnership was not successful. At 3.30 p.m 3J points were scored by Canterbury!; as soon as the kick was made Canterbury" with a rush secured a second touch down, Nelson being slow in handling the ball. Moore and Anderson were again unsuccessful—Canterbury 6£ points. Nelson was now pinned in the goal, and a few minutes after a force down was obtained, making the score 7. The magenta stockings (Nelson) rallying a little, andjplaying hard, took the game into the centre of the ground, Askew especially distinguishing himself, and for the first time the scene of play is somewhat near the southern goal, which position was maintained for some time, Nelson being aided by the wind, which favoured Nicholson's long kicking. Chapman then made a run along the touch line, but was collared by Galbraith, who played a very dashing game for his side. A small difference in the rules about kicking or throwing the ball out of touch, wasted some time, but the half hour was up and the score stood—Canterbury, 7 ; Nelson, 0. The second half hour was begun by Firth kicking off for Nelson, and the only noticeable play for some time being a run by Lee, loose play being indulged iD, neither side gaining any advantage. Potts, Lee and Anderson joined partnership for a run and taking advantage of passing the ball back, got. right down to the Nelson end of the field, securing a third force down at 4 p.m. A minute after the Canterbury forwards, backing up, passed clean through the Magentas in a scrimmage, and the fourth force down was scored, making eight points. Play was never far removed from the Nelson goal until the end of the half-hour. Lee was once within an ace of kicking a goal for the Southern team. Barker then forced Firth to touch down, and the score stood at eight and a half points. G. Potts next made a long try at goal, and another force down resulted in nine points. The Nelson men were now doing all they knew to save their goal being kicked. McCardell making one of his usual neat runs, tumbled himself inside the line, and Moore's third try was little better than the other two. Twelve points to nothing say the umpires. Nelson seemed now to try and make a determined effort, Barnett making a most plucky attempt to break through, and Nicholson following suit made quite the run of the day, taking the ball from near his own goal to within thirty yards of bis opponents'. This effort was greeted with loud cheers, and the second half-hour terminated with the game slight up towards the Canterbury end ; score, 12 to 0. At 4.25 Moore kicked off again for Canterbury, and a promising run by Stringer was nipped in the bud by Galbraith, who was doing wonders for his side. After about ten m'nutes' play Potts and Millton took the ball up to the touchline, but Firth managed to save the touch down. Evans started to run, but was collared by C. Hodgson, a smart college player, and McCardell following suit fell into the embrace of Baddely. Burnett now made a serviceable run for his side, but fell into the clutches of E. Cotterill. Play was now fast and furious, both sides working hard; W. Millton showing that a little of the college dribbling may be introduced into the Rugby Union game with success; Wardock and Nicholson doing great things for their province in ithe scrimmages, and Evans for Canterbury, showed that he had not forgotten his Cranmer square play, making most successful runs. Time after time G. Potts looked like getting another force down, but Askew saved it by smart play, the ball getting nearer and nearer to the goal as the third half-hour expired, and at last, after a scrimmage almost under the ropo, the Potts' Brothers touched the ball down in a heap, G. Potts having a finger in the pie. Cotterill was deputed to make the kick, and amidst loud cheers from Canterbury, sent the ball far between the posts, making Canterbury eighteen points to none. A few minutes after 5, Firth kicked off for Nelson, but the game was very slow for some time, till Askew brightened matters a little by a brilliant run. Gully too helped his side down the ground, but Moore sent the ball back almost into the Nelson gaol with a splendid kick that made the bystanders stare. Things were still quiet, our • team working easily, till a sudden surprise ; took place from a goal being kicked by G. ; Potts sight from the middle of a scrimmage.

Twenty-four points to none. Firth as usual took the kick off for Nelson, sending Nicholson to play, and putting Baddeley in his place. Play became general in the middle of the field, the policy of the Nelson men being apparently to keep the ball out of bounds as much as possible. Nicholson saving the goal by runs from time to time. Canterbury now easing off the steam, J. Milltou taking a run, kicked the ball sideways to McCardell, who secured the third goal for Canterbury. This rnn.de the score 30 to 0. It was now nearly time, and play smartened up for a few minute?, McCardell very nearly getting a fourth goal, but the umpires decided it was a poster. Time was then called, and the usual cheers given for either side. Umpires, W. P. Neilson and P. Withers. For the home team, Nicholson and Firth may be picked out from the backs, Galbraith, Hodgkinson, and Askew from the forwards. Of our men, the Potts trio were of coarse conspicuous, but the whole played well together, the back play of Cotterill and Moore, as well as Stringer's useful runs, being much admired. In judging of the Nelson team it should be borne in mind that some of their best players were away, and that there are only twenty-two members of the Club, Added to this they were matched against a team far heavier than they were, and one which was well disciplined in every particular. Their game however shows that they practieed together. The day was beautifully fine, and the game was played in the presence of about 1000 spectators. They start for Wellington at 8 o'clock.