ON THE BALL !

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 615, 2 June 1891, Page 2

ON THE BALL !

TURANGANUI V. GISBORNE. Gnsu interest was evinced in the above match, which was played on Saturday afternoon, The Turansanui team was as published, but the Gisborne team, which was recognised to ba far superior in the back division, had on Hutchison, Lysnar, and Dodds.

Messrs Day and Bingham umpired, and Mr Kennedy was referee. Mr A. W. Rees was captain of the Gisborne, and Mr Loomb of the Turanganui. The latter won the toss, and took the southern goal, which gave them a puff of wind in their favor, Langford sent off a pretty kink for Gisborne, and the forwards followed up smartly. A prompt return was made into the hands ot Stalls, who in a flash had the smart Turanganui forwards eluded by a pass to Murphy, the latter quickly sending it on to the agile Rees, who soon had the opposition forwards flitting all over the field to discover where he would turn up next. Within the first two minutes it was in the southern 25 yards boundary, Crawford meanwhile showing up to advantage lor the defenders. From the throw in Oolebourne neatly despatched it to Staite, who being “ smothered ” hurled it to the muscular Murphy, who was finely grassed by Burns and Matthews in partnership, From the throw in Niabett made a dash, but was soon in the toils, when Fisher seized the leather and let Skeet have his first show. Usually undeniable, he bad not time to get way on when Branson and Maude had him covered. Lewis did a short turn, and made a good attempt to pot a goal. Robinson kicked off, Staite made a telling return, and Hepburn made a dash, but Lysnar was on him like a hawk swooping on his prey. The ball getting back to Murphy he made a strong kick, which Forrest triad to turn -to the advantage of Turanganui, but he was a marked man, and Rees was on his mettle again, He was smartly confronted by half a dozen, and sent the ball to Skeet, who was again promptly nailed when he reached Branson, Rees was at hand and soon got within the defence line, where Crawford hugged him. The ball was sent back to Staite, and after his kick Hutchison led off a rattling rush which puzzled the Turangam;! forwards for a moment. Skeet soon made another dash, but Leslie settled him, and a return rally was made, when Herewinia showed up for Gisborne, Staite got a mark, but Forrest cleverly spoilt it for him. Shortly after Branson made a mistake that lot Staite have another mark, but the latter in trying to prevent Forrest again tricking him, only got a skier over thJ side line. Turanganui being soon afterwards awarded a penalty kick, Maude seconded it with a clever run; he eluded M l,r Pby. but was grassed bv Rees, and the bail went out o£ play, p was quickly bounced backwards and forwards a few times, during which a smart bit ot play on Sheriff's part was soon nullified. From in and out work Hope got off, but Lvsnar quickly had the leather from him, and Maude had to ooms to the rescue, kicking the ball to Langf nd, who neatly returned it, and then Branson spoilt a Gisborne rush. Out of a scrum Burns made a short sprint, but was soon caught in Langford’s ample, but not loving, embrace. Hutchison, who was playing a grand game for Gisborne, soon after got the ball, and made a dodgy run in. Maude collared him b fore he could get a touch, and a tussle took place, which, however, did not prevent Hutchison getting the fjrst score. The kick was easy, but Fisher was unsuccessful with it. Robinson sent the ball in mo'ten again. Lewis showa.l jjp prominently on the other side, and J. Murphy got a clever mark io the 25 yards boundary, but the referee did not see it. Turanganui made a rush, and a scrum was formed on the 25 yards line. Here at last came Rees’ chance. The hall was heeled out to him, quickly handled, and before many of his opponents knew what was happening he was dodging through the backs, and when the full back laid hands on him the tackler was gracefully swung round and spread upon tbe earth, while Rees tripped in behind the goal line. Fisher converted the try into a goal, and Robinson eent tbe ball off again, 24 minutes after tbe start. Loomb made several attempts to got os, but Bees had him each time, Maude managed to get juto Gjsborne’s 25, when Murphy got tfre ball and tried to run, but was collared by Burns, and then a rush was put on by Turanganui, until Skeet got into the middle of the fray. He arrested the progress, but the aggressors were playing with great determination and with a skill that the excellent Gisborne backs found very difficult to coys with. A fores down resulted, and on bringing the ball out Murphy adroitly touched down instead of kicking, and then he made a splendid run, with Lysnar playing up to his comrade. A series cf scrums ensued in midfield. Rees soon triad

another run, which Matthews remedied, and the play went into midfield, where there were several serums, Dodds getting away ouqe, though ho v/as sharply caught, Robinson, whd wap given [ew chgnorg during the game, made the mqst of one he did get, end Gra’.vford seoopded his effort, Staite relieved his tide by a nicely 1 edged kick. Skeet got a run, which Maude frustrated, and then Loomb s'arted off with a dribbling rush, which was soon met in like fashion, and a scrum took place in midfield. Sherriff picked up the bill and sent it to Branson, thm MAnd® Matthews had an exchange, but nothing important [qjlorcd until Hutchinson carried Ihe oval along neatly on bis toes, and Rees was nearly getting a dear run in, Maude being in time to bar the way. Matthews got the leather, was collared by Rees, and then from a scrum Loomb picked it up and passed to Burns, who sent it well up the field. After further scrums, in whiph Lytjmr showed up to advantage Barns ISI in a dribbb’Gg rush pnd qucceeded in closely pressing Gisborne when Unit was called, Gisborne, * points.

Turanganui kicked off, and play was kept about the centre of the Sold. Skeet dashed up for Gisborne, but was neatly collared by Niabett, and shortly afterwards Maude skilfully brought the ball iu from touch and got up to Gisborne's 25, Lysnar made retaliation, but his progress was arrested by Burns, who then went off on his own account, Langford soon stopping him by falling over him spreadeagle fashion. A good deal of genera! play followed, in which J. Murphy, Robinson, Sherriff and Forest showed up to advantage. Both sides had each of their opponenis carefully watched, and whenever anyone attempted to run his lease of liberty was not a long one. The collaring on either side was splendid, with the exception that Hepburn m ida one or two misses. Fisher seemed all at sea, and repeatedly fumbled the ball. From a throw in from Turanganui’s side line, Murphy got the ball sent to him, and in a second ho had it despatched to Rees, who smartly had a shot at goal and only missed it by a couple of feet. The ball had only been in motion a brief space, Robinson playing hard, when J. Murphy got a pretty mark at an angle nearly halfway between the homo lines. Langford made a magnificent kick and nearly netted a goal, the attempt beiug warmly applauded even by Turanganui partisans. Another mark by Fisher did no rervice. General play followed, in which Loomb, Lysnar, Nhbott, Matthews, Hutchinson, and Murphy were specially prominent, while Rees gave his opponents some lively exercise. A penalty kick allowed against Turanganui was taken by Murphy, who made a fine, but unsuccessful, shut at the crossbar. Skeet had hitherto found Branson to be a lion in his path, with Maude always at hand, but now he tried a new strategy, and gave Branson the sad satisfaction of a mere finger touch, while ho flew gaily past him, was out of Matthews’ each, and promptly toppled the fall-back over. Still it was all in vain, for playing with the back rope for the first time he made the mistake of running behind it, which meant that he had merely taken the ball out of play. Good runs by Loomb and Nisbett were nullified by Rees and Murphy, the latter being collared by Burns, after which Turanganui were forced down. Some rapid passing tactics on the 25 yards line let Skeet have another run, but Branson made a dead bird of it this time. Still the pressure become severe, Forest, Matthews, Crawford, and Branson each giving relief to the defence. Fisher threw in ths ball to Rees, who being hemmed in sent it to Murphy ; the latter was collared just ss he returned the ball, and here Loomb did some smart play for Turanganui, but they were yet kept on the defensive. Then Hope made a dashing run, being stopped by Skeet in neutral territory: Nisbett had smartly followed up, and got a grand run over Gisborne's line, but as his foot had touched the side boundary the ball had to be brought back. Murphy kicked the oval up the field ; after some fast play Langford got it, and as he charged the fullback, let Lewis have the ball, and the latter scored a try. No goal resulted. Turanganui soon got the desired relief by a spinning kick of Branson’s, which unfortunately touched Mr Day’s hat. Crawford succeeded in bringing pl>y into neutral ground, and the Gisbornites were put on their mettle properly to try and stop the grand rallying rushes cf the Turanganuis. The plucky way in which they played, turned the tide of popular favor in their direotion, and they were wildly cheered on in the hope that they would equalise the score. But the coolheadedness cf the Gisborne captain was fitted for the emergency, and he had a wonderful control over all his men, whose combined play was magnificent, and nullified the brilliant work on the other side. Getting the ball back to Turanganui’s defensiyo . ground, Fisher had a good run, but Featon proved reliable and dodged Langford and had his kick ; though the game had got to be fast and furious, J, Miurphy coolly made a mark, taking the ball neatly over the back of hie shoulder, Fisher converting it into a goal. Play being resumed the work wa? taken to the centre of the field. Skeet took a kick which Featon replied to with telling effect, and Gisborne was put on the defensive. Rees passed to Murphy, who threw in to Staite, but each player was promptly collared, and Staite being hard pressed made the mistake of lightly kicking the ball, which Hepburn secured. He looked safe for a run in, but Rees ana Staite both doubled on him with great rapidity, and he was stretched on the field. Nisbett, however, was at hand to take advantage of the opportunity, and he got safely over the line amidst loud cheers frem the spectators. Featon secured a goal with a capital kick, and time was then called, both sides being heartily cheered. Result, Gisborne 8 points to 3. Besides the players mentioned individually all the others worked well and unselfishly, and though the play was hard and some of the falls anything but gentle, there was good feeling shown throughout tha game. It may fairly be classed as the best yet played orrthq ground. [The concluding line of the above report is the last that will be devoted to local football until the Rugby Union has adopted an attitude different to that which on principle we have taken exception to.—Ed.]