FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2350, 2 August 1887, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Cambridge v. Huntly.

The return match between these two clubs was played on Sydney Square on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a win for Huntly by two points to nil. During the morning there had been an almost incessant downpour of rain, and heavy showers fell during the game, thus rendering the ground very wet and the ball greasy to handle. Cambridge by no means put their best team in the field, and their weakness was easily seen, especially in their backs, who were not well up to their work. The game was played in two spells of 35 minutes, instead of 45 as usual, as the Huntly men had to catch the 4 o’clock train. Mr Harris, the Huntly captain, having won the toss, elected to defend the northern goal, while the Cambridge, under Mr N. Hunt, took the southern end. Messrs Pilling and Stevens umpired for Cambridge and Huntly respectively, and Mr Hinton acted as referee. The game was started at about a quarter - past two by Wilson kicking off for Cambridge, the ball being returned into touch by Harris. The Huntly forwards now by fast combined play worked the ball into the Cambridge twenty-five, where it remained for some little time, till Hannon and Richardson by a good rush relieved their goal line and took the ball into the centre of the field, but it was soon back into the Cambridge twenty-five, and Porter was compelled to force down. After the kick out the Cambridge forwards rallied a bit and play was more even. Marshall at full hack, played a steady game for Huntly, never getting flurried, and he stopped some of the rushes of the Cambridge very prettily. This spell ended with the ball well in the Cambridge twenty-five. Instead of the usual interval the teams just changed goals and the second spell was commenced by Huntly kicking off, and the ball was quickly taken down to the Cambridge line and after a lot of give and take play the ball went back to Marshall who by a long kick sent the ball back over the forwards’ heads and behind the Cambridge line, when, after touching several spectators, it was recovered and touched down by Williams, a Huntly man. Hunt, the Cambridge captain, disputed the try, but one umpire and the referee allowed it. Harris took the hall out, and Connolly tried the kick at goal, but the ball being slippery he failed to increase the score. Soon after this, from a throw in about the centre flag Buchanan made a dodgy run, which was undoubtedly the best run of the day, and very nearly secured another try for Huntly. The Cambridge forwards now warmed up, and by good dribbling managed to take the ball past all tiie Huntly men, but Harris, coming up behind, by a good long kick, sent the ball across his own goal line and managed to force it down himself. The play now for the rest of time was very even, the ball being well in the centre of the ground when time was called. For Huntly Marshall and Buchanan played the best behind the scrum, while Bailey, J. Harris, and Mankteluw worked well in the forwards. Kallender, T. Hannon and Wilson did good work among the Cambridge forwards, while most of the work at hack fell to Porter, who played well all through the game. Notwithstanding the remarks made on the Huntly v. Hamilton match, there was a great deal of bad language used in this game, and some of the players were told that if they did not desist from using such language they would he ordered off the ground.