FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 184, 4 August 1900, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

The Probables v. Possibles practice match on Saturday was an agreeable surprise to everybody, and a pleasant change after the dreary and unsatisfactory matches of a similar kind we have too often seen at Potter's. Both sides played willingly from start to finish, and the game was fast and interesting. The members of the Probables' team played up well to justify their inclusion, while the opposing side was equally keen on striving for the coveted caps. The whole game was a.,good omen for the success of our arms in the coining contests.

On the whole, the "A" team justified their selection and proved their superiority, though they had to fight hard for it. The weakest point of each team was the full-back. Neither Donovan for the "A" team, nor Upton for the "B's", approached interprovincial form. If only Donovan's kicking were better he would be a very satisfactory full, for his defence is generally very sound.

Absolum's return to his old form was very popular, and it was clearly seen that the speedy three-quarter is as great a favourite as ever. For ray own part, 1 must confess that 1 have never thought of him as a representative this year on his form this v season, and it was therefore an agreeable surprise to see him playing so well. He will have to play up to his best form, however, if he wishes to be included in the team to meet our Southern rivals, for the Thames backs are a strong lot and all eager for a "cap."

D. Hay's fine display was also very popularly received. The Graftonite showed that his play in the City match was not a mere "flash in the pan." On his form this season Hay is undoubtedly our best back. He should make an admirable representative centre three-quarter.

Asher, at five-eighths, will have to play exceedingly well to hold his place in the team against Itiley, of the Thames.

There was a good deal of rivalry between the City and Grafton supporters as to the respective merits of Kiernan and Young- at half. The City man played a plucky game, but the Graftonite must have the preference on the score of science and experience. The same team will meet the Thames on Saturday next at Potter's Paddock —that is, provided none of the men play so badly to-day at Paeroa as to be superseded.

It seems curious to play Woods at three-quarters when that player has been playing at five-eighths all the season, but he is probably the best man available for the position. As to the forwards, I certainly think Handcock should be included. The Parnell man played one of the best games on the ground on Saturday. Otherwise the team is the best that could be got together.

The Thames-Auckland match, "to be played at Epsom on Saturday, is causing, it is needless to say, a very large amount of irtftenest. It hius been the proud boast of the Thames since 1897 that they are the champion fifteen of the colony. In 1897 Auckland defeated the victorious New Zealand fifteen and Thames defeated Auckland —hen.ee. the assumption of superiority. The fact that they defeated the metropolita.7l rep. fifteen again in 1898 and 1899 has not exactly tended to diminish the feeling of pride which swells the bosom of every Thamesite when football is mentioned. If their rep. team beats us again this year, the Thames people will, be positively delirious with joy and satisfaction

It must be admitted that the Thames can put a strong- team in the field, stronger perhaps than that of any other district of a similar size and population in the colony. The experience of the last three years has taught us what formidable opponents our neighbours are. In 1897 the game was played at the Thames, literally in a "sea of mud," and Thames won by 9 points to 0. The game was not considered a fair test, especially as Auckland had three of her best men with the New Zeala.nd team in Australia. In 1898, however, under fair conditions at Epsom, Thames again won, this time by 19 points to 13. And last year Thames won a' third time, on their own ground, by 12 points to 3. It remains to be seen whether they will add another victory to their list. But the general opinion is that the Thames team is? not so strong this year as it has been. Mr Arrieil, the A.R.U. selector, was .not favourably impressed with their form against Ohinemuri. They have moreover lost two of their best men since ' last year—George Gillet (full back), whose magnificent line-kicking was the feature of the •last Thames-Auckland match, and "Jock" McGregor, one of the best forwards in the district last year, if not the best, and a veritable tower of strength to our rep. front division. On the other hand they have gained a good half-back in Woods, and Buckland, one of their three-quarters, is spoken of ns "improved beyond all knowledge." However, in spite of past defeats, I put my faith on the Auckland team.

At the last meeting of the Otago Rugby Union, says a Southern exchange, a player named Spence was disqualified till the end of the 1902 season, for using insulting language towards another player. It was resolved to suppress smoking1 in the

grandstands and betting on the grounds. Steps would be taken to remove from the grounds any persons of the "1 Jay" genus.

A reporter in a Manawatu paper stated that a afternoon tea had been provided at an Institute Unionists' match. "One of the Institute Team," in a mildly indignant letter to the 'editor-, made the following statement:—'Allow me to inform you that afternoon tea was provided by a member of the club, and to the players only. Our matches are not so well attended as to induce us to provide afternoon tea for spectators, if your reporter was present he would have seen that it was players only who participated in afternoon tea. I make this statement as some of my friends who were spectators were not supplied with the luxury.' " One would really think , that the partaking of afternoon tea was a criminal offence.

Overheard in the practice mfttcli last Saturday: Front-ranker, to secondrow man: "Don't shove so hard. You're pushing- me oft; my feet." ' Sec-ond-row man: "Sing out a bit louder, so that Mr. Arneil can hear!" Mr S. Woodroffe, hon. secretary of the Giles College Football Club, writes to me disclaiming, on behalf of the members of the college fifteen and of all the scholars, all knowledge of the false report sent, in to me a fortnight ago, and which I referred to in my notes of July 21st. I have much pleasure in publishing the denial. After all, the report must have been a stupid joke perpetrated by some outsider.