Volunteers v. Civilians.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2672, 27 August 1889, Page 3

Volunteers v. Civilians.

[By Oval.] The above match was played on Sydney Square on Saturday last, resulting in a win for the latter by 7 points to nil. Tlio captains acted a* umpires, while Mr Marshall filled the position of refeiee and gave general satisfaction. The following represented the Civilian team, who played one man short: —Full-back : J. Tidd. Threequarters : M. Hume, W. Hammond, Sage. Half-backs: B. Hume, Johnson, Wright. Forwards: Gillett, W. Wright, Jolly, T. Tidd, Gribble, McPherson and Peacock. The Volunteer team, which played with 12 men, was composed of: —Full-back : H. McKenzie. Three-quarters : Meredith, O'Neill, Mayes. Half-backs: A. Mayes, Vincent. Forwards : Quinn (captain), Davis, Crosby, Cassidy, Kelly, Reid and Coop. Quinn opened by kicking off for the Volunteers, who defended tlio southern goal, his forwards taking the ball into the Civilians territory, but M. Humo by a good run relieved his side by carrying the ball to half-way where it was kept for some time, when G. Mayes tried a run across the field; he did not go far before ho was grassed by Gillett, and tho Civilian forwards dribbled the ball to the Volunteer's twenty-five, from whence it was soon taken to the other end of the field where it was smartly picked up by Sage, who made a grand run, passing nearly all the opposing backs and potted, but the ball fell short. Kicks were then exchanged on either side, the play being centred at half way. Sage ran and passed to M. Hume, who ran a short distance and passed to Wright who made a dashing run, but was collared by Meredith. A few minutes afterwards he ran again, and got right to tho Volunteer goal line, where he was thrown out of bounds by O'Neill. The ball was then kept in the Volunteer ground for some time, when the Civilians got a mark. Peacock took the kick from a place, but failed to score. Shortly after this the Civilians got several marks, but did not score from them. The Volunteer forwards then rushed it down to their opponent's 25, when Gribble ran, and, passing the full-back, touched right behind the posts. Peacock took the kick, which he failed to convert. The ball was then kept in the Volunteer ground for a short time, but G. Mayes relieved his side by making a nice run till 'stopped by Peacock. The ball was taken back again, and B. Hume dribbled it over the line beside the boundary, and touched down. The try was disputed, and the referee being appealed to gave it as a touch-in-goal. Time was then called for the first spell, the score being: Civilians, 1 point; Volunteers, 0. Gribblo kicked off, and the play remained about half-way until M. Hume got the ball, and by a docgy run passed all the Volunteer backs except H. McKenzie, who brought him down about five yards from the goal line, but being backed up by the forwards the ball was rushed over the line, Jolly falling on it, securing the second try for the Civilians, He took the kick, and landed a very neat goal. After this the game was all in favour of the Civilians, O'Neill and.G. Mayes working very hard for their side, and making good runs, but the collaring of some of their opponents, especially that of Gribblo, was too good. About this time Peacock by a good dribbling rush secured tho third try. Ho took the kick, but failed to increase the score. From the kick-out the Volunteer forwards rushed the ball over their opponent's line, and J. Wright forced, then the Civilian forwards rushed the ball back to the other end of the field, when T. Tidd, by good following up and a short run, got over tho line and touched down (try No. 4). W. Hammond took the kick, but did not convert it. J. Wright then made a splendid spurt round the backs of the Volunteers, getting near the line, but he was collared by O'Neill. Reid then put his side out of danger by taking the ball to half way, only to be taken back over their line again by the Civilian forwards, with Peacock at their head, securing try No. 5. Jolly took the kick, but did not increase the score. The Civilians then forced the Volunteers twice, and, in return, were forced once themselves. J. Wright, getting hold of the leather, then ran across the field but was collared by G Mayes at the twenty-five flag, time was then called, tho scorcs being, Civilians 1 goal and four tries —7 points, Volunteers nil. For the former Peacock and Gribble did most work among the forwards, and though all the backs played well, I think J. Wright and M. and P>. Hume deserve special mention, for tho Volunteers Vincent and Reid played best among tho forwards, G. Mayes and O'Neill doing most of the back work, the collaring of tho latter being splendid. Although there ivns a slight display of temper by some of tho Volunteer backs tho match on the whole was of a very friendly and pleasant character. The return match takes place next Saturday.