FOOTBALL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 974, 9 August 1877, Page 2

FO OTBALL.

DUNEDIN Y. CHRISTCHURCH. The match between the above clubs, which had been looked forward to for a considerable time past with a very great amount of interest, not only in Christchurch and Dunedin, but in the Northern provinces as well, took place on Cranmer square yesterday afternoon, and, as was anticipated, resulted in a most exciting and closely-contested game. By invitation of the President of the Christchurch Club, the two teams met at Morton’s Hotel, at halfpast one o’clock, where an excellent lunch was provided by Messrs Savage and Bloomfield. From thence the visitors were driven to the ground in a four-in-hand. The weather was beautifully fine, and the public strongly evinced their appreciation of this manly and popular winter pastime by assembling in"large numbers to watch the result of the first contest with a Dunedin team, the square being thronged on all sides with eager spectators, amongst whom there was a large proportion of the fair sex. Tire visiting team having adopted similar colours to those of the Christchurch Club, the latter had to appear in blue and white, instead of the much-prized red and black : many suggestions being thrown out that the two teams should play for the right of in future adopting the red and black as their club colours. From the appearance of the teams as they went into the field it was a matter of considerable diiiiculty to say which woidd bo likely to leave it victoriously, though there was no (questioning the fact that the Dunedinitcs bore the appearance of men in good training. The names and weights of those who took qmrt in the game, from which it will be seen that the local team had a slight advantage, were as follows: Dunedin Allan, 12st. 31b.; A. Cargill, fist. ; W. J. Dixon (captain), list.; G. Fulton, list. 41b. ; McLean, lost. 101 b.; Mills, 12st. 61b. ; Murray, 12st. Mb. ; McKinnon, list. ; L. Neville, lOst. 121 b. ; Nichol, 13st. 71b.; H. Rose, 11 st. 61b.; Holland, lOst. 121 b.; A. Y. Smith, list. ; Sweete, lOst. 101 b.; Turton, list. 111 b. Christchurch —A. H. Anderson, lost. ; C. Bolton, list. 12lb. ; E. J. Cotterill, lOst.; AY. C. Cuff, 12st. 101 b. ; J. R. Evans (captain), lOst. 8lb.; J. S. Field, list. 10lb.; W. Hartland, 12st. ; G. S. Mathias, fist. 8lb.; W. Million, list. 111 b. ; H. W. Moore, 11st. 31b.; L. M. Ollivier, 12st. 131 b. ; AY. Potts, list. 61b. ; M. Smith, lOst. Sib. ; AY. Stringer, list. slb. Mr R. J. S. Harman acted as umpire for the home team, and Mr Sleigh for Dunedin ; Mr Neilson filling the qjost of time-keeper. Previous to Hie game commencing it was decided to play four full halfhour spells, and to score touch-downs and goals only. The two teams made their appearance in the field a few minutes before three o’clock. The Christchurch captain having won the toss chose the south goal, and thus took advantage of the south-west wind, qffacing his men as follows :—Cotterill and Moore, back ; Anderson and «I. Million, half-back ; Evans, Mathias, and Stringer, quarter-back ; and the rest forward. The Dunedin captain placed his men—Allan and McLean, back ; Cargill and Sweete, three-quarters back; Dixon and Rose, half-back ; and the remainder forward. Both sides having taken up their respective positions, the ball was placed on the ground, and the Dunedin captain sent it into play by a good lusty kick-off. It was quickly returned to mid ground, and Mills tried several times to get away with it, but was not suffered to go far before being collared. Nicholls, however, was more successful, and by a good run took the ball well into the Christchurch quarters. Rose following up with a run close to the blues’ goal line, but Mathias quickly relieved it from immediate danger. The visitors again returned it to the Christchurch quarters, when Dixon got hold of it, and succeeded in getting close to the goal line, where he was collared by Moore. Mathias again sent it back into mid-ground, where some hard scrimmaging ensued, at the end of which Rose and Sweete took the ball well into the Christchurch quarters. It was, however, quickly returned by the local team, and, after Mills and Murray several times vainly endeavoring to get away, the ball was kicked into touch. Oh its being thrown out, Murray got hold of it and made a fine run amidst loud cheers, but was collared before advancing far into the enemy’s ground. The ball having been passed back Rose got well away with it, and made a splendid run, and, though several of the blues tried to hold him, he managed to pass them all, and doubtless would have succeeded in getting a touch-down had it not been for Moore bringing him to the ground with a heavy thud. He was wellbacked up, however, by the forwards, who made a grand rush and took the ball behind the Christchurch goal-line, the blues touching it down in self-defence, and the spectators cheering the visitors heartily for their excellent play. On the ball being again brought into play, the blues gradually worked it up the field towards the Dunedin goal, but a good run by Dixon had the effect of once more placing the Christchurch goal in great danger, though the blues were playing their very- best to defend it. Despite their plucky efforts, however, the ball was once more taken over the line, and the home team had to touch it down in self-defence. Time was now called, and decidedly the hardest halfhour’s work our men have had (his season ended without any definite result having been gained by either side. A few minutes’ rest was indulged in, after which Hartland look the kick-off for Christchurch. After a little scrimmaging, AY. Million got flic ball away and tried a run, but he was collared before going many yards. A fine specimen of passing back was now exhibited by the Dunedin team, Rose eventually getting well .way with the ball. Soon after this Turton vook the ball close to the Christchurch goal line, where he was well collared by Ollivier. Some smart play bow took place between JC. Cotterill, Stringer, OlliTicr, and Hartland, itili

they were unable to gain any definite advantage over their adversaries, who were all playing brilliantly, the second spell also ending without any point being secured. Goals were again changed, and the two teams were again quickly at work in real earnest. The ball was soon in the Christchurch quarters, and their goal was again in considerable danger, but by some good play on the part of Mathias and E. Cotterill the ball was sent, back to a safer part of the field, where Stringer and Held imitated the example of the Dunedinites by some good passing back play. The game at this point had become- very exciting, both teams playing splendidly together, and doing their level best to gain some definite advantage. Gradually the ball was worked and kept in the Dunedin ground, and by a series of downright hard scrimmages the home team carried the ball within a few yards of the visitors’ goal line, just in front of the posts. The visitors seeing the danger, played up splendidly, and contested every inch of space in a most plucky and determined manner. The blues also kept well on the ball, and after one of the toughest scrimmages of the day carried the ball between the posts amidst loud cheers, but the visitors touching it down no point was scored. The ball was brought into play again, and quickly returned in close proximity to the Dunedin goal line. Stringer got hold of it, and made an attempt to drop a _ goal, but before he could take his kick a host of his adversaries were on him and spoiled his chance. Directly alter this the ball was again sent behind the Dunedin goal line by a good kick from Cotterill, but the red and black were on it in a moment and touched it down in self-defence. The visitors then rushed it well down into the Christchurch quarters, where Moore got hold of it and tried to get away, but his opponents were too fleet for him, and he was unable to do more than kick it into the middle of the field, where Evans got hold of it and made a good run. The third spell however ended without any point being scored by either side. After a few minutes’ breathing time, Hartland again sent the ball into play by a good lusty kick, and both sides went at it with an equal determination to make the most of the last half-hour. Although the Dunedin team had been playing remarkably well, and were evidently in much better training than the Christchurch men, it was hard to judge what would be the result of the match, for the blues were to a man playing splendidly together, and were doing their level best to ward off a defeat and gain a victory if pos iblo. I!y some good passing back and .running on the part of Rose, Dixon, and Turton, the ball was carried down close to the Christchurch goal line, the home team fighting desperately to get it away, but fate was against them. The visitors took the ball through eventually, and by a very smart bit of play Rose rushed over the Christchurch goal line, and secured a touch-down amidst loud cheering from the excited crowd of spectators. NichoL was deputed to take the try, but though it was by no means a difficult] one, he failed to attain the much desired result. Directly after this more scrimmaging ensued well in the Christchurch quarters, and Dixon narrowly missed kicking a goal by a good drop kick. Amidst great excitement, and by a splendid bit of, play on the part of Smith and Mathias, the ball was rushed the entire length of the field close to the Dunedin goal, and finally over the line, the visitors for the third time being compelled to touch down in selfdefence. It now only wanted a few minutes to time being called, and the home team, though playing an up-hill game, continued to do so in a most plucky and praiseworthy .manner. This lime, however, they had a well trained' and really good team to fight against, and though each player tried his utmost to turn the tide of events, the Dunedin team again succeeded in taking the ball well into their adversaries’ ground and over the goal line, Rose being fortunate enough to secure a touch-down. This time Dixon was entrusted with the try, hut he also failed to get the much coveted prize, the ball passing a long way to the left of the goal post. In the few minutes that remained after this nothing was done worthy of special notice, and decidedly the best and most exciting game that has ever been played in. Christchurch resulted in a well-earned victory for Dunedin by two touch-downs to nil. It is not our intention to specially notice the play of any particular individual, for on both sides they did their level best to a man, and though the Christchurch team were beaten, they deserve every credit for the plucky and praiseworthy manner in which they contested the match. That the play of the Dunedinites was superior in many main points to that of the Christchurch team there is not the least doubt, the visitors besides being in excellent training, being much more active outside the scrimmages. One noticeable feature in their play too, is the fact of their men never holding the ball after once being collared, but always passing if back to the next man, a circumstance which mainly contributed 1o their success.

The teams met in the evening at Radcliffc’s Hotel, whore they were entertained to a capital spread, the evening being spent in a most enjoyable manner.