FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 25, 9 August 1887, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

UNION V. GISBORNE.

The second match between the Union and Gisborne senior fifteens was played on Saturday. Arundel captained the former and L. Rees the latter. The club umpires filled their usual places, and Captain Winter acted as referee and timekeeper. Play began by Arundel sending the leather down the ground, Staite returning it. Short runs by Rees, Hall, and Tyler carried the war into the Union twenty-five. Five minutes after play began Wade passed back to Rua at half, who failed to hold it, and A. Rees dashing up, grabbed the ball, dodged the full back, who was right on his own line, and scored first blood for Gisborne. Bull took the kick, but the ball went wide. Score, one point to love. Lewis kicked out. The Union forwards rushed down and spoilt the return. Good play followed, the fowards on both sides playing desperately, when A. Rees passed to his brother, who laid down to his work and shot over the line within a few inches of the right corner flag. Bull tried again at a difficult angle, but no goal resulted. Lewis kicked out, Staite returning promptly. Skeet saved his side by a clever run, and Rua taking up the parable dodged two-thirds of the team, but the latter would not be denied and a rush, followed up by Bourke, Dunlop, and Lysnar carried the ball into Union ground. Half time was then called, the scrum being in the latter’s ground. The score stood, Gisborne, two points: Union, nil. Bull kicked off, and Abraham returned into touch, and desperate charges by Arundel (who did a heavy lot of work) Whitehead, Lennel, and others, ended in the ball crossing the line, and was finally secured by Wade. Lewis took the kick, but the angle was bad, and the ball fell wide. Sage kicked out, and Bees, with clever dribbling, worked the ball down. After some desperate scrimmaging, Tyler got the ball, but was called back. From a pass from Bourke L. Rees touched down which was converted into a gaol. Time being called the score was Gisborne five points. Union, nil. The play was fair, but there was too much talking, and a disinclination on the part of both teams to accept the Umpire’s decision. As each Club has now won a match no doubt a final game will be arranged to decide which can put the best team in the field.