ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1898, Page 5

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

NOTES ON THE WELLINGTON

TOURNAMENT

Auckland has ncnv won the valuable 'Brown' Challenge Shield three times — in 1895, 1596 and 189 S. Wellington, Ruahine, Otago and Canterbury have each been successful once.

Despite the atrocious weather the form displayed in the tournament was generally very good, Saturday's game in particular being fast and well worth seeing. To appreciate the difficulties plaj^ers had to contend against one had to be present at the Athletic Park. The grass was much longer than we ever have it on the Domain ground and pools of water, as much as two inches deep, were scattered over the ground. A heavy gale, with rain, was blowing all Wednesday and Thursday, but on Saturday the rain had ceased, though the wind was still high. The Otago XT. were probably the second best team playing. The forwards, though light, were fast and clever, and the defence really good, and at half-time it looked as if they must beat Auckland, as they had a majority of only one goal against them, and now had the advantage of a gale of wind. But their exertions in the first spell had taken it all out of them, and Auckland were easily able to retain their advantage, scoring another goal ten minutes from time. The weather seemed to affect the Southerners far more than it did .their opponents, several of the former at the finish seeming to be in a state of collapse, Sligo (the captain) in particular being perfectly helpless from cramp in the limbs and being unable to speak. It is difficult to pick out any of the Auckland XT. for special praise as every man played up to Ms reputation^ but four men deserve particular notice. Carmichael, the shipper, proved himself once again to be the best back in New Zealand, having a perfect knowledge of the game and being ready for any emergency. He appeared in the Otago match to take matters a little too easily at the start, apparently xmderrating his opponents, but this mistake he soon rectified. His partner, Wright, played brilliantly in both matches, some* people going so far as to say that he was as good as his captain. Certainly he played a great game and was never in trouble. Sawbridge went south as a full-back, but the match committee decided to play him at centre-half, with most successful results, as he completely altered the style of his play to suit his new position and actually played the best half-back game of the tournament. The attention he paid to Wellington's crack forward, Arundel, completely smothered that player and was chiefly instrumental in breaking up the combination of the Empire City's forwards. The fourth man to deserve

special notice was Dacre, who, after Rice's accident, did the work of two men; and did it well.

Instancing the force of the wind, on Thursday Auckland had a free-kick awarded, which was taken by Carmichael. As the ball rose it was caught by the wind, carried back, and actually fell to the ground behind the kicker. *

Comparing- the relative merits of the : teams, there was not very much to choose between the front ranks of j Otago, Wellington, and Auckland, though the latter were the fastest and heaviest lot. The Otago men showed very good combination, but made the mistake of playing 'all they knew' against the gale, instead of reserving their energies for the second half. Hence at half-time they were played out. and were unable to avail themselves of the sendees of the wind, and the . comparatively fresh Northern j backs had little trouble in breaking ! every attack. It was in rthe back i division that Auckland's superiority | was most plainly accentuated both i backs and halves playing better than | their opponents. ;

Otago's XI. was stated by their cap- I tain to be the strongest the}' have ever i sent away, and they were very confident of their ability' to take the Shield back to Dunedin.

At the smoking concert on Saturday evening given in honour of the visiting teams Mr T. M. Wilford, the wellknown ex-Canterbury and Wellington Rugby rep. said: —'I never saw your game before to-day and like* most Rugby men have rather looked down upon it as a very poor sort of game. This was my ignorance. After the exhibition of fast clever football shown to-day by Auckland and Wellington I can quite understand how it is that at Home the Association game has killed public interest in Rugby football. Two or three more such games as to-day's and you will no longer be able to complain that you cannot get the public to take an interest in Association.'

In the Wellington—Auckland match it was 35 minutes from the start before the referee's whistle was heard for an infrinsrement of the rules.

The Auckland team were so well satisfied with Mr A. E. Gibbs (Wellington) as referee on Thursday that they requested the Football Association to allow him to act again on Saturday in their match against Wellington.