FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8027, 15 August 1887, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. Rkpbbsk/?xAtiy£s v. PossißLKß.—This match -—which, ttm the last of the praotices for the oominfl iotef provincial match between Oanterbury unA Auckland, whioh takes places on Wednesday— wa« played at Potter's paddock, Eps/)i», on Saturday, and resulted in a win for thrj letter by 4 points to 2. The game was altogether of a disappointing character, the '/ilayere not showing much improvement in their play on the previous week. A very strong Wind was blowing down the field from the south end of the field, which would have been a great aid to kicking tactics, yet, strange to aay, these were not indulged in to any extent, passing instead being resorted to, which was in many cases quite the reverse of useful. A great lack of unison was shown at times In the packing of, and working in, the scrums, a point in which Auckland players are somehow notoriously weak. Off the field all the players seemed thoroughly conversant with the theory necessary for the successful carrying out of this important detail, but their practice falls frequently very short. Concerning the players, O'Connor, Stone, Leoky, Wooller, and Arneil played well for the " Reps," while Madigan and Whiteside did good service behind the scrum. Conway was not nearly as good as ueual, and aeemed nervous ; Lusk was also in poor form and should on several occasions have kicked when he did not, a remark that applies in a less degree to Madigan. J. Braund played well at fullbaok, although the Selection Committee neemed to have thought otherwise by their rejection of him in their final selection of the fifteen. Of the Possibles Danks played a really good unselfish game, while Elliott was also in fine trim—making some strong rune, and securing a try, VV. Meldrum was in better form than for some time past, and gained the- second score, and Murphy and Muir were very prominent among the forwards.

The Selection Committee met during the evening, and made the following ae their final choice for the representative fifteen :— Fullback, Luok ; three-quarters, Whiteside and Madigan ; halves, Conway, A. Braund, Elliott; forwards, Keefe, O'Connor, Lindsay, Twiname, Marshall, Lecky, H. Poland, Arnoil and Wooller. The eeleotion ie one chat will oommend itself to the publio as a good one and as good as could be chosen to represent the province, though it is a pretty freely expressed opinion thut though Lusk is a good man for the onerous post of fullback, that he is inferior to J. Braund in collaring and stopping rushes, although perhaps better in kicking, and as such not so reliable a man for the post. However, the match will prove whether the committee have made a mistake in his selection, for at his post a mistake will be almost fatal to hie aide.

A very exciting match was played at Rpsom between the West End Rowing and Ponsonby Rowing Clubs, which, after a keen contest, resulted in a win for the former by two points (one try) to nil. Atkinson w»8 the scorer, and Fisher essayed the "place," but without any further result. For the winners, Baxter (2), Cnoke, Edwards, aud Dixon played very hard games, while Jim Cooppr at fullback was faultless. Among the Ponsonby team, W. Scott played a splendid game, being well seconded by Stichbury, Pritchard, Salt, Williamson, and McMillan.

Ponsonby S cond anb Grafxon Second played a very hard game, which resulted in a draw, each side securing a try. The Gordon Second (Auckland) aud Clevedon Club played a match at Wairoa South on Saturday last. The visitors left Auckland by the s.s. Waitoa on Saturday at a quarter to tea a.m. and arrived at the vv a j roa landing at two p.m. Play was commenced at three p.m. The following are the names of the Gordons :—Collins (captain), K. Diddams, K. Ifwerion, Lewie. Harrington, Kenderdine (2), A. C. Goldwater, Wynyard, Link, Cooke, Plnmrner, Kiesling, Dodds, and Hooper. Clevedons :— A. (captain), A. C. Musters, H. Mryers, J. Burnside, H. Burueide, J. Gallagher, F. Gallagher, H. Gallagher, W. Kerr, A. Kerr, W. Hodge, T. Wood, A. Crown, G. Noble, and E. Conedrr. The day was dry and in every way suitable for football, and the result of the match was a decided victory for the Gordons, beating the Clovedons by 47 points to nothing. It is quite evident that the local club must havei more practice before playing any more matches with well organised clubs. Thr visitors returned back to Auckland by the s.s. Waitoa, leaving Wairoa at half-past twelve p.m., being well pleased their trip. North Shore 11. defeated United by 4 point* tn nil, and the Auckland 11. pained » win against Waitemata by scoring '2 points to nothing.

The Hkrald and Bell teams had a good match at Surrey Hills, and the rosult left them equal, oanii side scoring 4 point*. llemuera beat Waverlay by four to nil, Kden were defeated by Britomart by seven, and Orient and White Rose played a draw.

Owing to stress of weather at Wellington the departure of tbe steamer JRotomahaua with the Canterbury team on board, was postponed, and she is consequently not expneted to arrive hero uutii about six n.m, today. If she should put in an appearance before dark Garrett's bell will give timely warning of her approach, so that a gathering representative of tho Auckland football fraternity may assemble at the wharf to welcome the visitom.

The Auckland fifteen will meet for their last practice in the Metropolitan Ground at hnlf-past four this afternoon, wlieu every player's presence ie necessary, as the " Plan of Campaign" is then to bo marked out. In the evening at eight o'clock a meeting tonlect a e.mtain and mike seveaal other arrangements will Uke place. links v. Kanokrs. — This match was played at Dilworth's paddock, Remuera, on Saturday. The game was won by the Links by four goals to two.

FOOTBALL IN THE SOUTH.

[BY TKf-EGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Sunday. The boisterous weathei' which prevailed on Saturday interfered a good deal with the football arraDgeraents at Newtowa Park. The Melrose Club won their heat for the Junior Cup, beating Wellington Club's second team by a goal and a try to nil. The Epuni Club and St. Patrick's College team played » draw for the heat for the Junior Cup, each side scoring a try. Epuni hava now played five times for the cup. Doneuin, Saturday. A football match was played this afternoon between tho Otago team selected to go on the Northern tour and a fifteen from thn Southland Rugby Union. The waather wae miserable, raiu falling nearly the whole of the first spell. Notwithstanding this, the attendance was very large. The ground, after the first few minutes' play became very slippery and greasy. Oiago soon had the loather in Southland's ground, end Diamond got over the line and scored, but Thompson's kick at goal failed. After some good play, in which however the bluns (Otago) pUced too much reliance on their backs, Keogh Becured another try, just after the colours had been twice forced clown, bub Thomson's kick at the bare from a difficult angle was again a , failure. In the second spell the colours (struggled hard to equalise matters, but though they played really well, and tackled in a superior manner to the Otago men tho latter, when thiy at last realised the fact that the state of the ground effectually prevented paising and running, kept the play mostly in the colors' quarters. The dribbling and rushes, in which Morris and Isaacs distinguished themselves, were several times nearly being successful. At last Fraser passed to Thomson, and the latter potted a goal in a second. No sooner was the ball kicked off than it was back iu Southland's quarters, and Fraser following up fast secured another try for Otago, from which, however, no goal resulted. Miiler nearly secured another try a minute afterwards, but it only proved a force down. A few minutes later Fraser, in the opinion of many, again got in, but as he was pushed against the oorner flag, it was given an a touoh-iu-goal. Time was declared shortly after, the Otago team winning by six points to nil. Considering the state of the ball and ground, tke game was wonderfully fast, except that the «>tago men placed too much reliance on their backs, and would not get behind quick enough. The play as a whole was excellent, while Southlanders played a most plucky game throughout, and proved more formidable than was expected. The presence of some of their team in the ranks of the Orago fifteen would strengthen it considerably. There is some doubt whether Isaacs, on* of Otago's beet forwards, oan get away, as the Railway Department, in which he is engaged, refuse to givo him leave of absence.