FOOTBALL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10624, 1 June 1897, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE NEW ZEALAND REPRE« SENTATIVE TEAM, The present team compares very favorably with the 189,') team, though not quite so dashing ln the forward dlvleloo as the team which defeated New South Wales in the last test match (says the Hew Zealand Times). Tbe forwards in tbe presQQt team are a heavier lot and very sturdy, and shonld give a good account of themselves. 'They ore all ,worßers, : and the opposlog teams will bave a hard contraot to fulfill in chiding them in the scrums. Tbe forwards cannot by t any means be called a fast lot. The .backs as a wholo are good! both an regards attnek and defence. There are some very fait playerß amongst them, though no " stars," Every provltlon has been made for any contingencies that may arise in tbe event of players now picked being unable to accompany tbe team.

In Orohard, who, of coarse, will go as full-back, tbe team bave a very t-oie man, who Is also a magnitloent kick. Of the other backs _lenn!e lo a splendid allround back ployer; He Is a dashiog runner, a fair klok, good tackier.. His beßt position ls at (ivfi- eighths. He has been picked as half baok. Smith (tbreeqaarter) ls a dasbl»R wing player, very last, kicks well with both feet, and ls very good on the defence. Armit is a good all-round man, fact and enre. Though not a brilliant player be oan always be relied on. Humphries is a good balf, looks well after blB three- quarters, and ls good on tbe defence. Bayly, tbongh not quite tbe Alf. Bayly of old, is still a very reliable man. Alleu, on his form playing for New Zealand against Qaeensland last year, is one of tbe beßt three-quarters In the colony. Duncan is reputed to be the beßt five eighth player In the oolony, though on bis form when playing for Otago ogainat Wellington last year be did not prove it. Be was, bow. ever, not seen at his best then. Ot the forwards, Blair ln a front rank man, and a sturdy one at that, Kerr Is especially good on tbo line ont. He plays In the centre and is olever with his feet. He is also good in the open, Harris is a player of Galnan's stamp, Hauoock is a front-rank man, and an honest worker in the scrum. Wilson Is said to be tbe beat forward in Auckland. He Is very fast in the loose Flays In tbe baok of tbe pack, nod ls a good woiker. Watson Is a strong tcrummoglng forward, and O'Dowda is a clover man at foot work, He is an old Blaokheath player Young Is a fioot rank player, who never shlrke big work and goes all the way Panling will play in tbe oentre. He is a bard worker ln tbe scrnra, olever and is dashing ln the looue. Culnun bas earned bis plaae ln tbe team by his fine play with tbe Wellington representative team last year and on his form this year, He ebonld give & good ecoonnt of himself. M'Kenzle, as a wlog plover, ls one of the best ln New Zealand, A good general Mills, the other wing man, is a yonog Dlayer and very brilliant). A good kick, but inclined to be a little erratlo in bis play at limes,

Two previous New Zealand representative teams have journeyed to Australia. The first team (that of 1834) won all the mritohfis played, scoring 167 points against 17. The 1893 team played 10 raatcheß, winning nine, and (coring 163 points againßt 44. Throe New South Waits foams havo visited New Zealand, and their record of matohes played showe that the visltoro won 18 matches aod loot 13 Tbe Qneerßland team of lost year played feven matches and loßt tbem all. Bammarl«ed, tbe resnlt of the analysis of irames la that of 56 played between New Z9alnnders and Australian reps, tbe former have won 37 and tbe latter 19,

Tho rush to the Cnolgardie goldfielrtß ie gradually subsiding, pcoolo aro paying attention to more sensible thinga, (family folks havo been much attracted lately by tho successful results of Woods' Groat Peppermint Cure for coughs and colds. Tha» Bucb a Tollable remedy can be procured from any grocer or chemist at 1b Cd and 2s Gd, is a boon to overyono. 1072