ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8670, 12 September 1891, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

KIXTUR K.S. KOOTISALL. September 2—Second Reps v. Third Hops. „ 19—The .sibbin Henetit. P'iriieli v. Suburbs. l'onso'iby v. Wanderers I. Native Hose v. Wanderers If. „ Taui-mga v. Second Reps (Tanranga) Waikato v. Third Heps (l)evouport). October I'2—Wellington v. Auckland (Association game). ATHLETICS. October 3A. A. A. Club's Winter Sports. FOOTBALL. After all the doubts and fears which were expressed concerning the strength of the Auckland rep. team and their chan :es of success in the South, it is very pleasing to all interested that their first match resulted in so big a victory. The main objection taken to the team was its comparative lack of„ heavy scrumming power,, amongst the forwards, and in this respect certainly the fifteen were below the average of the rep. teams previously scut away to do battle for Auckland. There is little doubt but that the system of playing so much to the centre half, or rather, the converse, the centre half playing so much to the other backs, requires that the forwards should be strong enough to protect the centre-half sufficiently to allow him to execute his passing. However, this necessary protection does not require that the forwards must be actually stronger than their opponents and able to carry every scrum, provided they are clever enough to keep .up a front long enough and heel out smart enough. The present system of light forwards is undoubtedly an experiment in opposition to former ideas of securing weight and strength, but the innovation has many previous successes to recommend it. One need only remember the great success which attended the light dribbling vanguard of the Ponsonby club, .during the earlier " eighties," against teams of double their weight) and power, to be sure that a clover division playing with combination; can always hold its own. Though the.scores in the Wanganui were mostly obtained by the back's, I am assured that the forwards did their good share _ in carrying 011 the repeated invasion ot their opponents quarters. I was opposed to the inclusion of a couple of the present forwards, and fancy that the substitution of those whoso claims I advocated would still increase the team s efficiency, but in regard to the form they have already shown I must congratulate them 011 being smarter than many here , believed. : , Of course it cannot be assumed that because our men had so decisive a victory over Wanganui that they are sure of beating Taranaki. The latter has shown recently its superiority, and while the yellow and black reps, are certainly a strong and heavy team, they have always shown themselves a very fast one, and possessed of great stamina. Their main defect when last here was a want of combination, but in this respect they improved a lot last season, and it is reasonably to be supposed that further development in this important particular lias been made this year. The match took place ! yesterday, and at the time of writing its result \ was being eagerly looked for.

To consider individual rikTa f® 55 committee must feel glad tlatthoSrt had been 111 poor form in thn I*l * **vig matches ho played here tilt ; i of ames and Wanganui camps 1 U ottl the again in his true colours aai° (^' n ? °ut great prowess both in attack an,' ?I' la -yed Wasefield, too, appears to have fulllt efcnce ' his reputation as a consist™/. IH e Ptun player ; though from the H,lin « hand the inclusion of so you ° T. i° UIIU to Gaudm appears to have been%nm y ? ra » mistake. As he was included a-ain« \v at 4 "m, I expect that Roberts will t • ftn ß»ow m the Taranaki fixture J? « 1Ve »* like to see Tanfield also have a ?i 1 W ° uld proving his mettle. A clla -"ca of The halfback division has so far „ itself a good one, and lam pleased P° Vt( l that Elliott particularly dispEl to "ote passing as he is not too wel ?r°r Uu ? e!r 'sh this under ordinary circumstances k t r do did not show to the front at the 'in, S3 W' from the case of Auckland's vfcivT' have had little or nothing to do -i i $ m,,,t so that the real test of his fitnnJ. Sailui . fullback has been deferred until to-dLwv I> himself creditably. be hoped lie w IIV "' himself creditably. 111 a «iuit Concerning the forward division ii . little information as to individual„te '' as I remarked above this division J Jl but done good work all round. The tr'». , ■ luVc tainly one to shine in a winning ~a ' ( 't, o " - clever m dribbling and iiii«in> . withal, and against' Wauganui tllWw st have displayed all these qualities to ?!" lu tage, and it only remains to see u-W ' Vai! " will be exhibited against Taranaki I am sorry to see that there 1.-,« 1,„„ postponement of the Waikato match • 1 to the inability of the country n]; lV( - m their team dowr ior to-day A& f'" 6 ' Huntly, recently published, scout til n" of the proposed visiting team beim-i J . * tative of Waikato, in that it does not & any players from Huntly. There i« ~,7i lu ', !e that this contention is a solid one " Mlou ' ) t of the Huntly players are well ti u»? ral amongst the Waikato*. .Mr. Gwvinif. •> T' gate from the Hamilton Club exnhiif*'!? the fifteen which was to visit Auek kiirl ? tl the hurry of arrangement there was ..r«t; the hurry of arrangement there w;. s ~f . V ? 1 to consult all the clubs. Now that r'n« « ? has been postponed, I would advocate tlm t0,,, should be carefully selected K* { the Waikato Clubs, so fit thVZ,-?! should be thoroughly represented! V"' fifteen would make a very good fi.rlit-,„:*n 1 4 third selection, in fact, I thinß)J it, at all events, it would arouse far more in terest than if only a portion of the distri .' were represented. " u At a meeting last night the Union had brought before them a counle of mntn,,! from the Hamilton and Huntly Cluk- ~a i accusing the other of playing non-inemlw! in recent matches. The action of Hiuitlv ii playing Heller nan was certainly ultra rim and whether Gribblc, the other player com plained of, stands on the same l'ootin • «-,» yet to be determined. The Union are to secure evidence regarding both before civin° their decision. h

In regard to the late match between ('in--111. A and Newton 111. 15 for the third grade trophies of the districts competition the latter have protested against several of the team of the former as being senior' ami first junior players. The Union are inquiry, into the matter, but from my knowledge o? the men referred to I fancy Newton must lose their protest and possibly the accom- ■ panying deposit. The day set apart as a benefit for the family of the late Mr. T. G. Sibbin promises to draw a large attendance at Potter's, as a couple of first-class senior matches and a tough contest between two junior clubs are put down 011 the programme. The keen rivalry, and close fini ' between the I'arnell and Suburbs in their »ast meeting, will lend additional interest to their second contest ; while many will be glad to see the oldPonsonby I. in the field, trying conclusions with their old foemcn from the Thames, the Wanderers. The Native Rose and Wanderers 11. are sure to play a fast and exciting game. I am told that several players who have been picked to play in the second and third selections of Auckland, are so hurt or wounded in their self-esteem, because they were not : adjudged good enough for the first fifteen, that they have stated they will not don the jersey under the colours of the Union in the grades in which they are chosen. I sympathise somewhat with a couple of these who have, I believe, not been treated according to their deserts upon form displayed. Yet I certainly cannot upholder excuse them in such a determination, ami hope to see them reconsider it. The surest method of proving themselves lit for the lint selection is undoubtedly to give un exhibition of first grade form, and this can be done more easily ami better when playing villi so-called inferior teams.

Owing to the extremely rough weatlerj» vailing at sea yesterday it, was reluctantly decided yesterday afternoon that the Tanranga fixture for to-day must be positioned, The s.s. Clansman was detained up North, and even if she-, had left at her appointed ttme it is uncertain whether she could have reached Taurauga before the hour to begin play. It is probable that the match will be played 011 September 20th, when the same team, or, at least, none of the first reps, will be included.

In view of these postponements lite Union have decided to play at Potter's to-day a match between the fifteens respoc.'vA' selected against Tauranga and AVaikato. It is to he hoped that all will turn up and play up to form, as the Selection Committee do not. desire to make any alterations unless compelled. Ail arrangements for the interptovinciil match between Wellington and Auckland at the Association game on October 10, are now completed. A match committee lias been appointed, and its members arc carefully noting the form displayed by the several players, so that each will need to do his best if lie wishes to be included in the iep. eleven. It is almost definitely arranged that the postponed match against Waikato is to bo played at Devonport 011 September '26, anil players in the chosen fifteen should not relax their efforts to get into good form, as they are certain to. meet a strong combination. Jaso.v.

THE AUCKLAND FOOTBALLERS. A DRAWN GAME. (by TKLKGKAI'H. —HUMS ASSOCIATION^ Hawera, Friday.—The football matcli Auckland v. Taranaki, was played here to-day and ended in a draw, each side sconjijt ii goal from a try in the second spell. In the first term Taranaki hod the best of the pi"'', though three of the backs were crippled. lu the early part of the second spell \V. Jwvley scored a good try for Tariuiaki which ft. Bayley converted. A little later on Jen'is crossed the Taranaki line, and I'enalliga.i scored the major point making the scores even. The remainder of the spell was un interesting. Auckland had a little the hc« of it, but there was 110 further score. e . rvl '- Braund, and Elliott were the most prouunci. of the Auckland players. THE OTAGO TIERS. . Dunkdin, Friday.Three of those on., nully picked to represent Otago in the ball match against Canterbury re T ! ,aD . get away ; namely, Beadle and J 0 ' 11131 ?,..' forwards, and Downes, three-quarter. * latter's place is taken by Elder, and tne ,., forwards will ho picked from Duncan, ton, and Esquilant. ..