INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 209, 15 September 1879, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

NELSON V. WELLINGTON. This match was played on the Basin Reservo, Wellington, on Saturday afternoon last, and as the weather was all that could be desired, there were from two to three thousand people present, including His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, Lady Robinson, and suite. At the commencement the Wellington men were the favorites, the betting being six to four on them, but a good many fancied the Nelson team, it being considered the more active. As the two teams walked on to the ground Wellington looked much the heavier, in fact they averaged over a stone more than their opponents. Shortly after three o'clock Davis kicked off for Wellington, Nelson having a light northerly breeze in their favor. The ball was caught by Clouston who tried to run with it, but was immediately caught. Nelson then rushed the ball down to their adversary's goal, and made three touches down in selfdefence. Upon the ball being kicked out, a deal of hard scrimmaging took place in the centre of the field, until Cooper got hold of the ball, and made a fine run right through the Nelson forwards. Shortly after this the first 25 minutes was called, and the teams changed goals. The Wellington men now had the wind in their favor, and taking advantage of this they gradually worked their way down to the Nelson goal, in front of which some hard play took place, resulting in the first touch down for Wellington. Cooper tried the kick but failed to get a goal. Nelson, nothing daunted, played even a harder game than before, and carried the ball well down towards the Wellington goal, but only for a short time, as the Wellingtonians with their greater weight rushed it up again. Hodgson then tried a run for Nelson but only to be collared immediately. Firth with his great strength tried his luck, and got through the Wellington forwards, causing much amusement by the way in which he knocked their men over. On commencing the third spell of play Wellington rushed the ball down, and kept it in front of Nelson's goal line, causing them to touch down in self-defence several times. Richmond then got the ball and ran with it into the middle of the field, when he was collared. Wellington's weight again began to tell, and the Nelson men had to retreat more and more to their goal line. At this stage Askew, by a splendid kick, sent the ball a long distance down the ground, but it was immediately rushed up again, and Berry getting hold of it, ran up close to the Nelson goal line, and being caught passed it back to Rule, who ran in behind, getting a second touch down for Wellington. The kick was tried by G. Campbell, who did not allow enough for the wind, the ball falling ahort of the post. Scrimmage after scrimmage ensued, Nelsoa fighting manfully. At thia part of the game

the excitement of the spectators was inteuse each side being cheered on by their sup - porters. At last the Nelsonians were slowly driven over their line, aud a maul in goal occurred resulting in a touch down being obtained by Berry, but the ball bcin;.' touched down a Jong way from (he goal tho result was nil. The third 95 minutes was then called, and the teams changed goals again prior to the last Struggle. This bej.'an un fortunately for the Nelsouians, for the elder Askew when running with the ball was thrown heavily and severely shaken.insomuch that he had to be carried eff the ground, so that Nelson had to play a man short for the remainder of the game. After a great deal of scrimmaging and hard play on both sides time was called, and the uiatch resulted iu a victory for Wellington by four tries to Nelson's nothing. Nelson played a plucky game throughout, though over matched from the beginning, aud when it is taken into consideration that they were playing the champion team of New Zealand, their performance may be regarded as a most creditable one. The Nelson team were entertained by their opponents at a dinner on Saturday evening at the Empire Hotel, when the usual speechifying upon such occasions took place.