INTERCOLONIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6495, 11 September 1882, Page 5

INTERCOLONIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

jjgyp SOUTH WALES V. AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND WINS. Tins great match, which has been looked forward to with much interest, came off on Saturday, and resulted in a victory for the Auckland team. The attendance was larger than we have ever seen on the ground. The spectators got quite excited as the siatch went on, and the feats of strength and ability displayed were loudly cheered, is a matter of course the general sympathy was with our own men, and when they cained an advantage, there wa3 vigorous cheering all round the field. But when the J«ew South Wales champions showed any tlever play, tiiev were also cheered, and there were general cries oE " Well done, Sydney!" Several heavy showers had fallen in the morning, but the afternoon was fair, with the exception of a few drops, which did not stop the play. When time was called, a large number of those around the pavilion joined in the cheers given for the Sydney team, and the hope was generally expressed that they would win everywhere else except in Auckland. During the afternoon the Artillery Band discoursed some excellent selections, and expressions of approval were very generally made regarding the ability of the performers. FIRST HALF HOUR. Soon after three o'clock the ground was eleared, and the captains tossed for choice of ends. Raper, for Sydney, having won, decided to kick with the wind, having the sun at his back, which at the time was shining very brightly. O'Connor, for Auckland, was deputed to kick oIT, which he uid with a good kick, and while the ball is in the air I will place the teams. New South Wales team: Bayliss, back ; Walker, three-quarter ; Graham and Howard, half-backs ; Thallon and Hawkins, wmgs ; Flynn, Flig?, and Mann, quarterbacks ; the forwards, consisting ol Raper (captain), Addison, Barry, Richmond, Jennings, and Hill. Our men were placed in the usual way of a Rugby Union team Warbrick and Webster, backs ; Ryan, threequarter ; Wood, Sibbin, and Whiteside, half-backs; Henderson (iaptain), Croxtou, O'Connor, Arneil, Spencer, Biggs, Maeky, Sims, and Jcwitt, forwards. The ball fell ia front of Walker, who returned to Warbrick, who dropped into touch. Loose scrimmages aud hard forward play was the order of the day, but the numerous backs on the visiting side kept our men from scoring. thouyh our forwards, playing well together, had it all their own way. the first term our back play was not up to the 'nark, which was more apparent owing to the cleverness of the Sydney backs, who picked up, ran, dodged, and passed ; but still our forwards would not be denied, aud our visitors found the ball continually in their quarters. Whiteside, however, made several runs,_ nearly getting in more than once. Wood's sipart punting was very useful now and then. Kaper, Thallon, Walker, Graham, and Howard, all showed up with this bout. Thus ended the first half-hour.

SECOND HAir-IIOUR. After three minutes'spell, Raper kicked off just past our forwards, the visitors evidently trying to rush the ball past our backs. Sibbiu was too quick, and got the ball clear with a good drop into touch. Some good dribbling by Biggs, Croxton, Henderson, and O'Connor, 'was well stopped by Jennings ; and B-irry, who passed to Howard, was making a good ran when he was well collared by Croxton. The ball was now well worked into the New South Wales quarters, Henderson, O'Connor, and others driving it over the line. Flynn tried to touch down, but slipping, lost the ball, and Biggs as usual following up well scored a try lor our boys. Henderson took out the ball for Ryan, who kicked an unmistakeable goal. Our backs now began to play better, while the forwards did not fall off, and soon, by some clever passing, Sims rail in and scored another try. Ryan this time allowed too much windage, and missed. Score : Auckland, 7 ; Sydney, 0. The ball was kicked off again, and shortly after Raper and Sibbin came togother, the former, getting a nasty cut on his eheek, having to retire. Time was then called. THIRD HALF-HOUR. After five minutes' spell the third term was commenced. Good runs were made by Tliallon, Flynn, Richmond, Whiteside, Spencer, and Warbrick. Bayliss shone in this spell, several times getting his side out of trouble. Graham also got through over forwards in a very clever manner. Macky and Arneil did some pretty dribbling. The best piece of passing done in the match by our boys took place, and a tight scrimmage being formed from a good run of Whiteside, who fell with the ball within two inches of the goal-line, resulted in the ball being driven out of a loose scrimmage past over halfbacks, and kicked on by one of theSydneymen who was off-side towards Ryan. Darby ran round to the left touch-line and by a magnificent left-foot drop sent the ball over the bar, but unfortunately it was not allowed, as the ball had previously been called back. Hard lines for Ryan, for it was a grand kick. FOURTH HALF HOCK. In the final spell it was expected our men would increase their score, but the wind had got more across the ground, and though our drop-kicking improved, the wind did not help it much. The Sydney team played up well, and nearly scoreil onca or twice ; but they are playing without Raper, and being weak forward, their backs had no time to get away, though Richmond and others made desperate attempts to get through. Arneil made a good run, but was well stopped. Warbrick was now brought up, and got away but made little ground. Jewitt played a hard game all through in the scrimmages, and got a run up the touch line, but was well stopped by 'Aalker. Wood dropped at goal and Sydney forced down. Sibbin did some good tackling, aided by Wood and Warbrick. O'Connor maue a good run from a throw in from touch, but in trying to pass threw on, and amid the cries "bring it back," "go on " Graham ran id the other end of the ground and touched down, but the try was not allowed, and "no aide " was called, after the best match ever played in Auckland.

Each side forced down several times, but the score remained unaltered after the second spell, namely, Auckland, 7; Sydney, 0; or a goal and a try to nil.

REMAP.KS ON THE PLAY. With regard to the general p'.ay 0U1 " team, the selection committee may feel well satisfied, for every one of our men played well. Had they not done so, we should have had to count a defeat instead of a victory. The forwards played remarkably well together, and showed to great advantage in the scrimmages, more particularly as their opponents only played eight, and sometimes only *ix up, leaving the rest of the team outside, which I think was a mistake. Our forwards were net so good in lining out and marking their men, but O'Connor and Bigg:i ware particularly noticeable in taking the ball when thrown in from the touch. Anderson, Croxton, O'Connor, Spencer, Mackay, and Jev. itt played a hard forward game all through. Arneil, Biggs, and Sims did some ijrst-alass j dribbling on the wings when the scrimmages j broke. Si'ubin did a lot of work, playing a smart half-back game, but like the re3t of j oar team, with one or two exceptions, collared too high. Wood, as usual, punted, dropped, collared, and dribbled admirably, "hitcside had very hard work, being well shepherded by the Sydney backs, and it Was very hard lines that he did not get a try wore than once. He did a lot of tackling, in which he -was well supported by Warwick, who kicked well all through, wliil : his tackling was on the whole the best on our side, but Joe is rather too excitable for a back. He likes to be in the thick of it, ana gets dangerously near the scrimmage. Ryan at three-quarter back seemed rather nervous at first, and missed one or two ■kicks, but as the game went on, he settled flown and kicked splendidly, but once or v\ ce ! le would bare done well to have Kicked instead of trying to run. His drop ? was one the finest I ever saw. ..as but not least comes Jack Webster, who p yea whole back all day, aud waited in is place with the most exemplary patience and only o nce was he cornered. Then he fought his way into safety. He certainly missed Graham at the fimsh which, had the try been allowed, would have been awkward, but Graham is a very clever dodger, and is hard to get hold

Our visitors played a very plucky game, in a most gentlemanly way throughout. Their style is an open game, trusting to the speed of their backs, occasionally doing some very fast open dribbling. In passing and eatching the ball in the air, and picking it off the ground, they are far ahead of our men, with the exception perhaps of Whiteside, who Picks up well when going at full speed. In Walker they have a fine player. Bayless too 13 very clever. Richmond, Flynn, and Raper ate all hard "tostop, "the first particularly so. Gallon and Hawkins were very active on Addison, Barry, Jennings, and

Hill, did good work in the loose scrimmages. Graham made several goods runs, relieving has goal from danger by clever dodging. Howard, Fligg, and Mann backed each other up, and passed well. Mr. McClatchie was umpire for Sydney, Mr. A. H. Cotter for Auckland, Mr. W. W. Robinson being appointed referee. After the match was over, cheers were given by the rival teams, and cheers for the Auckland public, and extra cheers for the Sydney team. Both teams got on to the drags and' drove to town to get a bath and prepare for the dinner, which was to take place at the Star Hotel at eight o'clock. the banquet. In the evening the members of the visiting team were entertained to a banquet at the Star Hotel, when about seventy gentlemen Eat down to dinner. Amongst these we I noticcd Councillors Aickin, Crowther, and Waddel, as well as His Worship the Mayor, Mr. J. McCosh Clark, who presided over the gathering. In a rcom adjoining, the Artillery Band, under the conductorship of Mr. Hunter, discoursed some suitable selections at intervals during the evening. The table offered all the delicacies of the season, and the wines provided gave the greatest of satisfaction to the guests. Shortly after 8 o'clock Mr. Clark arrived, and took his placc at the head of the table. On the right he was supported by Mr. Raper, captain of the New South Wales team, and on the left by Mr. Henderson, captain of the Auckland representatives, while Mr. Graves Aickin acted as vice-chairman. The menu card presented the choicest of viands, and, as might have been expected after the exercise of the afternoon, the members of the different teams were able to do it ample justice. The toast of "The Queen and Royal Family" having been given and heartily drunk,

His Worship the Mayor proposed the toast of the evening, " Our Guests, the New j South Wales Football Team." He said he had some difficnltv in proposing the toast, and for various reasons. In the first place, he did not understand the game of football sufficiently well to talk of it. He had a great sympathy for sport. Wnen he said sport, he meant that kind of sport which tended to develope muscle and manliness, such as football, rowing, cricket, and hunting ; but he bad no sympathy for sport which created betting and gambling. Football, he felt satisfied, took the first rank of the four sports mentioned, for it possessed the quality for producing both manliness and muscle, and he might say further, it tended to gheaman command of temper. He preferred hunting, but there was not in that the same trial of temper, and he thought that a man who was able to play a football match and could command his temper, would be able to keep it in taking his placc in the City Council. Another difficulty he had in proposing the«toast was, that he could not express regret that the visitors were not victorious on this occasion. Even out of courtesy he could scarcely say that; Another difficulty presented itself. As regarded the trip down South, he could not wish the team success there either, seeing that he was a New Zealander first, and then an Aucldander. In referring to the Australian cricketers, Mr. Clarlr said that New Zealanders were proud

of the achievements attained in the Old Country, because as regards that, the success of one colony was certainly the success of another. He complimented the visitors on the way they had conducted themselves during the game, on their good feeling and general fair play exhibited, and on the way in which they had taken their defeat. Inexperienced as he was, he could not but notice the exceedingly good play of some of the New South Wales team. He concluded his remarks by hoping they would enjoy their tour through .New Zealand, and that they would always afterwards think of and appreciate the country and the people they had met there, and that these recollections would be pleasing. Mr. Raper, captain of the New South Wales team, in responding to the toast, said that he fras exceedingly pleased with the hearty manner with which the toast had been received, but said that it was quite in keeping with the treatment which had been extended to the team since it came to New Zealand. The hospitality commenced when when they first arrived at Russell, and ever since everyone they had met had done his utmost to make their stay here an enjoyable one. The team he had with him was not the best that Sydney could produce, and he explained how he had, at the beginning of the season, pickcd a team some of the members of which had been prevented at the last moment from going on the tour. He acknowledged the Auckland team to be superior, but he hoped, with a little more practice, they would in the return match give a better account of themselves. In conclusion he expressed thanks, on behalf of the team and himself, for the kindness and generosity which had been accorded them during their stay here, and hoped that a representative New Zealand team would visit Sydney, when they would try, not to exceed that kindness, for that would be impossible, but at all events to reach it.

Aiter a song had been given by one of the company, Mr. Raper proposed "The Auckland Team," coupled with the name of the skipper, Mr. Henderson, which was heartily received.

Mr. Hendkbson, in responding to the toast, explained the difficulties which had been experienced in getting a team together when so little notice of the visit had been given. Some doubts were entertained regarding the result of the match, seeing that the team had been got together hurriedly, and had had no practice. However, it appeared from the result that the team was as good as necessary. Hitherto the Auckland contests had been confined to those with New Zealand teams, but now that intercolonial contests had commenced, he hoped they would continue, and also hoped, with Mr. Raper, that an arrangement for sending a New Zealand representative team to Australia would be carried out.

Mr. Kai'.i.k proposed "The Umpires," conpled with the name of Mr. Robinson. Mr. Henderson apologised for the absence of that gentleman. Mr. W. P. Coleman, in an eloquent speech, proposed " The Health of the Chairman, His Worship the Mayor," coupled with the name of Mrs. Clark.

His Woicsun? briefly replied. The toasts of "The Press,'' "The Ladies," " The Reception Committee," " Mr. Cairns, the Host," were proposed, and appropriately responded to. After a very pleasant evening, the company broke up. __