FOOTBALL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1684, 14 July 1879, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

COLLEGE Y. CHRISTCHURCH. A match was played on the College ground on Faturday afternoon between a team of College boys and fifteen members of the Christchurch Eootball Club. The game was played under the association rules, nni it was arranged that two spells of fi'ty minutes each should terminate the contest. The choice of goals having been won by Christchurch, their captain elected to take the north end. The College immediately sent their men oat to kick off, and the ball was sent down and for some time kept well in the Christchurch quarters. Eventually it came clear of some well-packed scrimmages, and Robinson sent it well hack into tho middle of the ground. Following up well, the Christchurch team took the ball dangerously near tho Collegians’ goal line, and finally compelled them to touch it down. It was again kicked off, and a good deal of close play ensued in the College quarters. Gradually and by some capital play the Collegians worked the ball back, and shitted the scene of action to well in the Christchurch quarters, when Lewin exhibited some of his old style of play by dribbling the ball well back to mid-ground. M’Curdell afterwards took it a little further down by a run, when he was intercepted by Williams, the latter smartly endeavouring to return it by a similar process to a safer part of the field. He, however, was soon collared by a host of the Christchurch team, and a series of capitally contested and closelypacked scrimmages took place, some very plucky play being shown on both sides, the Collegians finally breaking through their opponents and taking tho ball far into the adversaries’ quarters. F. Robinson came to the rescue by a good run for Ohristohurcb, but ho was finally brought to the ground by Grigg. Soon after this some capital play ou the part of Atack resulted in tho ball being again forced over the College line ; but tho backs of the latter side, who appeared to be always in their right place, wore on the ball before their opponents could secure a touchdown. The ball was again kicked off, and the Collegians rushed it in fine style down close on to the Christchurch goal line, whore some capital ploy ensued on both sides. After a deal of stout resistance the Christchurch team forced their opponents back, and by some really good play rushed the ball tho whole length of the ground to within afew yards of tho opposite goal post, and but for the timely interference and a smart bit of play on the part of Greig, a goal would have been placed to the credit of Christchurch. Soon after this time was called, and though tho ball had been on several occasions behind the College goal line, nothing definite had resulted on either side, and it was hard to predict which team would eventunlly have the best of it, the game up to this point having been capitally contested on both sides. In moat of the scrimmages the Christchurch team had the advantage, but every point gained in this department was always checkmated by the great efficiency of the College backs. After a change of goals and a few minutes’ interval, play was resumed, Atack going out to kick off for Christchurch. Both sides immediately played up well on the ball, but the superior weight of the Christchurch men appeared to hotelling on the Collegians, and twice in tolerably quick succession their opponents found the ball over the line, but, in both instances, the College hacks saved the touch-down. At about halftime, the Collegians, playing splendidly together, managed, for the first time, to carry the ball behind their opponents’ goal line, the latter, however, touching it down. It was again kicked into play, and tho Collegians, elated by their partial success, managed to keep the ball for a few minutes well within range of their adversaries’ goal posts, Higgins, eventually, securing a goal for the College by a very pretty drop-kick, his smart bit of play being rewarded with a well-merited and general round of applause. From this to the end of the spell the, game was pretty evenly contested, and though little, if any, abatement was made in the energy and determination displayed on either side, no alteration was made in the scorq, a capitally contested match resulting in favour of the College by one goal to nothing. Throughout the game the Christchurch team generally had the best of it in close quarters, though occasionally the College Boys took the ball through the scrimmages in capital style, despite the superiority of their opponents in this particular part of the game. The back play of Christchurch, however, though not weak, was not equal to that of the College team, and to this the latter must mainly attribute their well-earned victory. While giving a special word of praise to the College backs for their efficiency, the plucky play of the forwards must not be overlooked, as they one and all played splendidly together, and kept well on the ball. On the part of Ohristohurcb, E. Cotterill, M’Oardell, and Robinson rendered good service as backs, whilst Atack, Field, Million and Lewin did good service forward, s and were well backed up by the rest of the team generally.