OLD FOOTBALL DAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21279, 5 September 1932, Page 10

OLD FOOTBALL DAYS

MR. FORBES LOOKS BACK MORE PICTURESQUE OCCASI&NS AUCKLAND GAME 41) YEARS AGO While ho was watching the Rugby match between Ponsonby and Manukau at Eden Park on Saturday, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, chatted to Mr. J. Arneil, president of the Auckland Rugby Union. Forty years previously they had been together on an Auckland Rugby field. Then Mr. Forbes wa3 a member of a Canterbury team which overwhelmed Auckland by 24 points to nil, while Mr. Arneil was the referee of the game. The match was played at Potter's Paddock on September 7, 1892, and was apparently an event of considerable civic importance. Transport facilities, as we know them to-day, did not exist 40 years ago, and visits from South Island Rugby teams were something of a novelty. In a report of the match the New Zealand Herald of September 8 said that " the attendance was enormous, fully 8000 persons being present," and that a half-holiday was fairly generally observed in the city. " Almost every available vehicle in the city was called into requisition to carry the people to the scene of action," accovl'iig to the newspaper account, which addr.i that " the gentler sex was very largely represented."

Music and Colour Memories of the match were recalled by Mr. Forbes last evening. " There were pleasant ceremonies connected with Rugby in those days," he said. " Most of them, I am afraid, have disappeared to-day. I can remember that wo left the Royal Mail Hotel in a horse-drawn drag, decorated with the Canterbury colours. The Auckland team came behind ua, also in a decorated drag, and then followed about half-a-dozen more drags, bearing the supporters of the various Auckland Rugby clubs, all weaiing their colours. The entire procession to Potter's Paddock was led by a drag containing a band, which played all the way to Epsom. " There was an atmosphere about things in those days which cannot be recaptured in this era of motor-eoaches. I can remember how we used to drive back to town after matches—about 2) or 30 fellows in a drag, singing the popular songs of the'day at the top of their voices." Concerning the play, Mr. Fprbes said the Canterbury team had been more than a little surprised to win so easily. The Auckland team was much the heavier and the forwards soon started to push the Canterbury pack " all over the paddock." Bat, according to Mr. Forbes, Auckland was playing rather old-fashioned football at that time, the general tactics being almost solely confined to forward rushes. " When our forwards found that they were being pushed back," he said, " they heeled the ball, and then we had things very largely our ovm way." Mr. Forbes as Halfback The Heraxd'S report bears out Mr. Forbes' remarks. The critic lavished praise on the work of the Canterbury backs and said that " never before had such passing been seen in Auckland." On one occasion II players handled the ball before a try was scored. Mr. Forbes, who played at halfback, and whose weight was given at 12st. 21b., was not among those who scored for Canterbury, but he was frequently prominent in the general play. It -was reported on several occasions that " Forbes made a useful run and kick," and once that " Kissling, not being fast enough', was thrown' into touch" by Forbes." >

Another member of the Canterbury team in the game was the late Mr. C. W. Garrard, formerly chief inspector of schools in Auckland.