FOOTBALL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4944, 21 June 1887, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

4 HAWKE'S BAY V. WELLINGTON. NEITHER SJDE SCORES. [pee peess association.] Wellington, Saturday. The match between Wellington and Hawke's Bay was spoiled by tho heavy rain during the early days of tho week, which mado tho ground extremely slimey and treacherous under foot. A keen wind was blowing most of the time, especially in the second spell, when it naturally aided the local team in keeping the ball away from their end of the ground. Fast play was out of the question, and there were none of tho quick dashes and sprints of long runs which make tho game of football so interesting to the ordinary visitor. Tho Hawke's Bay men were excellent at scrummaging, but did not back ono another or follow up in the persistent way that thoir opponents did. The latter had all tho best of it in loose play, and their passing was better than that of the visitors. This was, however, counterbalanced by tho well-judged dribbling which frequently distinguished the rushes of the Napier forwards. The collaring was good all round, and mistakes iv that respect were few and far between. In the visiting fifteen were Tniaroa and Warbrick, of international fame, and M'Causland, who earned for himself considerable reputation here and in Auckland in former days. These in themselves were sufficient to make the Napier team strong behind the scrummage, and their forwards were known at the least to bo honest workers. The Wellington forwards in their matches last season showed that certainly, and probably a little superior to most of the provincial teams, and their backs, though not firstclass, were fairly good taken altogether. On the whole it was apparent that had the ground been dry the teams were well matched enough, and sufficiently expert to have mado the game equally close, and much more excitu.g and enjoyable. It may he mentioned that no fewer than six of the players engaged wore of native blood— Taiaroa, senr., Warbrick, and Tako, on tho visiting side, and Gage, Ellison, and Taiaroa, junr., on the other. Messrs Logan and Webb were Jthe umpires, and Mr Knapp referee. King won the toss and chose the east goal, towards which the wind, at that timo not very strong, was slightly inclined. Hawke's Bay (black and white) kicked off sharp at 3 o'clock. For ten miuntcs or more the ball was all about the centre of the ground with the exception of one spurt, when the Hawko's Bay full-back, Tako, had to take tho ball. Tho black and white uniforms, by virtue of the close scrummaging, at last forced their way as far as the Wellington flag, but tho blacks (Wellington) put on another spurt, and made mat- . ters equal. M'Causland punted the ball far back, and young Taiaroa having dribbled it well up tho ground, the same player again made himself useful in stopping the headway of the Wellington forwards. Gibbons, of Napier, lacked towards the Wellington goal, and following his kick well tho Napier men once more got as far as the 25 flag, but a series of scrummages intervened, tho result of which was to stay Napier's progress. Fan-brother making a short run tho ball fell into Taiaroa's hands, and following up his kick smartly he collared Richardson beyond the 25 flag and tho Hawke's men located themselves for a considerable time in this position. Gage, the Wellington full-back, stopped one rush close upon the goal line, and Taiaroa immediately afterwards got well under way and had an excellent chance of scoring, when ho lost the ball. This was getting too hot to bo comfortable, and the Wellington men pulling themselves together pounded away through tho mud, and helped by a vigorous punt from someone who was undistinguishablc in the crowd got their lino cleared. A counter rally saw them again on the defensive, and M'Rac effected a capital mark on the windward side of the ground, which enabled Warbrick to have a place kick, from which he all but kicked a goal. Gage immediately punted the ball back, and some sharp rushes in which tho superiority of the local men in loose scrummages was made upj>arent, saw the backs up at tho other end of the ground. There the first really exciting accident occurred. M'Rao misjudged a rather high kick, and the ball bounded over his head. Instantly Taiaroa, jun., dashed at it, and a series of quick passes brought tho game in front of the Napier goal. Tho slippery ball bounced from ono man to another, and as occasionally happens in tho course of the game, for tho moment no one seemed able to grasp it, and any' moment a try was pesgibio At length Tako secured it and struggled clear of tho goal. Timo was immediately called, aud the danger thus passed away. Tho wind freshened during tho second spell, and Wellington having some advantage from it had rather tho best of tho play during tho second part of the game. At tho stait M'Rao was collared close to the lino before he could luck, and Moorhouse had a half - hearted shot at goal. Warbrick, though surrounded by opponents, secured tho ball splendidly, and returned it with a fine kick. A terribly wild pass of Richardson's freed tho Napierites, until Cooper punted down, and after that they wero penned up for tjonie minutes. Principally by dribbling they once more got clear and invaded the opposite end, where Cooper stopped a determined charge by opportunely falling on the ball. Warbrick had a chance of a pot shot, but was blocked by one of bis own men. Despite the wind in their teeth, the visitors having got into the Wellington quarter stayed there, and once or twice got close to the goal line. Here Merlet became conspicuous by repeatedly taking the ball from the feet of the Napier forwards, and Morrison on the other side showed some well-judged dribbling. Merlet finally and permanently shifted the play, assisted by Taiaroa, and having got into the swing the blacks charged home, and passing well were rapidly approaching the goal when someone caused the umpire's intervention by throwing the ball forward. Not to be baulked, the local forwards flung themselves energetically into tho senunmage, and got to the goal line. Thera Warbrick, whose boast it is that he has never yet played on the losing side, had to save his roputation by seizing the ball from two Wellington men who were just about to cross the line. The three rolled over together, but Warbrick's kind fairy once again intervened, and he prevailed. After tho kick-off Cooper gavo Fail-brother a beautiful pass, and tho latter mado tho only run that was worth noticing on tho ground. His feet slipped from "under him as he neared the line, but the effect of his spurt was that tho game was located until just beforo its close in the north-east corner, and the visitors were forced down once or twice. On the last kick out they made a final effort, and after a couple of scrummages succeeded in ending tho match well in the centre of the'ground. On the whole tho Wellington side had somewhat the best of the match, as their goal was never in such danger as that of their opponents. Warbrick's clean kicking was particularly noticeable on a slippery ground with an unceiiain ball. Tho surety with which Taiaroa picked up the ball was frequently remarked. M'Rao, with tho exception of one mistake, played smartly, ; and M'Causland kicked well. Of the Wei- \ lington backs Richardson and Merlet undoubtedly did the most useful work, while Cooper showed a greater amount of dash ' and Burcness than he was credited with. Of - tho forwards it is not necessary to distin- ; guish anyone specially, partly because i the amount of mud that adorned their persons mado it almost impossible to discern 1 ono from tho other.