OXFORD V. VIEW HILL.

Oxford Observer, Volume 1, Issue IV, 7 September 1889, Page 5

OXFORD V. VIEW HILL.

(By Kick-off.) A match between these Clubs was played on the cricket ground, View Hill, on Saturday last, which, after a capital game, resulted m a draw, neither side being able to score. The Oxford team arrived on the ground shortly before three o'clock, and were met by the local men. Mr 3. Parkinson captained the visitors, while ' Mr C. Gorton acted m a similar position for the home team. The former kicked off well into View Hill's ter*^/y^ory an< * trough one of the backs *•; Hj failing to return the kick, the local men '"_ yj/- were ptaced on the defensive for a few " ? , mimites. Some of the best play of the / A-f-mfttch was here shown, Harle (3), Gorton, and Sheldon being conspicuous, . and through their united efforts" the scene of play was shifted to neutral ground. Several times during the spell the Oxford men were within an ace of scoring, but, .owing to the splendid defensive play of View Hill, they were unable to do so, although two " force-downs ,l * were recorded. The second spell saw a decided improvement m the play of both teams, the forwards playing loose, and giving the backs a chance of handling the ball, and some very pretty passing was indulged m by them. Play during this spell hovered all over the field, aad neither side could claim any advahtage, the game ending as above -stated. For the local team Harle (2), Gorton, and Sheldon, amongst the backs, and Parlane, and Pole, amongst the forwards, played well, while for the visitors Parkinson, Luers, Ryde (2), 7 Reston, and Neithe, were the most conspicuous. Messrs W. Bassett and G. Smith acted as umpires, and iulfilled their duties ve.xy creditably. . In the evening both teams sat down '<■ to a splendid repast (provided by the local men) m the View Hill Schoolroom, and altogether a very pleasant . time was spent, the visitors leaving for home about eight o'clock. We were very pleased to see that a decided improvement lias taken place m the play of both teams since they last met, although there are one or two small matters which the players should at once attend to, particularly Rule 18, which reads, "In the event of any player holding or running with the ball being tackled, and the ball fairly held, he must at once cry down, and immediately mugt put it down. If, m the opinion of the referee, he has ' not immediately put it down, and if he being on the ground has not immediately got up, he shall, on a claim from the opposite side, award a free kick." Another matter that needs attention is ' Rule 23, which reads, '• In case any player wilfully touches the ball when off-side, the opposite side may claim either a free kick or a scrummage." : The captain of the View Hill team 7! informed us that he did not think his | team would play anymore. . We were j very sorry to hear this, as, judging by \; what we have seen of their play, some \ of the team promise to become /eally { good players, besides which it will i make a difference to all the Clubs m __ the district*. .