THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS

Evening Star, Issue 7617, 21 May 1888, Page 4

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS

THE AUCKLAND MATCH.

[From Our Special Reporter. |

AUCKLAND, May 19,

The football match, Auckland v. England, resulted in England winning by 6 points against Auckland’s S points. The ground was heavy, and rain fell continually during the first half-hour. The match was the most exciting ever played here, and the defeat of the locaPmen was a most honorable one, the game having been a very hard open one during the first half-hour, when a very easy try was obtained by the visitors. Kent passed to Speakman in Auckland’s twenty-five ; the latter took a pot at goal, and Seddon following the ball up fell on it over the lino and scored a try, although half-a-dozen Aucklanders were round him. Paul took a shot at goal and succeeded, the kick being an easy one. England 3, Auckland nil. On play being resumed, Whiteside (captain) met with an unfortunate accident, wrenching the sinew of his right leg. He played almost until the commencement of the second spell, and was then forced to retire for good, Before the close of the first spell Anderton secured a try for the Englishmen by rapidly following up a shot at goal by Haslam. Paul again successfully negotiated ,thS place-kick. England 6, Auckland nil.

Five minutes after the oomilicntJfctticilt of the second spell Auckland made a great rush, Marshall and M’Kenzic succeeding in carrying the ball past England’s backs, M'Kenzie got a try, and M'Ausland took the placekick, and, though at a very sharp and difficult angle, he succeeded in kicking a goal. England 6, Auckland 3. During the rest of the game the local team had decidedly the best of it, though there was no further scoring. The Englishmen say that the game was the fastest they have played in New Zealand, and they speak in high terms of the Auckland forwards. They consider the locrtl batiks ahead of any they have met in the colony. Speaking generally, Auckland had decidedly the best of the play for the first fifteen minutes, after which tho visitors appeared to put forth great efforts, and speedily credited themselves with 6 points. The first try was a most peculiar one. Speakman potted at goal, and the ground being rough behind the lino the ball bounced backwardsthrough half-a-dozen Aucklanders, who appeared to allow Seddon to fall on it without making an effort. The second try was stranger still. The ball was kicked over the goal line, and Conway, who was in the act of forcing down, tripped and fell, throwing the ball forward a yard or two, and Anderton promptly fell on it. The place-kicks in each instance were very easy. The screwing tactics of the Englishmen did not come off, owing to the alacrity of the local forwards in keeping on the ball when every dodge was tried. The visitors had the best o£ the game in the fast following up by their forwards, and by splendid play on the line, but they did not last so well as the Auckland players, who to showed great advantage in the second spell. The tackling of the local backs left little to be desired. Auckland’s score was obtained by brilliant play on the part of M'Kenzie and Marshall, whose display of dribbling fairly brought down the gallery. Tho try was well earned. The passing of the Englishmen was at times brilliant, but it did not surpass that of the local men to the extent anticipated. The local players tackled splendidly, and did a great deal in stopping the passing of the visitors. Haslam’s feints came off at times, and the most successful tactics that tho Englishmen adopted were short punts with smart following Up. The game was played in a most friendly spirit, there being no exhibition of rough play on cither side, Whiteside’s mishap being purely accidental. The umpiring gave satisfaction, except that in two instances Conway and Elliott got over England’s line on two occasions, and that the onlookers considered that both tries were fairly earned, but they were disallowed. Only those who have seen Whiteside’s play cau appreciate the difference that his retirement made to Auckland, and the local team really played one man short during the greater part of the game. It is feared that he will be seriously crippled for some time, ami cannot possibly play in the return match on Thursday.