football.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 343, 27 August 1889, Page 3

football.

TURANGANUI V. GISBORNE. Alt exceedingly interesting match was played jn Captain Tucker's paddock on Saturday afternoon, between the Gisborne and Turanganui Clubs. The following were the players Gisborne ; Featon, full back . Staite, Wall, and W. Branson,three-quarters • Snow and H. Branson, half; Mouat, Lysnar, Rowley, J. Johnstone, Langford, Newton, Fairlie, G. Johnstone, and Hepburn. Turanganui: A. Thompson, full back ; Matthews, Dods, and E. Maude, three-quarters ; Burns and H. Maude, hall; Crawford, King, Steele, Skipworth, O'Meara, A. DeCoeta, Priestly, Wade, and Robinson. Staite captained the Gisborne, and Thompson the Turanganui team. The kick-off was taken by Lyenar for the Gisborne, who at once followed up with a rush, which was well met on the Turanganui side, and the leather was brought to the centre of the field, where it remained for a short time, in scrums. From the serum, Johnstone obtained possession, and by careful dribbling greatly improved the position of his side, while the Turanganui goal line looked very unsafe for a short time. The scrummaging which took place at this point was very close, and both sides played with great determination. On the ball coming out of the scram, Snow and Wall made one or two good attempts to run, but instead lost ground, owing to the smart rush by the Turanganui, the rush taking the ball to the opposite end of the field. Some very good play was here exhibited by Priestly and Matthews (Turanganui) and Snow, W. Branson, and Lyenar (Gisborne). Newton at this stage was also conspicuous by a very good run which, if it had not been spoiled by a pass forward, should have greatly assisted the Gisborne team in their chance of scoring. After some

very close play in the Turanganui twenty-five, and some nice dribbling by langford, the ball L Was forced over the line. On the leather " being taken out, it was rushed from one end -of the field to the other and left there for some I* time, though no score was made by either side. The game at this stage was very exciting, and good play was exhibited on both sties. A good run was made by King, but bis chance of scoring was spoiled owing to his falling. Borne loose scrummaging then took place in Turanganui twenty-five, where the ball had again been returned, and a mark was taken by Staite within a short distance of the goal. Langford made a good attempt to convert this into a goal, but failed. Being sat in motion again by the Turanganui men, Langford obtained posseesion for Gisborne, and made a grand run, which took the play close to bis opponents’ goal-line. Being loosely played in the centre of the field for a Short time, the ball was then taken into the Turanganui twenty-five, where a close scrum took place near the goal-line. Bad play was exhibited here by the Turanganui, who made their position still more dangerous by kicking When too near their line. Good runs by Fairlie and Wall soon after thia ran the bail Into touch in goal. The Turanganui forwards made a very nice rush upon their opponents, On the ball being taken out, and by some careful passing enabled Wade to obtain a try. An excellent attempt at goal was made by DeCoeta, who only missed by a few feet though tbs wind was greatly against him. The ball Was being slowly worked back to the Gisborne line after the kick-off, when time was called, leaving the ecore in favor of the Turanganui team, though it was evident that the Gisborne was the stronger of the two teams, having kept the play in the former’s twentyfive for fully three parts of the first spell. Robinson kicked off for Turanganui in the second spell, and the ball was well met by the senior team, who slowly worked it into the Turanganui twenty-five, where it, however, remained only for a short time, being forced back to the same position at the opposite end of the field by another of the Turanganui team’s combined rushes. H. Maude was here conspicuous, by a short run, which, however, was not followed up by the forwards as it . should have been, and thus enabled the to carry the play into the centre time, and tbeu still closer to their line, where F.owley obtained and by a short run managed to oval over the line for the Gisborne Langford failed to obtain a goal from ibis try, and the score was now even. From this out both sides seemed to wake up, and from wbat was a rather sleepy game in the first spell, the play now became very fast, while equally good judgment was exercised. One or two players who were too fond of giving expression to their own opinions, and pt appealing to the umpires when there was no necessity for doing so, gave proof that they ■ were capable of better things, and all hands went in for good solid play, which soon Created an enthusiasm on the part of the spectators. After kick-off, Fairlie made a nice run for his side, and was well collared by the Turanganuis. After a very close tussle near the latter's goal line, they were forced down. Some loose play followed in the centre of the field, in which Lysnar, Matthews, and Crawford showed up to advantage. Langford suppressed this loose play by a short run, which was closely followed up by the rest of the forwards on on his side, who carried the oval out of bounds within a few yards of the juniors’ goal-line. From the throw-out, Wall made a desperate rush, and obtained another try for the Gisbornites, which Langford failed to convert into a goal, though a very good attempt was made. The leather having been set in mqtion again, W. Branson passed to the Gisborne Captain, which brought the oval into play in the centre of the field. The juniors, encouraged by shouts and clapping rrom the spectators, made a number of determined rushes on their opponents, and appeared likely to eeere, when they were disappointed by the calling of time, the ball then being in midfield. The score thus stood: Gisborne, two tries; Turanganui, one try. Throughout the game some splendid play was exhibited on both sides, the Turanganui back being especially noticeable. There was no denying that Gisborne had all the advantage in strength, and by having the service of experienced players, but these advantages were counterbalanced by the speed and — agility of the Turanganui players. It they 'Steep up their practice there are several memperl of this Club who will be entitled to consideration when the representative team IS selected next year. Lemuel umpired for Gisborne, and Mr T. Morgen for the Turanganui team, while Mr Bourn acted as referee.