INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 165, 6 July 1875, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

The long talked of football match between the Wellington an d Nelson Clubs took place in the Botanical Gardens yesterday afternoon. The name*, of those comprising the rival teams are as follows ; — Wellington — Park (captain), James, Isherwood, Pal li ser, A. Campbell, G. Campbell, G. Bishop, J. Bishop, A. Bishop, Blackett, Webb, France, Stohr, and Morris. Neisou— Barnicoat (captain), T. Nicholson, Gully, Warnock, Hole, Hodgson, Hervey. G. Nicholson, Monro, Speed, Tennent, Wells, Scaife, and Hopkins. Umpires— Rev J. Kempthorne and Mr Hoy. At three o'clock the Wellington team drove on to the ground, and were met by the Nelson men, and immediately the two teams took the field, and a very bright and animated appearance they presented, our visitors in their scarlet and white striped caps, jerseys, and stockings, and blue serge knickerbockers, the Nelson men in white jerseys and knickerbockers and red stockings, uniformity, however, not being studied iv their caps. This is a matter they should look to in future, as it produces a better effect if all the players on the same side are dressed alike iv every particular. Not that ifc mattered much in this particular instance, for a very few minutes of kicking aud rolling and struggling togctJ I(s r ii the mud sufficed to produce something approaching to uniformity in the color ot all lhe dresses ou both | sides. On inspecting thp two teams as j they prepared for fiction one could not

bnt feel that the Wellington men must win. Bulk and strength were all in ; their favor, and if the two "fourfceens" | could have been placed onthe scales | Nelson must have kicked the beam | with a swift and sudden shock. But, I though light, our local champions looked smart and active, and there were many who thought that the game was not hopeless if they could only make quick work of it, and, run the [ ball down to their opponents goal in a ! reasonably short space of time. The | ground, unfortunately, was not in a I favorable state, the heavy rain that fell so steadily all Sunday having rendered tbe soil in some places very heavy, in others dangerously slippery ,but, however disagreeable this might have proved to the players, to tbe spectators it afforded a source of infinite amusement, as tumble after tumble occurred, the tumbler, on his rising again, displaying palpable proof of the recent acquaintance he had made with mother earth, in the shape of a huge patch of a yellowish brown ' hue on one part or another of his dress. At seven minutes past three the play commenced, Wellington, who won the toss, having selected the western goal, thus having, not only the sun, but a fair breeze at their backs. Barnicoat kicked off, and the twenty-eight men who had been standing quietly by up to tbat moment were, as though suddenly inspired, at once on the move. And soon the fun grew fast and furious; the ball was flying all over the field ; and the " whites " and the " reds " were every now and then jumbled up together in inextricable confusion. Palls occurred so frequently that they soon became monotonous. Por a time we attempted to keep count of them, but in nine minutes they had reached 37, and from that point we gave up the "tally" as hopeless. But all this time the ball appeared to be inspired with an affection for the Wellington goal, from which it could not tear itself away to any appreciable distance. Park did his best, and he certainly can run " like a bird," Isherwood brought all his strength and determination to bear, Campbell (he in the nightcap) did credit to his previous training in the Nelson school of football— he ran, and he kicked, and he dodged his pursuers— till "all was blue," we were about to say, but cannot speak with authority, as we were not favored with a sight of his shins— but wherever they went, or whereever they kicked, there was a white jersey and a pair of red stockings, and, at last, at twenty-one minutes past three a " try " was scored by Hodgson for Nelson, although Hole m kicking the ball did not secure a goal. Andso, at it they went again, the ball atill clinging to tbe Wellington goal until, amidst loud cheers, Monro, with a place kick, sent it between the posts. This was at twenty-flve minutes to four, after twenty-eight minutes downright hard play. The game was at once resumed, but in two minutes " time " for change of goals was called, and the respective teams then tried to kick the ball in the direction against which they had previously been defending ifc. And now the tables anpeared to be turned, fop the NeJson ipen were continually doing battle in the immediate vicinity of their own gaol instead of that of their opponents. Weight and strength were telling, and the slim and light, but remarkably active, youths who stood up so manfully before their big brothers from the other side of the Straits were gradually being overcome. Fight th.ey did, but so did their opponents, and at last Q-. Campbell gqj; a place kick, secured by Webb by a $ue fusli through his opponents between the goal posts, bis viptorjoqs course being very nearly checked by a dangerous grab made afc him by T. Nicholson, who, unfortunately, slipped at the critical moment and so lost his hold. Wellington cheered this time as they saw tfe ball soaring in the desired direction at five minutes to four. And now, who srap to get ph,e tjijctf g^J ? V ov i long time IN elson still seemed ipferiot to Wellington. The ball continually (JangPFQUsJy near £o their quarters,and tq get it wW $ W q,y Bepi H! _4 iaipo^ihje. Time w^s once more ca]le<j at seven minutes past four, and again the goals were changed, and from this time Nelson seemed to pluck up, and to be as good as their opponents. Sometimes the bfll] wm ftt fifle prfd qf the gpqyqd,, but a well.directetf Jcjclc \?e'U-follovyed up by the scouts in the distance, woukf carry it to the other in an iqcredibjy short space of tfrjja, but, almost as quickly, it travelled back again. Occasionally it was laid hold ot, and a desperate run with it made amid cries of " Bun, Jack, run." but Jack, with one little fellow rjdujg hjin pip^aback, n big fellow seigiqg hold pf him on each side, and two or three moderatesized fellows dodging in about hi? legs, could not by any possibility vnt\ very fast, and so the ball was dragged from his grasp, and another lot became interested in the proceedings, And so the game went on. At twenty-three minutes to five there was another, and the last, change of goals, and for another half hour the fight raged with varying fortunes. Every nov? and then the Wellington men seemed sure of victory, but then, perhaps, Nicholson haa something tp sjjy to him who was running with the ball, and when Nicnolson did interfere there was bound to be a ciay.colored patch on somebody's knickerbockers. Once the goal waa very nearly gained by Wellington. The ball was iv the hands of one who could rnn, and who had outstripped the Held, but this time Monro came to the rescue. Bravely he charged the runner. There was a tremendous collision and both went down, Monro temporarily stunned, but he had saved V

his side from what looked almost like inevitable defeat, and though rendered uncomfortable for a time, he had reason to be gratified with the result of his self sacrifice. At seven minutes past five, time was called and the match was declared a drawn one, although slightly in favor of the Nelson team, who, in addition to their goal, had secured a " try. 1 ' The game throughout was conducted in the most good-humoured manner, notwithstanding the numerous tumbles, blows, and kicks experienced by the large majority of the players. In the " scrummages " hnd tussles for possession of the ball, the Wellington , men almost invariably had the best of I it, owing to their superior strength, in addition to which they gained the indirect advantage of partially winding their opponents, but, in kicking, and running, sliding, or skating — call it which you will— through the mud, the light, agile Nelsonians did not come off second best. Indeed, ifc appeared to the onlookers thafc if our men had nofc been so fond of a "scrummage" as occasionally to invite ifc almost unnecessarily, they might have fared even better than they did.* In one thing especially the "Wellington men shone, namely, m the remarkable quickness with which they passed the ball from one to the other. This occasionally took the Nelsonians by surprise, and if that description of play is in accordance with their rules, they will do well to practise it before the time arrives for their next tussle with Wellington. At the conclusion of the match each side heartily cheered the other, and as the two teams drove I back to town together their joviality and good humor were so exuberant that ! throughout the whole of their drive the | streets were resonant with their cheers. | In the evening they sat down to a | capital dinner provided for them by Mr I M'Gee.