FOOTBALL.-NAPIER V. GISBORNE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3167, 23 August 1881, Page 2

FOOTBALL.-NAPIER V. GISBORNE.

The return match between these two teams was played at Farndon yesterday, and resulted in one of the most hotly , contested games that has taken place in"\ this provice. The Gisborne men, came nerved with prestige, and'the general impression was that they would again gain an easy victory. But they had a stronger team to deal with than met them at Gisborne, and the probabilities are that if the Napier boye had not been a leetle nervous they would have gained h. victory. At the commencement:of the game the teams were arranged as follows : — Napier—Backs : Humphries and Gibbone ; half-backs : Potts and Mowbray ; quarter-backs: Begg and Whitcombe ; forwards: Barclay, Price, Lanauze, Duncan, Murray, Dove, Pott,-Howie, and Edwards. Gisborne:—-Back, Bourne and Cook ; half-backs: Bloomfield and Wi Taku; quarter-backs: Berry (captain), and Mill; forwards: Te Kane, White (2), Wyllie, Barnes, Pavitt (2) and Ewen. Some very judicious changes, were made in the Napier team ac the' game progressed. Mowbray, who had been playing half-back for the first two spells, changed to forward, Humphries taking bis place. Giaboroe won the toss, and elected to kick with the wind. Mowbray kicked off for Napier, and the ball was quickly followed up, and the play very fast, Napier keeping the leather close to the Gisborne touch line. During the first spell Berry made a grand run for Gisborne, and but for the spectators being in his way he would have been very near a touch. Time being called ends were changed, no score having resulted on either side. During second twenty minutes Napier, with the ■ wind to assist them; carried the ball in front of the Gisborne goal posts, and pressed them so hard ac to compell Gisborne to touch-down twice iri selfdefence. When ends were again changed no score had been made, In the third " bout" Gisborne made a grand rush, but without any V satisfactory result. The scrimages during this spell were very well played, and for several seconds there was hardly a movement either one way or the other. The umpires having called time again, ends were changed, Gisborne having the wind against them. To my mind this was the hottest contested spell of any, and was very much appreciated by the spectators. Both teams played all they knew, and every inch of ground wae watched carefully. Hardly a run of aoy consequence was made, every man being watched and collared as soon as he attempted to run. Time being up the umpires called time, no score having been obtained on either side, and the match was therefore drawn. Of the individual play I cannot say very much, not being acquainted with some of the players, and not even knowing some of the Napier men by sight. Berry, for Gisborne, played a grand game throughout, and is really equal to any two of his side. I was sorry to see him so knocked about, but it is the luck of the game. I hear he is staying in Napier for a week, and trust to see him looking Al again in a few days. Mills made some good runs, •and never failed to collar. BlbomfieljLwas not at his best, and I have seen hinr play a much better game. J. White, as forward, played an honest unselfish game, and took a power of holding. Cook, as full back, made some grand drop-kicks, but evidently seemed out of sorts after the trip down. Barnes made some good attempts to run, but was always collared. Of the remainder of the Gisborne team I can only say they all worked hard for i their side, and played much together than our local men. For Napier Potts played a grand game from start to finish; he had one splendid show for a run in, having dribbled the Dall right up to the Gisborne back, but he over-reached himself, and so lost a good chance for a score. The greatest praise that can be said of a forward is that he is" always

on the ball," and it certainly can he said of wee Pott. Geoff. Potts played, as he always does, a fine dashing game; he runs fast, is a sure collar, and kicks well. Dove worked as hard forward as any one, and was a most useful man to Napier on several occasions. Begg, as quarterback, played a better game than I have ever seen him play before ; he runs well, picka his ball up clean, and gets away very smartly ; his place should always be quarter-back. Wbitcombe, playing opposite to back, made some very nice runs, and never failed to hold bis mau. Mowbray, during the first two spells, played far from his usual style; in the third and laat " bouts" he went forward, and certainly made up for lost time. In the last spell he called at mark, and took a try at goal; it was the best kick of the day, but failed to score. Lanauze, Howie, Barclay, and Duncan, all worked bard, and played well. Howie's light weight troubled some of the Gisborne men a good deal. Murray showed much better for*, and made some good short runs, and also kicked very well. Humphries, as full back, played a fine steady game; he certainly is one of Napier's best kicks. In the third spell be made a grand run, but was held by Mill. Gibbons played and kicked very prettily, as he always does. Edwards worked very hard, and was alwayß somewhere about; he runs very well, and \s a useful man. The umpires filled their posts admirably, and on the whole their decisions gave satisfaction. Of the game generally I think it the best contested I ever witnessed, and will long be remembered by all who were present. The players certainly owe a vote of thanks to Mr Laecelles for the use of the ground ; it is in beautiful order, and it is a thousand pities it is not near town. If I have made use of wrong football terms I must ask old players to forgive me. I was so excited at times I could hardly take down my notes.

The Dinner

The Gieborne team were entertained at a dinner given at the Masonic Hotel at 7 p.m., eeats being placed for sixtyfive. Mr T. W. Balfour occupied the chair, supported on either side by the respective ciptains of the two team?. The vice-chair was filled by Mr J. W. Carlile. The dinner, which was excellently served, and which did Mr Heslop's cuisine every credit, being over, the usual loyal toasts were given from the chairs, and were duly responded to. In response to the " Army, Navy, and Tolunteere," that had been proposed by Mr Oornford, Mr Rees said that disasters did not always prove want of courage ; they were usually caused by over-weening confidence, and ignorance of an enemy's gtrength. Mr Balfour, in proposing the toast of " Our Guests," said that the game they had witnessed that day would long be remembered as one which had been fonght out from first to last with a bulldog courage never before seen in Hawke's Bay. As an old footballer he had got quite excited, and at one time had actaally found himself amongst the players only to hear one of them say, " What's that fat fellow doing here." He felt sure they were proud to entertain guests who had beaten us at Gisboroe, and who had fought so well to do it again. They had played as footballers ought, in thoroughly good temper, and he hoped that the same English spirit would always be ehown in these contests. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr Berry, the captain, said that for obvious reasons he could say but little. The game had been played with spirit and fairness, and the last twenty minutes of it were the liveliest he had ever experienced. He would propose the " Napier team, coupled with the name of Mr Mowbray." Mr Mowbray replied that the game had been the best he had taken part in for many a year. He considered it an honor to have played against such a team as had been opposed to them. The only thing which took from the pleasure of the match was the knocking about Captain Berry had received, but he was glad to know that he bad sustained no serious injuries. Mr C. C. Murray proposed " The Umpires," paying them the compliment of saying that they were proficients in the game, and had given their decisions with promptitude and with fairness. Messrs Rees and Dobson returned thanks, the former saying that the greatest difficulties in connection with the duties of umpiring always arose from want of decision. There had been no difficulty of that kind that day. Both of them had determined to see fair play, and the game, which would not soon be forgotton, was a stubborn hard-fought match from beginning to end. He hoped that year after year Gisborne would meet Napier in friendly contest at cricket, football, boating, and shooting, as these manly outdoor English sports built up a spirit amongst a people that was essential to the prosperity of a country. The other toasts proposed were " The Ladies," " The Press," and "Oar Host," which were all duly honored. Between each toast songs were given that greatly enlivened the proceedings, the playing of Mr Humphries being greatly appreciated and applauded.