ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1898, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. THAMES

(Auckland, 5 goals; Thames, nil.)

As arranged, the Auckland team visited the Thames on Saturday and played the local men. The following1 represented Auckland:- —Goal, Warner-', backs, Wright, Sawbridge; v halfbacks, Bellamy, JJacre, and Todd"; forwards, Heather (2), Heinery, Burgess, and Coittes.

Although it was a wet day the ground was wonderfully dry, 'and consequently the game was very fast. The Thames Club had some difficulty in gelling a suitable ground, and were only able to get a rather small paddock. Owing to the Rugby Union having a match with Coromandel, only a few spectators were present.

Mr Harper made an efficient referee, his decisions not being questioned once.

Todd, the Auckland skipper, won the toss from Carmiehael, and decided to take the benefit of the wind and sun.

Play was started punctually at 3 o'clock, the Auckland men playing with the wind. For the first half-hour play was very even, the forwards on both sides displaying excellent combination, and the backs having plenty to do. The Thames men were too slow in passing the ball, and lost one or two excellent opportunities for scoring. Cariniehael got his side out of. difficulties more than once. At. last the Heathers managed to break through the Thames defence, and C. Heather centreing to Burgess, the latter put it. through. Auckland, 1; Thames, nil.

This roused the Thames players, but the wind was blowing1 strongly against them, and the Auckland men brought the ball up to the Thames goal, Carmichael again and again preventing any attempt at scoring. From a good passing dribble by ti emery, Burgess and Coates, the latter made a long shot, which, Tate, who had stopped one .shot by running- out, missed, it going over his head.

.lust before the whistle went the Auckland men, by good combination, brought lliti ball through the Thames backs, ,). Heather from the wing centreing the boll, and Coates made another good shot,Carraichael just touching the ball with liis head and preventing Talc from stopping it. Halftime was called with the scores Auckland, I!; Thames, nil.

On resuming play Thames immediately took the ball up to the Auckland goal, and White kicking too hard, the hall went over the bar. After some good dribbling by the Auckland men, who were unable to make much headway aginst the wind and good play of the Thames backs. Cantley and Hutchison for Thames took the ball well up the field, and the latter passing to White the latter made another good attempt to score, but the ball again went over the. bar.

The Heathers from the kick-off again got. in one of their dribbles, and by splendid combined play J. Heather scored. Thames, although evidently beaten, still played up well, but their forwards did not. show good combination; most, of them were inclined to dribble the ball too much instead of playing the long passing game, which the Auckland men excelled in. Carmichael was playing magnificently, and time after time saved his side. From another long- passing dribble H emery scored again Cot- Auckland. Carmichael. now went forward to see if he could score for Thames, but although the local men were, pressingthe visitors hard, they did not seem able to score, Warner stopping two or three hot, shots. The game thus ended—Auckland, 5; Thames, nil

Of the players, Carmichael was head and shoulders above any of the other players: it seemed impossible for the Auckland men to get past him. When they did, Auckland scored. Hutchison proved to be a good, tricky player, and Hughes was as usual a tower of strength. Cantlcy evidently had not forgotten the game. The other Thames men were evidently out of practice but showed that the team as a whole with practice would be hard to beat. Of the Auckland men. all played well. Perhaps the half-backs were thbest, they being- too much for the I names men, constantly spoiling- the Thames attack. The Heathers played together well, but missed Rice and'W Heather, the other forwards not combining- with them as well as they might have done. Sawbridge and Wright made no mistakes, and Warner in goal did all h e had to do excellently.

A return match in Auckland will be arranged before the season closes/and as the illumes men hope to bring- up a much stronger team, a good mmi may be looked forward to. Although the Ihames Club wore beaten the game was a very even one thrcniffhout. w