THE NELSON v. CANTERBURY FOOTBALL MATCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4824, 7 September 1876, Page 3

THE NELSON v. CANTERBURY FOOTBALL MATCH.

In the Colonist of Tuesday thero Ib the following account of the above match : —Soon after three o'clock the two teims arrived on the ground, and Nelson having won the toss elected to play with their backs to the sun and wind. The ground was not all that might have been desired, for it was very sloppy in places, but on the whole it was in fair condition. The Canterbury captain having kicked off the ball, and having sent it uncomfortably close to the Nelson goal, some very warm work occurred at the outset, but first Nicholson and then Warnock got at the ball, and it waH driven down to the other end, but it was immediately back again, when Firth got a kick, and he should have been followed \ip by Sharp, who was on the ball, but he made a miss, and then Canterbury opened the scoring by a force-down, with half-a-point. Immediately afterwards Canterbury was pressing very hard, and Warnock by an unlucky kick gave G. potts an opportunity, which he did not fail to take advantage ; of, and he secured a try, which Moore kicked off, but he failed to secure a goal. Then G. Potts secured another try, but Moore was again unsuccessful. After this Nelson kept the ball pretty well down to their opponents' goal, but they were unable to do any more, and just before time was called the ball was passed on by the Canterbury men in a capital manner, and it again began to look gloomy for Nelson. At this time Canterbury scored 7. Goals were then changed, and some really capital play ensued. Both teams were doing their level best, and they appeared for the time more evenly matched; but after a time McCardell secured a try for Canterbury, and Moore again failed in sending the ball over the goal. After this Nicholson got the ball and made a splendid run with it two-thirds of the distance to the Canterbury goal; but there he was collared,, and shortly after time was called. The score then stood—Canterbury 12, Nelaon 0. In tho next change there was some very hard playing, and the game became exciting. Scrimmages were numerous, and the ball was frequently in touch ; but towards the end of this half hour Canterbury secured another try, and Cotterill kicked the first goal, thus bringing the Canterbury score up to 18. During the last half-hour the ball was only twice away from the Nelson goal, when it was sent down to the Canterbury backs ; but on each occasion Moore Bent it up again, on the first nearly obtaining a goal by a magnificent kick. Some hard scrimmages then occurred, and from two of these McCardell managed to get the ball behind the scrimmagers and to kick a goal, thus adding 12 more to the Canterbury score,' whilst Nelson failed to score a point. Throughout the play the best of feeling prevailed amongst the players, and at the conclusion of the match cheers wore given by either side for the other, and the two teams returned to town. They afterwards dined together at McGee's Nelson Hotel, after which the Canterbury men were driven to tha steamer and escorted on board by their late opponents. With regard to the play of the Canterbury men, we owe it to them to say that they are not mentioned singly so frequently as they deserve, the reason being that our reporter was not sufficiently well acquainted with their names ; however, the whole team waß a really good one, was well commanded, and each man appeared in his right place. The forward men were all exceedingly active, and generally close on the ball. The half-backs, especially McCardell and Stringer, made some capital run: ning, and they wore both very sure. The backs, when they did have anything to do, Boon Bent tho ball far from

their own g0a1..... Their,men were undoubtedly, too heavy for the Nelson players, but notwith. standing their advautage in this respect, they made few good runs, for they were soon collared and sent to grass. Amongst those who were most conspicuous in thus dealing with their adversaries were Askew and Baddeley, two of the youngest and lightest of the Nelson team. Had some of the heavier among the Nelson " forward " men been as active as these two, the Canterbury men would scarcely have had quite so much their own way, we fancy.