FOOTBALL.

HAWKE'S BAY V. WELLINGTON.

(By Goodiron.)

The following remarks on the personnel of the local team may prove interesting:— H. Gorman*, fall-back (Pirates).— A clever and reliable kick ; takes the ball well, and is a enre collar. The only fault to find with him is bis weight, he is too light. He is Inclined to play for the "gallery." M'Donnol, wing three-quarter (Caledonians). — Is a splendid kick, takes the ball fairly well, sad is a very powerful runner, fending with great strength and marvellous reach, which is easily understood as he must stand about 6ft 31 v in hla sooka ; rather weak in tackling.

Macfarlane*, centre three - quarter (Caledonians). — Has only played one game this season as the result of an accident, but is now recovered. A safe and cool back, pnnts well, never fails to bring his man down, and when going takes a great deal of stopping, being nnnsaally Btrong on his pins. C, Benneti* (Napier) wing threequarter, and the most brilliant bncn in Hawke's Bay, his kicking, running, and collaring being hard to improve on. At present) he is suffering from a poisoned band, which prevented bis playing last Saturday.

Donnelly* (Napier), half-back, shonld captain the team, Haa been playing fcr Canterbury and latterly Hawke's Bay for the last 10 years. He Is a little general. Ia a clever screw pnnt, and thoroughly understands the theory of pasting. Tutere Wirepa (Napier), half - back. Flret appearance as a rep. player. Represented Te Ante last season, and has played from fall-back to forward. With coaching he will have few superiors as he kicks/collars, and passes splendidly. Cheer* (Pirates).— Fine and fast forward ; best man on the line ont in the team.' Geordine (Pirates). — Rather a rongh diamond as regards his play bnt means well; a good scrummager, and collars well. Not np to the fine points of the game. Woodwood (Caledonians). — Played for Poverty Bay last season. A sterling forward ; goes from start to finish. Abont the best man in the pack. Matbeaon* (Napier). — Honest worker. Extra good in the open as he is cool and qnick in passing ; is a good klok and plays a fair game at three- quarter. Chad wick (Naple).— The most dashing forward In the team ; is very fast and should be on the wing. Toohj* (Caledonians)— A sterling forward,' and plays np to the hilt right through. Uses his head in a passing rash, ' Vernon Reed JJVaipawa)— A brilliant forward, especially good at dribbling ; is fast. Played for Anckland team in their '89 tonr, and tor the last three years has represented New South Wales. H. Swan* (Pirates) and J. S. Jago* (Napier), wings— Both rather light. Swan is the oldest Hawke's Bay representative in the team. Has played every season since 1888 ; no good In the scram, and does not collar or kick. All the same,- la the most likely man to score. Is very fast on the football field, and all there in a forward rush. Jago is another good man in the loose ; pnnta cleverly, can collar, and Is generally thereabouts when any scoring is done. Coghlan (Pirates)— As emergency fullback is fairly reliable, bnt nothing ont of the way. Irvine, of Waipawa, and Fulton, of the Napier Club, are in better form this season. Laws* .(Caledonians) Is the right man as emergency, and would no doubt be ia the team if he was more careful in passing (and thought less of what clubman he was passing to). He is undoubtedly the cleverest player in Hawke's Bay at taking the ball and kicking. On Saturday last he proved that he can collar when he likes by bringing down M'JDonnel. Beale* (Pirates) and H. M. Wilson (Napier) are the emergency forwards. Their places might be reserved. Beale is very heavy and willing, and Chat's about) all. He is not op in the game, and is useless when asked to nse bis head, Wilson, on the contrary, being in last season's W anganui College team, has the points of the game at his finger ends, and knows how to make nse ot bhem. He has proved that he is in top fettle. One of the best close place kicks hereabouts, On the whole the selection committee (Messrs A. G. E. Sainsbnry, G. Fleming, and H. Swan) have picked a team hard to Improve on nnder the circumstances. No donbt the authorities are seeing that the men are training hard and meeting together now and then lor the pnrpose of picking scrums, &o.

The players names marked * represented Hawke s Bay last season.