FOOTBALL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1559, 21 September 1886, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

No game was ever yet worth a rap For a rational man to play, . , Into which no accident or miahap Could possibly find its way. J WINCHESTER, F. ORARI. This match was played at Orari on Saturday in the paddock fronting Mr S. Breadley’s hotel. The weather wag fine, with a light easterly, breeze, which made the afternoon pleasant. Con* siderable interest was taken in the match, and there was a fair number of apectators present. The fair sex were well • represented, nearly all the ladies in the Orari township being on the ground. Shortly after three o’clock the Winchester men arrived, and no lime was' lost in getting to work. The home team was captained by W. Stewart, and the visitors by 0. Smith. Some little difference existed in the wishes of the two clubs as to tbe length of time each spell should be for, Orari wishing to , play the game in four twenty minutes spells, and Winchester in two spells of forty minutes each. Finally it was de« cided to settle the question by the tossing of a coin, which was done, Orari winning, an! tbe game was played in four spells of twenty minutes each. The Orari c&ptain also won the loss for the choice of goals, and elected to t«ke the eastern one, which gave him the advantage of the wind. G. Smith kicked off, and the ball immediately went out of touch. Prom the throw in a number of scrimmages ensued, mostly in Orari’s ground, when T. IJarte getting hold of tbe ball made a good attempt to" carry it behind their goal line, but was grassed by W. Fly, and the ball was worked back into the centre of the field. Here, from a good pass, Hobbs, for Orari, made an attempt to get away, but, being collared, a number of scrimmages followed, during which H. Smith, for Winchester, was conspicuous for his attempt to break away with the leather. Time was called when the ball had been brought well within the Otari quarters, la the second spell W. Stewart, the Orari captain, kicked off, and tbe ball was taken with a rush behind tbe WinChester goal, where they were forced down, From the kick out tbe ball was carried up the field to the Orari twentyfive post, where it remained for pome time in a series of scrimmages, and re- ")f suited in Orari being forced down. From the kick oat the ball was. again returned to the Orari twenty-five flag, where il. Smith secured a mark, from which a place kick at goal was taken by G, Smith, who failed to score. Tha ball was still kept within the Orari twenty five flt.g after the kick out, until G. Smith managed to get hold of it and touch it down behind the goal line. The try was taken by B. Shallard, who, however, failed to score. Another mark was secured for Winchester by Austin soon after being kick'd out, but no score resulted. Shortly after this Orari was forced

down twice in quick succession, when time was called. R. Shallard kicked off for Winchester in the third sp-I', and scrimmaging in the Orari twentyfive flag was the order of play, until by a good rush it was tak'-n to 'ln* Winchtster twenty-five, when Austin got hold of leather and brought it, back, by a good inn, to the centre of the field. After some scrimmaging here T. Harte secured it, and going through the Oreri forwards took (he hall close down on the gaal line, when Orari was again forced down, (shortly after being kicked out time was called, W. Stewart again kicked off for Orari in the emending spell, which partook largely of scrimmages until T. Harte secured a m« r k, from which K. Shallard tried a place kick at goal, but, although t he kit k was a good one, the wind carried (tie ball to the left of the goal poets. Shortly after this Brinkman secur ■' another m’*k. which G. Srqith was onsuccessful. to converting into a goa ! . the ball again going a little to the left. The game thus resulted in a win for the visitors by a try (two points) to nil. The match throughout was exceedingly well contested, Winchester having slightly the best of it, and forcing thnr opponents down several time. Some <■( the force downs, however, were certain \ due to hard lock for the home te«ni The game partook of too much scrimmaging to allow of any great skill being shown by the backs, and the forward* on both sides did f»r too much haid kicking, and neglected to play into Ui bands of the backs. Both teams were very slow in marking their men when lining out, and there was decidedly too much inclination shown to argue with the umpires on the ( decisions they gave from time to lime. The game, however, was played in an excellent spirit, both sides doing their utmost to score. For the winners G* Smith, El, Smith, Austin, Harte, J. Lewie, and tinbrothers Shallard did excellent werk, while for Orari W. Stewart, Mobbs, ft. McLeod, J. Kalaugher, and the brothera Fly did yeoman’s service, the three latter being especially conspicuous in collaring. Mr It. Smith acted as umpire for Winchester, and a gentleman from Geraldine for Orari. Mr E. Millard acted as timekeeper and referee. At the conclusion of the game it w«« decided to play a match with Geraldine on Saturday next. The match Sydney t. Wellington, which took place on Friday last, added another defeat to the already long list made by the Sydney team. They were completely oveimatehed, Wellington scoring 18 points 10 their nil. At Hawkes Bay ou Saturday the Sydney team were defeated by 8 points, Hawke* Bay scoring 14 and Sydney 0. The visitors were afterwards entertained at a dinner, at the conclusion of which they sailed for Auckland.