Football.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 606, 15 September 1883, Page 10

Football.

INTERPBOVINCIAL MATCHES. WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND. VICTORY FOR WELLINGTON. Saturday last will be looked back to for a long time to come as a red-letter day in the annals of football in Wellington, for the representative team of the Wellington Union completed a series of victories, which a very large majority of players, old and young,.declared they could not do, by defeating the redoubtable Northerners. Wellington had made a good beginning for the season by disposing of the Canterbury and Otago teams ; but still, in accordance with a peculiarity that is not exactly a credit to Wellington, the opinion that the local players would have more than^ their match appeared to prevail, and there were plenty of Wellingtonians who laid as much as 3 to 1 on the visitors, and the' feeling which was thus created was not a little strengthened when it became known ,tbat, in addition to Wood and G. H.' Smith (the surest place kick and one of the smartest' of our back players), A. Thomson would be unable to play owing to a weak ankle, and the prospect of fine weather, with the back players so unmistakably weakened, things certainly did not wear a very bright aspect, for but little was locally known of Allan, Perry, and A. D Thompson, who filled the vacancies, though some members in the team had the fullest confidence in them, efforts having been made from the beginning to get the latter to play. When Saturday morning broke fine, with a light variable wind, the forebodings of defeat for Wellington grew stronger, though there were not lacking those who had the courage to take up the money that was offered. . The match was to begin at 3 o’clock, and half an hour before that time the public commenced to assemble on Newtown Park, the convincing ground. Shortly before the hour named, the rival teams drove up, and prepared for battle. The ground wa3 found to be in fair order, the only drawback being that the recent rain had not penetrated sufficiently, and that one or two parts of the field were a trifle slippery. By 3 o’clock there were fully 3000 spectators present, and the number subsequently increased to about 4000. Shortly after the appointed time the visitors, who wore guernseys of white and navy blue hoops filed on to the ground, and stretched their limbs by passing the ball from hand to hand. Their fine physique was the subject of much comment, apd when the local team, wearing the black uniform of the Union, made their appearance the opinion naturally gained ground that so far as weight in scrimmages was concerned Auckland should have the best of it. The following constituted the teams : Wellington-. Backs—Allan, Dumbell, Perry, Davy, Moore, A. D. Thompson. Forwards—G. Campbell (captain), Cooper, Roberts, Udy, Young, Brown, Harvey, J. Thomson, Webb. Auckland. Backs—Webster, Warbrick, Ryan, Arneil, Whiteside, and Ring. Forwards—Henderson (captain), Leckie, Moginie, Carter, O’Connor, Biggs, Mearns, Sims, and Croxton. Umpiren—Wellington : Mr Firth. .Auckland : Mr Cotter. Refree : Mr Wright. Timekeeper : Mr Mclntyre. Wellington having won the toss, the Aucklanders were given the pleasure of performingthe first act in the game, that of kicking off. The duty was allotted to Warbrick, who sent the ball with a long kick towards the eastern goal, and to Dumbell, who returned it to the centre with a fine drop-kick. By a series of very hot open scrimmages it was then quickly worked up towards the Auckland goal, where two packed scrimmages to-k place, these being the first to give any idea of the relative strength of the forwards. There was no question about this, for Wellington had a very decided advantage in both ; and in the second they broke clean through their opponents. Until now there had been no reason to believe that there was much in the stories of offside play on the part of the Aucklanders, which had reached Wellington from the south, a full description of the process by which it was achieved haviug been telegraphed . from Christchurch. Neither players nor public had received an illustration till now, when it was brought into full force, with the result that the ball was worked back to the centre. By some good dribbling, in which Johnson, Thomson, Campbell, and Udy distinguished themselves, the scene was once more shifted to the Auckland 25-yard flag. Off-side play again came into requisition, and the scene shifted into the Wellington quarters, Davy continually making a useful diversion by a run to the centre, passing to Perry on being collared by Whiteside. Perry was brought to grass by Arneil, and a scrimmage having taken place, Warbrick made a splendid kick up to near the Wellington goal. After one or two scrimmages, Udy got the ball, and made a run from the quarter-flag to the centre, where he was collared by three or four of his opponents. A scrimmage resulted in Wellington breaking through once more, and dribbling the ball to the quarter-flag of their opponents. Whiteside made a very useful run, but Davy was not to be shaken off, and collared him splendidly. The ball rolled away, and was picked up by Perry, who, seeing no chance for a run, made a useful kick. Being returned in a similar fashion, Allan made a similar kick, and the Wellington forwards then kept it in their opponents’ ’ ground for some time. Once more a very glaring piece of off-side play was indulged in, amidst the hoots and jeers of the spectators, and the leather was carried across the centre. Davy essayed a run, and got right across the ground without gaining any advantage, and was eventually collared by Warbrick. Ryan made a useful kick out of touch, but when thrown in Johnson Thomson made good the lost ground by a bit of fast play. After three scrimmages near the centre, Whiteside once more essayed to run in, but Udy was too sure a collar. The ball was quickly dribbled back to Auckland quarters, and having, reached the 25-yard line, remained almost stationary for nearly ten minutes during which time an extraordinary number of scrimmages took place. If an advantage was gained in these by Wellington it was made good t>y the off-side play of their opponents

forwards. This sort of play was beginningto be monotonous. The Umpires frequently interfered, and once or twice the visitors actually lost ground when they had a chance of gaining an advantage. The crowd, which is usually very partial to visitors in Wellington, yelled “ Off-side ! ” time after time, and almost hooted itself hoarse, but the same style of game continued. The scene was at last changed by Whiteside making a run across the centre ; but in dodging Moore, who was playing full-back, he crossed Cooper’s track, with the resultthat he came to grass. Someopen play resulted iu a further gaiu for the visitors, who got to within dangerous quarters of the Wellington goal. Henderson spotted an apparent opening, but haviug got to within five yards of the goal-line, Moore, Allan, and Campbell proved amply sufficient to deny further passage. Davy had a good show for getting well across the field, but slipped after running about a d< zen yards. The ball continued near the Wellington quarters for some time. The Auckland backs then gotthe.ball ; Ring passed to Whiteside, and the latter to Warbrick, who, being a little to the right of the goal, and just clear 1 of the crowd made a drop kick, and just succeeded in getting the verdict of the umpire. Although Mr Firth undoubtedly gave his verdict in accordance with his judgment, the spectators and players directly in a line with the post unhesitatingly declared that the ball went just outside of the post, and a Wellington player (Brown) positively asserted at the time that he touched the ball with his hand. As Mr Firth, however, did not see the latter occurrence, he very properly refused to take it into consideration. Game—Auckland, 4 ; Wellington, 0. The hopes of the Aucklanders now rose high, although Whiteside had sustained a severe sprain, and was unable to continue in the'field, for the chaace of either side scoring by aplacekiclcseemed veryemall indeed. Campbell kicked off, and nothing remarkable occurred till Arneil availed himself of a chance, carrying the hall from the centre to within twenty yards of the goslj where Allan collared him. The ball remained in the Wellington quarters for some time, there being nothing but an almost unbroken series of scrimmages. Dumbell caused a diversion by carrying it over the centre line, but after a scrimmage it was brought back again by Carter. Ryan got a chance for a long kick at goal, but the ball went to the left, and fell . low. Wellington then forced down. Arneil next essayed to get through from the centre, and for a time it looked as if he was going to have a show; but he could not get paet >loore. A’lan made an attempt, but was run out of touch by O’Connor. Wellington immediately afterwards forced down a second time. For some time the ball was kept in the Wellington quarters, Perry changing the scene by a fine run to the centre. After several scrimmages, which proved profitable to neither side, half time was called,, the game still standing 4 to 0. During this spell Carter came into collision with one of his o"wn side (Lecky), got an ugly cut about two inches long on the forehead, from which he bled profusely, and Moginie’s left side was covered with blood from a small cut in the eyebrow. On the Wellington side Roberts had received a severe kick inride the knee, and although he remained on the field, •is services were practically lost, as he could do little else than limp about. This, to a very great extent, counterbalanced the retirement of Whiteside, as Roberts is known to be very fast, and most useful, in losing play. Campbell opened the second spell by kicking off, and the ball was immediately carried to the Wellington quarters, only be brought back immediately afterwards to within dangerous proximity of the Auckland goal. Scrimmage followed scrimmage in rapid succession, little advantage being gained by either side till Campbell made a run. Being collared, he passed to Davy, who was right in front of the goal. Arneil had apparently foreseen the danger, for he collared Davy the moment the latter got the ball. More off-side play on the part of the Northerners, and the ball was moved to the centre, only to be immediately brought back to near the Auckland goal, dribbling on the part of Cooper, Campbell, Udy, and Harvey. Another series of scrimmages took place, and again it seemed as if neither side could gain any material advantage. A diversion created by a run by O'Connor, who got past the centre flag before he was collared by Allan, and then Moore made a judicious punt back to the twenty-five yards’ flag. Once more the ball was worked to opposite the Auckland gaol. Dumbell got a pot shot at gaol, and the ball went Deatly over, but the gaol was disallowed. Shortly after this Allan made a run, and passed Bmartly to A. D. Thompson, who was run out of touch by Webster. For a moment Thompson seemed undecided as to the actual position of the game, and then he threw out quickly to Webb, who, dodging splendidly, touched down fairly behind the gaol. While this was going on, the Auckland umpire bad been calling the ball back, alleging that it had been passed forward. On appeal, the Wellington umpire took a' contrary view of the case, and the referee decided in favor of Wellington, who therefore claimed the try. Mr HendersoD refused to accept the verdict, and declined to agree to Mr Campbell’s claim to take a kick at goal, even under protest, stating that he would call his men off the field. Eventually Mr Campbell, rather than appear to show discourtesy to the visitors, agreed to scrimmage the ball off, but at the same time declining to relinquish his claim to the touch - down. The umpires allowed ten minutes for the time lost. The ball having been brought back, the game was resumed, but the spectators seemed to have lost interest in it. The players, however, only redoubled f/ieir efforts, and the ball was rapidly carried all over the field, though mostly in the Auckland quarters. Campbell made some excellent runs, and gave his opponents a lot of. trouble. A long and hardfought scrimmage took place in front of the goal, and Campbell, seeing a chance, kicked out to A. D. Thompson, who made a pretty drop kick, and scored a goal, amidst the cheers of the spectators, who quickly perceived that this time there was no protest. After beiDg kicked eff, the ball was carried to the Wellington quarters, where no less than a dozen scrimmages took place in rapid succession, and on almost the same ground, and within ten yards of the gaol line. Warbrick at last made a good pot shot for goal, but failed to score. A. D. Thompson ran to the centre of the ground, where he was collared by Carter Ring essayed to get it back, but Davy secured him by the leg, as a last resource, and brought him down. O’Connor then made three

runs,- but twice he. was called back by the /pire, in the-other being collared by Roberts and. Thompson. Shortly afterwards he got through and touched down, but again the umpires’ verdict was against him, he beiDg palpably offside. By some good dribbling the ball once more got back towards the Auckland goal, but Ring carried it back till collared by A. D. Thompson and Ferry. Then followed a lot of dribbling, all in favor of Wellington. O’Connor, the Jumbo of the Northerners, seemed to get fresher as the game progressed, and he made repeated attempts to get through, but was always either collared or brought back by the umpire. The Wellingtonians then made their final effort, and were rushing the ball steadily into Auckland quarters, when “ no side ” was called, Wellington thus winning by 6 to 4. Among the local representatives, Campbell, Johnson Thomson, Cooper, and Udy, deserve special mention for their forvvaid play. Among the backp, AllaD, A. D. Thompson, Perry, and Dumbell played splendidly. Roberts, as already stated, was deprived of all chance of distinguishing himself. Arneil, Warbrick, Ring, and Ryan distinguished themselves among the backs of the visitors, Warbrick, indeed, being by far the beat amongst them. Their best forwards were O’Connor and Henderson. As a general impression has got about that the Wellington captain relinquished his claim to the victory, it may be as well to state that, so far from that being the case, he, on. the return of the teams to the dressing-room, informed Mr Henderson that he claimed the match. It is a matter of the deepest regret that such a dispute should have arisen ; but, although anxious to avoid the appearance of being discourteous •to our visitors, we feel bound to express a strong opinion that Mr Henderson acted in defiance of rules both legal and cust unary when he refused to abide by the ruling of the referee. From that, whether the decision be right or wroDg, there can be no appeal. THE DINNER. In the evening both teams dined together at the Post Office Hotel. The Mayor, Mr George Fisher, presided. There were about eighty gentlemen present, and amongst the invited guests were Mr John Sheehan and Mr Dargaville, M.’sH.R. The room was tastefully decorated and the .tables were literally covered with all the delicacies of the season, the dinner having been got up in host Smith’s best style. Some capital speeches were made,' bearing, of course, upon athletics generally. SoDgs, with right good choruses, followed, and the utmost good feeling existed amongst all present. The party broke up at midnight, after staging “ Auld Lang Syne.” Result of the Interprovincial Matches : Wellington, 3 wins ; Otago, 1 win, 1 lost game, and 1 draw ; Auckland, 1 win, 1 lost, and 1 draw ; Canterbury, 3 lost games ; Wellington, therefore, holds the supremacy for the season. (UNITED FBESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, September 9. Great interest was taken in the football match, Auckland v. Wellington. Betting was even, but in a few cases odds in favor of Auckland were given. Crowds were around the newspaper offices awaiting the result.