FOOTBALL. OTAGO V. AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 7298, 24 August 1887, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO V. AUCKLAND.

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 24. Considerable discussion is taking place in football circles over the retirement of Marshall from the team of Auckland's representatives selected to play against Otago. It is reported that Marshall withdrew because Murphy, who belongs to the North Shore Club, of which the former is also a member, was not included in the team. Marshall denies this, and says the reason for his withdrawal is that he was disabled in the match with Canterbury. On Marshall’s retirement, Murphy and Wynyard were asked to take his place, but refused, and the Committee eventually chose Mills. Rain fell last night, but the weather is dry for the match. To day the Mayor has not proclaimed a half-holiday. The Auckland team is the same as played against Canterbury, with the exception that Mills and Stone replace Lindsay and Marshall. The local team average list 61b; the visitors 12st. It has been agreed to adopt the same style of scoring as in the Canterbury match. [From Our Special Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, August 24. The weather has been beautiful, but to-day it has a cloudy appearance, R. Fraser will be unable to take part in to-day’s match through an injury received in the Nelson match. His loss will be severely felt by the Otago team. Auckland at the last moment has lost several of her best players, whose reasons for not playing are on account of club jealousy on the part of the North Shore Club. This morning the following were chosen to do battle for Otago in to-day’s match:— Full-hack —Fraser; three-quarters Bee, Keogh, and Downes; half-backs—Simpson and Thomson; wing-forwards -Beck and Morris; forwards—Martin, Drabble, Isaacs, Diamond, Trestdor, M‘Farlane, and Gibson. Drabble was chosen captain by the team. The local men are the favorites, but when it is all over I shall expect to see Otago victorious. 4,12 p.m. In the first spell Auckland scored 3 points, Otago nothing. Conway got a try, from which a goal was kicked. There was excellent give-and-take play throughout, and the goal was obtained near the close of the spell. OTAGO v. HAWKE’S BAY. [From Our Own Correspondent.] NAPIER, August 24. This game will be played on Tuesday next. The following is the Hawke’s Bay team Full back- Fleming: three-quarter-backs—M’Caus-land and two from the following ;-Hcrrald, Percy, S-. Hill, and M‘Rac; half-haoks-Tniaroa and Gibbets; wing foiwards-Morrison and Paterson ; forwards-Jamieson, Robertson, Trotter, Stuart, Saunders, Williams, and Verity. Emergencies-t. Kennedy and Hawkins.

Tiie Nelson Rugby Union Committee met last night, when the statements published in an Auckland paper relative to the OtagoNelson match were considered. It was resolved—“ (1) That this Committee desires to record its disapproval of the conduct of one of the Otago team supplying statements to a reporter that are a slander on Nelson footballers, and utterly at variance with the facts, (2) That the excuse that the ground was too hard and dry for scoring was rather a lame one. (3) That the Committee feel confident that the remarks of the person interviewed are not endorsed by the team as a whole. (4) That the secretary be instructed to arrange a return match with the Otago team on their return from the North, and offer them the net proceeds of the The annual football match between Christ’s College, Canterbury, and the Otago High School will be played on the Cansbrook Ground on Saturday next, play commencing at 3 p.ni. Tttis is the fifth occa* sion on which representative teams from the rival schools have met on the football field. The first two matches were won by the Northerners, the next two by their opponents. Special interest therefore attaches to the impending struggle. The College team arrive by to-morrow’s express. The following players will represent the country in the Town v. Country football match to be played in Dunedin on the 2/th inst.Tull-back, Campbell (Lawrence) ; three-quarter backs—Lynch (Clutha), Milne (Taieri), Roscoe (Lawrence); half-backs— Murdoch, Ogilvie (Taieri); forwards—Hart (Lawrence), Bett, Bain, Garforth, Paterson (Clntha), Gibson, Anderson, Inglis (Taieri); emergency, Davidson.