THE DISTURBANCES IN INDIA.

Evening Star, Issue 10400, 23 August 1897, Page 1

THE DISTURBANCES IN INDIA.

_ Lord Roberts, in the course of an interview, stated that no Afghans would join in the attacks upon the British forces on the Afghan frontier unless they thought such action would please tho Ameer. He added that there was no cause for anxiety. Tho ‘ Sabah * and. ‘ Malumat,’ two Constantinople newspapers, have been prohibited entrance into India owing to their incendiary character.

FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND DEFEATS WELLINGTON. . Wellington, on Saturday lost their first intcrprovincial football match on their own ground for twenty years. Since 1877, when Dunedin defeat* d them,, they have always managed to hold their own at home. They have been beaten by New South Wales and by the Native team, but the most the provinces have ever been able to do was to draw. . Tho defeat on Saturday was not unexpreted after Auckland’s fine performances up North, and it was rather unfortunate that, from various causes, tlw local Selection Committee had to pick a number of untried men. Their judgment as regards tho forwards was excellent, but it is evident that they cither made a serious' mistake in choosing the back players or else there arc none who are really above ordinary club form. .While the back play of the local men was so disappointing, their forwards were undeniably superior to their opponents, and when , it came to lease play and following fast upon the ball they carried all before Again and again they broke up all opposition and sent everything whirling down tho field to the goal line; but always in front of them sped some fastfooted dasher, quick enough to save the score. The Auckland backs passed withcut fear, but Wellington never tried. The’game, however, was won in the last five minutes. At that stage, though Auckland . 1 8 of the play, the score was: Wellington 4 points, Auckland 3. Then Smith in quick succession got two tries, one of which was converted, and when “no side was called victory rested with the visitors to the tunc of H points to 4. The greatest interest was taken in the game, and the attendance was a record one for Athletic I’arlr, there being fully 5,000 persons present, among whom was the Governor. Punctually to time Auckland, having lost Uio toss, . kicked off. Early in tho game Campbell (Wellington) had a place, kick from about halfway, and the ball went just outside the post. A fine rush dribbled the ball up to the Auckland full-back ; but Masefield not only secured it, but ran round the edge of the forward line and kicked down to his vis d-vis, Bauraber. Thus early the men evidently found the ground heavy, for so far both sides had taken it easy, and there was uo really fast or spirited play. Auckland carried the oval right down the field and sent it over the line, and Baumbsr, to save things, kicked it up the bank. Play centred, and Smith securing the ball got fairly under way down the side so close to the. lino that a push would have sent him out. He sped on, and passing at a critical moment to Harrison, who followed at his right hand, the latter ran easily over. Murray only sent, the ball in front of the post. Score i Auckland Bto nothing. - From' the kick-out Wellington obtained a splendid opening. The forwards rushed the ball to the groal-line, where Kelly might either have gone.over himself or any one of several Blacks besides him. He chose to pass, and Matson had only to tike the ball and seep across the line, but he missed it, as he had several times already done. Lv.vs, however, made some slight amends for the weakness of his comrades by taking a capital made, and Wallace placed a goal, to the huge delight of the spectators, who had feared that Harrison’s try was only the beginning of a long score. Auckland, 3 points j Wellington, 4 points. On resuming Smith and Absolum made a dish, and a scrum on the line ended in Wellington being r orced. Another free kick was given against Hardcaslle, who was continually off side, but, quite undeterred, tbo next moment he succeeded in being off-side twice in five yards, and another free kick spoiled a fine dribble. It may be mentioned that beyond Hardeastle the rules wore exceedingly well observed, especially by Auckland, against whom penalties were seldom awarded. The crowd, not discerning Hardcastle’s shortcomings, were inclined to jeer at Referee Garrard, and when presently ho gave an award against Auckland they wore ironical at his expense. From the penalty Wallace made a fine attempt at goal, the ball going just outside the post. For the last quarter of an hour the local men had all the beat of it.

Iq the second spell Wellington had to face the wind and sun, bat the former was no obstacle and made little difference. Again and again they streamed up to the Blues’ goal-line, sweeping all before them and thoroughly testing the defensive qualities of their opponents, but weak play behind the scrummage every now and again enabled Auckland to clear their quarters. The first inci lent was a fine piece of individual play by Hirdcastle, who ran down the touchline, punted high, and followed so fast that he got up to the bill again and chased it over the line, where someone managed to just kick it up the bank. Shortly after this tho same player and M'Kcnzic dribbled the ball over the line again, bat lost it. Smith then got a pass at halfway, but was smothered at once, and so long as the collaring was left to the forwards all went well. It was only when the Aucklanders got among the backs that Wellington was in trouble. From a mark and high kick Wallace missed the ball, and this enabled tho Blues to get to the Wellington twenty-five, whore for a while they maintained themselves ; but a terrific rush, with M’Kenzio in the van, followed, Absolum only saving his side by sprinting his hardest and kicking into touch at the corner. Once more the Blues were busy defending till Murray punted high towards centre. It was a fine kick and went' well down the ground. Tho ball did not bounce, but rolled at an angle away from the full-back, who had to chase it. Four or five Aucklanders got there as soon as Baumber, who kicked at tho ball and missed it. A score then seemed certain, as it was only a few yards from the goal, and all the Northerners had to dewas topickupand run in. Apparently they were all exhausted in getting up to the spot, for no one seemed able to seize the opportunity, and presently there was a fierce scrummage raging, which was ended by Braund being temporarily “ flattened out.” Another charge by the Blacks sent the ball out at the Auckland corner, and there was a succession of scrummages right on their line. The line was at length cleared, but the game immediately swayed back, and tho ball flew out at the other corner. By this time the Auckland forwards were completely done, and their opponents were running over them as they liked. Scarcely five minutes remained, and it seemed any odds in favor of Wellington. The ball once more fell into Smith’s hands, but he was on the centre line, at least four men within touching distance, and hampered by, the side' line within a few feet. So certain apparently was it that he could do nothing, that each left it to the other to seize him, and before they had realised what was occurring Smith had wriggled through the press, and was off hot foot. Baumber alone stood in the way, but Smith eluded him without difficulty, and ran right under the posts fifty or sixty yards from the starting point. A finer run and a weaker display of collaring have seldom been seen in Wellington. Murray easily kicked a goal, making the total 8 to 4, and at once the whole aspect of the match was changed. Immediately after, Smith secured the ball again in exactly the same spot, but this time with no one in front of him except Baumber, whose utmost efforts only kept the redoutable Northerner away from the goal posts, and reduced the score to a simple try. Then the whistle went, and Auckland for the second time proved victors over Wellington by 11 to 4, and the great crowd, who had been preparing to cheer a victory, filed silently away. The visitors’ front men were inferior to the fine sorummagers opposed to them, but there

can be no doubt that the best team won, and it would have been hard, indeed, if the Aucklanders, after scoring a by, had been beaten by Wallace’s chance goal and a wet ground. Smith was .the herb of the game, but it should be said . that Absolum proved himself a very fine player, quite as fast though not so clever as Smith. Masefield, too, was an excellent full-back. Murray shone out amongst the forwards, but the best forward of all on the ground was M'Kenzio, the Wellington captain, whose play was superb, and the others backed him up well.

HAWKE’S BAY v. POVERTY BAY. In tho football match Poverty Bay v. Hawko’s Bay, played at Napier on Saturd ay, the former won by 16 points to 4. Tho visitors were very light and active, and played splendidly together, making the game fast throughout. Tho homo team were much heavier, but, though some good individual play was shown, there was a lamentable lack of combination and hesitation at critical moments, their passing especially being defective.

NEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND. The return football match New South Wales v. Queensland, played at Brisbane, was won by the former by 16 points to 12 In the first spell the Brisbane men led by 9 points to 3

TRIAL MATCH. The recent rains made -the Carisbrook Ground very slippery for the third trial match on Saturday. There was only one alteration in the teams, Stalker taking the place of J. B.' Macdonald at half-back on the Colors’ side. The Colors had slightly the best of the first spell. Nothing of note occurred until Stalker got possession and passed to Duncan, who, after a good run, transferred the leather to Cunningham. The latter sent oh the_ ball to Fell, who ran along the touch-line at a great bat and scored a meritorious try. The kick at goal was a failure. Iu tho secoud spell tho Blues’ forwards carried the ball over the line, where Hobson dropped on it. Stewart failed in his attempt at goal. The game thus ended in a draw. Mr F. H. Campbell acted as referee.

OTHER MATCHES. Pacific Second defeated Alhambra Third by 5 points to 3.—A1l Saints defeated La Maseotte by 20 points to nil. —St. Paul’s choir boys, claim the match against St. Matthew’s choir boys by defaul 1 .

SOUTHLAND v. OTAGO. The following team has been selected to play against Southland : —Full-back, Ross ; three-quarters—J. G. Macdonald, Wood, Stephenson ; half-backs Burgess, M‘Ara, Sinclair ; forwards—Ronald, Farquharson, Burt, Giveu, Priest (captain), Hobson, Rogerson, Munro. The above players are requested to meet at tie European Hotel at eight, o’clock this evening. They leave by the South train at 8 5 a.m. to-morrow.

The Kaikorai, Alhambra, and Pirates Cluba each have three representatives in the team, tho Dunedin and University Ciubs each two, and the Union and Caversham each one.

As the claims of Duncan, Armit, Fell, Stewart, and Smith were not considered by the Match Committee owing to the inability of these players to make the trip to Invercargill, it cannot be said that Messrs A. Downes, D. Torrance, and G. M‘Loren have yet entered upon their very arduous task of picking a thoroughly representative team. Their labors will commence in earnest next Saturday night, when they will bs called upon to pick their best team for the return match against Sou; bland to be played here on the 4th of next month. The first thing that strikes one in reading over the list of players for the contest next Wednesday is the number of young players chosen to do battle for their province. Burgess, M‘Ara, Sinclair, Ronald, and Rogorson will all win their rep. cap for the first time. Ross, Stephenson, and Wood are all well known on tho football field, while J. G. Macdonald distinguished himself last year in the match against Southland. Ho is a good all-round man, being particularly strong on the defence. Burgess has the makings cf a good scrum half. M ‘Ara well deserves his place in, the team, being the next best five-eighth here to Duncan. He is a perfect passer, and a strong, jinky runner. Sinclair, though not extra brilliant on the attack, is a so.und, reliable player. Farquharson, Giveu, and Priest are the old-timers in the forward, division. Burt, Hobson, and Munro have each played againsttheSouthcrnersoaaprevious occasion. Rogerson is a good scrummager. Ronald, the nugget of the team, has the reputation of being the best front row man in Dunedin. This is his first year in senior football. It will be seen that the forward”, though slightly on the light side, arc all good honest workers. The pnsmeo of such players as J. Torrance and W. Harris in their ranks would have strengthened them considerably, and it is to be regretted that the services of these two men are not available. Torrance, it is understood, refuses to play for Otago again on account of the action of the Rugby Union in disqualifying him until he apologised to the referee in the KaikoraiAlhambra match. Some little surprise was occasioned when it was noticed that M'Laren had not been chosen, hia exclusion no doubt being due to the fact that he is suffering from a weak knee, which appeared to trouble him very much.

“Enthusiast” suggests that instead o! picking fresh teams for a trial match next Saturday the Selection Committee should play a team something like the following against the representatives chosen to do battle against Southland : Full - back, M‘Kenz ; e ; three-quarters—Armit, Cunningham, Fell; halves—J. B. Macdonald, Maser, Duncan ; forwards—M'Farland, Canning, Smith, Stewart, Caradus, M'Leod, M'Laren, M'Kewon. “Enthusiast” adds that the Auckland representatives, before meeting Taranaki and Wellington, played a match against a picked team' in order to give them combination, which, from all accounts, bad contributed in uo small measure to their success against those two provinces. The writer also thinks that such a contest would certainly draw a good gate for the Rugby Union, who are not very flush of cash at the present time.