FOOTBALL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1708, 11 August 1879, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

CHRISTCHURCH FIFTEEN y TWENTY,

A match was arranged to tako place on Crantner square on Saturday afternoon between a picked fifteen of the Christchurch Club, and twenty players chosen from the Christchurch and College clubs. Twelve of the first team put in appearance, and the latter played six short of the chosen number. Two spells of an hour each were agreed upon, and the ground being in capital order some good play was anticipated, both teams being mainly composed of the pick of the clubs. During the whole of the first spell there was soma capital play shown on both sides, and though the Rods (fifteen) were all playing in fine form, it looked as though they wore going to be defeated by their opponents, the Blues. Q-rigg, a College boy, made a brilliant run the whole length of the field, and got a touchdown, and Leo, another College boy, who was deputed to take the try, kicked a goal. After this . the Beds penned their opponents a a good deal, and once or twice forced them to touch-down in self-defence. This advantage, however, was met by the Blues gradually forcing the ball back in the Beds’ quarters, and Alabaster very smartly got a touch-down. This time the try was a difficult one, and did not result in a goal. In the second spell affairs took a turn in favor of the Beds, who by a series of capitally contested scrimmages succeeded in keeping the ball well away from their own and into the Blues’ quarters generally. Anderson made a good run and got past the Blues’ line, but was collared by Oottorill and Chapman before he could touch the ball down. A short struggle ensued, and quickly ended in favor of the Blues by Cotterill wresting the ball from Anderson, and touching it down in self-defence. Shortly after this Million took the ball through the Blues, and smartly secured a touch-down, which he afterwards converted into a goal, the ball having been taken out and placed by Evans. Play was quickly resumed, but though the Blues played in fine form and gave thoir opponents a lot of hard work, the extra weight of the Reds was beginning to tell, and a lot of close play ensued witHn the Blues’ twenty-five yards mark. The latter took it away once or twice in capital style, but the Bods finally forced it back again, when Stringer managed to run in over the line. As, however, he was far away from the goal post he made an attempt to get nearer, when Chapman smartly charged him and spoilt the touch-down. A good deal of scrimmaging now took place dangerously near the Blues’ goal, which eventually ended in MeCardell running in and securing a touch-down close to the post. Millton was again entrusted with the try, and a good lusty kick converted it into a second goal for the Reds. Prom this to time being called, no further addition was made to either score, and decidedly the best match that has been played on Oranmer square for a very long time, resulted in favor of the Pifteen by two goals to a goal and a a touch-down. Unlike the majority of matches that take place, good play was not confined to a few prominent members, but shone on the part of each individual player on both sides. Indeed, it is very seldom so much good all-round play is exhibited here in any of the practice matches as was shown on Saturday, and seldom a more enjoyable match takes place. There will be no lack of good players to do battle for Christchurch m the forthcoming contests with Wellington and Otago, but the election committee will have a somewhat difficult and delicate task to perform, not in choosing a sufficient number of efficient men to make up the team, but in knowing exactly who to leave out. They will certainly be able to select a much stronger fifteen than could have been got together last season, and the forthcoming matches will, doubtless, prove the moat interestcontests thas have yet taken place in Christchurch. EASTERN v SOUTHBRIDGB.

The return match between the Eastern Club and a team representing Southbridge was played on Latimer square on Saturday afternoon. Before starting it was arranged that three spells of half-an-hour each should decide the game, but at the end of the first it wvs found necessary to shorten the two last spells to twenty minutes each, in order to give the visitors time to catch tho return train to Southbridge. Play was begun at two o’clock by M. Smith kicking off for Southbridge. For a few minutes the ball was kept in the Eastern ground, but after a little loose scrimmaging and several short runs, the scene was changed to within a few yards of the Southbridge goal lino, when some very fair play was exhibited on both sides. Tho two teams played up hard, and several times the Eastern men narrowly escaped getting a touchdown,but in each instance theSouthbridgo backs managed to got the ball away to a tolerably safe distance from tho line. During the first half-hour the game appeared to be slightly in favor of the Eastern men, but beyond once forcing their opponents to touch-down in self-defence, no material advantage was gained. Goals were now changed, and shortly after play being resumed, the Southbridge men made a good rush, and took the ball well down close to the Eastern goal lino, when the closest bits of play shown during the match took place. Finally, the ball went into touch close on to the goal line. On its being thrown out an Eastern and Southbridge man caught it and fell over the lino simultaneously, and a short struggle ended in the Eastern man touching the ball down in self-defence. Play was resumed without delay, and the ball quickly carried down over the Southbridge line by a smart bit of play on tho part of Campbell, but the little advantage gained only resulted in a force-down. During the last spell, the Southbridge team played np very hard on tho ball, and gave their opponents a lot of work to do, but the Eastern men proved themselves equal to the emergency, and, though the goal was several times in great danger, Southbridge did not succeed in forcing the ball over the line, except on one occasion, when the home team again touched down in self defence. On time being called, the game stood : —Southbridge three force-downs and Eastern two, but, as force-downs are not counted, tho match was declared a draw. On the Southbridge side M. Smith was by far tho most prominent and efficient forward, and his efforts were well hocked up by Bourne, E. Scott, Little, and M’Oormack, each of whom rendered good service in various parts of the game. Some of the team, however, would do well to make themselves more thoroughly conversant with the rules, as frequent chances to gain a material advantage over their opponents were lost through an apparent doubt and hesitation at many critical periods of the game. For the'Easteru, Bell, E. Hawkes, Campbell, Kesteven, H. Stringer, and Joynt were particularly conspicuous forward, whilst Kenvig and Main, as half and quarter backs, also played well. The Southbridge team wore much heavier than tho homo men, and the latter may be congratulated upon tho manner in which they contested the game generally, and warded off a defeat, but before they can be fairly considered a first-rate team they will have to learn to play a little better together than on the above occasion.

EANGIOEA. A scratch match was played between sides of the Rangiora Club on Saturday, It is intended to arrange for the return matches with the Eastern and Christchurch Clubs,