FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 7876, 8 April 1889, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

The Dunedin Club played their opening match, President (blue) v. Vice-president (colors), en the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, when there was a large muster. Tho game resulted in a victory tor the Colors by two goals and three tries to one goal and two tries. For the Colors Hunter, Owen, Driver (2), and Power obtained tries; and for the Blue.'} Fox potted a goal ami obtained a try, aud Sonntag also secured a try. Hunter, Taiaroa, M'Brearty, Owen, King, Sullivan, Turton, Power, Webster, Carter, Driver, Turnbull, Home, Fox, Fulton, Turton, Stephenson, and Harvey played about the best. Tho Union Club played their opening match President v. Vice-president on Saturday on the North ground. Wright captained the President's side, aud Croxford the Vicepresident's side. After a very oven and warmly contested game, the President's side wcro declared tho victors by 3 points, the score being: President, one goal and ono try (the former obtained by Dryden from a free kick, and the latter secured by F. Croxford) ; Vice-president, ono try (secured by W. Beadle after a brilliant run).

Tho Pirates Club had a good muster of players at Carisbrook on Saturday, when tho match President (black) v. Vice-presi-dent (colors) was played. Mr G. M. Thomson, tho president, kicked off. Beforo very long the weight of tho players on the Vicepresident's side began to be felt, and A. VV. Morris secured two tries for the Colors, one of which was converted into a goal by Jefferson. Iu the second spell the game wasmoro even, J. Hewlisou and Drabblo obtaining tries for the Blacks, and A. W. Morris two moro for the Colors, the game therefore enJing in a win for the Colors by 6 points to 2. Tho most noticeable were Williams, M'Donald, A. W. Morris, Drabble, Kirkcaldy, Bell, Orhell, Stables, C. E. Morris, Ashcroft, and H. Clarke.

The Kaikorai Olub played a match, Probabh Fifteen v. The Club, the latter mustering about twenty players. The Club very soon had the Fifteen penned in their twenty-five, and the latter were occasionally relieved by the good kicking aud passing of their backs. From a neat pass M'Lennan potted a splendid goal for the club. Tne Fifteen then rallied, and D. Thompson, taking the ball from a scrum, eluded most of the opposing backs, and by neatly passing to M'lntyre, enabled that player to score a try. The kick at goal was a failure. Davie having the ball passed to him scored a try for the Fifteen, but no goal resulting the gamo resulted in a win for tho club by a goal to two trie 3. The Port Chalmers Club played a scratch match on Saturday, Captain v. Deputycaptain. About twenty a-sido took part in the game, whioh was of a very fast character throughout, and resulted in a win for tho Captain's side by one goal and two tries to two tries. Vlatts, J. Crawford, Bauchop, Wiseman, Kydd, Finucgan, Crawford, and Stevens played wall. On Saturday tho Montecillo Club played a scratch match between sides chosen on tho ground by Messrs Shepard and Isaacs. Shepard kicked off, but the other 6ide at onco rushed the ball back, and crossed their opponents' line on four occasions, tries being gained by Bolton (two), Isaacs,and Stenhouso (one each). However, none of theso were improved upon. On resuming, the captain's side began to appear in their opponents' quarters, and it was not long before Begg crossed the lino. The place-kick was a failure. Shortly after Thompson scored right between tho posts. Shepard kicked a goal, and Begg once more scored, victory thus resting with tho captain's side by 5 points to 4. On Shepard's sido tho best individual play waa shown by Roberts, Begg, Parsons, and Thompson ; and on the other by Foster, Stephenson, Bolton, and Isaacs.

The Caversham Football Club played their opening match on Saturday, President v. Vice presidents. Tho game resulted in a win for the former by two goals to one goal and one try. There was a good attendanco of members. The game was played under the new rulos.

The Alhambra Club made a start on Saturday with a large muster of players, having twenty-seven a-sido, which speaks well for a young club; the match being President (red ami black) v. Vice-presidents (colors). Baker captained the red-and-blacks, while M'Laughlin acted in the same capacity for the colors. Shortly after three o’clock Mr James Allen, president of the club, kicked off for his side. The forwards, following the ball up well, prevented the return. For the first part of the game it was hard for any of the players to get possession of the oval, owing to the largo number playing, J. Haig was the only one to score a try in this spell, which was not improved upon. In the second spell tho President’s side played with more combination than tho other side, and, having good backs, gave them plenty to do. Baker, Crawford, Restieaux, and Johnston passed tho ball to each other splendidly, which enabled Crawford to run in twice ; he himself placed a fine goal from tho last obtained. Weitzel also obtained a try after a good dribble down the field, the game ending in a win for tho Red-and-Blacks by one goal and three tries to tho Colors’ nil, It was gratifying to notice tho form shown by a number of now members. Tho now rules rather puzzled tho players at first, but as the game went ou they picked them up very well, A match was played by the ZlngariRichmond Club on the Asylum Ground on Saturday between sides chosen to represent tho Captain (Mr P, Brodrick) and Deputycaptain (Mr Rallingshaw). The Deputycaptain’s team won by one goal and three tries to nil; tries being obtained by Peterson (two), Rallingshaw (one), and Deaker (one), and tho last-mentioned player placing a goal from his own try. For the winning side A. Esquilant and M'Farlane played a splendid game at three-quarters, their passing and kicking being remarkably free and accurate. Deaker was played at half back, and was very successful, kicking well and passing frequently. Bolt, a new man, showed up well in tho collaring department. Best as full-back kicked with both feet and collared well, saving his side many points by his smartness. Among the forwards Peterson, Pollock, Scott, Walsh, and Rallingshaw were tho most prominent. Brodrick and R. Proctor at half played in good style. Edwards played a hard game, but should pass more; his collaring, however, was much admired. Harrison at full-back played well, but he should kick more. The forwards on his side also lucked combination, and very fow scrums were packed properly. Too much attention was paid by the forwards to picking up tho ball instead of continuing dribbling. Dunn, Vivian, Stewarts (2), and Gilman were the most prominent. Tho new rules were strictly adhered to, making the game very fast and decidedly more interesting, A NEW ZEALAND TEAM. Some time ago mention was made of the intentions of some Wellington gentleman to send Horne a team of footballers thoroughly representative of New Zealand under the auspices of tho various Rugby Unions. From tho subjoined particulars taken from the ‘ Referee ’ it will be seen that the affair is not merely one of idle rumor The Wellington gentleman who first mooted the idea was Dr Newman, one of the best supporters of outdoor exercises to bo found in New Zealand. The matter was then talked over by most of the members comprising what is known in the House of Assembly an tho “ Young New Zealand Party,” the majority of j whom are, or have been, good all-round athletes ‘in their days. Mr Logan (president of the

Hawko'a Bay Rugby Union), another wellknown athletic enthusiast, was communicated with, and lie at once willingly gave in his adhesion to tho movement, and now, wo understand, there aro something like twenty gentlemen who have agreed to become responsible for tho financial part of the undertaking. As a largo amount will of necessity bo required, tho enlisting of a number of guarantors will make the launching of tho undertaking a matter of comparative o lae. In nelccting the t?am it ia not proposed to leave the choosing of men to the various Unions, but a couple of the best authorities and judges of tho game will bo asked to visit the chief centres of JNew Zealand during the season now commencing, with a view of forming, from personal observation, an idea of the best men to includo in the team. It is prop sed to leave for Home abvut tho end of August. The Unions will, of course, be asked to father the venture, which, knowing the high standing of the promoters, they will no doubt have no hesitation in doing. Tho matter has been taken up purely in an amateur spirit, and those who go will, of coureo, only have th.ir hotel and travelling expenses, pure and simple, defrayed for them. Mr Logan left Now Zealand for England this week, in the s.s. Arawa, ostensibly for a trip, aud we understand that he will or. arrival at oi.ee interview Mr Rowland Hill, secretary of tho English Rugby Union, with a view of arranging a programmo of matches with the most important clubs (and including, of course, against international teams) of the Old Country. It is not proposed to play a number of matches. Tin's is tho outline of the programme so far, and if the venture eventuates, which wo have no doubt of it doing, wo hope it will be crowned with tho success it deserves, While on the subject we m'ght say that Mr Scott, tho manager of the Maoii team, proposes to take a team of "white colonists" back to Fnglaud. This statemont is a bit vagur, but, whatever his intentions, wo cannot see how they will inteifero with tho movemont of Messrs Newman, logan, and 00.