FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 611, 23 May 1891, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

A BIG DAY IN TUCKER S PADDOCK. [by the battler J The great popularity of football thia season is not that merely temporary enthusiasm which wanes after the first fit has been experienced. There is a genuine spirit running through it that enables it, so to apeak, to gain sustenance from itself. One great advantage in football is that while it may create the most intense excitement, that exhilaration has never anything to do with the strong liquors that are unfortunately sometimes an unmistakeable element in the success or failure of other sports. A drinking booth has no profitable existence on a football ground, for the nature of the play absorbs all attention while it 1 ists, and directly it is over the crowd has no further excuse to remain on the ground. So that whatever may be said against football in some respects, no one can deny that the spectator at least has all the exhilaration that can be derived from other sports without many of the temptations. In short football is a very exciting game, though it does not lure from the ways of sobriety, taken in the ordinary sense. As I have said this afternoon will be a great one in the local football annals. There will be two cup matches going on at the same time in the one paddock. This will be a pity in one way, as a great deal of interest is centred in each match, and there are many who would fain see both. The Turanganui first fifteen meet that of Waerenga-a hike, and the Gisborne Club’s fifteen meet that of Taruheru. The afternoon lost through the rain last Saturday makes it desirable that the two matches should be got off, so that the programme arranged will not be interfered with. In the former match I fancy the town team will be able to come off victors, but there is no doubt much room for improvement at present in the Turanganui style of play. In the other match only the day will enable one to make a fair judgment. The superiority of the Gisborne backs has already been pronounced, and with A. W. Rees donning the old colors this year the Club will have a big ahow for the cup. The mettle of the Taruheru team has not been properly tested yet; so far the men have been under a disadvantage, but I be’ieve that they will come out fit and strong, and that the one reverse they have had will only serve to encourage them to try the harder to achieve sueoe s on their next bid in the cup series. Therefore they will be respected, whatever the result. The following sad strain is from the Wairoa journalA football club has already been started at little Tiniroto, but no movement is apparently being made in this direction by our local athletes in the Wairoa. There seems to be a sad decadence in the place with respect to this, and other manly games. As some one has wisely said, ,f to have a healthy mind the animal life must be perfected. ’ Wairoa youth seem to prefer trying to perfect the animal life by hanging around street corners and other places, instead of keeping up the traditions of the old race by cultivating every species of manly exercise. I have not heard of its being done yet, but I think, if not already attended to, the Secretary of the Rugby Union would net gracefully-by sending a letter of con gratulation to the newly-formed Tiniroto Club. From what I learn the new club will, though working under many disadvantages, be able to place a good team in the field. I think the fcllowing excellent resolution may well be taken notice of by the local Union. At a meeting of the Marlborough Rugby Union a resolution was passed unanimously on the motion cf F. Dobson, seconded by C Webb, to the effect that in the opinion of the Union smoke concerts after fnotba'l matches in many respects are undesirable, and in no way advantageous to football, and that members be requested to refrain from taking part in any festival of the kind whenever it Ban ba avoided. The Union are Bending this to other unions in the hope that it will be adopted,

The Pirates Club so long held an ascendancy in Hawke’s Bay that for the sake Of football itself, it is rather gratifying to know that the co’ors have been lowered, the Te Aute fifteen having been successful in this. From the description given in the News I quote :—There was a larger attendance than ha* ever before assembled for a club match in Hawke's Bay. Te Ante was more than once forced, and M’Dowell once orossed the line and was hurled into touch ingoal, but presently the College boys worked their way down the ground, and Paul marked smartly beside a scrum near the black goal line. The crowd roared ‘ fair mark,’ but the referee had not seen it, and the chance of a probable goal was lost. Time was called without a score. It had been arranged that there should be no interval, but that ends should be changed and the game proceed at once. Friday subsequently placed the ball, kick'd It off, followed up, and touched down behind the posts, but the score was not allowed. A free kick was given near the Pirate 25 flag, and the ball having been placed for Hiroa, that clever player sent it fairly between the posts, amid intense exitement. Cheers went up all over the ground, hats were thrown in the air, and sticks flourished all along the line. The Pirate supporters called upon their team to I wake up,* forgetting that the latter had been playing a sterling game throughout, but that they were being outplayed by their opponents. They made desperate efforts to redeem the match, the backs kicking and collaring grandly, and Morrison, McDowell, Maicon, and in fact all the forwards trying time and again to get in the quick ra sing runs for which they are so famed, only to see their passes snatched from them by the alert and active opponents. The ball went out at the centre. Friday threw it in to Hawkins, that player flashed round and hurled it as from a Catapult straieht out to Matthew, in midfield before a hand could be laid on him, Matthew caught the flying ball on one erm and, with the same motion, sent it hurling through the air to the ever-active little Paul, who dashed past the three-quarter and to the fullback, and then sent it on to Jams*, who fell on it and scored, as the result of a truly magnificent bit of combination, which was absolutely irresistible, The crowd was frantic with excitement, and anxiously watched the place kick, but no goal resn'ted, There was still a chance for the Pirates te recover by a lucky pot, and they (trained everv nerve to do so, but were bowled over in all directions, and only the fine kicking of Hawke, and the determined collaring of their backs, kept their lines clear, Tawbi, Paul, and James made a dashing run to near the line, but the defense was too good. Then back came the ball to the oentre, and cnee more a characteristic Pirate rush swept down all opposition. Maicon picked up the ball, passed several opponents, and then relinquished to Morrison, who touched down near the comer. Great excitement followed this feet. The angle was too acute, and one point only resulted. Both teams were goon again hard at it. Williams, who had beep nlaying a s leudid game for Te Ante, ran <l’l clear, and then passed to Stuart. That active player dashed off at great speed, threr-qusrters and fullback running across to intercept him. La Quesne was measuring Strides with 1 i> H'he little opponent, who was racing at sprinting pace for the corner, and it .esmsl as though be must collar him, when the tricky Ta Aute man suddenly threw himself on his beck at right angles to his former bourse, L’ Qieene unable to stop, shot past, and the Te Aute three-quarter was up and peer the line like a flash. It was a difficult place kick, but Fridgy was equal to it, and the teore beeam fl points to 1.