FOOTBALL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1895, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v NELSON,

Tbis match, which bad been looked forward to with a great ( l ea l of interest for some time past, was played at Trafalgar Park yesterday afternoon in the presence of abont OUO .spectators. Local football enthusiasts well remembered how the Northeners waltzed over Nelson to the tune of lo points to nil ou their last visit, und the reports as to the excellent play of the present team in their matches against Otago, Canterbury, and Willington, although unsuccessful, led many to predict another " drubbing. ' The croakers, however, who were so sanguine that Nelson would " go down- like wa*er,' were a bit out of their reckoning, as ihe visiiois did not have so much their own way after all, as the result of tho game shows. The ground was iv capital condition, but a nasty strong cold wind blew, giving the players who hid its assistance a decided advantage, though it must be admitted that the wind spoilt all attempts at long passing ivelson played jvith the wind in the lirst spe'.l, and from tlie kicko)) went bard at ir, and great was the delight' of the supporters of the local team when, after about Ijftceji minutes play, J Nesbitt touched down. Despite their great disadvantage, however, the Auckl.inders more than hell their own even against the wind, and eventually scored, Omkin touching down, just before half time. Nelson made things very merry for their opponents in the lirst half hour's play, but should have made more use of their opportunity than they did when playing with the wind. Their forwards did a lot of rattling good rushing, aud following up work, but the Auckland backs were always about and cleared tlieU 1 line repeaicdly when a score seemed inevitable. When their turn caine' to play wjth die wind behind them jt was plain that they would give the local players a lot of trouble, and they did, penning them within their 23 I|ag tbe greater part of the spell, sooring tw(eo only, but getting across tho Hue several other times, in one of which Gage scored fairly, though tho^reforee, who was away, almost behind a breaking scrum, decided that the ball had been held outside the line. The hack play of the Aueklanders was superior to that of the Nelsoniaus, whilst their forwards were so quick that what little passing was attempted by the locals was quickly smothered. The Auckland team was oon-Jderably iv' tered from that which played against Wellington on Saturday, ' Wynyurd, Braund, McMillan, aud Brown standing out, male ing the toam :—

Aucki.ani*. Full-hack— Uliiyt'in Tliroe-quart'.Ts— Absolmn, Gage, Ma-c---hold Five-i ighths— Bouayno Half— Edmunds (Cant) Wing forwards -Mills ami Stevenson.

Forwards — Brady, Speight, Murray, Clarkin, Martin, Evitt, and Green. Nelson. Pull back— McDonald Three-quarters— Nesbitt, Sigley, and Hall Five-eighths— C Broad Half— Harper (dipt) Wings— Major and Hogg Forwards - Sanders, Olear, J Nesbitt, Scott, Glover, Davidson, Hounsell.

Shortly after 3 o'clock Auckland kicked off and Hall returned aud the local forwards followed up strongly looked like scoring, but a knock on penalty, allowed Auckland to relieve and the play was removed to Nelson's territory, flere a

smart piece of passing on the part of Gage and Absolum was applauded, but the wind spoilt its effect and Hall intercepting kicked the ball to half way, and Scott .following up in grand style with a bunch of Nelson forwards at his heels aided by the wind looked much like scoring, but Maselield got possession almost on hisown goal line and ruuniugand fending strongly, averted the danger in spleii'lid fashion. He was eventually thrown into touch, aud on the throw out Auckland secured a mark, McDonald returned the kick aud away sailed the Nelson forwatds again with a fair wind and bearing down all opposiaou J Nesbitt got across and scored amidst a big burst of applause. The angle was a difficult one and Broad failed to convert. Nelson 3 paints, Auckland 0. Elated by their success at such an early stage of the game the Nelson players renewed their attack almost immediately on Auckland kicking out, but some strong kicking by Absolum, Maselield, and Gage cheeked them. Nelson forwards were penalised for offside play and knocking on. A chance to pot was obtained by Harper but it was mulled ; tlie same player had au unauccesslut shot at goal from a mark obtained : by Major off a kick by Ga^e, who was j putting m a lot of serviceable work. ! Gage kicked out and Stevenson oil the right wing following up snnrtly carried the play into Nelson's quarters whence it was immediately removed by Harper, who did some tricky work ending in a strong and very useful run along the touch line to Auckland's 25 Hag. The Northern forwards, Mills (left wing), Claikin, Murray, and Speight put in a large amount of hard work aud gradually with the assistance of a scries of remarkably snw t aud dodgy runs by Edmonds they removed the play towards tbeir their opponent's line. Passing was repeatedly attempted between Edmonds, Bonaync, Gage, and Abauluin-the latter niakiug those lightning like dashes for which he is noted— but (j Nesbitt, Broad, Harper, and Sigloy were always about and cleared their une. Among the local forward) J Nesbitt more than ouce shone with a useful kick cleverly obtaiued. From ono of these, Nelsou started another rush iv which Glover was promiuent, but the attacking party were repulsed and Auckland responding became the as ailants. Hall relieved the pressure. Harper came again into prominence wiih soma strong bus ineffectual dashes and Gage and Absolum on the other side were equally active keeping the play well up towards Nelsons line dispite the head wind. Still Auckland advanced, and again that clever little half back Edmunds becani3 conspicuous with his dodgy runs. Passing out to Gage that player sent it on to Masefield with instructions to "pot," and he potted tha ball striking tho post. A scrum took place in front of the Nelson goal shortly after this, and Nelson supporters began to look blue, but good forward efforts by Major, Sanders, Nesbitt and Scott once more changed tbe aspect of affairs. Auckland were awarded two free kicks and from one of these Gaga kicked behind. Harper kicked out, aud Clarkin returned with a remarkably good kick which the Aucklanders followed up in fine style and afcer a scramblo near the goal line Clarkin scored. Absolum took the kick and made un excellent attempt considering that tbe ball rolled just as he was about to kiok. Half time almost immediately sounded with the scores even three points each. With tbo changing of ends Auckland was expected to make matters lively and tbey did, following up Gage's return of the kick off by Harper, with a sweeping rush and Sigley failing to. take the ball Auckland was only prevented from scoring by a knock on. A scrum was formed near tbe Nelson lino and the ball being heeled smartly out it was snapped up by Edmunds and sent on to Gaga who dodged over the line, but the referee ruled that the ball had beeu held outside. All those who were in the immediate vicinity of this bit of play admitted that Gage had scored but the referee bad a breaking scrum batween himself and Gage, and consequently could not see what actually tojk place. On resuming, tbe Nelson boys had tbeir hands full, tbeir opponents maintaining a vigorous attack just outside tbeir goal line. .be play became very warm and C, Nesbitt attempted to clear his line with an ill timed kick but tho bill struck Green one of the opposing forwards and rebounding across the line that player promptly ioll on it aud scored Auckland's second try. Tho try was not ejuverted, aid tho score vow stood Auckland 0 poiuts, Nelson 3. Gage kioked ou:, Hali uiuiled the reluru aud Nelsou was again in difficulties, but obtained leuiporuiy relief by v free kick, Fur offside work by M,ij >r Auckland hid a free kidc wiihn rauge, but nothing cini'j of it. Tho Northern forwaids, Mills, Murray, Oiarkiu, Martin, aud others wcio vow making streuunus efforts ior their side and kepi Nelsou busy. Eiruuuds, the li.tle lull, too, kept his eyes open aud his buuds ready uud snapped uij tbe ball the moment it uppoarud fiom tlie sciuiu much too soou lor tbe local Miiipurie.-o liking — he sent ie across to Absolum ou one side or Maselield on tlieotliei, aud from ouo of these passss Absolum darted acio s and touched down before the local back i rutlised the position. Ab.-oluin made a good kick, but failei t> cuuverc. Sjore, Auckland 9 points, Nelsou 3. Fiom this out the lesultof the game was never iv doubt, the visitors with the wind behind tbem haviug matters well iv baud, aud several times Abaoluni, Gage, Maselield, aud Clarkin weio nearly scunug. Nelson, however, held their own with determination, and the manner iv which they played up against such formidable oppoueuts to.yards the latter part of the game aitouisbed iheir most urdent supporters. Unco a tcore fur ihem appeared certain, Sijley getting a cluar start -through goud followiug np— fiom thefull back, and, though he made a gallant effort he was out paced by the speedy Aucklauders aud collared from behind. No further score was made, and the result of tho game, Aucklaud 9 points, Nelson 3, is generally considered highly creditable lo the local team — especially as many thought, aud it was freely asserted that Nelsou was iv for a " big doing ' this time.

Mr Garrard, of Canterbury, acted as referee, and, as we have alieady said, his decisions were in several instances (where he inllieteJ penalties for breaches uf the niles, and where he did not do sol accepted uuf aV ourably by the spectators.

GOLDEN BAY V. NELSON CLUB.

This match was being played this afternoon as we went to pres*. '