INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8964, 23 August 1892, Page 6

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

THE CANTERBURY TEAM,

The Canterbury Rugby Union Selection Committee have chosen twenty-one players to represent the Province in the Northern tour against Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Auckland, and Taranaki. The following is a list taken from the Canterbury Times of the men selected, together with a few notes as to the play of each :— , F. Hobba (East Christchiu-ch) .is a sterling fullback, and in his present form one of the best that has ever represented the province. He is an excellent kick, his placing into touch being true and clean ; a good tackier, and keens his head in moments of danger. He is also a iirst-class place kick. Has played several times for the province. W. Mehdelson (Christchurch) will play as right wing threequarter. A player of great dash, good kick and tackier, fairly fast, and works splendidly in conjunction with the centre man. A really good all-round man. Last season played for Otago University. His first appearance for the province. W. Lang (Menvale). — Last season an Otago representative. A dodgy runner, and very dangerous in an opponent s twenty-five. His dodging powers make splendid^openings for the wing threequarters. Has improved very much in passing, and though not strong in defensive work is probably the most dangerous of the backs. W. B&lch (Kaiapoi).— comparatively old representative. A fast, powerful runner, but has lost some of his douging powers, and on the "season's work is below last year's form. An excellent scoring man if properly attended to by the centre man. A good place kick and pot. G. W. Forbes (East Christchurch).—Captain of his club, and a player of great dash and determination, who has made wonderful improvement on his last year's form. Passes fairly well, and is an indefatigable worker and grand tackier. Played against Otago last year. W. Price (Linwood).—A junior last year who has come on very fast. Fairly good in defence, and passes nicely, but too slowly; a good screw kick. Hi# first appearance. J. McKendry (East Christchurch). —Also a junior last season. Has made rapid strides in the game, and is now a clever, hard-work-ing win® forward, who iu the open is as good as an ordinary back. Plays well to the backs, and thoroughly deserves his place by his consistent good work. His first appearance. _ F. Childs (Merivale).—A hard-working, conscientious forward, aud acknowledged to be the most useful man in the club's team. Is of immense value in the scrummage, where he does first-class work. His first appearance. L. Ebert (East Christchurch).— b.«st all-round forward in his club and in the team. Strong and heavy, he works all through a game with*' great earnestness, being good iu the scrummage, the loose and the line-out. Was never in better form than at present. An old representative. A. Ebert (East Christchurch).—The heaviest forward in the team. On his day a player of great dash, follows up well, and is a splendid tackier. Has played previously i\>r the province. F. Evans (Merivale).— Captain of his club, and last season captained the provincial team against Wellington. Though not up to his last year's form is still a useful player, being especially good in passing rushes. Is an old representative, G. Humphreys (Christchurch). —Is a fine stamp of a forward ; of good weight, strong, and active. Excellent in line-out and loose play, and does not shirk the heavy work of the scrummage. Ranks next to L. Ebert as an all-round player. Has played previously for the province. A A. Johnston (Merivale).The stamp aof a real good forward, and only lacks experience to rank amongst the foremost players of the province. Of good weight, fast, and in excellent condition, he should be oue of the most conspicuous players during the tour. Will probably play on the wing. His first appearance. \V. Samuels (East Christchurch).— Strong, heavy, and fast, and an earnest worker in open and loose. With experience in good company he will probably work his way to the front rank of forwards, having all the qualities that go to make a good player. His first appearance. E. J. Stokes (Christchurch).—A heavy forward. rather too slow for first-class company, but likely to prove of great assistance in the scrummages. Is not playing so well as he did last season, when he played against Otago. A. Hobbs (Linwood).—At present about the best centre threequarter playing. Strong in defence and better in all-round play than when he last represented the province ; he is a most useful man to have in the team, as he invariably plays a good game. Last played for the province in 1890. A. White (Merivale).—A light, fast, clever player; good kick, drop or place, and has played most consistently for his club. A very popular selection. His first appearance. , G. Lee (East Christchurch).—A heavy fast threequarter and a certain scorer if properly J looked after by the centre man. Very strong in defence, but uncertain in taking the ball. Is much improved on last season's form. His first appearance. G. Forrest (Kaiapoi).—A strong, hardworking forward, good in loose and scrummage, but his inexperience is against him. A junior player last season. Like Johnson and Samuels, only requires to play with good men to develop into a first-class man. His first appearance. C. Garrard (Merivale). —A player who has gone off this year and lost much of that dash which for two seasons placed him above his comrades in representative matches. On occasions has shown flashes of his old brilliancy, and is still a dangerous man in loose rushes and at long shots from penalties or markß. R. Haskins (Merivale).—Selected for his scrummage work, which is of a_ high order. Is heavy and strong, and in his position a serviceable player. His first appearance.

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. The Auckland representatives chosen to meet teams from Wellington, Otago, and Canterbury in the Association football tournament to be held at Cnristchurch on the 26th and 27th iqst., left Ouehunga by the Takapuna yesterday morning. The Auckland team is composed of the following:— Goal, Williams: fullbacks, Greeg, Chamberliti; halves. Hough. Hughes. Rowe; forwards, W. Heather, Ramsay, Brown, Dacre, and Evans. Messrs. Eaton, Weston, and Craig also accompany the team.

CANTERBURY V. WELLINGTON'. The interprovincial match between Canterbury and Wellington will be played at Newtown Park, Wellington, on Thursday next, August2s. It has been decided to ask the Mayor to proclaim a half-holiday on the occasion, and also to invite the presence of His Excellency the Governor. Messrs. J. P. Firth, J. M. King, and E. Davey, with the president and vice-presidents of the _ Rugby Union, have been appointed a committee to receive the visiting team and suitably entertain them; and the Canterbury members of the House of Representatives, the officers of the Union, and members of affiliated clubs are to be asked to assist in according the visitors a hearty welcome, The teams will be composed of the following — Wellington : — Fullback, Davidson ; three-quarters, Gage, Ellison, and Baker; halves, Wynyard and Pudney; forwards, McLean, Cockroft, Stuart, White, Oliphant, Bishop, Lee, Milne, and J. Campbell. Emergencies, Back, Baumber; forwards, Forsyth and Pringle. Canterbury Fullback, F. Hobbs ; three-quarters, W. Balch, W. Lang, W. Mendelson; halves, G. W. Forbes and W. Price; forwards, F. Childs, A. Ebert, L. Ebert, F. Evans (captain), G. Humphreys, A. Johnson, J. McKendry, W. Samuels, E. J. Stokes. Emergencies : Backs. A. Hobbs, A. White, and G. Lee; forwards, G. Forrest, C. W. Garrard, and R. Haskins. Referring to the tournament, the Canterbury Press states " The arrrngements are progressing satisfactorily for the holding of a football tournament under the rules of the New Zealand Football Association. Four interprovincial teams are to compete at Lancaster Park on Friday and Saturday, August 26 and 27, and as in Auckland, Otago and Wellington Association football possesses a stronger hold than it does here, lovers of the game will probably be able to witness some good contests. In order, also, to make the attraction more popular, it has been decided to reduce the charge for admission provided a ticket for both days is purchased prior to the 23rd instant."

ftGAKUAWAHU. Monday.—The Association match between the Whawhakia and Hamiltion teams, to have been played here on Saturday, did not come off, as the Whawhakia team did not turn up. Whatawhata, Monday.—The Football Association match Paterangi v. Whatawhata came off here on Saturday, and was won by Whatawhata, who scored 5 points to 4. Edwards got a try for Whatawhata which he converted, and E. Ryburn got two tries for Paterangi, which were neither of them converted into goals. The game was very rough, no less than four of the Paterangi men being obliged to retire during the play. A protest has been entered by the Paterangi team.