FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 8808, 25 April 1892, Page 2

FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

[By Refebeb.J

The alNabsorblng topio inlfootball circles during the past week has bees the AlbambraMas terton match. After the decisive viotory of the Northerners against Merivale on Monday, the ohanoes of their Dunedin opponents were freely canvassed, and up till within tho twenty-four hours prior to the gamo the local representatives were not regarded wifch particular favor. But on Wednesday evening a reaotion set in, and all day Thursday the Alhambra supporters ' were confident as to the issue. The game ended, as I predicted, in favor of the local men, owing to their superior combination. The points of the game and details of the filay having already been oommented on at eegth, it is unnecessary for mo to dilate further thereon. It has, however, not been stated in print that at the smoke conoert given in the evening to the visitors Vr Whatman, their captain, speaking with twenty-one years' experience aa a football player both in EDgland and against the best teams in this colony, openly declared that the Alhambra team were, in his opinion, not only the premier olub in New Zealand, but that with their combination tbey were good enough to try conclusions with any of the Rugby Unions. The Mastertcn men admitted that they were beaten at all branches of the game, but they had learned a lesson in passing which they would profit from. There was a manly ring about Mr Whatman's remarks which showed that he knew how to take a beating without putting forward lame or impotent excuses, and he was heartily and deservedly oheered on resuming his seat.

A question that I heard asked scores of times on tho Caledonian Ground on Thursday was How came it about that the Masterton°men did not journey straight on to Dunedin and play the strongest team when their full forces would be available? The majority of my readers are doubtless still asking themselves the same question, so I'll make a reply. The Merivale Club had agreed to pay the visitors their expenses, and tho Mastcrton men therefore thought that as a matter of right the first game should be played in Christchurch. The rules of the Otago Rugby Union, on the other hand, prevent any of their affiliated clubs either giving or receiving gate-money. In this respect our Union hold a unique position. I believe that it is as good as settled that the Alhambra Fifteen will pay the Masterton men a return visit before the end of this season. Tho only difficulty will probably bo in the way of funds; but I feel oertaia that if the matter is energetically taken up and a concert given in the Garrison Hall in a couple of months' time, the appeal will receive a Among the friendß of the north end olub will be found sufficient musical and dramatic talent to provide an entertainment that should be well worth seeing, If the match does eventuate—and thero seems to be no other obstacle in the way, as all the players are confident of getting tho necessary leavemay your contributor 'Referee' be in Masterton to see it.

Thursday's match was under the management of tho Rugby Union, and the takings at the gate amounted to L 64. The Alhambra's moiety was L2U, and thia was granted as expenses for entertaining their Northern visitors.

The Kaikorai Club and their "barrackers" mustered in great force to witness the game, and Torrance's men aro in no way dismayed by tho form shown by the winning side. Those old warriors, the Kaikorai and the Alhambra, are to be pitted against one another on May 21, and there ia some talk of the match being played at Mosgiel. Caradus, the Poneke half-back, is now in Dunedin, but has not definitely decided which club he will throw in his lot with.

At Napier on Easter Saturday Melrose (Wellington) defeated the Napier Pirates by sto 4. On Monday the Napier Club defeated Melrose by 3 points to nil. From a fall report (5r the meeting of delegates held at Wellington on Saturday last, I learn that after the formation of the New Zealand Rugby Union had been determined on the proposed constitution was considered. Clause 4 was amended bo as to read that the New Zealand Union make all preliminary arrangements for teams visiting the colony and take the entire management of New Zealand representative teams leaving it; that tho appeal committee consist of not less than five members, three to be appointed at present, the appointment of the other two being left over in the event of the Southern unions joining the Union; that the New Zealand Union should be the final appeal committee in all cases relating to misconduct and interpretation of rules; that in the case of interpretation of rules the appellants might reserve their right to appeal to the English union. In regard to tho inter-union matohos it was decided to suggest that, in cases where either tram wa9 desirous, a referee bo obtained from another district, aud that his expenses be {.aid by the home team,

Tno 'Athletic NewV declares that the international niatch between England and Wait a was''.'< big disappointment, It was a game that lacked all those qualities that go to make modern Rugby football so interesting, and was as much like a Yorkshire Cup tie as anything we ever saw. There were few, very few, brilliant runs, and only once or twice was the pasting at all up to the average of an ordinary club match." Ou Saturday afternoon Air 0. Hanning was presented by tho members of the Union Club with a handsome interprovincial cap. In making the presentation Mr T. Henderson referred in eulogistio terms to Mr Hanning'd capabilities as a player and his exemplary conduct on the field. It is creditable to Mr Hanniog that he gained a place in an interprovincial team on the first year of his playing with a senior club. There is some prospect of Now Zealand being vi-.ited at an early date by an Association football team from Home. The Wellington 'Post' says:—Association football is ever so much stronger in New Zealand than it was a year ago; end if tho Scottish Football Association carry out a proposal to eend a team through the colonies the game will receive a fillip which it has not yet had. By the last mail Mr C. C. Dacre, of Auckland, who takes a great interest in the game, received a letter from tho secretary of the Scottish Association i tat : ng that the question of sending a team to Australia and New Zealand waa to be discussed by his body this mouth, and that the estimated cost was about L2 000. Mr Henderson, secretary of the Wellington Football Association, recently wrote to Mr Alcock, secretary of the Englith AesooialioD, on the subject of a tour through the colonics, and expects an early reply. The proposed undertaking is a great one, but the difficulties in tho way are not insurmountable, and ardent lovers of the game here are looking forward to a visit before the end of the pnaent sea 1 , on. Communications have been reoeived by the newly-formed New Zealand Rugby Union from the Queensland Union and Southern Rugby Union (Sydney) asking whether it is proposed to send a New Zealand team to Australia this Beason, The Queensland Union offer to pay the full expenses of the toam from Sydney to Brisbane and baok. Mr Hoben was instructed to enter into communication with the Sydney Union, and inquire what assistance they would give. The Wellington Rugby Union have decided to abandon Newtown Park, partly on aooount of its rough state and partly because admission cannot be charged for. All cup matches will be played on the Agricultural Association's new ground at Petone if it can be seoured.

The Taranaki Rugby Union are very anxious to arrange matches with the Canterbury, Otago, and Southland Unions, and propose to pay us a visit some time in August. As tho Otago Union will undoubtedly be the strongest team that the Taranaki men will have to encounter, and as the visitors have held a big reputation ever Bince their defeat of the Englishmen, it is to be hoped that their first game will be played in Dunedin. The following are the results of Saturday's practice matches:— Kaikorai—First Fifteen boat the rest of the olub by 15 points to 7; Zingari-Richmond Blues beat Colors ) University —Blues defeated Colors by 12 points to 11; Union—flanning's side beat M'Qaeen's by 26 points to 6; Pirates—Black defeated Colors by 15 points to 13; Dunedin held a scratoh matoh ; Pacific—Captain beat Deputy-captain by 7 points to 6; Ware!

housemen Hutchinson's side defeated Haydon'aby 21 points to 18; Ftrnhill defeated Gordon by 11 points to 0 ; Northern (Association}— Captain beat Deputy-captain by five goals to two; Rmlj n (Aa.ooiation)--Captain beat Depoty-oapta-.n by three goals to two.

W. Thcmaa, the fallback, is availible this season, having resettled in the Oam iru district.

Secretaries of the various clubs met on Saturday night, and arranged inter club fixtures for the season. The first game will be on the 7th prox., and will be between the Alhambra and Pirates Clubs at Cariebrook. The following are the fixtures of first fifteens for 1892 :

ALHAMBRA.

Ground.

May 7 21 Pirates Kalkoral Carlebrook ss Taleri Opoho June 4 Ziugari-Richmond Monti cello 11 Union Uiloa 18 Dunedin ualedonlan 25 Kaikoral July 2 University Tahuna Park 9 Pirates OarlebKnk 23 Taierl Mosgiel SO Union Union Aug. 6 University Opoho 13 Dunedin KAIKORAI. Caledonian. May 14 Union Union 21 Alhambra ——— 28 Pirates Cirisbrook Judo 4 Dunedin Caledonion 11 University Tahuna Park 18 Zingarl-Riohmond Montecillo 25 Alhambra —— July 2 Union Union 9 Taieri Mosgiel 16 Pirates Carlebrook SO Dunedin Caledonian Aug. 0 Zingari-Riohmond UHION. Kaikorai. May 14 Kalkorai Union 21 Dunedin Caledonian 24 Oamaru Caledonian 28 Zingari-Rlchmond Montecillo June 4 Pirates Union 11 Alhambra Union 25 University Union July 2 Kaikeral Union 9 Zingari-Rlchmond Union aa Taieri Union 23 Dunedin Union so Alhambra Union Aug. G Pirates PIRATES. Carisbrook. May 7 Alhambra Carisbrook 14 Dunedin Carlebrook 24 Christoburch At Christchurch 28 Kaikoral Carisbrook June 4 Union Union 11 Zingari-Riohmond University Carisbrook 18 Tahuna Park 25 Taieri Mosgiel July 2 Dunedin Caledonian 9 Alhambra Carisbrook 10 Kaikoral Carisbrook 23 Zingari-Rlchmond Monteoillo so University Carisbrook Aug. 0 Union Carlebrook 20 Taler DUSEDIN. Oarlahfojk. May 14 Pirates Carisbrook 21 Union Caledonian 28 University Tahuna Park June 4 Kaikoral Caledonian 11 Taieri Mosgiel 18 Alhambra Caledonian 25 Zingail-Richmond Monteoillo July 2 ' Pirates Caledonian 9 University Caledonian 16 Z ngari-Riohmond Caledonian 23 Union Union £0 Kaikorai Caledonian Aug. 0 Taieri Caledonian 13 Alhambra TAIERI. Caledonian' May £8 Alhambra Opoho Juno 4 University Mosgiel 11 Dunedin Mosgiel 25 Urates Mosgiel July 2 Zingari-Rlohmond Monteoillo 9 Kaikorai Mosgiel 10 Union North Ground 23 Alhambra Mosgiel 30 Ziogarl-Riohmond Mosgiel Aug. 6 Dunedin Caledonian 13 University TahUDO Park 20 Pirates TJNIVBR8ITY. Cartel rook. May 14 Zingari-Rlchmond Monteoillo 21 Milton Milton 28 Dunedin Tahuna June 4 Taieri Mosgiel 11 Kaikorai Tahuna 18 Piiatei Tahuna 25 Union Union July 2 Alhambra Union 9 Dunedin Caledonian 10 Canterbury College Chrlstohurch 3) Pirates Mixed Christchurch Aug. 6 Alhambra Opoho 13 Taieri Tahuna 20 Union Second Union 27 Green Island ZINGAHI-MOHMONI Green Island. ). May 14 University Montecillo 24 Oamaru Athletic Oamaru 28 Union Monteoillo June 4 Alhambra Montecillo 11 Pirates Carisbrook 18 Kaikorai Montecillo 25 Dunedin Montecillo July 2 Taieri Montecillo 9 Union Union 10 Dunedin Caledonian 23 Pirttes MoxiteclUo £0 Taleil Mosgiel Aug. C Kaikorai Kaikorai.