THE AUCKLAND FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 5459, 2 September 1889, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND FOOTBALLERS.

ARRIVAL IN NAPIER.

THEY DEFEAT HAWKE'S BAY.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Napibr, Saturday. The Auckland reps arrived here the first thing this morning, and landed about halfpast seven. They were met by the reception committee atvd driven to the Criterion Hotel to breakfast. During the morning the team was driven to the match ground, where some kicking about was indulged in for a short time, after which they were driven out into the country. They have all recovered from the effects of the voyage, and seem in nr3t-ratc condition. The Waihora leaves at o q clc J°H' (lire(jtlv after the match, the Union o.vS. Co.'s agent having declined to postpone '•er departure until 8 o'clock. The football match to-day between Auckland and Hawke's Bay was played on the Recreation Ground. The weather was magnificont, and the attendance very largo. The game, which resulted in a win for Auckland by 8 points to 3, was a very hard fought, one indeed, and was, consequently, very enjoyable to the spectators. The feature of the play was Auckland's passing, which was brilliant and effective, and really won the game for them. In all respects, except passing, it is questionable whether the local team was not superior to the visitors, who manifested some great faults, the principal being an almost ridiculous weakness in kicking, and a strong tendency to play off-side in tho scrums. The local forwards were always the stronger, but the Auckland backs were far and away better than thosa from Hawke's Bav, who were weak throughout the game. The local players pushed Auckland very hard during the first ten minutes of the firat spell, and scored the first try. This reverse stirred up the visitors who played all they knew, and several times forced their opponents, iu addition to getting three tries in the second spell. So far as all round play was concerned, the local team more than held their own, but the passing of the visitors was so exceptionally good and effective that it neutralised all the efforts put forth by Hawke's Bay, and if the visitors had been strong in kicking they would have made a rnuoh larger score. The points made by Auckland were gained from five tries and a potted goal, Hawke's Bay scoring three tries. The teams which took part in the match were as follows : — Hawicks Bay. — Full ■ back, Lequesne; threequarters, Taku, Mcßae, Lowry ; halves, Duncan, Friday, Goldsmith ; forwards, Sanders, Robnon, Hawkings, Swan, Hiro, R. .Eaiaroa, aud Trotter. Auckland. — Full-back, Lusk ; threequarters, Masefield, W. Wynyard, Jervis ; halves, Brauiid, Rees, Herrold; forwards, 0 Connor, Hoffornan, Ilobson, Poland, Wells, Murray, Maynard, and MoKenzie. Amongst the Napier people it is thought that Wi Hape, the well-known back, should have been played instead of Friday. Elliott's hand is improving, but he did not play; while the others or the twenty who stood out were Warbrick, Baxter, Reed, and Walker. Tiir. play. From the kick-oil' the Napier men made the play very fast, and got on some determined rushes. From one of these, which took nlay into Auckland's 25, Friday secured the ball, and passing neatly to Goldsmith, the latter ran and touched down over the line, firat score being thus obtained for the home team, to the glee of the spectators, who applauded loudly. The try at the bars was not a success, and the .score read : Hawke's Bay, 1 ; Auckland, 0. Tho Auckland forwards worn playing only poorly, and without much combination, but'Jaftor the first ten minutes' play they wanned up to their work, while the backs M'ere showing good form, tho papains; being very good, and frequently nonplussing their opponents. After a good deal of open work, hi which Auckland hjul the advantage, Wynyard passed neatlv to Herrold, who made a dodgy spurt, and got over the lino. Lusk wan given the place-kick, but did not secure the major point. (Score : Hawke's Bay, I; Auckland, 1). Shortly afterwards Auckland pressed their opponents, and Jervis got a mark right, iu front of the Napier goal, but, though making a fair attempt, did not score. The forwards were now working hotter and from a nice rush out Murray carried the leather over and got a try, but the placo kick was again faulty. (Auckland 2, Hawko's Bay 1). Napier kicked out and after a couple of exchanges, Masefield got the ball, and making a dashing run, broke through tlie Hawke's Bay defence and scored Auckland's third try. Wells gave him the placekick himself but no goal followed. (Auckland.", Hawke's Bay )). From the kick-off Napier kept the ball in the middle fifty for some little time, and there was not much advantage to either side. Clever back work, however, transferred the play to tho Hawke's Hay 2.3, and Jervis run in and got right behind the goal, but by a bit of bungling play failed to steady the ball and no score followed, half time being called shortly after. In the second term Auckland started on the aggressive, and Jervis passing to Maynard, the native player, broke over the line nncl got a try. Jervis failed to convert it. (Auckland, 4: Hawke's Bay, 1.) The Napier men were playing determinedly, their forwards boing tn-st and .strong. Some weak play amongst the Auckland els, and injudicious passing in their own ,2"), gave Swann a chance, and he fell on the bar. The attempt at goal was however unsuccessful. (Auckland, .4; Hawke's Bay, 2.) From the kick-oil' the Auckland men showed out well, and rushing the play to their opponents' quarters, Jervis got a chance, and, dropping quickly, landed a clever field goal, amidst much applause. (Auckland, '7; Hawke's Bay, 2). Though the scores were against them, the Napier players still played up hard, and a good piece of passing enabled Robson to score. Once more the place-kicking was unequal to the occasion. (Auckland, 7 : Hawke's Bay, .'!). After some open work Masefield again came to the front, and secured his second try after good play, but it secr.iod as if hick was against a goal being got, for the attempt ;it the bar.s was once more faulty. Varying play ensued, and when " no Ride" was called shortly after, Auckland had won the match by S points to three. [l!Y TELKORAPH.— TRESS ASSOCMATIOX.]

iVKi.u.NGTOK, Sunday. The Auckland lootballera arrived from iNapier to-day, and visited the Parliamentary Buildings this afternoon. They were shown round by Messrs. Lawrv and Macgregor, the Government whip. Tlie team was well received everywhere, and were heartily cheered by a large crowd oi people when they left the wharf for the South at 3 p.m. in the s.s. Wanaka, having transhipped into her from the Waihora to securo an extra day in Ohristchurch. NELSON BEATS MARLBOROUGH. Nelson, Saturday. A football match was played between teams representing the provinces of Nelson and Marlboroligh to-day at Trafalgar Park in the presence of a large number of people. The Nelson team surprised Marlborough in the first live minutes, and got a g oa ] # nc play for the first spell was very even, and at the beginning of the second spell ■Marlhorougli got a try, but failed to convert it. The latter team played an excellent game, but could not increase their score, and the match was won by Nelson by .'} points to 1.

Wellington, Sunday. Football yesterday was devoted principally to junior mate lies, with the exception uf ft practice of the team chosen to represent Wellington against Auckland. In the latter case seventeen men were pitted against the fifteen choseu by the committee. The game ended greatly in favour of the latter. . Gage did not play for the Probables. Dunkdijt, Saturday. The Christ's College team played Otago School to-day. The weather was line, and the attendance large. For the first quarter of an houi the visitors more than held their own, but after that the combined play of the school, and the fine running of their backs, was far too good for the College team, which was defeated by IS points to nothing. In the second spell two of the Hijjh School boys were hurt and one had to retire altogether, but even then they were more than a match for the visitors. Aa soon as the above game was finished the annual match, Southland V. Otago, was played. The Southland players played a splendid game, forcing local men down several times. Their forwards, though lighter, Quite held their own,and though Otago wou by 15 points to 1, the same was not so onesided as might bo supposed from the score. The game was played in a most friendly spirit. CmusTcnuncii, Saturday. Rev. J. Hoatson has solected the following team to play against Auckland on Wednesday :—Fullback, J. Marshall; threequarters, F. Surman, A. llobbs, H. Wilson ; halves, J. Cochrane, J. Donnelly, H. Lowry; forwards, W. Bean, W. Ohilds, A. E. Bert, T. Evans, J. Hepburn, H. Hultou, C. Garrard. A. Weeks. A match was played to-day between a team of Probables (principally as above) and Improbables and was won by the latter by 17 points to 7. At Potter's on Saturday there were several interesting matches, the chief of which was the game between the Orient and Native Roee, who were playing off for the second junior cup. The game wa3 ftiat throughout, and also very noisy. Orient had the beet of the first spell, Blcwden gaining a try from a fast follow-up. Holt kicked a goaL Beamish headed a grand forward rush and got a second try, but no goal followed. In the second term Cole scored cleverly for Native

Rose from the line-out, but the shot at the bars failed. Shortly afterwards Reed ran in under the post, and Lyson converting the try made scores even, and the match ended in a draw, by which result the cup falls to Native 'Rose. The junior cup winners, the Athletics, played the senior team of Selwyn, and after a very open and varying game, beat them by six points to four (two tries and a goal to four tries). The "A" Battery of Artillery played a team from the various Civil Service offices, aud the match resulted in a decided victory for the latter, the scores boing :—Civil Service, 6; "A" Battery, 3. A practice mutch in anticipation of the fixture with Tauranga was he! 4, about twenty players taking part. Some good work was done, but little interest was manifested in the game.