FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 196, 17 August 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

On account of the s.s. Flora being detained by stress of weather, the departure of our rep, team was unavoidably postponed til] Thursday, and their firsb contest will therefore take place this afternoon at Napier. A special correspondent acccompanies the team on behalf of tho Stak, bo footballers may ac usual rely on getting the best and most accurate accounts of the matches played by ' our boys,' besides other notoe recording tho doings of the Auckland team. The game botween the Wanganui find Auckland reps, at Epsom on Saturday last was, from a spectator's point of view, disappointing. It was certainly nob & scientific exhibition of the Rugby game. There wore too many packed scrums and too frequent line play for the game to be interesting. Considering that the weather and ground were so favourable for a fasb, open game, the display of the backs on either side were poor. The passing ru&hoe were nob of a high class character, repeated fumblings spoiling thoeepretty and offectivo charges.

Auckland's victory was mainly due to tho fine play of her forwards, who greatly surprised the spectators by their storling work. Although Auckland only won by six points to three, they had all tho best of the game, and certainly had hard luck in nob making the score greater. Thia was especially noticeable in the second spell, when Wanganui were sorely pressed, while tho ball only once reached Auckland quarters. That the local team did not record a larger score is through no fault of tho forwards, for they gave the backe repeated chances, bub bho fumblings of the backe in handling the ball lost for the Auckland team many fine chances.

The Wanganui banke proved reliable in defence, bub they were seldom dangerous in offonsivo tactics. None of them appeared to have a greab amount of toe, and thoir passing was cenorally alow. The try tho visitors gained waa, however, the result of an excellent piece of passing, and they would have gained a second try had Creeswull takerv a pass from W. McLean.

H. Tilley proved himself a reliable fullback,* fulfilling those duties in a satisfactory manner. Hβ is a good kick and he tackled well. Of tho throe-quarters I liked W. McLean best; in facb, he played one of the best games on tho field. Ho was very quick in his inovoments and proved himself a splendid kick. T. R. Cresswoll did not maintain the great ropubation which preceded him. Hβ ie certainly very cool, a fine kick and a sure tacklor, bub he is slow in hie actions, and was nob too reliable in handling the ball. D. Blair did not have many opportunities thrown in his way, bub his defence was sound.

W. Thomson, tho h'vo-eighb, pub in some useful work, stopping rushes neably and tackling soundly. Ho also made some fine dashes and passed neatly to his threequarters. Beamish, the halfback, ranked nexii to W. McLean for all-round play. He made many fine openings for his comradoa, and passed very cleanly. He also proved clever ab stooping tho rushes of tho Auckland forwards. Beamish played moat plucluly* throughout the game despite the facb that) he was badly shaken soon after play commenced.

R. McLean on the wing played a dashing game but he was Riven too much latitude by the referee. All the forwards worked well throughout, bub it was only in line play that they claimed any superiority over the Auckland vanguard. In this department Riddle, Carroll and Morton shone conspicuously.

The Auckland vanguard are to be complimented on the general improvement in their play. Although somewhat lighter than their opponents they beat ' tlfe visitors in general scrum work, Brady and Gittos, tho Auckland pair, invariably hooking the ball, bub the heeling out might have been more quickly accomplished. In tho open, Brown and Clarkin put in some good work in following up and tackling. Tho two wing men, Mills and Whibley, were of little assistance to their half-back, bub in the open they wero responsible for pome clever piecoa of play. Maßefio!d was nob a great success ao full back, although he gob Auckland out of a few tight cornors; but ho was inclined to run too iar before kicking, and liis kicking was nob accomplished in his usual style. AbsoLuin was. tho only three-quarter who played up to form. Tho Suburban representative quite excelled himself by his dashing play, and had hard luck in not scoring another try. Clayton ivua decidedly o/f colour; ib was certainly the poorest exhibition the Graf ton throe-quarter has eiven this season, Riloy, too, was nob at his boat, for ho ropcatodly allowed Thomson and Beamish to feint past him ; while ho also fumbled badly.

Ronayne was also patchy in his play. He made several dashing; runs, and tackled and stopped rushes cleverly, bub his pussintj was, on the whole, uncertain, ho being inclined to try and get) too far before passing , . Edmonds waa oloeely watched by the opposing wing nion, who were too frequently allowed to stand on Auckland's side of the scrum. Ho, too, was not in hi& happiest snood, and has played batter games.

The Wanganui footballers, who made many friends during their ehorb stay in Auckland, presented Mr Roberb Scott, mine host of the Royal Mail Iiotel» where the southerners were quartered, with an enlarged photo of the team, und in a moeb flattering letter thnnked Mr Scotb for his attention and alao for the comfortable homo they had received at hia house during fcheir etay.

An Aucklander who saw the match ab Tauranga last Saturday, tells me that 4 Graf ton ' Smith played a splendid game ab fall-back for the town team. My informant considers Smith's display the besb he has seen this season.

The Auckland team which visited Tauranga last week speak in praise of the dashing play of young Aeber, a promising three-quarter in the Tauranga team. On accounb of several of the players chosen to play against Tauranga laefc Saturday, nob notifying the Commibtee till the eleventh hour of their inability to make the journey, some difficulty was experienced in getting a team away to fulfil the engagement with the Bay of Plenty reps. However, tho local fifteen did much better than was expected, for although they did nob win they were also not beaten, the game ending in a draw, each aide gaining six points. The Auckland team thorough ly enjoyed their excursion, for the footballers ab Tauranga entertained the town team in their usual hospitable manner. I hear that Smith, Breen, Warnock, Gallagher, Hogan, McConriell and Binney, played sterling games for the Auckland team.

Thore is some talk among our veteran playere of getting a team together to try conclusions with our reps, on their return from the South. I hear thab a number of our old cracks have promised to assist in the contest, the proceeds of which will bo devoted to charity.

Tho Northern Wairoa team whioh play Auckland this afternoon, meet the Franklin Rugby Union team on Monday nexb, ab Pukekohe,

On Thursday next tho Waikato reps., on bbeir way to Auckland, play the Franklin repe. ab Pukekoho.

Tho ' Wanganui Chronicle ' had a special account of the Auckland-Wanganui match wired to them. The following aro a few pare, culled from the reporb. They require no comment, they epeak for themselves :—' A sustained "attack ab length ended in Brown dashincr over the line and scoring ' first blood ' for Auckland, Tilly seemed to etop him outside tho line, hut a try was awarded Auckland again attacked, and from what appeared a palpable pass forward in a scrambling rash, Abeolum scored. . . . With the advantage of tbo wind and the eun gone, nnd the score ab six to three, the victory seemed assured for Auckland, as the breeze freshened, and kicking against it to any advantage was almost impos' sible. Bub the Wanganui 'boys' were in great heart and fettle, and despite a continuous attack during nearly the whole of the laeb half of the second spell, Auckland could never snore. The defence was too sure and deadly. , I havo nob yet scon the • Chronicle's ' special reporb of the Wanganui. Taranaki match, bub ib may also prove intereefcing reading.

The Waikato representatives visit Auckland next week and play a town fifteen ab Epsom on Saturday. The country team are reported to possess a stronger team than lasb season, having a fine set of forwards, amongst whom is Mumby, the well known Taranaki forward.

Great regret was expressed in foobball oircles when it waa known thab Wynyard was unable to accompany the Auckland repa, D. Gage, who fills the vacancy, leaves for the South on Monday, and will overtake the team in time for the match against Otago, ab Dunodin, ou Saturday next.

Tho Grammar School 6reb team met St. John's College for the second time tbia season. The Grammar School proved victorious, after an interesting and friendly game, by 15 points to nil. The St. John's College boys have greafcly improved in scrum work, but in the back division they were outplayed by tho Grammar School boys, whose p&esintr was excellent. For the Grammar School, the play of Hesketb, Daneey, Upton, Hunter, Gannon, and Buckland wan especially noticeable, while Wigmore and Pilkington did good service for the College.

In the junior matches, tho Grammar School second team suffered their iirst dofoab this season, ab tho hands of tho Prince Alborb College first toam. Tho event was the occasion for considerable rejoicing on the parb of the victorious toam, for it ia the firet time thab any Grammar School team has suffered defeat this season. Indeed, at one time it seemed as though tho Grammar School wore to go through the eeason withoub losing a match, and we think that thore Iβ very little doubc that such would have been the case had the matchos been played right through (the 8oa?on) according to the rules as they were first drawn up. In theeo rules any bub bonci fide schoolboys were excluded from playing ; but ab a mooting of the Union, ib was decided that collogo students should bo eligiblo for play. Thie will account for tho appearance in the Prince Albert College team of sevoral divinity students, whose presence in a large meaauro contributed to the Buccess of Prince Albert College, and and the first defeab of a Grammar,,Sohool toam. The game was won by 11 pointe to 3. For Grammar School, Mcßwin scored a well-earned try; and for Prince Albert College trios were secured by Winstono, Burton and Gray, of which one was converted by Gray.

In the match between St. John's College second team and the Grammar School B. team, the Grammar Sohool boya were victorious by 19 points to nil. For Grammar School, two tries were secured by Easdown and one' by Holden ; Ilberb potted a goal, and Sinclair converted one try and kickod a penalty goal, For St. John's College, Shera, Crowther and Towsey playod well.

When tho Auckland team lefb Queen-et. Wharf in August, 1889, on ft southern tour, a fair enthusiast threw a floral emblem tied with the popular blue and white colours, as tho steamor casb off from the wharf, bub ac usual the steamer was too small a mark for the lady, and the flowers found a watery grave. A similar scene waa enacted on the Railway Whurf on Thursday last. As the e,B. Flora moved away, a lady, who evidently wished the team good luck, threw a floral horseshoe tied with the Auckland reps.' colours, with the good intention of putting icon board the eteatner. bub ib, too, fallowing tho example' of its predecessor of 1889, found a watery grave. Is ib a bad onion ? Association Football, The Bush Association has changed iCs tiQmo to Ruahine. fhe following are likely to represent tho Ruahine at the tournament to bo hold in Auckland -.—Andrews, Tingoy and Higeinaoii (Wanganui), Hare, Daniola and DeLiale (Fielding), Hudson, Feiid, Drew and Phillpobb (Woodville), About fifteen men will travel.

The Southern teams to compete at the New Zealand Championship Tournament) will arrive at Onehunga on Wednesday, August 28th. Auckland play Wellington the firab match. It will ben keen struggle for victory, as both tceme are strong. The Ruahine toam is a powerful one, as a number of their players are lately from tho Old Country.

The Auckland Amateur Athletic Club havo kindly offered to run their cropscountry raceab Potter's Paddock the same day aa the final for the tournament.

Austin Smith was in rare form lasb Saturday, and was splendidly supported by Rice and Heather.

Nets will be provided for the goal posts ab the tournament, ao that there will be no doubb which side of the posbs the ball goes. Judging by comparison, our Auckland reps, are nob bo be despised. Tho Dnnodin picked beam beabH.M.e. Ringatooma by 5 goals to 3, whereas, our players beat them by 8 to 1; but Dunedin has no Austin Smith. ORICKJET. Lancashire boat Notts afc Nottingham on June 18th by an iuninjja and 188 rune. Scores :—Lancashire, 345 (A. Ward, 116); Notts, 35 and 122. Mold bowled splendidly

for bhe winners, taking eight wicketa tor 20 runs in the first innings, dismissing Shrewsbury, Dafb, Dixon, and Wright wibh four consecutive balls, and in the second venture he took seven wickebe for 65 runs.

On June 15th, Surrey defeabed Lancashire by an innings and 39 runs. Scores : Lancashire, 159 and 184; Surrey, 382 (Abel, 157), This was Lancashire's first reverse for this season.

On June 19tb, Surrey boat Yorkshire at Bradford by eight wickets. Scores: Yorkshire, 205 and 131; Surrey, 307 (Haywood, 1081 and 30 for 2 wickets. Richardson captured 13 wickets at a cost of 134 runs for bhe winners.

Warwickshire beat Gloucestershire at Birmingham by an innings and 24 runs. Scores : Warwickshire. flo7 (Lilley, 135); Gloucestershire, 207 (Rice 44, and W. G. Grace 43) and 176 (Rice 64).

Ranjitsinhji, ploying for Cassandra, at Cambridge, went in first wicket down, bub was hardly given a fair chance of showing what ho could do, as with only six of his colleagues oub the innings was declared closed wheY tho Indian prince had made 206. For this he had been batting two hours and forty minutes. In the fourteen matches he had completed this year up to June 20bh, this Orienba! exponent of the game had accumulated 1,190 runs, which works oub to the respectable average of 85.

In a match played ab Exeter between Crediton and YVonford House, some very rapid scoring was witnessed. Wonford House batted first, and closed their innioga ab 198 for seven wickobs, G. Brown boiug nob oub with 114. Wibh bub an hour and a quarter for play, Challen, the Somersetshire amateur, started Creditou's innings, and when the 75 minubee had expired the total was 212 for four wiokebs 1 Challen was nob out for the fino score of 136, which included five 6's, five 4's, twentyone 3's, and five 2's. The. whole 410 runs wero made in three hours. ATHLETICS. The Auckland Amateur Abhletic Clu b have decided to give prizes to the value of £3, £2 and £1 respectively, for first, second and third for the steeplechase race to be held at Potter's Paddock next Saturday week. Entries close on. Saturday evening next.

Ab fche annual meeting of the New Zealand A. A. Association Mr L. A. Cuff stated thab businoaa matters would prevent him carrying on the duties of Secretary afbor the ond of tho coming season, but he would continue to aeniet in every way possible. Ho would nob like to go offthe Association altogether, and would be quite prepared to act as a delegate or in any other way thab he mighb be of assistance. This announcement) will bo received with regret by every amateur athlete in this colony, for Mr Cuff has worked hard for the advancement of amateur athletics in New Zealand, and to his efforts is mainly due the present flourishing state of the eporb in this colony. It will be difficult to find a worthy successor to Mr CufK

The balance-sheet of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club shows thab the receipts were £284 5e sd, including £40 6s lid balance from the ,previoua year. The expenditure was £260 3s lid, leaving a balance of £15 Iβ 6d, The assets consist of plate, plant, and fittings, etc., valued at £146199:

Tho Dunedjn Amateur Athletic Club have a credit bnlanco of £2 17s.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, Mr Cusack gave notice to move, ' That all members of tho team to repreaenb New Zealand in the Australasian Championship on January 2nd and 4th, 1896, be selected after the New Zealand Meeting, and the selected men to remain in Chrisbohuroh ab tho expeneo and under the control of the Association till January. 4fch ; that the Selection Committee be appointed by the Council from the officials of Clubs represented and present at the New Zealand Championship Meeting, each island to be equally represented on the Commibtqe; that any member of an affiliated Club can enter and compete, even if nob specially eoleoted, and in eibhor case competitors, mueb pny their own entry fee.'

John L. Sullivan, the ex-champion pugilist of the world,.recently announced thub he wae absolutely peonileee, Hia friende proposo to give him a monster benefit, which is expected to realise $10,000. With this tho onco champion slugger will bo started as a botiifaco. Sullivan eaya he has had enough of the stage ; thab the life of an actor docs not suit him at all. He spoke very differently in the early days of hie experience as a Thespian, cays an exchange, when audiences flocked to big show and money was rolling in. What a equan. doror the once mighty ' Jonnel ' has been. For twelve years lio earned ab the rato of something like £9,000 a yoar, and flung moat of it away recklessly and foolishly. What wasn't epont in Bacchanalian rovelry, to his credit be ibsaid, was given to charity. And now he is to dispense liquor to his once ardent admirer?. English Championship Meeting. The Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting of England was hold ab Stamford Bridge, London, on July 6th, and was a phenomenal success. Records were broken in tho 120 yards hurdles by Godfrey Shaw; in tho one mile, by F. E. Bacon, who established a world's record by running the distance in 4min 17eec, which beats W. G. George's time by 1 2-sth sec. In the long jump championship W. Mondelsohn, late of Christchurch, was second in, being beaten by 3i inches. Besides the bosfc athletes in the British Isles there were also athletes from South Africa and France competing. 1 wilt refer to this great gathering more fully next week. The following are tho bnro results :—

Half-mile.—E C. JBredin (London), 1 ; F. S. Koran (Cambridge), 2. Won by 4yde. Time, Jmin 55 4 sth sec.

100 Yards.— O. A. Bradley (England), 1; A. R. Downor (Scotland), 2; Max Wittenberg 3. Won by a yard and a-half. Time, lOsec.

120 Yards Hurdle?.—G. B. Shaw (London), 1 ; W.J. Oakley (Oxford), 2. Won by two yards nnd a-half. Time, 15 4-{sth sec.

Throwing bho Hammer. — Dr. Barry (England), 132 foot ]1£ inches, 1 ; G. F. Keily (Ireland), 130 feet 2\ inches, 2. One Mile.—F. B. Bacon, 1 ; W. E. Lutyene,' 2. Won by 18 yarde. Time, 4inin 17aec.

Pole Jump.—R. D. Dickenson, 10 feet, 1. 440 Yards. —W. Fitzhorberb (Cambridge University), 1 ; E. C. Bredin (London), 2 ; P. ■). Blignant (South Africa), 3. Won by a foot. Time, 49 5 sth sec.

High Jump.— J. M. Ryan (Ireland), sft lHin, 1 ; E. Williams (London), §ffc lOin., 2. Ryan afterwards jumped 6ft. 3in.

Putting tho Weig-ht.— D. Horgran (Belfast), fl4fb 3.Un, 1 ; H. D. Gradwell (South Africa), 43ib lin. 2 ; Dr. Barry, 42fb Bih, 8. Four Miles Walk.—W. J. Sturpesa, 1. Time, 30min 1? 2 stli sec. Ourtia finished first, but was disqualified.

Long Jump. —W. J. Oakley (Oxford University), '21 feet inehoe, 1 ; W. Mendelsohn (Cambridge University), 21 feet 3 inches, 2.

Four Miles.— H. A. Munro, 1 ; C. Peurce. 2 ; Sid. Thomas, 3. Time, 19min 47 3 ofch sec. ■ CYCLING. If all the regulations and by-laws all'ecbing et.reot cycling throughout) the world were gathered together, says a Melbourne writer, the information would afford eomo interest. In «nne places the bicycle is regarded with unmistakable hatred, bub ib is .but surely, working its way into universal favour. In some places in England bicycles inueb carry a lighb at night, while vehiolos ure allowed to travel in darkness. At Babylon, America, cyclists are nob allowed by the civic authorities to ride on the Sabbath day, In other cities, however, the wheelman is well carei for, and

people tare warned against throwing glass, tin, nails, tacks, or wire on the road, or anything thab mighb injure pneumatic tyres. Another town, permits wheelmen to ride on the side-walks in muddy weather. There is not the slightest) doubt but that bicycles, all the world over, will ere long be well provided for by civic authorities. The number of wheels in use to-day musb be near double that of two years ago. In some places special sidepaths are reserved for bicycles, just as pedestrians have a. portion of every thoroughfare allotted to them, and ib is only natural to expecb that as the .votaries of wheeling increase so will bbeir influence towards attaining the desired benefits.

The quiet Surrey village of Ashatead was one day recently the scene of considerable and unwonted excitement. An enthusiastic cycling couple had determined to get married in the very latest up-to-date cycling fashion. The wedding procession started from Leatherhead. The bride and bridegroom j were mounted upon a tandem bicycle, the lady attired in orange blossoms, veil, and a rational dress of fawn colour. The bridegroom did some fine pedalling churchwards, and responded gracefully to the cheers of the assembled natives who adorned bhe highway with their presence, and expressed theit delight and amusement in many ways. The bridesmaids and besb man followed behind, also mounted, and bho a (lair throughoub was characterised with much good humour, the arrangements being completed withoub a mishap. The Wellington ' Posb' says :—Messrs H. G. Smith and W. McCallum, two amateur wheelmen in this city (Wellington), have pub up a cycling record for the colony, having ridden tandem from Petone to Maeterton and backg to Wellingtan, a distance of aboub 150 miloe, in one day. They etarted on their journey ab 5 a.m. yestorday, spent one and a-half hours ab Mungaroa, where they breakfasted, and reached Masterton ab 20 minutes to 1 o'clock. At 2 o'clock a start wae made for home, and they arrived in town ab 10 p.m. On the return trip they rested ab Mungaroa for on hour. The actual riding time was 13hr lOmin. The return journey was accomplished under considerable difficulty, a high wind making very fasb pedalling quite impossible. The machine, which stood the long trip splendidly, waa an 'Akarana,' built by W. M. Service, of Queen-etreeb, Auckland, .and was recently cold bo Inglis Bros., Cycle Agents, Willisstreeb, Wellington.