MAORIS V. CARLISLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 5, 7 January 1889, Page 2

MAORIS V. CARLISLE.

This match was played at Carlisle on Tuesday laab in delightful realistic English November weather. My correspondent with thefootballerswritesme: " Yesterday vvae an awful day. During the forenoon the wind blew bitterly hard and cold, and in the afternoon it grew even worse. At 2 o'clock lightning lib up the gloomy sky and thunder mingled with the howling of the wind. Presently," too, sleet began to fall and pile up in gutters and corners. Those of us elected to play were quite dismay od by this weather, and begged Scott to postpone the game for another day : but he was inexorable, and declined to hear of any delay. So our boy* , , feeling utterly miserable and out of spirits, were driven to the ground in a storm of sleet. No time was lost in getting ready for the field, as it was bitterly cold standing still. Joe Wurbrick lost the toss, and our opponents elected to play with the-wind at their backs. The snow had stopped for a few minutes when we entered the field, but uo sooner did we kick off than a, great black mace of clouds discharged their hail-like contents slap in our faces. It wae cold. We tried to smile at erne another, but could only manage to horribly contort our faces. Our opponents, with the storm in their favour, pressed us at tirst but we gradually drove tbemback. From midneld Ellison carried the ball into their 25, but was collared, and by some accident had one of lm front teeth broken oil" near the gum. Shortly alter Williams, Ellison and another dribbled the ball over the goal line, and Williams falling on it, secured a try. McCaupland took the kick at goal a'ld managed to pilot the sphere over the bar. A little later Ellison again put in a good dodgy run and got in right behind the posts. Mac, however, failed to convert. We continued to have all the best of the play, but no further score was added up to halt' time.

'* Wbenthosecondspell commenced,three of fehe Carlisle team were too ebitl with cold to resume. This rather surprised us, as they were playing in what we supposed to be their usual wintry weather, and further, they had had their backs to the wind, whilst we, from a warmer country, and totally unused to such weather, had been playing with the wind and sleet driving baug in our faces. One of our fellows (Keogh) also had to remain under shelter. The game now degenerated into a mere farce. Wβ scored whenever we liked and our backs stood on the field with their overcoats thrown over their shoulder*. When play ceased we had scored a very eaey victory by 2 goals 7 tries and 9 minors, to 2 minors. The acorers oti our side were, Williams 3 tries, Ellison 2, Karauria 2, Wynyard 1. and Webster 1. From all these only % goals were obtained, as the greasy ball and fearful wind rendered place-kicking extrcmoly difticuit. Tte} opposing team scored two minors in the nrsb half, but hadn't a show subsequently. , ' The following is the account of '.he match taken horn the " Carlisle Journal " :—la spite of the dreadful weather there was a good attendance of spectators. The Maoria lost the tos-s, and kicked off from the Waterworke goal. When the game began the i storm was in full blast, and ib was difficult; ! to . distingui&h the players in the blinding ' storm of fleet and vain. The ball was missed by Bell, but with aflyingkick he sent ibalong the ground to the Maori twenty-five, and from a free kick Carlisle compelled the visitors to touch down. Some time was occupied in scrimmages at the visitors' quarter ilasr. A last dribble by the Maori forwards then transferred the ball to Carlisle twenty-live, but Routledge dribbled to the con tie. A sharp run by J. Warbrick carried the ball back, but Bell brought relief. A good run by Wynyard through the Carlisle team was stopped on the brink of the line, but Hodgkinson, with a good run and kick, sent, the ball back into neutral territory. The Maori forwards retaliated, and' breaking away in tine style from the centre upset Scott and kicked the ball over the line, Williams gaining a try. MeC'ausland kicked a goal. Bnrgess kicked off, and after come play in midtield, the Carlisle forwards made a good rush, but a too forcible kick enabled the Maoris to save. The ball was again transferred to the Carlisle end and Gage made his mark, but nothing came, and the home team's forwards again invaded thosliangors' quarters and a hecond touchdown resulted from a dribble by Burgess-. The weather hadnow improved andthisperiodoffche game was the beatdu ring the match. Another dashing dribble of the Maori forwards forced Carlisle back and Ellison with a good run gained ;i second try, but McCausland'e kick at goal failed. Karauria next dribbled over the Carlisle line, bub Tinkler saved cleverly. After the drop out, the Carlisle forwards worked the ball into the visitors' quarters, but Wyuyard with a splendid run of nearly Half the length of the ground through nearly the whole Carlisle team very nearly proved successful, although only a dead ball was tho result. Soon afterwards half time arrived, the Maoris leading by a goal, a try, and three minors bo throe minors. So far, the Carlisle fifteen hud stuck well to their opponents, but in the face of the Atdrni, which again became severe, they fell completely to pieces, and tilts ball wa« very rarely out of their quarters. There were only about twelve of the Carlisle men in tho Held when Buryerit- kicked off, nud although n poot return was made the Marois noon worked the ball hi to their .opponents' ground. From a throw out of touch Stewart made a good dribble into the Carlisle twenty-five, but Telford and Tinkler relieved. This relief was of short duration, and Gage made a good run • iv, but no goal resulted. X uraturia, next got over, ai>d MeCaushiud again failed in the place-kick. Wynyard then made a strong run and obtained a fifth try, from which no goal accrued, but an easy goal was obtained from a oub«equent try by Williams From this r)oinfe the game degenerated into a farce. Six or seven of tho Carlisle team had now left hhe iittld on account of the inclemency of the weather, and their captain proposed to out short the game, amid cries of " Play it out" from the spectators. Ifc was decided, however, to play on, but; under guch circumstances the Maoris did ac they pleased, one or two of tho backs putting on tbeir coats, while two or three retired. 8011, however, played in the most plucky fashion against overwhelming odds, and it was mainly owing to his determined tackling that the Maori score was not even larger than it was. Four more ti ies were obtained by the Maoris, and the only time when the ball was over the centre line was when Burgess got away and dribbled to the Maori twenty-tive. When the whistle finally put an end to the game die Maoris had won by two«goals, eight tries, and aiae minors, t& tbree miliars. The tallowing were the teams * " *■

Cwllele.—J. Sooftft, baok: T. H. Hodgkineon, F, Telford, and J. Bowman, threequarter baoke I T. Roatledge and J. S. Wileon, half-backe { W. J. JTerguson-Devie, B. Rioharde, B. N. Burgess, G. Bell, R. H. Tinkler, W. Irring:, W. Hall, T. Metcalfe, and J. W. Brown, .forwards. Maoris.—W. Wdarbriok, back ; J. Warbrick, MoCausland, and W. Wynyard three-quarter back* f ElHotfe, Iveogh, and Gasre, half • EUieon, Taiaroa, Webster, Williams, Karauria, Alt'. Warbrick, and SbowaK,. forwards.