ANNUAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 170, 17 July 1888, Page 3

ANNUAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

NAPIER V. GISBORNE. WON BY THE VISITORS. As usual, the annual football match between Napier and Gisborne was the cause of a great deal of interest, though that interest was somewhat lessened by an idea which had got very prevalent, that the local team had not the ghost of a chance. On questioning many of those who considered they had a good knowledge of football matters, the reply invariably was, “ Napier will run over our fellows.” Every way the odds were against them, and had not the team been pretty game the opinions so freely expressed must have been disheartening to them. The Napier team arrived by the Wairoa about eight o’clock on Saturday morning after a pleasant trip. They were taken in style to the Masonic Hotel, in Bam Stevenson's brake, and after breakfast were taken to the ground and indulged in Borne kicking exercise for about an hour. AU of the back 8 showed up well in this department, doing both dropping and punting well. The team were driven to the ground again in the afternoon about half past two, and looked showy in their black and white uniforms. About three the two teams lined out. In point of physique the home team had the best of it, being much more even in size, but their uniforms made them look smaller than they really were. Napier had a sturdier looking team, including two or three heavy sorummagers who proved to be hard nuts to crack. On the ground it was the general opinion that Gisborne would hold their own, th e betting being about even, and it was only owing to more knowledge of punting and offside play, that they gained the victory. Having had much more experience than the team, the back play of the visitors was superior to ours, their picking up and screw punting especially, in which Dempsey wa s very effective. The forwards were well matched, the home team having slightly the best of it 1 especially on the line out, but the quick way in which the Blacks rallied and followed up was a treat to witness. Of the visitors McKenzie, Hawkins, and the two wings (Patterson and Morrison) were conspicuous, and for the Blues where every man played well it was hard to pick out the best. Ford, Bolton, Fox, and Booth did splendid work. The tackling of the latter was much admired by the spectators and the back play of Skeet and Snow was also very effective, but the full-back —always a weak point in Gisborne—threw the game away. He should play forward for a couple of seasons to gain more reliance, and it is hoped and probable that the juniors will supply one or two good backs. The weathe r was all that could be desired, and there was a good attendance of spectators. THE FIRST SPELL. Bull was elected captain of the Gisborne, and Hawkins for Napier. Bull won the toss, and elected to play down-hill the first spell, and Hawkins kicked off. The ball being badly taken by Bull, the Blacks were on him and spoiled his kick, and a light scrum took place in the Blues’ twenty-five. The ball was rushed across the field, but tbeßluee responded with a rally, and it was soon evident that there would be a good tussle if the Blues could only last. From a throw from touch, McKay got the leather and made a good punt up the field, which was well returned by Langford and then again returned by Le Quesne into the Blues’ twenty-five. Bull was again dilatory, but made a short run down the field, and the spectators Were flow treated to some brilliant fast forward play on both sides, Morrison, McKenzie, and Symonds shining for the Blacks, and Bolton, Dunlop, and Booth for the Blues. The ball travelled up and down at a great rate till McKay got a mark nearly in midfield, but this made no difference, being returned into touch again by Langford. From the throwin the Blacks got a good rush, when Skeet, getting the ball, made a fine run, but the leather was brought back, and again the Blacks made a good rush; but kicking too hard, Rua was enabled to get a mark. No good resulted, the ball being well taken by Percy, who made a short run finishing with a good kick. Bull essayed a run, but unfortunately fell in front of his own goal, and a good scrimmage took place, the Blues having a little the best of it. Ross (Napier) got possession of the oval and should have run straight in, but got among the players and was collared in front of the goal about four feet from the line, and now the combined play of the Blacks carried a packed scrum, and McKenzie cleverly got

A TOUCH DOWN FOB NAPIER. The kick was taken, under protest, by Le Quesne, but he made a miserable attempt and failed. Bull took the ball out, and the Blues, who had fallen away slightly, now wakened up, and the forwards showed what they were made of. They took the ball down the field in fine style, headed by Fox, who had his second wind, and Loomb (who earned his cap), and Lysnar, but Le Quesne again sent the ball up the field. Snow, however, carried it down, and the Blues looked like scoring, but touch-in goal was the only result. McKay took the kick from the twenty-five, and the ball being mulled by the Gisborne back, gave the Blacks (who followed up well) a show, but Bua came to the rescue with a dashing run into the Blacks' twenty-five, when Dempsey punted out of touch. From the throw-in the Blacks, who seldom got the ball, but invariably rallied like one man, formed a scrum, and made good work. Hawkins, Patterson, and Symonds got the ball along merrily, but Skeet taking it well, sent it back in good style into touch. The Blues got possession, and Fox, Leslie, Ford, and Bolton got a fine rush and took the ball almost on to the coveted line, when Le Quesne stopped them by falling on the ball, and a packed scrum took place. By a good pass from Leslie, Bua ran in splendidly (amid great cheering) between the posts. Bull took the kick, a very easy one, without the desired result, The game now Stood

ONE TRY BACH. ' McKay kicked from the twenty-five well up the field, and Langford missed the ball, again giving the Napier men a fine chance, but Skeet came to the rescue with a good kick into touch, and some more capital forward play Was shown, Napier having the best of it phen half-time was called. THE SECOND SPELL.

Napier now played down hill, and seemed quite fresh, as also were the Blues, after the fast work done in the first spell. The interest centred in the game now became very keen. Lemuel took the kick, bpt Percy sent it well down the field and the Blacks were at it again. The ball was sent out by Snow, about the halfway flag, and from the throw-in, the best play of the match was shown by Fox, Leslie, Bolton, and Loomb, who fairly staggered the Blacks, taking the ball in turns within fifteen yards of the Napier line, when Ross just managed to stop them, and a scrimmage was formed. Bolton got the leather out and passed to Lemuel, and he to Bull, who, amid great cheering, potted an undeniable OOAI FOB GIBBOBNE. The score was now 4 points to i. Hawkins kicked the ball off, and Langford mulling, tbe Blacks were on him, and things looked dangerous for the Blues. A scrum was formed in their twenty-fire, and Freeman getting the ball, passed to McKay, who made a shot at goal, from which Patterson, passing Langford, touched down amid great excitement and cries of “ off-side.” The try was allowed, however, and Patterson taking the kick, made a good goal, the score being FOUR POINTS BACH. Lemuel kicked off again, and the ball was well returned by Ross. Again the forwards were hard at work, the Blacks now playing with great dash, Morrison, Symonds, Moore, and the genial captain doing the lion’s share, but the Blues came up again with Lysnar, Fox, and Bolton heading the return. Loomb kicking too hard, enabled McKay to get a mark,

but this made little difference, owing to the return by Skeet, who played with good judgment in this spell. From the throw-in, the Blacks made another forward rush and looked dangerous, but Bull, who was playing in his old form, made a splendid run, and the Blue; .worked it up into the Napier twenty-five, till relieved by Percy with one of his effective drops. The Black forwards made a dash down the field, and again sent the ball to Langford, who should have been shifted before this. He fell on the ball, however, and another scrum was on. By good passing, McKay, who should have been marked, potted a good goal, making

NAPIER SEVEN, GISBOBNB FOUB. Langford was now replaced by Booth. Lemuel took the kick, but it was returned by Le Quesne, and back again by Snow. The Blues now tried hard to make up their deficit, but in vain, the Blacks playing a defensive game, and the half-backs were indulging in some of their screw kicking into touch. Ford, Fox, Bolton, and Dunlop triee hard to get through, but in vain. The Blacks managed to dribble into Gisborne’s twenty-five again, and Corbett got the ball over the line, but Fox was on him and a a maul ensued, in which another Napier man joined. Ths maul resulted in favor of Gisborne. After thekick-off the ball was again sent near the Blues’ line, when the latter were relieved by Skeet punting up the field. The ball was then kept in about the same place until time was called, loose scrummaging being the general order of things, the Blues having slightly the best of it.

GENERAL REMARKS. The game all through was fast, and at times some brilliant play was witnessed. In the second spell, Lysnar’s tackling was much admired, and his play proved that the Com; mittee had correctly judged him when they gave him a place in the team. The Napier men played with method, and shortly after the play started they had several of tbe Blues “ marked ” (Fox in particular). It was thought that the loss of the services of the Rees brothers would have been an irremediable one for the local team, and on this ground a Napier paper assumed that the visitors would be able to walk over their opponents, but the play proved that Gisborne can still place a first class team in the field if the players could only be induced to practice and make themselves fit for their work. It is hoped that the lesson conveyed by the last match will have a ealutory effect in the future, not only as an incentive to the Gisborne team, but as a knock for those who are always ready to decry the local players. Here footballers have nothing to look forward to besides the one match—and that not always a certainty—and a few local games, while in Hawke’s Bay there is always something going on that tends to create an interest in the pastime, and thus the best players are always brought to the front. There is no doubt that Hawke’s Bay had not its best team on the ground on Saturday, but taking the team as a good average one, and allowing that our men had had the same opportunities for practice that the former had, there is no doubt the local clubs could put a team in the field that it would not do to give odds against in a match with the best team that Hawke's Bay can produce. A BANQUET was tendered to the Napier team in the eveningat the Masonic Hotel, at which there was a large attendance.. The catering was done in a very creditable manner, and all present thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Mayor was in the chair. Mr Bull proposed the health of the visitors, coupled with the names of Mr Hawkins. Mr Hawkins responded, and proposed the health of the Gisborne team, coupled with the name of Mr Bull. The toast of the Umpires and Referee was responded to by Messrs Harding and Morgan. The health of the Chairman was drunk, as were also the usual toasts, Songs and recitations were given by several gentlemen during the evening.