FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2520, 4 September 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Hamilton v- Cambridge. [By Wingman.J The return match between these two clubs was played on the Government paddock, Cambridge on Saturday, and, after a close game, resulted in a draw, neither sides scoring. The teams were as follows :—Cambridge: Messrs Wilson (captain), Bull (2), Lusk, Hannon (2), Light, Taylor, Hintou, McOann, Rutherfurd, Box, Carnachan, Chambers and Gane. Hamilton: Gribble (captain), Hume, O'Neill, Hammond (2), Sage, von Stunner, Mulgan, Mayes, Reid, Paaconk, Kelly, Cassidy, McKenzie and Ryau. Messrs W. Odium and G. McCann umpired for Hamilton and Cambridge, respectively, and Mr F. Pritt acted as referee. Cambridge having won the toss elected to' kick with the wind, thus having the sun in their eyes. Gribble kicked off for Hamilton, and Ball returned, and the game soon centred into midfield, Rutherfurd and Hinton doing good work in the scrum, for Cambridge. The play was gradually worked into Cambridge's territory, but was soon afterwards worked back again to the centre. Sage made several good runs, but was unable to get through, and Lusk and Light neutralised his efforts by judicious punting and short runs. All through the spell, however, the ball was kept among the forwards, who were very evenly matched, and-ttre-backs of either side had very little to do. Time was called with the ball just on Cambridge side of half way. Wilson opened the second spell by kicking off for Cambridge, and for a little while the play hung round the Hamilton line, and once a score seemed certain for Cambridge, but Wilson in mistake passed back to a Hamilton man, and Hamilton shortly afterwards, by a good combined rush, relieved their lines, and took the ball well past half way. The Cambridge forwards, however, were too good in the scrum, and they worked the ball back again. From a free kick of Gribble'e, the ball rebounded off Wilson into Sage's hands, and the latter made the run of the day, carrying the leather from his own well iuto the Cambridge 25, where the game hung for some little time, but the Cambridge forwards aided by short runs from Light and Lusk, worked the ball down to the Hamilton side of half-way, where it remained till time was called. The game all through was a very even one, the superiority of the Cambridge forwards being neutralised by the combined play 1 of the Hamilton backs, and not once did the leather go behind either of the goal lines; the full-backs on either side having very little to do. Light played about the best game for Cambridge, and Hinton Hannon, Rutherfurd, C. Bull and Chambers were conspicuous among the forwards. One of the Cambridge backs, lately from Auckland, seemed to think that nobody in Waikato knows anything about football but himself, and would like to boss the referee, umpires and both teams. We think he might well take a leaf out of his captain's book and play a little quieter game. For Hamilton, F. Hammond did good work in the ceutre, while Mayes, Peacock, Cassidy, and Reid also played well among the forwards. Among the backs, Sage, O'Neill, von Sturmer and Mulgan played well. The games betweejV these two clubs now stand : Hamilton, won one and one drawn ; and Cambridge, lost one and one drawn. Hamilton v. Huntly. Owiner to the absence of several of the Hamilton players, the match proposed by Huntly for next Saturday cannot take place.