Football Gossip

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 25, 16 September 1893, Page 9

Football Gossip

INTERPEO 7INCIAL MATCHES. From Our Christchurch Corresiondent. The annual football match -with Otago took place on Saturday last, and, contrary to expectations, the exhibition of Rugby football was of a very mediocre description. It was the general opinion that a fast and exciting game would be witnessed, but quite the opposite was the case, the play being mostlyconfined to the forwards. Though victorious, it must be confessed that the local players were more lucky than their opponents, who had rather the better of the play. The spectators, true to their reputation, bestowed applause on both teams impartially. The only unpleasant feature of the game was the unfortunate accident that befell Esquilant in the early part of the first spell. His absence undoubtedly weakened the visiting team, for, during his retirement, Canterbury scored their only try. When he re-appeared, his nose disfigured by a huge piece of stickingplaster, the applause that greeted him was something quite out of the common. His injury consisted of a compound fracture of the nose. Of the game itself there is little that calls for notice. The combined back play, a characteristic of the home team, was absent. Cook, the half-back, who played for the first time for his province on Saturday, was the only back who played up to his reputation. It may he stated that while the try gained by Otago was the outcome of excellent play, that secured by the local team was a lucky one, for while his opponents were waiting for the whistle Menzies dashed over the line. Had a gust of wind not turned the course of the ball as it was nearing the posts, the visitors would very probably have converted their try into a goal. Duncan, for Otago, played the best back game on the ground. The members of the Southland football team arrived on Tuesday evening. They were accorded a hearty reception by the local Union and the Canterbury fifteen. Eain was falling that afternoon and evening, and owing to this reason the large crowd and brass band which were to have met your team at the station did not put in an appearance. The local team are the favourites, but if their play is not an improvement on that of Saturday, I expect them to suffer defeat. [Bx Telegraph.] Christchurch, Sept. 14. The football match, Canterbury v. Southland, took place to-day at Lancaster Park before a large attendance, and was won by Canterbury by nine points to five. Light rain fell last night and this morning, but about noon the clouds dispersed, and for the rest of the day the weathar was beautifully fine. The visitors, whose sturdy appearance created a good impression, were superior to their opponents in the forward division, but the backs of the home team played an excellent combined game. The try gained by the visitors was the outcome of a well-executed piece of passing. Grenfell made two fine attempts at goal from place kicks One kicked from the touch line fell just beneath the bar, while the other went slightly wide of the posts. The visitors seemed non-plussed by White, who, by his smart dodging and feinting, was able to run clean through the Maroon backs on two occasions. His second try was gained by intercepting a pass from Cuff in the local team’s twenty-fives, and he ran from thence over the visitors’ line. Lee’s pace enabled him to outstrip Grenfell and to score at the corner flag. The Southland wing forwards, by their smart tackling work, £did yeoman’s service for their side. The best of good feeling was exhibited throughout the game. Mr Cotterill’s decisions were received without the least demur.