THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10837, 22 August 1898, Page 3

THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

AUCKLAND V. HAWKE'S BAY. ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE HOME TEAM. WRETCHED DISPLAY BY THE LOCALS. The representative matches of the season were brought to a close on Saturday afternoon, when tho Auckland team met and defeated the players from Hawko's Bay by 18 points (six tries) to 10 (two tries and a goal from the field). Favoured with delightful weather, patrons of the winter game, while of opinion that the visitors, who had succumbed to both Wellington and Canterbury, would not prove themselves equal to bringing about the dofeat of the Aucklanders, looked forward to a display on the part of tho latter worthy of a team that I had £0 gallantly upheld the prestigo of the' province, but in this respect they wero sadly j disappointed. A more uninteresting match, as far as the locals were concerned, could hardly well be imagined, the Auckland forwards, who were much heavier than the opposing vanguard, lacking the dash and vigour that had marked their previous efforts, while the backs, who were expected to do great things with a dry ball, threw away chance after chance by their over-eagerness to score, and in many instances gained little or no ground by their passing tactics, simply carrying the ball from one side of the field to the other. On the other hand, the Hawke's Bay players, are to bo complimented on the plucky manner in which they fought out the issue, battling bravely to tho last, and not throwing up the sponge until the sound of the bell to cease play. Mr. W. G. Garrard, acted as referee, handling the game in masterly fashion, and Messrs. F. W. Edwards and Mcllion were associated with him on the line. Tho competing teams were as under: — Hawke's Bay (black and white) Fullback, Eraser; threequarters, Caldwell, Wrigley, J. O'Connell; half, W. O'Connell; live-eighths. Wood; forwards—wing 6, Cheer, Strickland; baok row, Miller, Carlston; middlo row, Speedy, Collenge, Tankard; front row, U. Caldwell, Weir. Auckland (dark blue): Fullback, H. Smith; threequarters, Asher, Laws, Absolum; fiveeighths, R. McGregor; half, D. Hay; forwards —wings, Laing, 3. McGregor; back row, Sampson. R. McKenzie; middlo row, Clarkin, Otway, J. McGregor: front row, Uillett, Brndv. THE PLAY. Auckland winning tho toss, played from the western end of tho field, with wind and sun in their favour, Weir kicking off for the visitors. No sooner had hostilities commenced than a free-kick to tho Huwke's Bay boys, in close proximity to the Auckland 25, saw A. Caldwell take a shot for goal, hut tho ball falling wide of the mark, the locals forced. Fraser inakine an indifferent return from Laws' kickon", the Aucklanders invaded tho black and whites' territory, and the first scrummage being formed, it was at onco apparent that tho local pad: was the stronger, us they went! '. clean through with tho ball at their feet, I From loose play Laing got possession of tho ball, and dashing through, got within a dozen yards of tho visitors' line before being thrown into touch. _ Laws and Absolum added ground with a passing run, and a scrum being formed right in front of the Hawko's Bay line, matters j looked ugly, as tho oval came out to Hay, I but his transfer being a wik. ono, tho chance j passed by, and for some minutes play hung about neutral ground, until our backs, resum-' ing tlioir passing tactics, McGregor, Laws, and j Asher being conspicuous, thrust tho visitors back again, play being brought up by a throwmi, just as Asher looked like scoring, W. , O'Connell relieving for the black and whites j with a useful punt well down tho line. S. McGregor getting tho ball from the throw-in: placed Hawke's Bay on the dofcnco,with a welljudged punt, and tho locals following up, the blacks' were once more at work, but again a knock-on, this time by Laing, spoilt what looked like a certain score, as there was nothing to stop Asher from crossing tho line. Then came a free-kick to Auckland, which Laws piloted over the bar, but the ball having been touched by ono of the opposing players in flight, no scoro was awarded. Just after the kick-off, Speedy headed a dashing forward rush, and being well supported by his comrades, Hawke's Bay boys carried tho ball to within a dozen yards of our lino, where it wont into touch. S. McGregor centred play with a useful kick, from whence, after a brief struggle between tho opposing forwards, the locals, with a loose, open rush, carried tho oval hick into Hawke' Bay quarters, where Absolum, nipping in, kicked out close to the opponents' line. From a loose scramblo following tho throw-in, tho ball was taken across the' field, where Laing gathered it up, and making an opening transferred to Asher. who DASHED ACROSS THE LINE, and grounded close to tho comer flag. Absolum's kick foil under the crossbar, and tho scoro stood: Auckland, 3; Hawke's Bay, 0. No sooner had they got under way again than Hay, getting tho oval from a scrum, whipped in and made a good opening, then sent the ball along to McGregor, who in turn transferred to Absolum, who, taking tin pass cleanly, sailed for tho lino, and was only thrown into touch-in-goal after a determined effort to add to tho points. Another freekick to Hawko's Bay, and Caldwell took a second shot, but again failed, and Laws kicking back to neutral ground, tho Aucklanders wero quickly on (ho attack, S. McGregor, picking up from a dribble initiated by himself, passed to Absolum, who ran down to Fraser, tho Hawko's Bay fullback, and passing to his confrere, Laws, who was supporting him on the right, tho centrc-throequartcr shot across, and added tho second try for Auckland. Ho took tho kick himself, but failed to convert: Auckland, 6; Hawke's Bay, 0. Tho visitors wero forced a few minutes after tho resumption of play, but, rallying in good style, their forwards succeeded in carrying tho ball down into Auckland's territory, the dribble beating K. McGregor, who turned and gavo chase, but making a wild kick at a rolling ball, evidently with the idea of giving Absolum a chanco to pick up and slop the attack, only succeeded in landing it in front of Speedy, who was following, up strongly. The Hawke's Bay player ACCEPTED THE CHANCE by snapping up tho ball, and ran in unopposed in close proximity to the posts. Goldwoll was entrusted with the kick, but was not successful: Auckland, 6; Hawko's Hay, 3. The locals did not appreciate the position of affairs, and tho forwards, who had not boon playing with their usual dash, waking up for a fow minutes, look the ball into Hawko's Bay ground, whero the backs resumed their passing tactics, and after two or threo unsuccessful attempts, nullified through overanxiety to score, they at last managed to do tho trick; Hay getting the ball from a scrum, passed to Absolum, the latter made at top speed for tho corner, and giving it to 11. McGregor in the nick of time, the latter, though tackled by W. O'Connell, hurled himself across, and added another throe points. Laws was again entrusted with the kick, but met with no better success: Auckland, 9; Hawke's Bay, 3. A few minutes later timo was called, but not before G. Caldwell, who fell down in a loose scrum, sustained an injury to his ribs, his place being taken by Hobson. Ends wero changed, but the advantage of wind and sun did not seem to avail tho visitors much, as they were almost at onco placed on tho defence, and play hung about their 25 for some minutes, until Hay, Laws, McGregor, and Absolum onco again beat tho black and whites with a passing run, Absolum scoring in the corner. This time Absolum took tho kick, and made a capital, but fruitless, effort to add the major points: Auckland, 12; Hawko's Bay, 3. On: opponents were by no means disheartened, and, fighting on in most plucky fashion, a strong dribbling rush, headed by Tankard, »wopt the ball across tho Auckland lino, where Hob son fell on ft, and brought the scoro for his side to six points, but Caldwell failed to improve. This seemed to give them a fresh lcaa> of life, and the Auckland forwards showing a poor front, they kept up a strong fttack in tho homo stronghold, and Wrigley smartly snapping the ball up as it came out of a scrum right in front of the Auckland posts, landed A BEAUTIFUL GOAL from the -field, amidst a round of welldeserved applause: Auckland, 12; Hawko's Bay, 10. This showed the locals that tie visitors were not tt be trifled with, and fcr the first time during the afternoon our forwards gave the onlookers a taste of the form that earned them their victories in previous matches. Although the Hawko'a Bay boys wore now playing with great dash, they were soon thrown back to centre, and Absolum intercepting a wild pass by Hobson, sailed down tho field, the ball changing hands between McGregor, Laws, and Asher, the latter winding up a strong attack with a (Core close tc the corner. Absolum mads a wretched shot at goal: Auckland, 15; Hawko's Bay, 10. Again and again the Auckland backs were away with their pa-sing runs, pressing hotly, and, after throwing away a couple of chances by knocking on or throwing forward, and a final chain, composed r.f R. McGregor, Laws, Asher, and Hay, raw the last link across BIGHT OS THE CQBXER, where lie just succeeded in grounding the ball boforo being thrown into touch in g;al. K. McGregor essayed at goal, but once more the attempt was a failure, and the gsmo shortly after ended: Auckland, 18; Hawke's Bay, 10. f> • PREVIOUS MATCHES. The' results of matches played between the provinces to date are as follow:— ■■•■"' , 1889—At Napier, Auckland won, 8 to 3.

1894— Auckland, . drawn, no score. 1895—At Napier,-Auckland won, 10 to 3. 1598—At Auckland, Auckland won, 18 to 10. NOTES BY "LYNX." Gauged on the results of their matches against Wellington and Canterbury, when iho Hawke's Bay team was beaten on the home ground, it was generally anticipated that they j would have very little prospect, of beating Auckland, this belief being strengthened when it became known that our visitors weie compelled to make the journey North minus three or four of the best backs in the district, none of tho members of tho crack naI live club, the Te Anutes, being able to make the journey. This being so, the interest in tho game was by no means as keen as in the case of the preceding interprovincial matches, while many of those who visited tho convincing ground at Epsom, like myself, had grave misgivings as to the form that would be j fhown by the Auckland representatives, who '! have more than onco shown an inclination ' i to treat visiting teams from minor centres 100 lightly, simply because they did not come to us with the same reputation and flourish of trumpets that marked tho arrival of the selected of the larger centres. \ This inclination to hold their opponents 100 cheaply was never more noticeablo than ' in last Saturday's match, and it is. only to [ bo regretted that tho Hawke's Bay boys did not provo themselves equal to giving the ; locals a drubbing, as such a lesson would have had a wholesome and beneficial effect ' on Auckland football, and would have taught 1 tho homo team that although they do inow ' something about football, they cannot afford ; to play fast and iooso with every small district that comes along. ' No matter how weak the side opposed to 1 them, it is plainly tho duty of the representative team to oxort itself to the utmost, and 1 the sooner tho vilayets of Auckland arc brought to a recognition of this fact, tho better for all concerned, and none more so than tho onlookers, who pay their money in tho 1 expectation of seeing those who have boon ■ honoured by selection to the enviable position 1 of representatives play up to their best form, not a disgraceful, half-hearted exhibition such as that of Saturday afternoon, While it must be admitted that some mombers of tho team played woll up to the rsui-l standard, it was patent to all that there were " others again who shirked their duty. In the ' first place, our forwards, as a body, consider--1 ably outweighed the vanguard opposed to ■ them, and should have carried the pack i nn ' end to end of tho field ; yet tho visitors well nigh held their own in this department of tho game, while that dash in tho open dial i marked the Aucklanders in their matches i against Wellington and Taranaki was con- . spicuous—iii the case of several of tho players , —only by its absence. Had the local fori wards kept tho ball down moro, and gone to ■ j work with a will, they should have "gal- ; loped" away with the visitors. ' And now for a word about the backs. All . along wo havo been complaining that tho wet [ weather and greasy ball had been interfering , with tho attack of our roar division, and . ! talking about what they would do with a fine ; ! afternoon and a dry ball. At last the weather , | favours us, and wo havo tho long-praycd-for i dry ball, but if Saturday afternoon's oxhibiL lion is to be taken as a criterion, we must i thank our lucky stars that the meteorological | conditions wore not more favourable in preI vious matches. Chance after chance of scoring . was thrown away by tin. players who were bucking up over-running the man with tho J '■ ball, while on several occasions the passing ', was decidedly erratic. That this was mainly [ attributable to over-eagerness to score I am [ . quito prepared to admit, but is nono the less j ! inexcusable. Then, again, thcro was tho old , I tendency to run round, instead of dashing I right through, pretty enough, perhaps, to ' j tho onlookers, but a waste of energy on the ' part of those concerned, also tiring the forI wards unnecessarily, as they, too, havo to j follow the ball, whether it be across the field or down, Boforo passing on to tho individual players, of whom littio need bo said, I would again ' draw attention to the formation of tho scrummages, which, tho moment weight was put on I from behind, were thrown round at an angle, ' j and lost their effectiveness. This, as pre1' viously mentioned, is clue to the inequality ' I of tho height of the two men in the front row, J j patent surely to those concerned, yet nover j doomed worthy of rectification. ! It was only in the last fifteen or twenty ' : minutes of the game, when tho Hawko's Bay I I boys had succeeded in getting on 10 points 1 to* our 12, that tho Auckland team really I 1 pulled thomsolves together, and from this out ' showed the onlookers something of tho form : that loft them victors over Wellington four I weeks since. ' j 1 hope that tho Hawke's Bay players will ! 1 not run away with tho impression that ill . j taking the Aucklanders to Task that I wish I I to detract from tho merit of their performi ance, not for one moment, my sole object I being to give Ilio locals some idea of public ! opinion of their display, and let them know that they have nothing to plume themselves on. ' Bather should the visiting team—who came ' to lie minus some ol their host players—bo I given every credit for having fought out tho ' match pluckily from end to end, tho forwards ' showing most commendable dash in their loose ' open play, whilo tho backs, though weak in , attack, defended their stronghold with great I determination. Although the ball frequently camo out to them, they nullified their attack ' by dashing into the thick of their opponents, and hanging too long to tho ball before trans- '. fcrring, while, oven when they did attempt ' to pass, either the direction was poor or the 1 man failed to hold it; none taking it too '. cleanly whilo going at any pace. . Laws, at centre threequartor for Auckland, played about tho best back gamo on the ', ground, thoroughly justifying his inclusion. . All who saw his play on Saturday will ad- ; mit that ho has proved himself the best lira wo havo had in tho position this season. His 1 kicking was capital and well directed, i-nd , it was noticeablo that ho ran through his . men, instead of around thorn, and passed the ball only when ho had mado a clean opon--1 ing, and then accurately. v Although Aslier showed his usual dash, his ! play otherwise showed that ho has a lot to ! learn, particularly in the matter of handling i the ball and the use of his head. Ho is cf . the right material, but sadly lacking in experience. K. AlcGregoi, at five-eighths, tackled in great stylo, but was evidently out of his ole- ' went, showing a tendency to run round in- ' stead of cutting through, whilo he also made 1 one or two mistakes that ill becomes a "epro- } sentativo, such, for instance, ast kicking ft ft rolling ball—a particularly dangerous prac- ! tice. S. McGregor was as consistent as over on ! the wing, and got away with sovcraMno ; dribbling rushes; whilo Laing on tho other [ side, though playing rather far back, made good openings. Fraser, at fullback for Hawke's Bay, J shaped very well. A Caldwell, the wing threequartor, proved himself tho best ellround back on his side; whilo Wrigloy, at '. centre, took tho ball well, and kicked with judgment. ' Strickland, who played wing forward in tho first half, was more at home in the second j spoil, when ho went back to threequartor, > doing good service in the latter position. Speedy and Tankard appeared about the i best of an oven lot of forwards, who, considering their weight, did credit to their prof vince, tho strongest point being their loose . open play. , " Argument" asks a decision on the followf ing wager:-" A bets B a lovol £1 that the Auckland representatives would beat tho Taranaki team, which ended in a tie. How docs the hot go?" If no provision was made for a draw, A loses the wager, as Auckland , did not beat Taranaki. . PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOTBALL. " A SECTION. ' Ponsonby v. Beresford-street : These two teams met for the second time this season, s but the wearers of the red and black had - the advantage from the outset of the match. i The combination displayed by these juveniles - was of a very creditable nature, and their - passing runs evoked much favourable comi meat from quite a large crowd of enthusiastic t spectators. Beresford-street won by nine 1 points to nil Munro, Sherson and Brown scoring the tries for the winning team. Ualtou played an excellent game for the losers, and on one occasiou would have 3 scored but for being obstructed by a canine , spectator, f Paruell v. Devonport : This match resulted in a win for the Parnell boys by 11 points to j nil. The North Shore hoys did not play up , to their usual form, and thus failed to acquit . themselves according to the general expec- , tatious. The Pamellites were on the other " hand in excellent form, and scored an easy i win. For the niaroous Mclutyrc, McGinn, and Taylor obtained tries, one of which was converted by A. Kellop. 3 B. SECTION. * The match Richmond Road v. Nelson- ! street went by default to the former team. j SECONDARY SCHOOLS WATCH. 1 Thames High School v. King's College: A - team from the Thames High School came to f Auckland last Saturday to do battle with f King's College, but though they made a good fight to win the laurels of the day, success did not attend their efforts. The game was throughout fast and fairly even, the Kin^s College boys winning by five points to nil. ', (i. Owen scored a try, which was converted ' by Coleman for the victorious team. ■;■ Mr. ' Sinclair acted as referee. ■ ; f : - j HOME BAY V. BRITOMART CLUB, j » A football match was played at Home Bay 3 between tlie Home Bay and Britomart Clubs, and resulted in an easy win for Home Bay by 16 poiuts to nil, Tries were obtained by

Poison, Ussher, Ross and Cummings, two of which were converted, one" by Carlaw and ' the other by Crombie. i AUCKLAND V. NORTHERN WAIROA. Althought full details of the match between the _ Auckland second fifteen and Northern Wairoa have not been received, a telegram ' received in Auckland on Saturday evening . stated that the .visiting team had defeated , the country players by 11 points to three. I In the match between Federal and Tuakau juniors, the latter won by seven points to j nil. Holmes scored a try, and Gubb potted - a goal from the field. Iu the evening the visiters were entertained at dinner by the j Tuakau team. HAMILTON V. HUNTLY. [by TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Saturday. The result of tho Hamilton-Huntly match, played here to-day, came as a revelation to everyone. If anything, Hunlly's chances were favoured most, and even the wild'-st enthusiast never dreamt of such a result as 22 points to nil. Tho visitors were completely outclassed, moro especially in the bad; division. Tho local backs passed splondid'y, and completely demoralised their opponents. Pike played a dashing game, scoring three tries, one of which he succeeded in converting. Speight, Hume, and Hobbs also scored, the latter's try being converted. There wis a largo attendance, and the game was of a most friendly character, but in spito of this Smith and Gillespie, two of the Huntly men, were seriously injured, and had to be carried off. They were attended to by Dr. Brewi*. Cambridge and Hamilton have now to phy off a tie. PAEROA V. WAITEKAURI. Paeroa, Saturday. In tho senior football match to-day, Paeroa defeated Waitekauri by threo points to ml. The only score was a penalty goal kicked by Power. The game was very evenly contested. Mr. Kerr, of Karnngahako, oilicdated as referee. Tho junior match between City and Suburbs resulted in a win for the City boys by five points to three. TAFItANGA V. ROTORUA. Tauranga, Saturday. An interesting football match took place day between Tauranga and Rotonia. In the first spell Rotorua had the best if it, scoring 14 points to nil. Two goals were kicked from tries obtained by Dick Thorn, whoso play was tho feature of the game, and seemed to quite paralyse his opponents. Tho other goal was from a mark, and all threo goals wero beautifully kicked by E. Mitchell, amidst loud cheers from tho spectators. The passing of the visitors was greatly admire and greatly contributed to tho score. In the sscond spell the Tauranga players rallied, and had all tho best of it, scoring nine points, their opponents failing to score. The game ended in a victory for Rotorua by 14 points to 9. For Tauranga Mathoson made a magnificent run from the centre right through his opponents, and scored a try, which Thomp- 1 son converted by a splendid kick from a Dad angle. Thompson kicked another beautiful I and difficult goal from a mark in the field. The game woe very exciting at the finish. 'Jhe visitors were entertained at dinner at (lie Masonic Hotel in the evening. WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY. A DRAWN GAME. [BY telegraph.— PßESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Saturday. The football players this afternoon had a sunny sky, but soaking wet ground. Wellington scored two tries, and though their opponents failed to cross the line, thoy secured two penalty goals, and so left tho field with honours oven. The last of these goals was kicked about a minute before the gamo ended, and was the result of a peculiar misunderstanding. Just previously Canterbury had a kick at goal from another penalty, and the ball landed on tho feet of some Wellington men who were standing inside the line. It bounded back into the field, and another Wellington player, apparently supposing it was out of play, picked it up. Technically he was offside, mid another free kick was awarded right in front of the goal, which enabled the visitors to snatch tho game out of the fire at tho eleventh hour. A deluge of rain fell during the night, but tho afternoon was bright, with a strong southerly wind, which blow straight up tho ground. Two-thirds of tho play was consequently close to the northern goal. With tho wind the local men had by far the best of it, though they did not score till the last twelve minutes of the first spell. Against the wind they played up well, and repeatedly had tho ball in their opponents' ground,, once forcing them down, but in the intervals they were engaged struggling at their goal-lino, and had the Canterbury men been at all vigorous in attack, they should havo scored. The ground was practically a morass, and it was -.villi tho greatest difficulty the men could keep their feet or secure the ball. Onco McHill and Spencer look the ball over the line, but lost it. The first, score was the result of a capital rush by Kelly and Curtis, who passed "to Matson, and tho latter literally slid over the lino. A few minutes afterwards Bush took a neat pass, and ran in. No goals were kicked, though the last try was almost in front of tho posts. In tho second half, helped by the wind, tho visitors had their turn, and, though not so uniformally'in opponents' ground as Wellington had been, they gave the local men several bad spoils. There was a noticeablo want of vigour in the play, and Dansoy alone of tho backs seemed equal I to Iho occasion. He repeatedly wriggled round tho scrummage and got close to the line, and had ho been a heavier man, he would probably have succeeded in crossing it. Up to this time there had been few breaches of the rules, but a number of decisions were given against Wellington in quick succession, and from one penalty Ward at length kicked an excellent, goal. Still Wellington seemed to havo tho gamo well in hand, and no doubt but for tho mishap mentioned above, from which Byrne kicked an easy goal, they would havo won. Tho bell rang with the score six all. Hales, tho Wellington fullback, played a capital game, his lacking, and certainty in handling the slippery ball being altogether admirable. The attendance numbered between 3000 and WOO, and nothing was wanted but drv turf to make tho match very enjoyable. The spectators seemed quite pleased at tho visitors' success in averting defeat, and loudly applauded their second goal. OTAGO V. SOUTHLAND. Dunedik, Sunday. Tho following team has been picked to represent Otago against Southland: -Fullback, Maokenzio; threequartors, Stephenson, Cunningham, Armit; halves, Mason, Sinclair, Dunoon; forwards, Canning, Munro, Given, Smith, Coady, Cross, Murphy, and Hobbs.