FOOTBALL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 408, 18 August 1877, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Oamaru v. Tisiaru.

The Northern team arrived here, as was expected, by the 10.20 a.m. train and were met at the station by a few ot the members of the Oamaru Club, among whom we noticed Messrs. Otterson, M'Glashan, and Blackburn. After a short sojourn to the Royal Hotel the strangers, in small parties, strolled about the town, trying to kill time as best they could till luncheon, which was provided by Mr. Richardson (of the Royal) at 1o'clock. Luckily, the weather was all that could be desired, the genial warmth of the sun being tempered by a light breeze, so that an hour or so in the streets, after being cooped up for more than three hours in the train, was rather agreeable than otherwise. The following are the names of the players :—Timaru : Messrs. Hamersley captain), Craig, M'Pherson, M'Bratney, Goodwin, Godby, Mansfield, Verity, and Hales There thus being only nine men, the side was made up by Messrs Taylor (Dunedin), Hickey, Oarncross, Pickett, Gow, and Rhodes. Oamaru was represented by Messrs. Walls (captain), Booth Holdsworth, Finch, Burnett, Caverhill, Ferens, M'Glashan, Thompson, Honour, Rice, Otterson, Grenfell, Tempest, and Hardy. After luncheon an adjournment took place to the around, and play was commenced. Messrs. Booth, Walls, and Caverhill, and Grenfell and Holdsworth played quarter and half-backs respectively, Finch taking the goal, on the Oamaru side ; and Messrs. Craig and Godby, and M'Bratney, Hickey, and Hales were similarly disposed of on that of Timaru. It having been decided to have two bouts of 35 minutes each, and the Timaru captain having won the toss, he chose the westerly goal, Oamaru kicking off from the Tnames-street end. An attempt at a run-in was made by Timaru, and after a few scrimmages Craig carried it well down to the Oamaru goal. Caverhill and Walls both made attempts— Ferens finally making a splendid run and touching it down. A place kick by Caverhill was unsuccessful, the angle being too acute. Several scrimmages followed about the middle of the ground. Booth then made a gallant attempt at a run-in, but was collared, and then Hamersley, for j Timaru, had a try, but met with the same fate Craig made a charge, and at one time seemed likely to succeed, but beyond .retting the ball near the Oamaru goal, did not help matters much. Walls had a kick, which was cleverly replied to by Hickey, and Ftrens very nearly got a touch-down. The ball being got behind the Timaru goal, it was touched down, and Hamersley kicked it off again, fins led to a succession of scrimmages about midway between the goals. Booth now ran in, and was collared by Hickey close to the Timaru goal. A scrimmage ensued, resulting in the Timaru men touching down and kicking oil again. Ihe ball bein" forced down at the Oamaru end, was touched by M'Glashan. After some very even play Hamersley tried a run m, and in being collared had his shirt torn off his back. In the course of a few minutes Burnett very nearly Kicked a <roal for Oamaru, by a drop, and halftime was called, leaving Oamaru one touch-down against nothing for Timaru. The ends being changed, play was a«*ain resumed by Hamersley kicking oft, and very shortly the ball went m the creek, after which, Walls, in a run in, unfortunately got into touch ; and after some play the ball was being drawn well towards the Timaru goal, when Godby, by a splendid drop, sent it as far in the other direction. A few attempts at running in by both sides ended in a splendid one" by Caverhill, but there being some dispute, the ball was brought back to its original position, when Godby with the ball was cleverly collared, and after some scrimmaging the creek again had a visit from the ball. Ferens and Holdsworth both attempted to run in, but the collarina of Timaru was too good, the former making two or three good offers, and the programme being varied by the ball falling in the creek. The good play of the Oamaru men now kept the ball well down to their adversaries' croal, but the Timaru "backs" prevented any material advantage being gamed. As the time wore away, the shouts of Go it, Oamaru!" "Now then, Timaru! showed how anxious both sides were for victory. But it wavered, sometimes inclining one way, sometimes another, the only event worthy of note being a run-in by Ferens, which, however, was stopped, and a splendid one for Timaru, by Craig, which met with a similar fate. This led to a touch-down by Pickett, and Hamersley made a poor offer at a place-kick, which was abortive. Thus ended the game, the result being a draw, each side having scored a touch-down. Three cheers were given for the visitors, which compliment was returned by them, and the two teams left the ground. We had almost forgotten to mention that the umpires were Messrs. Blackburn and Macdonald, who performed their duties apparently to the satisfaction of both sides.

We are sorry to say that Mr. A. Hardy, one of the Oamaru players, hurt his collar-bone, and had to leave the field.

We trust the injury is not serious. Beyond this there were no accidents worthy of record, although the people crowding the ground inside the flags were very likely to bring about one. With regard to the play, it was decidedly good on both sides, and the superior weight of the Timaru men appeared at first sight too much for our men, but, as

the result showed, Oamaru made up for $ it. For Timaru, Messrs. Godby, Craig, Hickey, and the backs generally were worthy of notice, while on that of Oamaru Messrs. Walls, Booth, Caverhill, and Ferens, the two latter especially, showed splendid form.