FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 185, 4 August 1894, Page 10 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

On Saturday next Auckland will place two teams in the field. The firsb fifteen will meet the Thamesites ab Epsom, while the second team journey to Hamilton by train on Friday morning and play the Waikato representatives on the following day. The games between Auckland and Thames have always proved interesting contests, and their meeting this year should prove no exception to the rule. The second team, which play against Waikato ab Hamilton, may also expect an interesting game and a real good time, for Waikabo footballers are noted for bhoir hospitality. Since I last wrote the Taranaki footballers have come, conquered and gone. For eevoral years past they have been going to vanquish us, and at last their triumph haa come. No one begrudges Taranaki the victory they bo handsomely won, and ib was no disgrace to be beaten by such a team. They are a fine body of men, and by their play showed that they have greatly improved iv thoir knowledge of the nicer points of the game, which, no doubt, has been taugho them by their popular captain, Alf Bayly. Hitherto, the Taranaki teams which have from time to time visited us, have generally relied on their forwards to carry them through, the backs being chiefly loft to defend their goal and to make use of any opportunities to score thab mighb offer, but they had to make their own openings. This year, however, the Taranaki forwards heeled out splendidly, and the passing among their backs, generally initiated by Humphries, was ab times clever. It was nob, however, the cleverness of Taranaki's back division which beab Auckland. Ib was the weighb and dash of their rushing and bullocking forwards. They are, indeed, a fine set, and, I should think, a match for any forward team in the colony. Considering the weighb of the visitors, it was surprising to see the way in which they followed up. The game, however, could not be classed as a fast one, so it is difficult to say whether they could live through a fast, open game, but I ace no reason why they shouldn't. Seeing thab our forwards were so ovormabched in scrum work, 1 was surprised that our centro mon didnofckicktheball outat the thaeides of the scrums, instead of wasting their energies in their futile attempts to hold the pack for the purpose of heeling out. Had they adopted this plan in tho second spell, I am pretty certain they would have ecored. In tho firsb spell, the Auckland team made a gallant fight of it, and there was a certain element of fortune about the six points registered againsb them. Three points were scored from a free kick, and the other three resulted from a try, which but for the rays of a bright sun beaming in Warbrick's eyes, causing him to fumble the ball, might not hive happened. The local forwards did nob shape near so well in the second spell and they tired considerably towards the close of the game. The Taranaki backs all mado good uso of the ball, and in this respect taught the Auckland backs a lesson. The former showed judgmonb by their kicking into touch, while invariably the Aucklund backs kicked towards the centre of tho field. And now for a word about the actors. Taranaki's full-back, Allen, was, in my opinion, tho weak spot of thoir team. He appeared very indecisive in his movomente, although, I must say, on one or two occasions he gob his side out of tight corners, while his kicking was generally good. Had Allen, however been at all rushed by ourforwards, I believe a score woulrl have resulted. Alf. Bayly, at centre tbreo-quarbcr, was, as usual, the best of Taranaki's backs. He played wibh greab judgment and dash, and bhose who have eeen • gentleman Alf' perform, know what that is. I firmly believe that in his position as centre threequarter there is no superior to A. Bayly in this colony. Of the two wing three-quarters, H. Good had the most work thrown in his way, and, with his great weight (14ab 3!b) and speed, took a lob of stopping. His kicking was also good v(no pun intended), his long punting calling forth the plaudits of the spectators ; but at times ib would have been more to his side's advantage had he followed up his kicks and placed his forwards on side. T. Hempton did not have many opportunities thrown in hia way, but his defence was sound, and his fast sprinting always made ground for Taranaki. Humphries behind bhe scrum proved clever and smart in his actions, but he had the assistance of two strong wings, and a powerful pack in front of him. Ho always passed oub neatly, and hia kicking into touch was neatly accomplished. R. B. Luak ab fivo-oighbhs showed thab he has lost none of his dash, and played a fairly good game. He was at times inclined to hold to bhe ball too long, and this fanlb, I fancy, lost Taranaki a try in the first spell, Lusk's place-kicking was very good. W. Bayly and A. Good operated on the wings, the former being the more successful. He was astonishingly quick in getting under way.and made several fine runs. The try W. Bayly secured in bhe second spell, was from the best run seen during the game. Both wings also led many of tho forward rushes. All the forwards erafted like Trojans,but I failed to notice any combined dribbling in the open. Were they to cultivate clever dribbling it would indeed take a very warm sot to beab them. Lambie was their best forward, while McMillan, Hughes and Wells, were perhaps more conspicuous than the others; the two last-named also made themselves prominent by their lineoub work. No one could cavil ab the manner in which R. Masefield discharged bhe duties of full-back for Auckland. Ho had plenty of work to perform, and came out of the ordeal with credit. Masefield showed more judgment in his kicking, as he always made uso of the touch line. The three-quarters had a very busy afbernoon'a work. Kissling was the most successful, hia sbrong defensive abilities

being of great service to Auckland, while, in offensive tactics, he alway3 handled the ball neably. Had Peace and Warbrick followed him for the pass Auckland would have had a tine chance of scoring on more than one occasion. Kissling's tackling was always sure. Peace played a much better game than 'waß generally expected. Hia quick kicking was greatly admired. Peace tackled gamely, and ac times made several nice passes. After the games he played against Thames and Auckland, J. Warbrick's display was somewhat) disappointing. Joe, however, along with all the other Auckland backs, had a lot of the 'steam' knocked out of him by the frequent visits of their heavy opponents. No one on the. field played a better game than J. Ronayne. Both in offence and defence, Ronayne was alike mosb useful. Ib was certainly surprising to see a player of his weight tackle so successfully. He was badly knocked aboub, and jusb before the close of the game had the misfortune to sprain his ankle. Several times Pvonayne made a line opening, but he looked in vain tor a comrade to paaß to. Elliott was nob as brilliant as be is wont in ' big' matches, bub it musb be remembered that he received a nasty knock on the na?al organ in the first few minutes of the game. He again fumbled many passes. Edmonds, behind Auckland's scrum, played a splendid game. He had more work than any other back on the field, but he stuck to his task manfully, and was most euccessful in frustrating many of Taranaki's rushes. Edmonds received rather severe handling, bub he stood ib without a murmur. The Auckland forwards all did their beat, bub were too light a Bet to successfully cope with their adversaries. H. Poland played as well as ever, and with Glarkin was of great service in the ' bully.' Poland was often conspicuous in the open, and with Glarkin proved useful on the line out. Anderson wa3 always in the van, and played a sterling game. In the second spell, Oliphanb played on the wing, hia proper place, and showed some clever dribbling. Being such a fast and dashing wing player, it was a mistake to place Olipliant in the pack, for his services were as good as throw away. Mills was nob as successful as 'uoual. He was too liglib for his adversary, and on sevoral occasions kicked recklessly while dribbling. Hallamore, Donald and Speight all made themselves prominent during the game by their following up. Tho firstnamßd had hard luck in nob scoring a try, for the heel of his boot just touched the couch line before he crossed the goal line. Everyone was wanting to know where our forwards were when Taranaki gained their first try. Mr J. M. King, who officiated as referee, •was most impartial and gave every satisfaction. To us Aucklanders he appeared a trifle slow with the whistle, but we mueb nob forget that we are accustomed to the Roforoe having sole control of the game. On Saturday the Auckland captain, F. Edmonds, was in favour of Mr King having charge of tho play without an appeal, •bub Taranaki refused, and this somewhat placed Auckland aba disadvantage, tor our players have become so accustomed to tho Referee taking charge of the play, that the Auckland toam on Saturday repeatedly allowed many points to pass without an appeal, forgetting that the Referee would nob interfere until an appeal had been made. Quinn, ono of tho South Canterbury reps., is a brother to T. Quinn, one of North Shore ll.'s best forwards. U. Speight and E. Binnoy will in all probability play for Waikato against the Auckland toam next Saturday. South Canterbury play Hawke's Bay at Napier on Wednesday next. With reference to the refusal of the New Zealand Union to allow Canterbury to moat Otago this year, ' Drop Kick,' in the • Rofereo,' writes :— ' A movement is on foot, I hoar, amongßt Christchurch footballers, to bring aboub tho secession of the Canterbury Rugby Union from tho Now Zealand Rugby Union. This matter is to bo brought up aba mooting of the former body. This, of course, i.s tho outcome of tho refusal of the New Zealand Rugby Union to grant permission for the Cantor-bury-Otago match to take place. Whether tho Canterbury Rugby Union will take such a etep aa to withdraw from the New Zealand Rugby Union is very doubtful, I should cay. Surely after the way in which the whole question was threshed out before Canterbury joined, the delegates will not agree to undo everything.' ' Quidnunc' cays, 'As is natural, there are a few reckless opponents of the Now Zoaland Union in Christchurch who have already jumped to tho conclusion that this province will afc once twisb aboub and make itself ridiculous by playing the match at all hazards, even if secession from the New Zoaland Union be necessary. I take ib though that our Union has at the present more backbone in its constitution than to do anything of the sort. Personally lam very sorry indeod that the Otago match musb go, and I know bhab many obhor supporters of the New Zealand Union regret heartily that thnt body should have felt constrained, in order to assert itself, to refuse pertniseiou, bub for all thub, now thtib the refusal haa been positively endorsed practically by the rest of the colony, there is no help for it, and nothing remains for Canterbury to do, but to uphold the fiat of its governing Union as loyally and as thoroughly aa if the point of dissension was one that did nob affect this province at all.' The following ruling has jusb boon givon by the English Rugby Union Committee :— Question : A ' threo-quarter ' piueoa tho ball back to his ' full-back,' who misses the pass, bub the ball just touches him on the shoulder .and then rolls dead. What should be done? Answer: The ball must be brought back and scrummage whore it touched the full back. According to a previous ruliug of the Committee, if the ball had been played by an opponent and touched the shoulder of the full-back, ib would not have to be brought back. The Committee is of opinion tbab such should nob be the ruling in a case where a fullback receives the ball from one of his own side. ' A player being oft-eide and within five yards of an opponent who haa the ball, the onus is on him to get out of tho way of his opponenb, and if he does not, and is charged againab by him, a " free kick " or a scrummage should be awarded.' Congratulations to Rishworth and popular 'Fub' Brady on winning their caps. Rishworbh only entered the eenior ranks this season. . The Selection Committee have pretty well satisfied the • know-alls' with the team they have chosen for to-day's contest. The majority, however, want to know why E. Anderson has been shunted, for ho was one of our best forwards in last Saturday's match, After tho contest, A. Bayly and J. Lambie both stated that blioy considered Anderson was tho best all-round forward in the Auckland team. Tho Association Football Tournament is to be hold ab Christchurch not laber than August 25th, the club 3 there having guaranteed £20 for the expenses of the visiting teams. So groat is the interesb of a Mr John Houlding in the welfare and success of the Liverpool Football Club, that the result of a test match had (says the Liverpool 1 Echo ') to be telegraphed out to him in Palestine, where he was on tour. The telegraphists in the Holy Land must have felt considerable surprise ab this incursion of football in their midst. Indeed, it musb have been quite a new experience for them to receive the message: ' Houlding, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem—Liverpool Association won the football match to-day.' And to what curious thoughts does the episode give rise.

A football match has been arranged between the EUerslie Club and the City 11., a Thames junior team of some rjromise. Tho match is to eventuate on Saturday next ab Messrs Hunter and Nolan's paddock, Greenlane. A very interesting game is looked forward to. According to the telegrams appearing in the press on Monday last, the New Zealand Rugby Union decided bhab Gillespie was eligible to play for Ponsonby 11., but, as was conJ9Ctured at the time, the little word not had been dropped by the telegraph operator or the printer, and later advices inform us thab the New Zealand Union have over-ruled the Auckland Rugby Union on the question. According to the strict reading of the bye-laws of the Auckland Rugby Union, the New Zealand Union could not arrive ab any obher decision, for Gillespie had never made an application to play. Considering, however, thab Gillespie had assisted Ponsonby 11. in all the matches, the decision of the Auckland Union was a fair one and made in a spirifr of equity although they were ignoring their own byelaws. The decision of the New Zoaland Union will leave the second junior championship in an even more interesting Ptate. The Fourth Junior Rugby Union's Clubs have complebed their fixtures, with the following reaulb:—

A Veteran Player. I doubt whether any player of the Rugby game in Australasia can claim bucli a unique record as J. A. Warbrick, who played for Auckland against Taranaki on Saturday la&t. Joe, as he is familarly called by his large circle of acquaintances, is well known throughout New Zealand and Australia, for he has performed in all' tho colonies. He first kicked a football at St. Stephen's Native School, Parnell, and won his "spurs" as far back as 1877, when but fifteon years of age. In that year, Joe represented Auckland against Otago, playing in the position of full-back. The match was played at EUerslie and resulted in a drawn game. After leaving school in 1878, Joe left Auckland and visited Wellington, and in the winter of '79 represented Wellington against Canterbury, Otago and Nelson. In 1880 Joe was one of the Wellington reps, which battled againsb Auckland ontho Domain Cricket Ground, and was the principal cause of Auckland's defeat, for he registered tho only score, a potted goal, which he kicked from near the halfway flag. In the came year, Joe also played for ellington againsb Nelson, Two years later Joe returned to Auckland and represented his first love in the two contests against the New South Welshmen. In the following year, 18S3, Joe toured the colony with the Auckland team, and assisted them in their matches against Canterbury, Otago and Wellington. In the following winter, Joe was one of the Auckland contingent to the New Zealand team which visited New South Wales. The other Aucklanders in this team were T. Ryan, J. G. Lecky, T. B. O'Connor and G. Carter. While in New South Wales, Joe astonished the Cornstalks with his wonderful drop-kicking, in 1885, Joe. was in Napier and captained the Havvlce's Bay reps, againsb Poverty Bay. The following year bo again returned to Auckland * and captained his province againsb Wellington in that memorable contest played ab Dilworth's paddocks, Newmarket, when Auckland won by 4 points (2 tries) to 2 points (1 try). He also renewed his acquaintance with the New Soutli Welshmen in the same season, for bo captained tho Auckland team. In 1887 wo find Joe battling for Hawke's Bay againab Wellington, Poverty Bay and Canterbury. In 1888 Joe was in the Empire City and played for Wellington against the English team. In the came season Joe was one of the organisers of the Now Zealand native football team which toured New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, playing again in Austrolia and New Zealand in 1889. After his return from this trip, Joe started as a farmer in tho Bay of Plenty district, but could not relinquish the good old game, and has annually played and led the Tauranga repp, against the Auckland teams. Previous to this year it appeared as if Joe's long caroor in the football arena was drawing to a close, but in the games he played this season against Thames and Auckland, Joe displayed remarkable vitality in his actions, hia drop-kicking being almost as good as ever. His fine display in this match was evidently noted by the Selection Committee, for he was chosen to represent his province against Taranaki on Saturday last. Considering thab Joe won his cap in 1877, it musb be very pleasing to him to be able to record 1894 on it. As I said before, Joe's career as a footballer is, I believe, unparalleled in the colonies. Ib is certainly a t'eab Joe may well feel proud of, thab after battling the storms for a period of 17 years, he has again been called to render assistance to his province againsb a Southern invader. Joe belies those who would scamp the Rugby game as a brutal one, for during his seventoen years career as a footballer, he has only mob with one accident, and that was caused through hi 3 foot colliding ugainsb a heavy boundary post. Joe returned to Tauranga on Tuesday last.

Points Club. Rosberry Terrace Beachomers Britomart Pld. Won. Lost. Dr. For Aest* 9 9 0 0 123 17 9 3 5 1 32 19 9 2 5 2 29 47 9 2 6 1 23 67