FOOTBALL.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 360, 27 May 1884, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

— „ .«**_ — — fBY Long Dbop. &ORE V. INVERCARGILL PIRATES After the long spell of fine weather experienced during the season, it was very disappointing to find that Saturday morning proved to be wet and disagreeable — a state of things bo bad that only the true footballer would care about facing. Nevertheless every man turned up, and took journey by the early train to Invercargill. The match was commenced at 1 o'clock, and as there was another match to be played on the same ground ("Western Reserve) at 3 o'clock, it was agreedito play two spells of thirty minutes each. The Gore team was heavier than the Pirates, but this was counterbalanced by their opponents' agility. The game was tolerably fast all through, and the players were pretty evenly matched ; the Pirates forced d° wn once, Qore Ihxee times. Owing to the slippery nature of the ground the forwards had the most work to do, the backs having little opportunity of getting hold of the leather. Once, Smith, by a smart run, got over the Gore line, but before he could score Ambrose ' had him hustled into touch-in-goal. There was a good deal of offside play on both sidea, though Gj-ore was the greater offender in this respect. Altogether, the Gore team did very well for a first attempt, and I am confident that had they had a few practices together they would have been victorious. Squires, Eftdie, and Savers did a lot of useful work in the scrimmage. The ' Southland Times ■ in its report says : " For the { visitors McA'ribhur and Blaok played a good forward game, being always "on the ball, and. throughout guiltless of the general ofE-side offence. Treseder and McCulloeh were good as kaif-backs, ali though they missed a number of opportunities p£ passing. Macpherson (three-quarter-tyaek) displayed more knowledge of the game than any of ihe others. ' He. played very well, his punting being > and useful. The Pirates all worked Lav 4 and well, the more noticeable of the for? wards being "Wesney, Dunne, Geary, and Smith. Or the home backs, Harvqy, Wiiliams, Jiawke, gad A. Galbraith rea- '

lered good service. Messrs J. Murray ' captain of the Dunedin team) and C. B. EQngswell performed the duties of umpires satisfactorily." I hope that the result of the match will make the local players go in for 3teady practice, as there will be more matches played yery shortly. Visits from the Invercargill and Wallace clubs may be expected soon, with the return match with the Pirates to follow. A number of copies of the O.R.F.U. \rmnal for 1884 have just been received. . i. iiiolul little book is brimful of iniei*esting information, and every member should procure and read a copy.