Football Gossip

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 20, 12 August 1893, Page 9

Football Gossip

TOWN v. COUNTRY. [By Umpire.] The rain it poured, The wind it blew; But by thirteen points We put them thro’. —Maboon, Such, a day for —football, I was going- to say, but I think I shall say swimming, eh Carbine ? The ground was in no condition for football, and had the Match Committee cried the match off no one would have grumbled. As a test match to see if there were any of the country men fit to come into the trials it was a failure, the game being kick hard—that was when the players were able to see the ball for the water and mud. The town hoys did not like the wet hall, although there was some good passing at times. Rodgers was in good form at kicking goals —three out of four attempts is not bad at all. Cuff scored a very clever try. Where were the country halves ? Mcßobie showed a clean pair of heels for his try, and did some good dribbling. There’s no mistake, the mnd does suit Nib. Catherall was about the best of the country forwards —Royds close up. The combined dribbling rushes of the country were a treat, there being on nearly every rush four or five waiting: to have his turn at the leather. O Bain did some good work and had very hard luck in not scoring a try when he took a bath in one of the pools. Sydney Hirst played the best hack game for the country, his fielding of the ball being very clean. He should certainly be given a trial on the wing. Clark was a very good full-back, but he has a very had habit of kicking straight up the field. W. Hirst did some good collaring, hut the three emergencies—McKay, Russell, Manson —did not appear to like the wet very much. Murphy, Lock, Hast, and Mcßobie seemed to do the most work for the town, the former starting some very nice passing rushes. Neither Neave nor Ramsay were up to form on the wing. The heeling out of the town forwards (and this should not be affected by a wet ball) was not good, and Cuff had few opportunities of getting the ball away, consequently Mcßohie’s play was hampered, but on the defence he was generally about. The game was by no means onesided, the Country having the ball in the Town’s quarters as oftemas it was in theirs. Two penalty goals, a goal from a try, and a try, is not by any means a big doing, Country ; but I am afraid if it had been fine the scox-es would have been pretty large. Twemlow and Molloy fairly revelled in the mnd, and both played a good game of their own style—Molloy especially. The Country played one man short all through, and yet they generally pushed the scrum when the ball did not come out cleanly. Mr R. Galbraith was an efficient referee, and Messrs J. Taylor and Jenkins were line umpires.