FOOTBALL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1376, 13 July 1878, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

NORTH v. SOUTH CANTERBURY.

A match was played on Cranmer Square yesterday afternoon, between two picked fifteens, representing North and South Canterbury, aud as anticipated, resulted in a very elope and capitally contested game. The match was played in four spells of half an hour each, touch-downs and h *oals only scoring. Just before three o'clock the rival teams made their appearance on the field, and play was soon started by the North Canterbury captain kicking off from the south end. A series of scrimmages quickly ensued, the ball being kept principally in the Southerners' quarters, their opponents playing capitally together, and seeming to get the best of every tussle. Beyond, however, the South Canterbury team having to touch the ball down once behind their own goal line, no decided advantage was gained by either side in the first spell. Like the first, the second spell commenced with a good deal of scrimmaging, which generally resulted in favor of the Northerners. Just before time was called A. Ollivier got well away with the ball and secured a touchdown for the North. The try, a very difficult one, was entrusted to Leach, but although he made a really good attempt, he was not fortunato enough to kick a goal. In the third spell some capital pi ay whs shown on the part of Hamerton and Verity for the South, and several times the ball was worked dangerously near the Northerners' goal line, the latter side being once compelled to touch down in self-defence. The final spell was started by a splendid kick on the part of Hammersley, followed up by a counter one on the part of Leach, the ball being quickly worked well down in the Southerners' quarters. It was speedily returned to a safer part of the field. The Northerners, however, sent it back again and succeeded in rushing it over their opponents' line, but it only resulted in a touch in goal. From this to the end of the spell, no addition was made to either score, the match ending in a victory for North Canterbury by one touchdown to nil. With respect to North Canterbury the play was particularly good all round, each member appearing to do hi« very utmost to gain a victory. On the part of South Canterbury, Hammersley, Hammerton, Yerity, and the brothers Potts played remarkably well, and the very close result of the match shows that they were well backed up by the rest of the team. Indeed there has not h'en better play witnessed on Cranmer square this season than was shown by the two teams who met yesterday, and we feel sure that if a combined fifteen were chosen from them, with a little practice together they would be able to creditably uphold the honor of Canterbury on any of the New Zealand football grounds. The game yesterday was characterised throughout by the utmost good feeling, though at times it was somewhat difficult to distinguish the voices of the captains when their generalship and advice alone was most needed.