OUR FOOTBALLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 212, 6 September 1892, Page 5

OUR FOOTBALLERS.

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL

CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND

TO-MORROW'S CONTEST.

The sixth infcerprovincial Rugby football contest between the representatives of Canterbury and Auckland will be played at Epsom to-morrow afternoon, and, needless to nay, is exciting great interest throughout the town and suburbs. A large number of the business houses in town have decided to close at 1 o'clock, to allow their employees an opportunity of witnessing the contest, and it is expected that a general half holiday will be observed. Special trains and 'buses will leave town every few minutes after one o'clock, for the convincing ground at Epaom. and as the kick-off does noe take place till 3.30 p.m., it will afford many an opportunity of witnessing the second half of the game. With fine weather a large concourse of spectators is sure to assemble.

The Canterbury reps, have already played two games during this tour, one against Taranaki, which they lost after a close struggle, and the second against Hawke's Bay, which they won somewhat easily. Their victory at Napier was due to the combination which the visitors displayed, for their passing simply paralysed the Hawke's Bay team. The Canterbury reps, had a practice match ab Epsom yesterday afternoon, and several local enthusiasts who witnessed their play epeak in glowing terms of the display shown by the Southern footballers. Thedrop-kickingofthe backs was, we learn, extremely good, while it ia expected that their fast dodgy backs combined with clever passing will outmanoeuvre the Auckland team. The visitors on the whole are a very smart and clever lot. It is, therefore, very unfortunate that Auckland will nob be represented by her best fifteen, for our footballers would dearly like to get even on Canterbury for the 1839 defeat. Of the local team which will do battle against Canterbury tomorrow, only two of the forwards played againsb Taranaki last month, various reasons compelling T. O'Connor, C. Marshall, F. Murray, R. Bruce, C. Pennalligen and Montgomerie to stand out; there are also two fresh backs, Kissling taking Taylor's place, and Riley filling Peace's, as the Suburban crackis laid up with an injured hand. No less than six of the Auckland team, viz.,.Riley, Cole, Brownlee, Speight, pacre, and (iroen, don rlie representative jersey to babtle for their province for the first time.

. The Canterbury players are hoping for a fine day, when they expect to juct get home. The teams headed by Hunter's Band will leave town to-morrow at 2.30 o'clock. Mr J. Arneil has been chosen as referee.

THE TEAMS. The following are the names and weightß of the players who will represent their provinces to-morrow. It will be seen that the Auckland. team averages 12sb 51b, while the Canterbury fifteen average list 81b :- CANTERBURY. (Red and black.) Back. W. Mendelson, list 101b. THRKE-QUARTERS. W. Balch, llsb 121b ; A. Hobbs, lOsh 41b ; G. Lee, 12st 41b. Halves. G. W. Forbes, llßfc £lb; W. Price, 9st 61b Forwards. J. McKendry, 12st: A. Johnstone, 12nb 21b ; (wings) F. Child*, list 21b ; A. Ebert, 13sb; L. Ebert, 12ab 71b; F. Evans (captain), list 21b ; C. VV. Garrard, 12sb 21b ; W. Humphreys, list 101b ; J. Stokes, list 41b. AUCKLAND. (Blue and white.) Back. H. G. Kissling, 103t 61b. Three-quarters. F. M. Jervis, llsb 101b; 0. Riley, llafc 71b ; K. Masefield, 12sb 61b. Halves. W. Rhodes, 14sb: A. Braund, lOst 21b; W. Elliott, 12st 41b. Forwards. H. Brownlee, I2st 101b: J. Cole, 13st; H. Dacre,' 13st; C. Green, list 81b; R. Moynard, 13st lib; M. McMillan, 12st 81b; C. Speight, llsb 81b; D. Stewart, Isst.

The grocers of Karangahape Road, in order to give their employees a chance of witnessing the football match, have decided to close their premises at 1 o'clock tomorrow.

The wholesale and retail ironmongers and the stationers of the city have also decided to close their establishments at 1 p.m. to-morrow. A suggestion has been made, and will probably be adopted, that the traffic managers of the Tramway Company should start the cars for the football at Epsom to-mor-row afternoon above the cavity in Welles-ley-street, and so prevent a tedious journey round the Ponsonby circuit. In going the round about way tMsre is every probability of block in the traffic ensuing.

THE VISITORS' MOVEMENTS. The members of the Canterbury team, accompanied by representatives of the local Union, visited the "City Hall last evening, and witnessed the performance of the Italian Opera Company. It is needless to say they thoroughly enjoyed the concert. The team were photographed this morning by Mr F. VV. Edwards, after which they left the Devonport Ferry Company's jetty in the p.e. Eagle, intent on having some good fishing down the harbour. MrGrattan Riggs and several members of the Auckland team were also on hand to amuse the visitors. They return again thu afternoon, and in the evening proceed to the Opera House to see Mr Grattan Riga's Company perform the sensational Irish drama " Famine." After a drive out in the country to-morrow morning and the interprovincial match in the afternoon, both teams will dine together at the Royal Mail Hotel in the evening, and then they journey to the City Hall, on which occasion Herr Tutschka's concert eventuates there. Prior to starting out for the drive to-morrow morning r,he Auckland team will be photographed by Mr Edwards at hia fttudio in n 'ioon.street.