THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9047, 7 May 1888, Page 6

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

MATCH WITH CANTERBURY. ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE VISITORS. [BY TELEGRAM!.— PRESS ASSOCIATION. J Chkistchurch, Saturday. The third match of tho tour of the English footballers was played this afternoon at Lancaster Park, in beautiful weather, bright and sunny, but tempered by a nice breeze from the north-east. There was a large attendance of the public, it being estimated that about 6000 persons were present, but a correct estimate will not be made until the returns are made up. It was, however, far and away the largest attendance that has witnessed a football match in Canterbury, and was on the whole very impartial, cheering the Englishmen for their dashing play in the second spell, although, perhaps, not quite so heartily as they did the local men, when they scored two goals in quick succession. Tho teams were as follow : — England.—Fullback, A. Paul; threequarter backs, J. T. Haslam, A. E. Stoddart, and J. Anderton ; halfbacks, J. Burnett and W. Bumby ; forwards, R. LSeddon (captain), S. Williams, H. Eagles, C. Matthews, A. Stuart, T. Banks, W. 11. Lomas, Penketh, and R. Burnett. Canterbury.—Full back, W. Richards ; three-quarter backs, A. Hobbs, L. Harley, and E. R. Webb ; half-backs, G. H. Helmore (captain), and H. Roberts ; forwards, W. D. Bean, W. Dow, J. Fuller, J. Horner, E. H. Hiddlestone, M. Riley, W. Sutherland, J. M. Turnbull, and A. J. Weeks. According to the published weights of the teams the English averaged all round about 12st 41b and Canterbury list 71b. The officials were Umpires, Dr. Smith for England, and Mi*. M. OUivier, for Canterbury , referee, the Rev. J. H. Hoatson. A few minutes before three o'clock the teams filed out of the pavilion, and after mutual cheers had been given the captains tossed, Helmore being the lucky caller. He chose the eastern goal, playing with tho sun in his face, but having the advantage of the wind. Punctually at three o'clock Seddon started the game. The kick was a bad one, the ball flying off his foot towards the touch line into the hands of Horner, who was the last man on the line. Horner made a dash, but was shoved out of touch by Barnett at the half-way flag. The first few scrums were watched with intense eagerness by the onlookers, and when it was seen that Canterbury more than held their own, expectation ran high. Acting on the reports which had come from Dunedin, Canterbury packed tight in the scrums, and consequently the first spell was confined almost exclusively to the forwards and halfbacks, the men behind them having very little indeed to do. At last, from a loose piece of work Bumby threw out to Anderton, who was under weigh in a moment, and passing Webb, whose attempt at tackling was rather feeble, continued his career until shoved out of touch close to the Canterbury 25 flag. Roberts , sent the ball down to Haslam, whose return was bad, the ball going out of touch at the half-way flag; then the Englishmen got on a grand rush, in which Thomas, Matthews, Eagles and Stuart were prominent, and a score was only prevented by Harley, whose fleetness of foot enabled him to reach the ball first, and kicking it into touch. From the kick out Canterbury made a rush in every way equal to that which had forced them down. They backed each other up excellently, and as soon as one man lost, the ball another was there to bring it along. Dow, Sutherland, Turnbull, and Horner were most conspicuous in this rush,- which carried the ball up to the Englishmen's 25 flag. For some time the play was in the colours (England's) quarters, and the pressure was only relieved by Paul forcing down.' Almost immediately after Fuller dribbled over the line, Paul just getting the ball in time. These repeated successes on the part of Canterbury were received with every token of satisfaction on the part of the spectators. An exchange of kicks between the backs ended in Hobbs again forcing the Englishmen. This appeared to grow monotonous, as the Englishmen roused themselves and carried the play to the centre of the field, but a dodgy run by Harley again took the play into the colours' quarters, and Helmore added to the advantage with a short dash, going to within <> short distance of the goal.° From the scrum that was formed Roberts passed to Hobb6, who in turn threw to Helmore. As the latter was right in front of the goal, he took a pot, and amidst tumultuous cheers he sent the ball over the bar. "" For some time after the kick off the play was in the Canterbury quarters. Bumby made several short dashes, and Burnett essayed a few passes, but nothing came of them, the forwards still monopolising the greater part of the game. Harley was the means of transferring the game to the half-way, but Anderton returned the ball along the touch, when the Englishmen becan to look dangerous. Roberts got away on the dribble, gaining some 50 yards of ground. Stoddart, however, made up the loss a few minutes after, but the Canterbury forwards carried the ball down the field, when Dow taking too hard sent to Paul, who returned out of touch. From the throw-in, Horner got possession, and being tackled, dropped the ball, which was snapped up by Burnett. Three or four men were on to him, and he made a slow pass in the direction of Haslam. _ Harley whipped in between the two, seized the ball, and was past the fullback and between the posts in an instant. When Weekes kicked a goal from the place, shouts loud and long ran round the ground. Six points to nothing, with the spell nearly finished, looked a good thing for Canterbury, especially as for the remainder of the spell they held their own, except on one occasion, when Bumby made a dash clear through their ranks, and would in all probability have got it had he not thrown to Anderton, as he reached Richards. Anderton missed the ball, and before he could pick it up Roberts had sent it out close to the Canterbury goal. Gradually the reds worked their way bock, and from just inside the halfway flag Hobbs took a pot. The kick was a good one, but it went wide. Then the Englishmen had a short turn, Haslam and Stoddart helping considerably in the play, which carried the ball into the Canterbury quarters. After a few scrums Dow and Riley got away, and the latter pick - ing up ran straight into Anderton, passing i as he did so to Sutherland, who made a long running drop kick, which sent ! the ball out of touch a few yards from the English goal, time being called a moment after. The display of Canterbury was a great surprise. They had acquitted themselves beyond all expectations, and their play in this spell was quite as good as that of the colours, except in the matter of picking. The second spell was started with a high long kick, and the ball bounding out of Anderton's hands, flew into the air. Hornet jumped for it, and gaining possession, ran in and touched down by the posts. Unfortunately for Canterbury, he had knocked on the ball as he jumped to catch, and a scrummage was ordered close to the colours' goal. Stoddard seized tho ball as it came out of the back of the scrum, and ran until he was stopped by Harley. Dropping the ball it was carried in by Thomas and Stuart, only to be ordered back for some infringement of the rules. Bean got away with the ball from the scrum, but was unsupported. Immediately after, Fuller, Bean and Dow got through a loose scrum and went right up to the English goal line, where the last-named picked up and touched down. An appeal was raised hat the ball had been picked up dead, and it was decided in favour of England. From the kick off the English goal had been in danger, and now they appeared to rouse themselves. Seddon, Mathers, Penketh and others showed up prominently in a desperate rally, and Bumby and Stoddart playing into each other's hands made things very merry for Canterbury for a short spell, and so earnest were the visitors that when two or three deliberately tackled Helmore offside they protested against his being allowed a free Kick. -.1 Anyhow, ho was, despite tho murmuring, . and sent tho ball down the field. It was passed across to Anderton, who missed it, and, like a flash, Harley had it past him. Kicking hard, he sent it behind the fullback, and - tho pair pursued it, being joined by Dow. The Canterbury pair outstripped Paul, but in turning the ball towards the posts, it struck one of them, and lay motionless on the ground about a yard from the line. Dow picked it up, and touched down, but on appeal it)

was allowed no try. Tims, by sheer hard luck, Canterbury had lost three tries in this spell. They never had a look in afterwards, for the Englishmen played With such vigour and determination, and so fast that the local men wore completely outpaced, and at times became demoralised by the rapidity of the play. Now and again they picked up, but their success was of brief duration, yet, like true offsprings of the nation their opponents represented, they showed game right to the finish. After the escape recorded above matters began to wear a serious aspect for the Englishmen. Some twenty minutes had passed, and there were 6 points recorded against them. Some scrummaging which kept the ball in tho colours' quarters ensued, but at last Stoddart came to the rescue, and made a dash down the field. Haslam carried on the running, and passed to Bumby, who ran up to the Canterbury line where Richards forced down just in time. From the kick Paul took the ball and made a magnificent kick from just outside the half-way flag. The ball flew high and the wind catching it carried it between tho posts amidst the cheering of the English partisans. Within five minutes of tho kick off, Stoddart, who all through this spell played with great determination, made a splendid dodgy run and getting clean through tho reds, touched down just by the post, and Seddon took tho kick and placed a goal, tho scores thus being equal, six point's each. Bean kicked off, and Seddon missed the return, and for a brief space the play was in the English 25. The Englishmen cleared their lines with great rapidity, Roberts managing to stop a dangerous rush. Turnbull got away, but through being unsupported his career ended very summarily. From the scrum that was formed Stuart came from the scrum with the ball, and dribbled down the touch line. Haslam backed him up, and securing the ball touched-down close to the corner flag. Paul took tho kick, and although he failed, he made a splendid shot at the goal. Shortly after the kick out Harley distinguished himself by a fine dodgy run past tho half-way flag, and after some scrums, in which Canterbury had slightly the best of it, Harley again got away, but a short rush regained the lost ground, and a second rush carried the ball up to the Canterbury goal, where Bumby attempted a pot, which went wide. Canterbury being forced down, Haslam returned the ball from the kick out, and, after some loose play, Stoddart passed to Haslam, who scored a second try close to the posts. Anderton took the kick, and placed a third goal for England, the score now being ten points to six. The play wavered for some time, until the Canterbury forwards, kicking too hard, sent tho ball to Paul, who put it out of bounds close to the Canterbury corner fla<j, and immediately after tho reds were forced down by a kick by Stoddart. After the kick out a number of short scrums took place, and from one Burnett secured the ball, and passed to Haslam, who in turn handed it to Bumby. That player got over the line just as he was collared. Anderton failed to increase the score. From the kick-out tho reds took the ball to the centre of the ground, where Haslam, in returning a kick by Hobbs, sent the ball against one of Canterbury forwards. This put it on the side of several of the English forwards who had been waiting for the return kick. Eagles secured the ball, and ran up to Richards. On being collared he passed to Bumby, who had only to walk over the line to touch down. Paul took the kick, and placed a goal, making the score : England, 14 points ; Canterbury 6. From the kick-off Haslam made a run, and finished up with a kick sending the ball into the Canterbury quarters. Some fast play saw Harley away, but before going far ho was brought down by Haslam. Very fast play continued, and tho ball going to Richards that player attempted a run, but Anderton brought him down, and Webb getting the ball went out of touch, the referee's whistle sounding as he did so. Final score : England, 14 point s; Canterbury, 6. The game was fought in good spirit, although there was too much talking at times. Canterbury had the best of the first spell, playing every bit a3 well as the English. In the second , they more than held their own for about 20 minutes, but after this they went to pieces, the fast play and rapidity of the passing being too much for them. They did better than was expected, and failed just when it was expected they would. In the collaring Stoddart and Haslam slipped away from them on numerous occasions, and were only brought down at times with the united force of three or four opponents.

THE AUCKLAND "REPS." On Saturday afternoon the fifteen Probables were matched against eighteen " Possibles," and 1 after a fairly good contest the game resulted in a draw, each side obtaining a couple of tries. Marshall and H. Poland were the only absentees from the Probables' ranks, and their places were supplied by Wells and McKenzie. The game was a fast one, and both back divisions showed up well, the passing, running, and collaring being good. McCausland and T. Brown for the Possibles did some firstclass work in returning the ball by punts into touch, which were replied to in kind by similar efforts on the part of A. Braund. Throughout the forward play a bad fault was noticeable in both teams. This was the great want of combined action shown, more particularly in respect to working the scrums and backing up. When the ball was held, in nearly every case the forwards were slow in getting up, and when they did arrive, they invariably arranged themselves in a single line instead of massing in comj pact form. The weakness of such an arrangement has been abundantly proved, and if practised in opposition to the "screwing tactics" of the Englishmen cannot have anything but a disastrous result. A second fault was the intermittent manner in which the ball was heeled out, several players apparently endeavouring to force it through the pack, while the remainder were trying to let it out behind. The backing-up shown in the game is also in great need of improvement. The forwards players seemed to rely altogether on their backs for returning the ball, and rarely got back on their side when a run or a kick takes the ball out of their immediate vicinity. It was just this want of getting back quickly that lost the second match for the Otago"reps." Inoffensive play the same fault occurs. Repeatedly good dribbling rushes were made by single players who took the ball well down the field, but found, when obstructed by the of posing backs, that there were none of their comrades near to whom they could pass. Other minor defects were also to be noticed, but these two serious faults were conspicuous, and will require careful and constant practice to remedy them.

Of the players who took part in the match, Hobson, Gould, Shecldau, and Patterson showed good work for the Possibles, each playing a hard forward game with plenty of dash. T. Brown, at threequarter, was excellent, making no mistakes, while Stephenson, playing half, showed himself to bo in rare fettle. Mackie proved that he can both run and dribble well, but his collaring and getting past his men were decidedly weak. McCausland played the first spell as throequarter for the Possibles, and exhibited splendid football in all its departments. At the half-time, he and Hobson were transferred to the Probables, so that Arncil and Wooler might go on the other side, and try against the no-wing system. Of the chosen fifteen, the backs, as a whole, worked well, though Elliott ran back once or twice, instead of dashing straight forward in the manner that won him so much praise last season. His passing was only fair. Conway was in fine form, and made no mistakes, while Whiteside worked very hard, running in grand style, but he was well'watcbcd. Lusk was good all round, but did nob pick up as clean as he should. A. Braund us usual played well in his onerous position at contrc-half. Among the forwards O'Connor shone prominently from start to finish ; Keefe, Wells, and McKenzie played hard and made no mistakes; while Twiname, although clever and dangerous in the open, seemed to bo keeping the leather in the packs instead of heeling out promptly. Lecky played a fair game, but either tired quickly, or has lost a good deal of his old dash. Arneil and Wooler were both good on the wing, and each did some good feebwork and dribbling. Immediately after the conclusion of the game, the Selection Committee met to pick the final team. From the names appended it will bo seen that they have decided to play without wings. The following are the chosen fifteen Fall back, E. Lusk; three-quarters, C.

Madigan, E. McCausland, R. Whiteside; halves, Conway, A. Braund, W. Elliott forwards, C. Marshall, T. O'Connor, J. Lecky, F. Twiname, M. Keefe, 0. Wells, R. McKenzie, W. Hobson. Emergencies : Forwards, M. Murphy, P. Gould; backs, •a. crown, H. Stephenson. In placing McCausland among the backs they have greatly strengthened that division, while in McKenzie and Hobson, who replace Murphy and H. Poland, they have secured a couple of quick dribbling forwards, whose power will bo seen to advantage in the open. Altogether the team is regarded as a strong one, but the forwards will require constant practice to overcome the errors mentioned above as occurring in Saturday's match.

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. Ponsonby Rowing Club v. West End Rowing Club.—This annual fixture came off on Saturday afternoon at Potter's Field, and resulted, after a good match, in a win for the West End by seven points to nil. These were obtained by Masefield getting two trios and Farquhar one, from which Fisher kicked two goals. Beside these players Carrollo, Atkinson, Baxter, Edwards, and Cooke played conspicuously for the winners, while McDermott, McKay, Green, Finlayson, Scott, and Dickson worked very hard on the Ponsonby side to avert defeat.

North Shore Second v. Grafton Second. —The match was played on the Recreation Ground, North Shore, and after a hard struggle " the Shore" were victorious by 5 points to nil. . Somerfiold and Farquhar secured tries, and Wynyard potted a goal from the field. Ponsonby Second v. Rovers.The latter failed to send a team into the field, and the match therefore counts a win for Ponsonby. University v. Waitkmata. —A fast open game took place, in which University scored a try and goal from it (3 points), while Waitemata got 2 tries (2) and another disputed. Selwyn v. Gordon Second.The former won after a toughly-contested game, in which scrums were frequent. Nelson v. Victoria.—A match was played by these clubs in the Domain, and resulted in a win for the Victorias by 5 points to 1. Standard v. Waverley. — Standard won by 3 points to 1, Goulstone kicking a goal from the field for the winners, and Barnes scoring a try for the Waverley. Albany v. Pirates.Albany won by 9 points to nil, tries being obtained by Gittos, McElwain, and Buchanan, which were converted into goals by J. Cramond.