FOOTBALL MATCH—NAPIER V. GISBORNE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3155, 8 August 1881, Page 3

FOOTBALL MATCH—NAPIER V. GISBORNE.

As I consider the above match has attracted a good deal of excitement (and more espeoially on account of the joke perpetrated at the expense of Mowbray's leg) I, as an old Napierite, send you the following account of the match, dinner, and other arrangements connected with it. The Napier team, on arriving at Gisborne, were.met by the Captain of the Gisborne team (Mr J. Berry), and also by Mr E. A. Pavitt, and E. H. Pavitt, and several others. Samuel Stevenson's break, with four horses, was in attendance, and drove the visitors to Page's Masonic Hotel, where they were received amid great cheering by other members of the Gisborne Club. During Friday the Napier men visited the boat-shed and other places of attraction, and in the afternoon played lawn tennis. The Christy Minstrel entertainment in aid of the Gisborne Club held on Friday night was a great success, and well repaid the performers for their trouble. The following are the names of the respective teams : —lf apier team : Mowbray (Captain), Begg, Gibbons, Bostock, T,. Bostock N., Davis, Whitcombe, St. Hill, Potts, Parker, Edwards, Waterhouse, Lanauze, Gracie, and Pram. Gisborne team : Messrs J. Berry (Captain), Day, Albert, Bourke, Barnes, Bloomfielcl, Cooke, Ewcn, Mill, Pavitt B. A., Pavitt E. H., Tekani, Wyllie, White J., White C. The average weight of the Napier men was about lOafc 61b, and Gisborne about list 101b, giving Gisborne an average of about 181bs a man heavier than Napier. At a quarter-past two o'clock the teams were driven to the ground in a four-in-hand. It was arranged between the teams that Mowbray and Berry should act as umpires and settle all disputes, and that Captain Winter should be referee, but his office proved almost a sinecure. Tho match was played in a paddock kindly lent by Captain Tucker for the occasion ; although the ground was better than we have ever had before, still it was very lumpy in some places. In all I should think there were between four and five hundred spectators, a great number of whom belonged to the fair sex. Gisborne won the toss, and elected to kick against the wind. The Napier captain took the kick off, and skied his ball well in the air, thus giving his men time to follow up. During the first twenty-five minutes the ball was kept well in the Gisborne quarter, and Napier had decidedly the best of it. St. Hill made a good run, but was well-collared by Mill. Bloomfielcl made several good drops, which were well returned by Mowbray. Time being called, sides wore changed, neither party having scored any advantage. During the s3cond twenty-five minutes' spell Berry completely took the Napier men by storm, and succeeded in getting three " runs in." The first " try " was taken by Cook, but proved a failure. The other two were " punt's out," but Gisborne failed to mark either of them. In the third bout of twenty minutes Mowbray kicked off, and the ball was returned by Cooke with a splendid drop-kick. The play continued fast and furious, the ball being kept in the Napier quarter. Scrimmages were now the order of the day; the Gisborne weight told very much, and Berry succeeded in scoring another touch-down (or try). Cook brought the ball out, and Berry kicked a goal for Gisborne, making the score Gisborne one goal and three tries, Napier nil. Within a very few-minutes Berry got the ball again, and before he was collared scored another touch-down right behind the posts. Cook took the kick, and made a great miss, to the f astonishment of every one. The final twenty minutes proved tho grandost of the day, tho play being very fust, and Napier pressing Gisborne hard. During this spell St. Hill made tho " run " of the day, and ought to have scored a run-in. Waterhouse also showed well to the front. Time being called the scores stood—Gisborne, one goal and four touch-downs against nothing. Cheer after cheer -was given for the Napier boys, and it was admitted on all sides that they had played a spendid game, considering what uphill work it was. Of the individual play I cannot give a very good account, as I did not know some of the

players by sight. For Napier Potts as forward played a splendid game, and was without doubt the best man of tho team. St. Hill made two good runs during, the match, and worked very hard throughout. Mowbray, as back, played well, but not up to his usual style ; the strong wind blowing l prevented any good kicking. As captain of •the team Mowbray worked his men to the best advantage. Edwards and Waterhouse played well forward, , and made several desperate efforts during the last bout. Whitcombe played very well, collaring well, and passing back. T. and N. Bostock played hard, and made several good runs. Gibbons, as half-back, and also Begg, did some splendid collaring, and made several good drops. For Gisborne the Pavitt brothers, J. White, Bourke, Cook, Mill, Tekani, and Bloomfield played splendidly all through the game. . Mill's collaring, was very good indeed, and Bloomfield's running the same. Were I to start to write about Berry I should tiever finish ,- he is "without exception the! grandest player I ever have had the pleasure of watchirig. As captain of the team he worked his men in a manner that showed the pains he had taken with them ; he runs very fast and strong, gets away quick, and knows the game thoroughly. The game was good-tempered throughout, arid hardly a single argument took place. As I wish Id give yon an account of the dinner I must not trespass o'ri your space any more with regard to the game. The dinner was held in the Masonic Hall, Captain Winter in the chair, supported by Mowbray on his right and Berry on his left. Mr A. C. Arthur occupied the vice-chair. After the usual toasts were gone through, the chairman in' a neat speech proposed tho health of the visitors, the Napier football team, coupled with the name of their captain. Mr Mowbray responded, and proposed the Gisborne team. Mr Berry responded. The following toasts were proposed and drunk with the usual honors: —Army and Navy, Mr W. Chamber? Major W. A, Richardson responded. The Rugby Union, Mr A. C. Arthur. The Ladies, F. Arthur ; A. St. Hill responded. The Press, E. H. Pavitt; J. W. Henderson responded. Several songs were given during the evening, and the whole performance was brought to a close with " Auld Lang Syne.'' The Napier men were accompanied to the steamer by a large crowd of people, who cheered till their heart's content. The Gisborne team intend paying Napier a visit about the 20th instant, when I trust Napier will be able to have a heavier and better team.