FOOTBALL MATCH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 220, 7 September 1876, Page 2

FOOTBALL MATCH.

WELLINGTON COLLEGE V. NELSON . COLLEGE. The return match between these two teams, which was played yesterday, was one of the most interesting games we have seen in Nelson, the players being very evenly matched, the day fine; and the grounding capital order. .At. half -past two a qoach and. four. was in waiting for them at the Masonic Hotel, and on the. signal being given, jSf teen pairs of legs encased in red and a like number in blue were to be seen " swarming " up the sides of the vehicle with an activity that .promised well for the future proceedings. Arrived on the ground, no time was lost in "peeling," and in a very few minutes the two teams were in their places/ the Wellingtonians in wjhite j&rseys, and knickerbockers,/ red stockings, and, red and white caps, their opponents being dressed in the same costume, only substituting blue for red. In the matter of whiskers and legs our visitors had decidedly the best of it, and they were at once made the favorites, though there were many who thought that the slighter, but wirylooking, lads who represented the Nelson College would take a good deal of beating. Shortly after three play commenced, the Nelson captain having decided to play with the wind and sun against him, wisely judging that towards the end of the game they would be less able to contend against adverse circumstances than at the beginning. Burnes, the Wellington captain, kicked off in good style, and his men followed up well, but after a while the ball was brought back to the centre of the field, where the first scrimmage was, and, to judge from the. number of red and blue legs that were suddenly seen pointing upwards, many of their owners must have been on their backs. In a few minutes the ball was back at the Nelson end, but Burnett go«- to work at it and followed it up towards the Wellington ground, when Burnes got a fair kick at.it, aud it was bound to travel for he seldom kicks in vain. Hodgson caught and sent it back, and after that it was never far away from the Wellington goal line. A very short time before the first twenty minutes had elapsed it waa in touch, and on its being thrown out Halliday very cleverly caugho and made a bolt with it to'the rear of the Wellington goal. The try was made over to Vickerman, a wee laddie who looked as though he might have been coiled up within the ball as cosily as a chicken in its egg, but he evidently knew what to do with it, for a very few seconds later a ringing cheer from the blue - legged boys told that Nelson had scored a goal, equal to six points. Time was now called, and after the consumption of a very fair number of oranges and lemons, the opposing forces once more met. Firth commenced by kicking tbe ball to very near the Wellington goal, where, however, Burnes was in waiting, and after some smart running with it he saw his opportunity, aDd a well administered kick relieved the Wellingtonians from any immediate fear of its scoring against them. During the whole of this spell the play was splendid, every effort being made on both sides to secure some advantage, but in vain, for each individual appealed to be determined that if his own side could "not score, the other should be in precisely the same position. There were running .and scrimmaging and kicking, but from about the centre of the ground the ball could not be moved. Barton once got hold of it, set his teeth, and made a nrost determined run. One pair of blue legs was sent flying in one direction and another in another as the result of their attempts to stop him, and he really at one time looked like getting away, but up came two or three more, and with a jersey torn to shreds as evidence of the rough treatment he had received in his plucky attempt, he was hurled to the grojnd and his last hope taken away from him. M'Kellar on the Nelson aide also distinguished himself by some very smart runs, but they Avere of no avail. On time being called the score still stood at Nelson, 6; Wellington, 0. On play being resumed Burnes got the ball down to the Nelson end where it remained nearly the whole of the twenty minutes, the play on the Wellington side being so good as to keep .Nelson on the defence all the time. They however did not succeed in scoring more than three force downs equal to \\ points, although Nelson was on two or three occasions - in imminent danger, on one of which it was averted by a very clever run by Askew who got hold of the ball when it was very near his goal, and made clean away with it despite the strong efforts made to stop him. When time was called the score was Nelson, 6Wellington, l£. After a short rest they went at it again, and until the close of the game play never slackened. At first the ball was kept near the Wellington end where two more half points were made, but after a while it was worked back to the Nelson side where Wellington scored another force down • At one time a splendid run was made from the centre of the ground by St. John who got through his opponents and was making j for the goal without, as it at one time appeared the slightest chance of his being stopped. But there was one chance. From away to the right of him a pair of not very large blue legs was seen making towards him. Ruu Hodgson, for on you depends the result of the match 1 If St. John gets a try now, the chances will be in favor of Wellington scoring a goal, and then where would Nelson be ? Hodgson seemed to see this, and so Hodgson ran faster aud with more desperation than he ever ran before. He closed on St. John, but would not run the risk of trying to collar him, but cunningly threw himself down before him, and the two rolled over together. Probably Hodgson was hurt a little, but what cared he for that? He had saved his side, and that this was recognised was sho,vn by the cheers that greeted his clever feat. After this nothing more was scored on ether side, and at the close of the game the score stood thus — . Nelson 7 Wellington 2 In the evening both teams were hospitably entertained at dinner at the College by Mr Mackay.