The morning call., 1894-03-25
THEIR LAST KICK.
Rugby Football at the Fair
Grounds.
The British Columbia Players Defeat
the Local Team by Five
Points.

The final OF the series of Rugby football
games arranged by the athletic auxiliary COM
mittee OF the Midwlnier Fair was decided yes
terday afternoon at recreation park. The con-
testing teams were the Californias OF this city
and the British Columbias OF Victoria. AS
generally expected tie Victorians won the
match, but 10 the credit of the home team 1t
must be said that they played a strong z me
and had II not been for some grievous plumbers
made by one or TWO OF the CaliforDlas when
they had The ball within good r nge of their
opponents goal the invaders would have 10 re-
turn home with spirits downcast.
The players OF The north had journeyed to
this city with a team which was made up OF
players chosen from the best men. representing
Victoria. Vancouver, Nanaimo and other cities
over which the English cOlors float.
Ii was no wunder that the patrons OF the
game had anticipated an easy victory for Brit
lsb Columbia when II Is taken INTO con<idera-
tion hat the CalifOrnias which compose The
representative team OF this city, WIS minus
three or four Of its best men, together with the
fact that the game Of Rugby has been only re-
Gently introduced here.
TIE home team suffered defeat yesterday by
five points, ana this score was accomplished at
a time when the supporters OF the CALIFORNIA;
least expected IL.
The game was started half an hour after the
time IL was advertised to commence. A strong
wind was blowing from he north and consid-
cradle anxiety was felt concerning the toss for
choice of ground. Ii was won by The Column
bias, much TO the chagiin of tie Californias.
who felt creStfallen when II was announced
that they would bave Ia kick against strong
Team backed up by old BoTeas. The captain Of
the home team 1nstilled courage into his play-
ers by informing them that the later the hour
the stronger the wind would blow. Or in other
words lhe team having the choice of ground for
TIL last half would have decided advantage
over It's opponent.
selected the north side with the wind iE their
backs. The red shirts bravely faced the music
aud lined up determined TO do or die. The ball
was In play only few moments when the Brit
tSnerS by series Of quick maneuveTs forced the
leather along the field until il got within close
proximity OF their op onents' goal sticks.
Here lively scrummage took place, when
Weaver by clever tactics secured Inc bail and
punted IL 10 the cenler OF the field. The leather
| finally got into dIfhculiy In the northwest cor
ner of the BTIlishers' territory and Pomeroy
saved his team by a good rlay.
StTinger then came TO Ibe rescue OF his team
and made grand run from pasSOut by Gray.
The ball was Immediately al forced In the
northwest corner OF b. C.'s goal where another
scrummagr esulted in which Pomeroy again
eXcelled by kicking the leather al leas fifty
yards down the field. ! h sphere finally landed
! In The lower end OF the field where a long ana
tiresome scrummage resulted. The leather was
finally carried away by Sheath who attempted
TO pass II TO eaver who muf1ed and by so do
ing gave bis opponents possession OF The pig
skin. Gibson who captured the ball essay d a
drop kick which was splenGidly stopped by one
OF the forward division OF the CALIFORNIA;.
| Woodwork, Captain OF the Is. C.'s, next came
| INTO pOSscSslOD OI tue l6dlDti ana ITleQ IOr a
goal from drop kick at long range.
The wind, which was blowing strong at the
| time, carried The ball 10 the south SIDE of the
sticks, missing the Target only by few yards.
When the bali was returned 10 the 25.yafd line
| The whistle sounded The end of The first half
aud loud cheers were given for The local team,
| which had prevented their formidable op-
| pOnents from scoring.
The Brili>heis had theii "dander'' up when
time was called for The second half. and as
| quick as flash they formed into line, just as
/ lie whistle sounded time kicks
The Invaders had the kickoff, and by quick
| dribbling they worked tile sphere against The
teeth of the CaliforDias' goal. Here hot
scrummage resulted, and the clouds of dust
kicked up by the contestants wept over the
field ana almost Suffoc led sou of the En- raid
| Isle who was buslly engaged In narrowing the
track at the lower end Of the grounds.
Pomeroy, who unque>tionably distinguished
himself on more than one occasion. saved
! touchdown by grand punt from behind the
! sciummage, the ball landing pretty neaI the
| center of the field. The forward division "f
! the CoiumbiaS, whose work was highly COM
meDted upon, got possession OF the ball and
| forced II back TO the 25yard line, where an
| other hol scrummage resulted. The ball was
| finally punted out by Harris, and landed fully
twenty yards from the place OF licking, but
was spe~dily sent back again by PeItgrew.
A Californian rssayrd 10 catch the leather
| and made beautiful tumble, which was quickly
| taken advantage OF by a Columbian, VINO got
/ the ball within the toucblne, securing thereby
a, touchdown, which Referee Cecil Gardiner
| allowed. Captain Woodwork, who is dead
shot, kich ed for goal, and succeeded In the
| effort, giving the British Columbia players their
| first score OF five points.
| The contest was con nued until the referees
| whistle sounded the end or the game without
either side scoring.
II must be said, however, that some of the
| home players made awful bunders, especially
| Hunter. who had free passage TO goal, aud
| instead of facing Pettigrew and taking chances
OF making at least touchdown for his team
| he kicked al the ball and missed. thereby losing
| what might have resulted In a tie game.
| On the whole the Callf0rnias played splen-
| did game and are deserving of considerable
| credit for the excellent showing they made
against such splendid array of players as
were represented in the British Columbia team.