Football Fancies.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5508, 24 April 1889, Page 2

Football Fancies.

[BY " A FOQIE."]

The Athletics profess to have thoroughly enjoyed their trip, and are anxious to meet one of our local teams in Wellington. King Iβ a grand skipper. Hp has a happy way of encouraging and coaching his team ; moreover, he is a thorough " general." Any point h« misses isn't worth, bothering about. Wells showed a vast improvement on Monday. He is not very fast, but is a nice dribble. The brothers O'Oonnell promise to make capital half-backs.' They don't seem likely to lose their heads, and have a sturdy appeamnee. I like Burkes (Wellington) style. He saved the Harriers a lot of trouble on Monday. Lowry's play, was the theme of favorable criticism on Monday. I believe he has not yet decided whether to cast in hie lot with the Napier or County.

I was sorry to observe a tendency on the part of the spectators on Saturday and Monday to give vent to their feelings by hooting when certain decisions were not in accordance with their fancy. They should know better, mure particularly -when a visiting team is engaged in play. For that matter I can, from personal experience, vouch that hooting visiting teams is not unknown in Wellington.

Norrie and Howard journeyed to Palmerston to assist the Woodville team against Epuni (Wellington). The former secured the only try for his side, which the latter converted into a goal. The Epunis won.

Wl Hape deserved all the applause he got for his dashing run and try on Saturday. It's a pity he is not cleverer with hie hands. Hβ loet two or three shows on Saturday by fumbling the ball. ;, ■•! I fancy the Ponekes will just about beat the Pirates on Saturday. Iβ it true that the Pirates plumped for T. Sidey, their vice-president, at the School Committee election ? lam told it is.

" Stniler " seemed to be in great form during the latter part of the Maoris' tour. He, moreover, seems to be one of the "lions" of the team. Here's an item, about him from the Canterbury Times correspondent : —"At a complimentary dinner given by the Yorkf'hiremen after the LeedsSt. John's match, the chairman proposed the health of ' Smiler' as captain (?) of the team. Contrary to expectation, ' Smiler, , after a little persuasion, stood up, and responded to tho toast in characteristically eloquent style. His remarks were received with applause, and heartily enjoyed by all present. '1 his is how he began : ' German and geddamen—l very sorry 1 oanno , talk England. ( rolonged laughter). I the bad speak in tho team.' The rest was drowned by hysterical laughter and applause of the oompKny." All footballers from England have heard of Preston North End, an Association team. They have succeeded this year—after being runners up for the finul for two consecutive years—in winning the Association Challenge Cup, having won 18 matches, drawn 4, and lost nil out of 22 matches. ' Further than this, it seems almost incredible that throughout the series of cup rnatohee, only 12 goals have b"?en scored against them. A remarkable scoring feat is chronicled in an English paper: -" In a matoh between the Bootle Wasps—(What a name !)—and the Liverpool "A. " team, the Wasps scored 7 trios to nil. Hall got all the tries," but their placo kicking would appear to bo a bit " off." Lockwood, the celebrated Dewsbury three-quarter, was married last December, and after the wedding breakfast hurried off k> Bradford, and assisted in beating the Southern fifteen at Park Avenue. This is» novel way of spending a honeymoon, but I know of a somewhat similar case which took place in Napier. "Time!"

Tho Poneke (Wellington) defeated Graf ton (Auckland) yesterday by twelve points to six. Tho game was uninteresting. Lord and Lady Onelow were present.

The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union will meet at the Criterion Hotel at 7.30 this evening for tho purpose of arranging olub ' fixtures for the season. A full attendance is requested. Tho Pirates have been in active training fnr some timo past, preparing for the football match against tho Ponekes from Wellington which is to be played next Saturday afternoon on the I&jcreation.' Ground. The Pirates by Saturday should be in fine form, and as tho Ponekes are a very strong combination, ono of the best games of tho season should be witnessed. : Wβ hope to see a large attendanco of epeo* tators on the occasion.