INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4825, 8 September 1876, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

CANTEBBURY V. WELLINGTON. The second of these matches as against our own province was played yesterday in Mr Biddiford's paddock at the Lower Hutt, the opposing team hailing from the province of Canterbury. The fine weather gave the lovers of the game an opportunity of having a fieldday, and great numbers availed thsmselves of the special railway accommodation provided. A few of the spectators went by road, but by far the greater number made use of the train, in fact so great a number that some of them had to be accommodated as dry goods in a couple of luggage trucks. The victory of Canterbury over Nelson seemed to have impressed Wellington people in their favor, for on the journey up odds of 2 to 1 on Canterbury were freely offered, but met with few acceptors. The ground was in excellent condition and well marked off, but a stiff breeze blowing up the ground from the railway end gave a decided advantage to the side playing with it. Canterbury won the toss, and as a matter of course made use of their advantage, and played with the wind. Play commenced at a quarter to 3, and Smith kicked off for Wellington. After a stiff scrimmage or two, in which the Canterbury forwards at once showed their superiority in discipline, one of the Wellington men made a fine drop at goal, which, however, was unsuccessful, and the strangers were compelled to touch the ball down behind their goal line, Wellington thus drawing first blood. The Canterbury kick out was rather a miss fire, and Campbell getting hold of the ball made a pretty run, but being collared threw back very neatly to Hillsden, who made a fine drop into touch. On the ball being thrown in, Thomson, one of the Wellington heavies, got hold of it, but was soon stopped, Anderson, the Canterbury captain, getting possession of it, and making a fine run close to the Wellington goal line. Hillsden pulled the ball out of the fire , for Wellington, dropping it into touch, and after this it was worked down by the Canterbury men, there being some very hot scrimmaging close to the goal line, resulting in a rouge for Canterbury. After the kick out James got hold of the ball, and made a neat drop, but one of the Canterbury quarter-backs afterwards got a fine run back with it, and on his being collared, and a Bcrimmage ensuing, another of the strangers made a fair catch, and calling " mark," took a fine kick at goal. This resulted in a miss, but the Wellingtonians were compelled to touch the ball down, Canterbury scoring another rouge. Instead of taking a kick out Park ran out with the ball, but his career was soon stopped, and Canterbury again worked down towards the Wellington goal. James taking possession made a fine run in front of the goal, talcing his drop when hard pressed, but this resulted in McArdle getting the ball, and taking a flying shot at goal. The desired event didn't come off, but Canterbury score another rouge. Park again tried to run out with the ball, but was collared almost immediately, and after some hot play Canterbury scored another rouge. The Wellington men now made an effort to pull themselves together, and after some very pretty play in the centre of the ground succeeded in scoring a second rouge. This seemed really to invigorate the Canterbury team, for they played splendidly together, and at the end of the first half-hour when time was called had run their score up as below : Canterbury. 'Wellington. Kouges, or force-downs 6 2

It was thought that the ■Wellington men would retrieve their position on the game being resumed, having the wind in their favor, but they only went from bad to worse, and with a few notable exceptions seemed quite demoralised. Potts kicked off ffor Canterbury, and the ball went right behind the Wellington goal line. The umpires decided that this was to count as a rouge for Canterbury, but we do not know on what principle they decided that a score could be made from a kick off. Park made a very pretty run right down the abound, but not being properly backed up his efforts were of no avail. After some hot work in the centre of the ground the Canterbury men again worked up and scored another rouge. After the kick out there was some good rough-and-tumble work, and Park made another good run. Canterbury, however, stuck to their work well together, and the disorganised Btate of the Wellington forwards ended in the strangers scoring another rouge. As soon as the ball was in play it was again worked up in close proximity to the Wellington goal, and there was dribbled into touch, the Canterbury men getting the throw out. By some means the ball was not thrown straight out, but behind the Wellington goal line, and being touched down by Canterbury, they claimed a touch-down. The umpires differed in their decision, but we are decidedly of opinion with the Wellington umpire that there should have been no score. Canterbury was unsuccessful in the try which followed, and Pollen cleverly ran the ball out for Wellington. This was not backed up, however, and Canterbury soon scored another rouge. After the kick out there- was some pleasant by-play in an adjacent hedge, Canterbury by their steady play working the ball up to the opposite goal, and there resulted a very hot scrimmage, followed by a tussle on the ground, James coming out of it triumphant, and touching the ball down. After scoring this rouge, the kick out being bad, Canterbury almost immediately scored another. After this the Wellington men made a spurt and ran the ball down, but their progress was stopped by a Canterbury man who was playing off-side. Soon after a fair catch was made by a Canterbury player, who took an unsuccessful drop at goal, which, however, resulted in getting them another rouge. Time was then called, the score standing as follows :

Canterbury. "Wellington. Rouges or f orco-downs 13 2 Touch-do\vns .... 1 0

Park kicked off for Wellington, and after some pretty play by James, Canterbury scored a rouge. This was quickly followed by two others, Wellington's forward play being exceedingly loose, and the quarter-backs playing altogether too close to the scrimmages and seeming to think that kicking was not a part of their duty at all. Through the game it was a fatal error on the part of the Wellingtonians that they attempted to run with the ball too much, instead of taking their dropkick when they had an opportunity. Thomson made a good run from touch to the centre of the ground ; but as with nearly all their opportunities, this chance was lost by the forwards not backing up, and Canterbury soon got the ball back. Pollen however got hold of it and made a fine kick, which was caught by the Canterbury goal-keeper and quickly returned. Hillsden then got off-side, which reresulted in a scrimmage, the ball having to be taken back. Keith then got the ball, but made a very feeble drop into the hands of Stringer, who was right under his nose. Stringer took a shot at goal, but missed; and on the ball being kicked out he caughf it again, and had another shot with a similar result. The Wellingtonians on this Becond attempt were compelled to touch the ball down, Canterbury scoring a rouge, which was quickly followed by another. After the kick out Lee made a fine run, but was collared and relieved of his jersey by some of the home team. On its being returned to him it was not in a perfect state of repair. Soon after Canterbury scored another rouge, and after the kick out and a scrimmage or two unpleasantly near the home team's goal, Campbell got the ball and foolishly ran right in front of goal and executed a similar feat to Keith's. Porter, who caught the ball, cried "mark," and placed it for Moore, who kicked a poster, and immediately after this Canterbury scored two more rouges. Then there was some excellent play on each side, the Canterbury quarter-backs passing

the ball from one to the other in splendid style. Evans eventually got away, but was cleverly stopped by James, who all through the game did mountains of work. J. Barkerthen got the ball, and his run right across the goal to the touch-line was the finest piece of play of: the day. A maul in goal followed, James; getting the ball out after a stiff fight, and Canterbury scoring a rouge. The third halfhour being up, time was called, the score standing as follows : .' Canterbury Wellington. Kouges or force-downs 22 ' 2 Touch-dowDS .. 1 0

Canterbury kicked off, and after a SGrimmage or two Keith and the umpire had a loving tumble into touch, after which Lee was despoiled of what little upper rainment he had left; the remnants of his jersey when put on caused him to look not unlike Eob Boy Macgregor in buff and a tartan plaid ; but notwitstanding his vesture, he made some splendid play with Barker, who, although stopped by Park, compelled the Wellingtonians to touch the ball down, and scored another rouge for his own side. After the kick out Barker again got the ball, but owing to some Wellington man playing off-side, was stopped ; however, it was only for a minute 1 or two, and again getting possession, he got nearly to the goal-line, being again stopped by Park. Campbell eventually got the ball, and by a smart run and drop-kick relieved the goal from danger for a time. The home team were fatigued or had had enough of it, for the Canterbury men began now to literally walk through them, and soon scored another rouge. After this Pollen played very finely, but not being backed up, the ball was quickly worked back and a rouge scored for. Canterbury. After the kick of the strangers made a very fine being backed up by Lee, the pair of them with a comrade got the ball behind the goal line, only one Wellingtonian—James—having his hands on the ball. In the maul which followed he fought most pluckily against odds of 3 to 1, and ultimately Canterbury scored a second touch-down. The try which followed was an utter failure, but a rouge was scored. Immediately after Chapman got a fair catch right in front of the goal, but the kick which followed, unfortunately for Canterbury, went over the post, and time was called without a goal being scored on either side. It had been arranged that rouges or force-downs should count half a point, and touch-downs 3 points, and at the conclusion of the game the score stood as follows : Canterbury. Wellington i Rouges or force-downs .. 25 12i pts. 2 1 pts. Tonch-downs .. .. 2 0 „ 0 0 „ Total 18} 1 Mr. Neilson acted as umpire for Canterbury, and Mr. Palliser for Wellington. At the close of the game three hearty cheers were given on each side, and the players and spectators wended their way to the railway station. The names and weight of the respective players are as follows :

Canterbury, st. lbs. "Wellington, st. lb. Cotterill 9 12 A. Campbell 11 2 D. Potts 12 8 G. Campbell 11 5 A. Potts 11 5 A. Smith 12 7 Chapman 12 13 H. Pollen 11 7 T. Barker 12 i Hickson 11 0 J. Barker 12 10 Keith 13 O G.Lee 12 0 Grace 11 10 H. W. Moore 14 2 J. Thompson 16 1G W. Milton 11 6 A. Bishop 10 10 J. Milton 9 10 Speed 11 9 McArdle 9 0 Lee 11 10 Stringer 11 3 Cowie 11 7 Ollivier 12 13 Hillsden 11 0 Evans 10 1 James 10 10 Anderson, (Capt) 10 0 G. Park, (Capt) 12 6

The two team 3 dined together in the evening at the Panama HoteL Several of the members of the House of Representatives were present by invitation, and Mr. Pearce, M.H.R., occupied the chair. A very pleasant evening was spent, and after the usual loyal toast 3 had been duly honored, the Chairman proposed the visiting team, coupled with the name of Mr. Anderson. Mr. Anderson replied, and proposed the home team, coupled with the name of Mr. Park. Mr. Park, after replying, proposed the Superintendent of Canterbury, which was responded to by Mr. Rolleston, M.H.K. Mr. Anderson proposed Mr. Werry, who, in replying-, expressed a hope that Wellington would be able next season to send a team to visit Canterbury and the other provinces. Mr. Werry then proposed the members of the House of Representatives, which was duly honored. Mr. Moorhouse proposed the umpires, which was responded to by Mr. James, in the absence of Mr. Palliser and Mr. Neilson. Mr. Harper, M.H.R., proposed the chairman who in his reply stated that he had no doubt the wish expressed by Mr. Werry would be fulfilled next year. The Chairman then proposed Auckland, coupled with the name of Mr. Rees, M.H.R. This toast was duly honored and replied to, and after the health of the ladies, by Mr. Wakefield, M.H.lt., had been honored, the proceedings came to a close.