FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4821, 30 April 1877, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

The opening match of the season wa3 played iu the Domain cricket ground on Saturday j afternoon, between the Banks and Ware- j houses Clubs. A very good game was wit- ' ncsscd, both teams being so evenly matched that when time was called neither side had | obtained the victory. The banks were captained by Mr. Gudgeon, the Warehousemen by Mr. Cotton. The amended system of counting by points was adopted—a try scoring 2 and a goal 5, force-downs not to count. For the first half-hour the ■ Warehousemen kicked with the wind, and had the best of the game, compelling the Banks on one occasion to touch the ball', down. Jones and T. Macky played in goal for the black and red team. Both are fine dropkicks, and did very good service to their club. For the Banks Mowbray, Gudgeon," and.Dignan played half back, and kicked well and auroly. Ewen .kept goaL Tho other men were all well forward. Tho second half-hour the Banks had the wind, and pressed the Warehousemen as hard as they had, previously pressed tho Banks. The latter forced their opponents to touchdown once. In the third half-hour the first advantage-in the game was obtained by the Warehousemen who scored 2 for a try from a touch-down got by Burgess. No- other points were scored until the sides chaßged positions again, when Withers got a touchdown for the Banks. Gudgeon tried a place kick, and almost secured a goal for his team, but- the wind was too strong. Time was ] shortly afterwards, the score standing two * side. Messrs.' Abrams, Philsop, and T i i nderson filled the position of umpires. ' cot; ill promises to be in a flourishing conthis season, unless like all other itb k tii; sports in Auckland it is killed by t.'i" want of a suitable ground. The authorities :l many towns in New Zealand and Australia take an interest in providing for t'tih '.vuat. But in Auckland they pay no •"'t'sattca whatever to the subject. The

i'va-aa is much too far from town, and the i ' l -' -:'i.u:ce of visitors will never be large on r.oc.uofc. It is a great pity that the -O iii I!all ground (as it is called) is not annually placed at the disposal of the football cluba, and we hope that-the-"powers that be "will consult the wishes of a large number o£ people by granting the use of the ground. There could not have been a finer recreation ground than the old Albert Barracks green, and there was never a greater blunder piade by men in authority P n ? vaa made by the "Improvement" v-oinmissioners when they destroyed a pro-_ perty that should have belonged to the people of Auckland. X.Y.Z.