Football.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 557, 7 October 1882, Page 9

Football.

FOOTBALL MATCH. # SYDNEY v. WELLINGTON. ■ The Sydney football players returned from their southern trip yesterday week, havmg received a severe tossing about in the Straits. They were met and heartily welcomed by a large number of members of local Clubs, and conveyed to the Empire Hotel, where they had a short rest. At 2.35 they left for the Newtown Park, where the return match with Wellington was to be played. The visitors had gained Buch a decided victory on the former occasion that the majority of the spectatora, of whom there was a large number, appeared to consider that Wellington could not win, though some there were who felt convinced that the changes which had been made would go a long way towards retrieving the lost laurels. Great uncertainty was caused by the strong N.W. gale which swept across the ground, and the lowering c'.oada threatened to make matters thoroughly unpleasant. No rain, however, fell. The local team consisted of the following players :—Full-back, V irth ; half do, A. Thomson, McCardell, and G. H. Smith ; quarter do, changed between Morrison and Brown, the off man playing forward. Morrison waa the only country pi iyer. Forwards: Campbell (captain), Cooper, Robert*, Gibbes, Webb, Brown, and Peate. The Syduey team played almost the same aa before, the only difference being that Richmond played forward in place of Jennings, who baa left the colony. Campbell won the toss, and elected to face the eastern goal. Raper simply dribbled off, but the bill was .immediately sent out of touch on the southern side. Ou being thrown in, Fligg made a run right across the field, dodging aud tryiug to get through, but he was run out of touch. Raper next essayed, aud got across to the south side, near the Wellington goal, where he waa cleverly collared by Webb. The Wellingfoa forwards thea dribbled the ball to the centre of the ground. Raper here got hold of it, and, by a splendid run, got nearly through with it, being collared by Morrison, who was the last man to pass. Wellington was, however, compelled to force down. Baylis3 next made a gond run, but was brought to grass by Thomson. Raper immediately followed, but, after some fine dodging, waa grassed by Webb, not, however, before he had passed t > Bayliss. Webb, waa, however, quickly away, and Bayli3s also came down. For the first time Wellington got well past the centre of the field. It waa twice kicked well up to the Wellington goal, but Firth made good returns, and nothing came of them. After a number of scrimmages, Walker carried the ball to the centre, and by some magnificent dodging got past Thomson. Firth, however, proved a match for him, and the ball was quickly sent back to the eastern end, only to be quickly dribbled back by the Sydney forwards. Flynn got a pot at goal, and succeeded, amidst loud cheers. Game, 4 to 0. On Caiupbell kicking off, the ball was for some time kept in the Sydney quarters, and the visitors once more saved themselves by a force down, without, however, getting the ball out of dangerous proximity to tbeir goal. Several scrimmages took place closa to the goal Hue, the men closely packed, getting right past the goal posts against the wind. Kirk got the ball, and secured a touch down, which certainly seemed perfectly fair, to a number of good judges who stood near. It was not, however, allowed, and Sydney again forced down. For the firat time in twenty minutes the ball waa carried into the Wellington quarters, but it was speedily taken back again, and kept well away till half-time was called, the score still standing at 4 to 0. Shortly after goala had been changed, Welling, ton got the ball near their opponents' goal, but McCardell male a somewhat ill-judged pot at goal, which resulted in Sydney forcing down, aud then getting the ball to the middle of the around. There was now a good deal of open play, iu which Richmond, Raper, aud Walker

for Sydney ; and Campbell, Roberts, Firth, McCardell, for Wellington fi-ursd to advantage, Imt nothing came of itforsometime Raper, however, eventually getting arun Irom near the gosl line, st curing a touch-down. Thallou kicked about a foot too low, and only added two to the score, which now stood at 6 to 0. For some little time Wellington had some trouble in preventing further scoring, and eventually forced down. The ball then travelled too near the Sydney goal, but Walker, by a splendid kick, sent it right to the other end of the ground, Firth returning it with another solendid kick, repeating the performance half a minute later. Walker then essayed a run, but after passing the ba'f-backa he was beautifully grassed by Firth. Richmond and Walker each made a smart attempt to get behind the goal line, but the ball was always worked back again by some good dribbling. The ball beiug kicked into Walker's hands, he made what must undoubtedly rank as the best bit of football play that has ever been witnessed in Wellington. He was near his own goal at the time, but by his peculiar manrer of dodging and fleetnesß of foot, aided not a little by extraordinary strength of limb, he oat-stripped or brought to grass all who came in his way, aud was at last permitted to touch-down at leisure right behind the goal. Thallon again took the kick, but in sending the ball high he evidently failed to allow for the wind, for it waa carried some yards to one side. Score, Bto 0. Once more the ball waa dribbled back to near the Sydney posts, and Cooper made a fine run, but be was brought to grass when within a yard of the line. Roberts made another good ruah, but he also was collared. Several good scrimmages took place close to the visitors' quarters, and the ball was theu dribbled back to the centre, when time was called, the visitors thus proving victors by 8 to 0, a score which would certainly have been increased by at least two more tries had it not been for the excellent colla<in? of Firth, who was always perfectly safe if he was within reach. Three hearty cheers were given by the two sides, and some more for the umpires and referee, aud . the players then returned to town. The Sydney team left same night for Auckland, by the Te Anau, and, after playing areturn match there, return to Sydney by the Rotoroa. NEW SOUTH WALES v. AUCKLAND. THE AUCKLAND MEN AGAIN VICTORIOUS.

(UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, October 8. At the football match to-lay, Auckland v. Sydney, from 2000 to 3000 persons were present, though rain set in heavily at 3.30 p.m, the tiaae for commencing the match, otherwise a very much larger number would have been present, as the interest and excitement • was intense throughout the community. Blinding showers occurred throughout the game, aud marred all pleasure. Betting was 3 to 1 on the Auckland team, and the event justified public opinion. A slight delay was ■ occasioned by the wish of the Sydney men to • play two spells of 45 minutes, instead of four half-hours, as has been usual here. Henderson won tbe toss from Raper, and decided to kick with the wind, which was blowing very The visitors placed their men differently this time, playing more forward, which was a great improvement, making it a far better game to look at. Raper kicked off, and dribbling was at once the order of the day. The Sydney for« wards, playing beautifully together, seemed to be getting the best of it, the Auckland men not packing as well as usual ; but Henderson at last calling on his men, got them in hand, and by a fine rush, the ball waa taken into the New South Wales quarters, when Carter got a mark, and placed it to Ryan, who tried at the goal, without success. Bayliss, by a good run and drop, relieved his side for the time, but the fine forward play of the blue and white soon forced Sydney down, and the ball was kicked out of loose scrimmage. Whiteside then got hold of the leather, and, by clever dodging, ran through four of the Sydney backs and touched down. The * try was entrusted to Ryan, who, notwithstanding the greasy ball and cross wind, placed an unmistakable goal to Auckland. The ball waa again kicked off, and W hitesida again shone brilliautly, while Wood's punting came in several times most advantageously. The game now became very fast, and the Auckland forwards following up well, got on the ball acros3 the goal-line, but the Sydney captain claimed a dead ball, as it had touchtd a spectator ;so the try was not allowed. Warbriok was playing very hard as half-back, doing a lot of tackling, while Baper, Fligg, and Baylies showed well for the Syduey team, who were now playing well together, and drove the ball into Auckland quarters ; but Ryan, by a good punt into touoh, saved Sydney from scoring. The ball was then driven through a scrimmage to Wood, who made a fine run and passed it to Arniel, was passed it to Sims. The ball was then kicked to baud, and Walker, the New South Wales back, by a clever run, saved a further score for the Auckland men. Th* ball waa then kicked towards Raper, who made a fine run, knocking several of the Auckland men over. He was well collared by Bindon ; but the ball was neatly passed to Bayliss, who passed it to "Jambo." However, the Sydney heavy weight was well locked by Darby Ryan, who saved what looked like a try. Loose dribbling again was the feature, Arniel, Clayton, Croxton, Mackay, and Biggs, particularly shining. The former, by very clever play, took the ball half way up the field, where Whiteaide, by a smart run, secured a try, but Ryan failed to score. Time was now called, and after a refresher, aud a wait of two minutes, O Connor kicked off for Auckland. The Sydney men, with the wind in their favor, began to make use of their drop-kicking powers, and the ball got unpleasantly near the Auckland goal. Henderson and Clayton at this time shone frequently iu scrimmages, as did Bindon and Garter, Baylis, Walker, Fligg, Flynn, Howard, and Hawkins, who were all doing yeomen's service for their side. Webster saved the Sydney scoring by good fending, and finishing with a good drop, But Sydney would not be denied, and by a rush got the leather into Auckland's quarters, but Warbrick by a good kick sent it down to the touch-line. A series of loose scrimmages, followed a good rush by O'Connor, and another by Sim*, and the ball was kicked out of a scrimmage, and Wood kicked it over the bar, making rather a luoky

goal, for Auckland. Raper kicked off, and soon after Wat-brisk made a very clever run, finishiug with a good drop ; hnt Sydney dropping w«Il wi;h the wind, aud Flynn, Howard,, and Fligg: doing g>od runs, soon brought it into the Auckland quarters, where Wood got the ball, and, instead .of punting,, tried to run, but wag collared, the ball being kicked out of scrimmage. Flynn took a pot shot, and plaoed the leather neatly over the bar. Sydney now played up, but the blue and white would not be denied, and.the forwards splendidly worked the ball down, and Bindon following up, scored'another try, which Ryan converted into a goal. Sydney seemed to go to piepe.B after this ; and O'Connor got another try, but Ryan missed. The,play after this was principally an i open dribbling game, and nothing noteworthy occurred, except that the ball was kept pretty close to the Sydney goal. • Time was called, and cheers and counter cheers were given. With reference to the general play, the visitors played a far batter forward game, partly because there were more of them 5 but the ground was too slippery for their backs to dodge, and the ball too wet for passing. Raper handled bis men well, and played a fine game, a* did all the Sydney team, Bayliss, Walker, Flynn, and Hawkins particularly eo. As for the Auckland men, they certiinly never played better, and the Selection Committee have every reason to be gratified. The forwards bear off the palm, but individually Whiteside deserves the greater praise in the first half. It was a very bad day for back play, and Wood, Warbrick, Ameil, and Carter shone in the second spell, and Webster was all there when wanted.! The re.-ult of the game, was three ?oals and two tries by Auckland, against one goal by Sydney—viz., Itfto 4. . A social reunion,was given in the evening in the Remuera Hall in honor of the Sydney team by his Worship the ;Mayor, J. M. Clark, , aud many leading'citizens. .;