FOOTBALL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 954, 16 July 1877, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

CHRISTCHURCH v. TEMUKA. The match between the above clubs, which had been looked forward to with an unusual amount of interest both in Christchurch and Temuka, took place on Cranmer Square on Saturday afternoon, and, as was anticipated, resulted in a most closely contested game. The beautifully fine day induced a very large number of spectators to assemble to witness the match, and, judging from the deep interest they appeared to take in the progress of the game, and the hearty applause which greeted any extra bit of good play on cither side, it was evident the two teams carried with them the warmest sympathy of their respective backers. Everything had been done by the Christchurch Club to get the ground in as good playing order as possible. Several men had been engaged to clear out the puddles ol water and to fill up the holes with sand, but the frosts during the few previous days rendered it somewhat slippery in places. Just before three o’clock the teams went into the field, and it was generally remarked that it woidd be almost impossible to bring together two fifteens more evenly matched in size and weight, though the visitors had slightly the best of it in both respects. Subjoined is a list of the names of those who took part in the game : Christchurch Messrs Atack, E. Cotterill, Evans (captain), Field, Hartland, Mathias, J. Millton, W. Million, Moore, A. M. Ollivier, L. M. Ollivier, Smith, Stringer, and Wilkin. Temuka—F. Barker (captain),

M. Buchanan, Crawley, Cox, Dobson, H. D Macpherson, M'Bratney, Pierpoint, Pickering, A. Potts, D. Potts, Gr. Potts, Smith, Tavender, and Wilson, Mr R. J. S. Harman acting as umpire for the home team and Mr Reeves for the visitors. The Christchurch captain won the toss and chose the north goal, the ball being kicked off from the south end by the visitors just as the clock struck three, thus making the secretary’s watch only a quarter of an hour slow. Mathias caught the ball and attempted to run, but was not suffered to go many yards before he was collared, the ball being immediately afterwards kicked into touch by one of the visitors. On its being thrown out the Christchurch men rushed it well into their adversaries’ ground, when Gf. Potts gave it a lusty kick, and it was again in touch. It was again brought into play, and a very tough scrimmage ended by Atack kicking the ball behind the visitors’ goal line. The force-down, however, was saved by Cox. A pretty bit of play on the part oi Gr. Potts then took the ball past the Christchurch forwards and well into their quarters, Moore sending it back by one of his wellknown long kicks. The ball was soon in dangerous proximity to theTemuka goal line, where a tough scrimmage ensued. The Christchurch forwards carried the ball through their opponents and W. Million nearly succeeded in getting it through the posts, but Gr. Potts collared the ball from him and by a good kick returned it to mid-ground. Both teams had now become well warmed up to their work and the forwards were playing splendidly together, there being but little for the backs to do. After a succession of hard scrimmages the home team managed to rush the ball behind their opponent’s goal line, and forced them to touch it down, thus placing the first half-point to the credit of the red and black. The ball was again brought into play, and the game at this point became very exciting, the home team gaining courage from their slight success, and the visitors appearing determined to prevent the red and black adding further to their score. By a good rush and some capital play on the part of the Potts brothers, the Temuka men carried the ball well down in the enemys’ ground, and finally close to the goal line. Moore and Stringer, however, quickly placed their goal out of immediate danger by returning the ball well into the Temuka quarters. Here followed a most exciting bit of play. The visitors made a grand rush, and carried the ball into mid - ground, from whence the brothers Potts, who were each playing brilliantly, carried it down over the Christchurch line, amidst loud cheering from the large crowd of spectators who had now assembled. Before the Temuka men could force the ball down, however, Stringer took it into touch in goal, and thus saved the half point. Directly after this, time was called, the result of the first spell being —Christchurch, halfpoint ; Temuka, nil. A few minutes’ breathing time was now indulged in, and, to judge by the heated appearance of the teams, they required a little rest, for, without exception, it was the hardest twenty minutes’ play that has been witnessed on the square this season. Goals were changed, and the teams faced each other again, the Temuka captain slightly changing the position of his men, by going forward himself, and placing Buchanan half-back. Moore took the kick off, and both sides again went to work in real earnest. A series of tough scrimmages soon ensued, the red and black occasionally getting a slight advantage. Gradually they worked the ball into the visitors’ quarters, and W. Million and Wilkin, through some very bad play on the part of one of the Temuka backs, managed to rush it over the line, Million securing a touchdown amidst loud applause. Moore was deputed to take the try, but the kick was a very difficult one, and consequently unfruitful. Immediately after this a hard-fought scrimmage took place in front of the Temuka goal line, the visitors contesting every inch of ground in a most plucky and determined manner. The home team succeeded in taking the ball through, and one of the Temuka backs kicking it high in air J. Millton caught it and claimed a free kick. Here the excitement became most intense, as it was thought the try would result in a goal. The kick, however, was a long one, and though J. Millton made a good try, he was not fortunate enough to secure the much-to-be-desired result, the ball going within a foot of the rope, and dropping underneath. Directly afterwards Mathias had a try, but he also failed, and on time being again called the game stood, Christchurch, Sipoints to nil. Goals were changed, and J. Potts took the kick off from the south end. Both sides were immediately on the ball, the visitors quickly taking it into the Christchurch ground, when A. M. Ollivier made the only run of the day worth recording ; most of the work throughout the game falling to the lot of the forwards. He succeeded in shaking off and passing most of his opponents, but on | coming to where the Potts brothers stood | in the way, his task became a more j serious and difficult one, these three sturdy j players bringing him to mother earth with the greatest of ease. The Christchurch forwards, however, profited by the advantage gained through the run, and a lucky kick soon sent the ball again behind the Temuka goal line, the visitors touching it down in self-defence, another half-point being thus added to the score of the Christchurch team. After this a long succession of scrimmages ensued, no further alteration taking place in the score up to the end of the spell. Soon after the commencement of the last spell the home team made a grand rush, and took the ball over the Temuka line, but Barker, who was again playing back, saved the force-down by bringing the ball well into the field, when it was quickly rushed clown to the Christchurch quarters, and a tough scrimmage resulted just in front of their goal. It was again carried back into mid-ground, where a pretty bit of play took place between Evans and Stringer. The latter tried a run, but was collared, and not being well backed up, the Temuka men got the ball, and soon rushed it behind the Christchurch line, but again it resulted in a touch in goal. Soon after this the ball was again taken over the Christchurch] lino, and before Cotterill could run out he was collared and forced to touch-down in self-defence, Temuka thus scoring their first and well-earned half-point. It now wanted only a few minutes to time, and the Temuka men, being determined to make the most of it and to do all that was possible to turn the tide of affairs, played up splendidly, and had things pretty much their own way for a little while. The reds, however, were equally determined to do what they could to gain the victory, and by a good rush and a grand kick from Moore the ball was carried the whole length of the field and behind the Temuka line; Barker ran out with it and saved the force down, and immediately afterwards took the ball into touch, when time was supposed to be called and the match really ended, but some of the Temuka men misunderstanding it took the ball down unmolested over the

Christchurch line, and secured a touch down. It was disputed, however, on the grounds that Barker went into touch and time was called, and also that the player who got the touchdown was off-side. Just when this occurred the game had become very exciting, and the crowd rushing between the players and the umpires the latter were unable to see enough of the play to give a decision on being appealed to. Consequently the question as to the fairness of the touch-down still remains unsettled, the result previous to this being in favour of the home team by 3| points. With the exception of this slight hitch, the game throughout was contested in a most spirited manner and with the most hearty good feeling, the result, as was anticipated, being a very close one.

The visitors were entertained at the Commercial Hotel in the evening, when about fifty persons sat down to a capital spread. Mr J. R. Evans occupied the chair and Mr J. Anderson, jun., the vice. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been disposed of, the health of the Temuka team was proposed, and drank in the most enthusiastic manner imaginable. In responding to the toast, Miff. Barker expressed a hope that they would have the pleasure of meeting the Christchurch men again this season, as at present the teams appeared to be so evenly matched that it was difficult to tell which was the best. He called upon the Temuka team to fill their glasses and drink a bumper to the health of their Christchurch friends, and no one who heard the lusty round of cheers which followed could doubt for one moment the hearty good feeling which exists between the rival teams. By eleven o’clock everyone had been voted a “jolly good fellow,” and after singing “ Auld Lang Syne ” the company broke up, highly delighted both with the afternoon’s sport and the evening’s entertainment.