FOOTBALL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10018, 17 June 1895, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Wellington v. Hawice's Bay. The tenth interprovinclal match between the above teams took place on the Creation Ground on . Sat nrday, , and ended aa the great niajonty of similar oont«t 8 h'ave ended, in <> «« ta UM Southern representatives. The initial match between these teauia took place n 1885, and since then, and including Saturday's nmca. Uw Wellin B tonians hav" scored 74 points against 22 recorded by their opponents. Tno visitors anind by ine Manapouti shortly alter 12 o'clock on Saturday Bfter a pleaaant trip, and were at onoe driven to the Criterion Hotel nnder escort of the officials of the local Ku K by Union, ami thence, shortly before 3 o'clock, to the Recreation Ground. Here they found the loeol men in waiting, the appearance of both teams on the ground ia turn belog the signal for rounds of hearty applause. The cus. tomary welcome having been given the visitors, they responded with a vigorous war cry, which much amused ,the spectators. The latter were in great numbers, all the Beating accommodation being monopolised, and it is fair to say that tb.rongb.oat the game they were very disinterested, applauding the proweas exhibited by the players on both »Wes. if they leaoc a little towards their own side, well that was but natural. Of course the juvenile football authority was In evidence, and he an usual brought Ms big brother along with Mm So hoot i the teferee-this class of onlooker would yell itself hoarse at nn. automaton if It dldnt f avor his particular side-but otherwise no distasteful element exhibited itself, lae frame was played with true sportam an Ike spirit, no wrangling, nor indeed talking, being notioeable, the verdlots of the .leferee, Mr Bennetb, being acoepted without a murmur. This gentleman got throngh his duties with few mistakes, and thesß of o minor kind, and gave every satisfaction to the players and the large majority of the public. The teams, which were arrayed, Wellington lu black and Hiwke's Bay in bkek and white, were capbalned by M'Kenzle and Donnelly, and composed as follows: — WELLINGTON. Full-back, Bourke; three-quarters, Roberts, Luak, Qilloway; halves. Bennett, Crawford ; wings, M'Kenzle. Kelly ; forwards, Shore, Johnston, bwindley, Vrlngle, M' Anally, Campbell, Lawton. HAWKB'S BAY. Full-back, Laws; three -quarters, M'Earlane, Bennett, M'Donnell ; halves, Donnelly, Tutere; forwards. Geordino, Reed, Mathleson, Chadwlck, Toohey, Woodward, Cheer. Hiwke's Biy kicked off, and- at onco the fun became fast and furious, alternating between the respective 25 s, with last dribbling rushes and sharp, short kicking between the backs. Swan and J«igo presently he»ded a likely looking dribble towards the enemy's goal line bnt the opposition baoka were too smart, and as the result of a packed rush, Bhowing alternately beautiful passing aDd tine fooo-work, they got right up opposite the local goal. Here off elde play gave them a shot at goal, and the result waa watchea wlta keen suspense. Lnsk took the kick, bat the leather went wide to right, and the same proceeded. Hawke'a Bay were aoan off again, and the forwards bore swiftly down field with the sphere at their feet, bat mailed at the critical juncture by trying ia pick up, and back she went to centre. Long kloks soper--vened and gave breathing time, and then the game resumed Hb lightning character, the fast forwards of either team being first at one end of the field and then at the otter with dazzling abruptness. WeiJlDgton'n passing game was nullified time after time by the smoTt collating of the locals, and the former in retaliation aoooped the bill from every rush nod placed it in safety with excellent long and high kicking. Then the game began to drag a little and serums became frequent, often brought about by the "knock on" taotiua of the Southern pluyera. Wellington with their effective screw made the least of these opportunities for gaining ground, Crawford scooping the leather time after time and shooting it out like a cannon ball, but the home halves and three-quarters were on the watch. and over went the enemy like nine- pins, Then the ball worked up inw close quarters on the local out of bounds, and quick as thought ont came a beioty to Kobsrts, who stood right Id front of the goil. She weak right over the centre of the -'" bar and first blood was ECorfd for the " iubilant visitors. Welliogton 4, Hawke'e Biy 0. At it again, and the pace waa extremely lively, play principally io Wellington's 25. Huwke's Biy ttud . a pissing rush, the ball going thtoagh a good many bandj till il reached thoße of • Rl'DonneU, who made 6 beautiful dodgy bolt for the lino, an& eluding several over-confident buck! grounded the leather amidst a tumult 01 approbation, Tutere couldn't manage at improvement, and the spell closed shortly afterwards — Welliugtou 4, Hawke'i . Bay 3. , The second spell waa soon in progress, and Wellington were seriously in troable. lime and again they worked the leathei down field, bnt the opposition to this course was too strong and determined and bask she went. Only telfiahueas, hard, kiokiog, and an inaanu desire to grab the rolling epherje prevented Hawka's 815 fiom making use of their manifold advan tagea at this stage. Then the ball hnnj 'about centre again, and long shots weie exchanged between the backs. Suddenly, as it seemed, the Southerners awoke tc new life and assumed the aggressive They came down the left lice witt what oppßßted to be an irre.-iatlblt passing rush, but, being blocked, aanght the locals napping by a long lon pass to right, enabling Campbell tc ground the ball at that corner with little opposition. The latter took the kick, bui made no increase. Wellington?, Hiwke'f Bay 3 No sooner was the ball In plaj ajjaln than Wellington forced the gsrae ana another lightning passing boat enabled Lusk to score in a good position, and Campbell's kick came off. Wellington 13, Hawke's Bay 3. Give and takt play followed, but id was not long before the Welllogton forwards, with a dribbliDf rnßb, .again menaced the line, and Kellj did the trick, the kick at goal prjviog faille. Wellington 15, Hawke's Bay 3, Wellington continued aggressive tactics, and the home team were apparentlj in extremis, but snddenly they rallied, aud taking advantage of the iacb that the visitors' backs were close up waiting foi Btft snap3 careered away up the field in hoi haste, ball at toe, with their opponents In hot pursuit, and Jago wae toabled to ground the sphere right between the poata, for which he of course received a great ovation. Tntere thereupon plaopd a magnificent goalWellington 16, Hawke's Biy 8. Continuing, the visitors again made tremendone attempts to scorej and the home team was frequently in difficulties. Twice the blacks crossed the line, but were as often recalled, once by the touch-line umpire and again for an infringement, and the score waa not fnrtber augmented. BEMASKS. The game was won by science. Wellington had the best of the weight and took advantage of the fact la the ecturas to get the ball away very frequently, thongh it was some time before they succeeded in dialing properly with the passes. Had Wellington's best team been in the field Hawke's Bay's defeat wonld have been vary 1 pronounced indeed. Their backs gave a taste of their real quality later In the game. Crawford deserves the highest commendation for the way he fed his backs from the scrams. Oar boys behind the pack were all there on the defensive, but rarely got away on their own account. Their passing was alow and very erratic, and not up to standard. Their kicking and taking were excellent. In fact this remark applies to both teams. Our forwards Allowed np well daring tho first spell, bnt tired towards the end of the game, exhausting themselves by their arduous efforts in the early part of the second spell. The Hawke's Bay wings distinguished themselves, considering that they were pitted &galtrat very amarb men, one of them the New Zealand representative, M'Keazie, being unequalled in the colony. "Mac" didn't play up to his reputation on Saturday, however, probably because of the responsibilities of office. Swan followed up well, and occasionally showed good collaring. Jago got in some excellent dribbling work. Both were too anxious to handle the leather. There was little to ohose between the forwards on the line out ; bnt both packs occasionally made the mistake of kicking too bard. The home forwards all worked consistently, bni with a minimum of head work. The visitors' pack aUo lacked a knowledge of the finer points, though their scramming was a thing to be kept in mind by the locals. Both full-backs were worth their places, Boarke surprising even his own supporters. Laws saved what looked like a certain try at the last moment by bringing down the formidable M'Kenzle, who had fall way on. Tntere, the local half, occasionally put ia eome good work, and Donnelly performed useful service. M'Donnall was the most serviceable of the backs, thongb M'Farlane occasionally came oat of his shell. Being thrown out of ptaoticidid him no good. Bennebb was hardly ni. to the mark, though he redeemed himself by several serviceable dashes.