FOOTBALL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1720, 25 August 1879, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY V. OTAGO. The first of the series of matches under the auspices of the New Zealand Rugby Union Association was played on Saturday, between Canterbury and a representative team from Otago, the contest taking pi ice in a paddock in Cashel street cast, kindly lent for the occasion by Mr J. Anderson. The committee had experienced some difficulty in getting the gronnd in a fit condition to play on, but by the aid of a pump to get the water off, and a large roller to roll the gronnd, they so far succeeded that very little, if any, fault could be found, and with the exception of being a little damp and slippery in places, the rival teams had a very fair field on which to do battle for the honor of their respective provinces. Thegcentre of the gronnd was roped off for the players, and on the north side seats were arranged for the accomodation of ladies, a good number of whom were present, in addition to a large number of other spectators, all of whom appeared to watch the progress of the game with thekeenest interest, and cheered most heartily whenever a good bit of play was shown on either side. The teams arrived on the ground at half-past two, the visitors appearing in dark blue uniform, and the Canterbury team wearing the club colors of the C.F.C.—red and black. As soon as the visiters appeared it was easily seen that they were both a heavy team and one likely to stand a good deal of hard and close work if required. The home team was undeniably a good one, bnt not nearly to strong in backs as the visitors. The match was played in four spells of half an hour each, the time keeper being Mr E. J. S. Harman, whilst Messrs J. E. Evans and Neville acted as umpires, the former for Canterbury and the latter for Otago. The teams were composed as follows—Canterbury (red and black), F. Eobinson and E. Cotterill, backs; M'Cardell and Craig, three-quarter hacks; W. Stringer and J. S. Anderson half backs; Bolton, Field, Grigg, Lewin, W. Millton (captain), Pickering, W. Potts, M. Smith, and Henry Stringer, all forwards. Otago (dark-blue) —M'Lean and Luke, backs; Murray (captain), and Cargill, threeqnarter backs; Hamerton and Nortbcote, halfbacks ; Austin, Gibbs, Mills, M'Kinnon, Eeod, Eobb, Sleigh, Snodgrass, and Wylie, all forwards. The Otago captain won the toss, and taking advantage of the wind, chose the west goal. The teams having been placed as above stated, the ball was kicked off at 2.40 p.m. by the Canterbury captain, from the east end. The visitors missed it, and the ball was quickly touched down within a few yards of their goal lino, where it went into touch. On its being thrown out, Hamerton dashed away towards the cast end, and being well backed up the play was shifted to about the middle of the ground, the ball being in the centre of a well-packed scrimmage. This was quickly terminated by a brilliant bit of play on the part of Grigg (a College boy), who dribbled the ball through and past the bines in fine style, it going into touch in the Otago quarters. Some very fast play then onsned, and by good passing back and short runs, the Sontherncrs rushed the ball down, and Murray took it close to the Canterbury goal line where ho was securely held by a host of his enemies. Here the rods, who had not been playing particularly well together, rallied, and after a deal of pretty tough work, forced their adversaries gradually back, and relieved the goal from immediate danger, Grigg again showing to the fore and exhibiting some good play. Hamerton then tried to get away, but failed. Murray, Cargill, and others, however, were close at his heels, and by some very dashing play the Otago men again got tha ball well in the Canterbury quarters, Murray heading the blues in fine style, and being brought to the ground a second time within five yards of the ,'goal lino. Tha reds, who were no longer disorganised, bnt all playing very hard on the hall, quickly forced the blues back. Stringer got under weigh, but in trying to dodge slipped, and was immediately sat on by Hamerton, who most mysteriously appeared at every critical moment, and seemed to be always close on to the ball, as though attracted by a powerful magnet. A short, loose scrimmage ensued, and then Hamerton got away, but was soon overtaken aud well held by Anderson, Lewin following up and kicking the ball into touch. It was immediately thrown out, and the reds took it a little nearer the blues’ quarters, Potts appearing to the front through the scrimmage. Hero Hamerton again came to the rescue, and being well backed up by the rest of the blu-es, tha ball was rushed down in the Canterbury quarters, and finally over the line, the latter touching it down in self-defence. For some little time after the scene of action was principally in tha Otago quarters. Some sharp close play ensued, and assisted by a coupie of short runs on the part tf M'Cardell and Stringer, the forwards took the ball dangerously near the Otago goal line, from whence it was afterwards well taken by fclcigh to midground. Stringer again pot away towards the visitors’ goal, but was well collared by Murray, with Hamerton close up. The latter then made off with the ball, with Lewin.'and Potts in pursuit, who brought Hamerton to ground, and the Canterbury forwards rushed the ball down to within ten 3’ards of their opponents’ goal, where some very close and stubborn play ensued, the blues eventually getting the best of_ it by rushing the ball back to the middle of the ground, some good smart play being sh wn by Austin, Wylie, Mills, and others. Hamerton again got away and made a fine rua, but was prettily thrown over and into touch by Cotterill, five yards from the Canterbury lino. Ju t after the ball was thrown out, Hamerton took a drop and narrowly missed kicking a goal ; Canterbury touched down and immediately sent the ball into play again. Austin and Snodgrass here exhibited some good play, after which Field got hold cf the ball and made a capital run, Million and Boulton following up and aftf rwards taking the ball through the scrimmage in grand s ylo. Time was then called, ami the first spoil ended without either side scoring, touch-downs aud goals only counting. Though the Canterbury Lam were playing well, it looked us though the remit of the contest would be in favor of the Otago team, who were playing a very hard and fast game, and giving their opponents a great deal of hard work. After a change of goals ard a short intermission, play was resumed by Otago kicking off, and the ball was kept for a while in the Canterbury quarters, when Audcrson made a capital run, and was not collared till well in mid-ground. The blues then rushed the ball close down to the reds’ goal line, where some very exciting aud capital play ensued. Hamerton tried to drop a goal, but his kick was spoiled, and Mills afterwards brought the ball within a foot of the touch-down line. The reds, however, proved equal to the emergency. and were gradually forcing their opponents back, when Sleigh got the ball from the bai k of the scrimmage, aud took a drop, but it went under instead of over the cross bar, and the reds touched it down in self-defence. After this the ball was sent away to the middle of the gronnd and then sent into touch by Nortbcote and McLean. On its being thrown out. Pickering collared it smartly and dashed through the blues, and the Canterbury men quickly bad the bull close to the Otago lino, ami Cotterill kicked it over, the bines for the first time having to touch down in selfdtfence. It was kicked off again, and the reds, who were now playing up in splendid style, rushed the ball back again, and an exciting scrimnosgo ensued close to the Otago hue. Lewin, [well backed up by Bolton, Million, Pickering, and the other forwards, came through with the ball between his feet and took it over the line, but the blues succeeded in preventing the touch down. From this to the end of the spell the play was very fast, but so even that neither side were able to score, and it was a difficult matter to predict what would bo the result of the game. Goals were again changed, aud Million took the kick off for Canterbury, the ball being immediately sent behind the Otago lino, the lattfr side touching it down. The blues then had their revenge by rushing the hall down the ground, by thelaid of some good passing on the part of Nortbcote and Murray, the latter kicking tha hall behind the reds’ goal lino. Soon after this.

the ball being again in the red quarters, H amorton mad < a good shot at goal, but the ball went over the post instead of tho cross-bar. A little pKy then took place about mn. ground, afte- which the blues ogain rushed the ball clown and Sleigh ran it over tho goal line, but the reds spoilt the touch-down. A series of scrimmages then ensued in various parts of the ground, and finally tho reds w- ro again on the defensive, five yards from the goal, where they were fighting a capital game, when Sleigh terminated the struggle oy very smartly drop-kielnng the ball just under the cross-bar, making the second time he Irul narrowly missed a goal in the same manner. Though ho failed to got the muchcoveted prize, he well merited a share of the hearty applause which greeted the players generally at this critical part of the game. after this, Anderson managed to get fairly away, .and amidr.t loud npphuise, made a fine run a long way down the ground. On being collared, Stringer came to his assistance, and took tho ball within a few yards of the Otago goal p.-sts. Ihe blues, however, quickly sent it back whence it came, and Caygiil made a good attempt to drop a goal, but missed. first and second, the third spell ended without any definite result, and it looked very,much as though the catch would terminate in a draw. After a few minutes’ respite, the teams faced each other again, and the last spell of what so far had been a very c;o* el v-contested matjli commenced by Murray kicking off tor the blues. As previously, the ball was rot allowed to stop long in any particular part of the field, and tho play was tolerably even, neither side appearing to gain any pi.iti ular advantage. Alter about trn minutes, Otago had again to touch down behind ilai: "ivn goal line. Hamerton then got a chaocv- •> * run, but before going far was capitally collared by Pickering. Craig got the ball, bat could not get away far, being well held by -Sleigh f■ pto within five minutes of time being rul ed, Ur* play consisted of a series of short run * and closely contested scrimmages, ih« 1 taking place close to tho Canterbury go 1 bne. amidst much cheering and general excrement. Several times tbe reds gradually forced their opponents back, but were unab.o to get the ball away from the line. Finally it went into touch, and on its being thrown far out, the reds got it over the line and touched, down in their own defence. The ball was again kicked off, but time was called almost immediately, and a capitally contested match resulted in a draw. Almost from first to last the game was contested by both sides in a most plucky and praise worthy manner, and though the Otago men had hard luck on several occasions, there is really but little difference in tbe strength of tbe two teams. Tbe visitors are certainly a very smart and active lot of men, and never seem to lose the chance of making the most of every little advantage, the backs especially being particularly relia 1 le, whilst the forwards are all good men. .Indeed, with one or two exceptions, it would be difficult to name those who mostly distinguished themselves on Saturday. The home team, though they never expected to win the match, certainly deserve a great deal of credit for tho way in which they played, more especially the forwards, each of whona appeared to do his utmost to uphold the honor of Canterbury. Compared to the visiting team, the Canterbury backs bad lit l lo work to do, and though they showed some good play at times, taken as a whole they are not equal in point of merit to the Otago men.