FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 756, 27 August 1886, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

THE GARRISON TOURNAMENT.

The second tournament of the Garrison "* Volunteer Corps took place at Newtown Park on Saturday. The attendance of the public was very email, owing, no doubt, to the wretched weather, rain falling incessantly during the whole of the afternoon. As may be expected the ground was in a very bad state. The drawing of the first round resulted as follows D Battery v Navals, City Rifles v Newtown. Rifles, the Guards taking the bye. The D Battery again succeeded in defeating the Navals after a hard tussle by a try to nil. The Newtowns vanquished the City Rifles by a goal and two tries to nil. The Newtown Rifles drew the bye in the final round, the Artillery meeting the Guards and defeating them by two tries to love. The play of some of the Guards’ backs was wonderful, indeed, we doubt it we ever saw such play before. The final, as on the last occasion, was between the D Battery and the Newtown Rifles, and, as before, resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. It must be remembered, however, that the Artillery had been playing all the afternoon without a spell. The teams held a smoke concert in the Central Hotel in the evening, and a very enjoyable evening was spent.

WELLINGTON v. WAIRARAPA.

(FROM OCR special reporter). Masterton, August 21.

The Wellington and Wairarapa football match was played at Greytown to day in fine

weather, thongh the ground under foot was muddy and wet. The Wellington team waa different to that picked. The place of Moorhouse, Mclntyre and Ellison beiDg taken by Roberta, Holmes and Xilner. The Wairarapa team, on the contrary, was a pretty strong one, although J. Perry’s absence considerably weakened it. Play waa commenced at one, when Wairarapa kicked off, playing a little down hill. After an interchange of kicks by the backs, the Wellington forwards began to make a little headway, but were brought up short by E. Perry, who made a dashing run, and was collared by Dixon, the Wellington full-back. Following this, W. Perry and Hounslow dribbled the ball to within a yard or two of the Wellington line, whence Dixon returned it into touch, and the Wairarapa men returned to the charge again, aided by a run by .C. Perry. After a lot of desperate scrimmaging, Udy went to within a yard of the line when, being collared .he passed to Hounslow, who dashed over the line and scored a try for Wairarapa, The kick at goal was a failure. A good deal of scrimmaging ensued, in which the Wellington forwards were so hard pressed that they had all their work to keep the countrymen back to the twenty-five yard*’ line. The .Wellington backs were unable to do anything, for the Wairarapa forwards walked over their opponents and smothered the backs. Well on in the spell Udy forced his way through the Wellington men and touched down. C. Perry took the kick, and made a fair but unsuccessful shot. Half time was called soon after. The Wellington men opened the second spell with a dash, and for a time the advantage rested alternately with either side. The weight of the Wairarapa men, together with their good play, pr3sently told, however, and the visitors very soon fonnd themselves again on the strict defensive. About a quarter of an hour after starting, Fairbrother got the ball and went in with a fine run, and scored the first try for Wellington. He took the kick at goal himself, but made nothing of it. A little later G. Beard got over the Wellington line, but was mauled by Dixon and Thomson, and did not succeed in scoring. Nothing of any note occurred after this, except that Roberts relieved his side a good deal by fast dribbling, while C. Perry, for Wairarapa, made the run of the day, and was collared a couple of yards from the line. Wairarapa won by two tries to one. The Wairarapa men, the forwards especially, played a fine game, and were altogether too good for their opponents. The best of the country forwards were A. Udy, Whatman, C» Beard, and Hounslow ; of the backs, O. Perry did a lot of work in fine style, hia ruuning being very fast, strong, and well-judged. Baumber gamed a lot of ground by judicious punting into touch, and Roydhouse played excellently as full-back. For Wellington, Roberts played desperately, and with any amount of dash, but his forwards were not strong enough to give him assistance. Hirschberg and Merlet stopped a lot of rushes, and Fairbrother and Thomson, though not-up to their usual form, played well. Dixon also showed good form. Of the forwards, Reader, Varnham, and McGowan were about the best. Great interest was taken in the match up here.

One of the most important matches played on Saturday came off in the Hobson-street paddock between the Rival first and Wellington second fifteen. The ground was in a very sloppy condition, and several showers fell during the game. Great interest was taken in the match, as the Rivals, who are nearly a stone lighter all round thau their opponents, beat them by five points to nil in the Junior Cup match, so the Welliugtons brought their very best team in the field, while the Rivals were playing with no fewer than five substitutes. It wa3 principally a forward game, aud resulted in a draw, both sidea scoring two tries, Gillon, McCulloch, Galloway, aud Johnson played a grand game for the Rivals, as did Robinson, Jennings, Bucholz, and Gordon for the Wellingtons. We should like to impress upon the Union the advisability of getting the Cup matches off as soon as possible now, as the season is fast drawing to a close. In reference to the dispute over the late interprovincial football match between Auckland and Wellington, an Aucklander writes to the New Zealand Herald, a 3 follows :—“ After reading your telegram in this morning’s issue of the doings of the Poneke Football Club, I think Auckland athletes ought to register a vow (in defence of the honorable gentleman acting as umpire for their team) never to meet Wellington again in any manly game unless they sift to the bottom and expel from their clubs the perpetrators of the mean deed.” A match took place at Newtown Park on Tuesday between teams representing the legal profession and the insurance companies, resulting in a victory for the former by nine points to nil. Kirk score two tries, one of which Ellison converted into a goal. Ellison also scored the other try* For the winners Kirk, Campbell, Fraser, and Ellison played well, while for the loser 3 the most conspicuous were Young, Brabazsn, Brown and Anderson.

In the event of another football match being arranged for this season between Wellington and Wairarapa, it will behove the Wellington Union to select the best team that can be got together. The play of the Wairarapa men in Wellington the other day was-no criterion of their ability, and the best team that can be selected in Wellington will enjoy a well-fought match if the Valley put 3 its best fifteen into the field.

The following team has been selected to represent Wellington in the iaterprovincial football match against Nelson tomorrow Fuil-back, Dixon; three-quarterbacks, Fairbrother, Pearce, and Stock ; half-backs, Roberts and Moorhouso j forwards, Cooper, Connal, Ellison, King, Mclntyre, Storey, Smith, Taiaroa, and Williams.

THE AUCKLAND MATCH.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION ) Auckland, August 19.

At a meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union to-night, which was largely attended, the following resolution was carried :—That the Secretary be instructed to write to the Secretary of the Wellington Union asking for an apology for statements which appeared in the Wellington newspapers respecting the late match Auckland v. Wellington, and the umpire, Mr Cotter ; aho, that an apology be

obtained from the Ponebe Club by the Wellington Union for their action in hanging the Auckland umpire in effigy.

A special general meeting of the delegates to the Rugby Union was held at the Post Office Hotel on Tuesday evening. There was a fair attendance, and Mr J. King was in the chair.

A Reception and General Committee was appointed to make arrangements in connection with the visits of the Nelson and Sydney teams, consisting of the Management Committee and Messrs Barnett, Campbell, Cooper, Hirschberg, Beck, Dumbell, Gibbes and Batkin, with power to add to their number. It is intended to give a smoke concert in honor of the Nelson team ou Saturday night in the Post Office Hotel.

The Auckland unpleasantness was then considered, and the following resolutions were passed :—l. That the Union exceedingly regrets that the alleged grievances of the Wellington repressntatives should have found expression in the public press, but considers that the charges made against the fairness of the Auckland umpire are of so grave a nature as to “demand a strict investigation. 2. That a committee of inquiry be appointed, to consist of three members, to be selected by the Management Committee, to take evidence and report to the Union. 3. That this Union condemns the hanging of the Auckland umpire in effigy, and call upon the Poneke Club for an explanation. 4. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the Auckland Union. Some other business was transacted, and the meeting adjourned after a vote of thanks to the chair.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, August 21.

The following have been chosen to represent Canterbury in the football match with Otago :—Full-back, A. C. Bennett; threequarter backs, E. L. Francis and H. Wilson ; half-backs, G. H. Helmore, C. Harden ; forwards, W. Bean, H. J. Beswick, W. Dow. E. J. Fooks, J. Turnbull, J. Horner, W. Sutherland, O. i'orlesse, E. B. Millton, J. Fuller (emergency). The third tbree-qnarter back will be chosen ou Monday. This afternoon the team of probables beat the improbables by 3 goals and 2 tries to 2 tries. C. H. Hamilton, the well-known amateur runner, broke the small bone of his right leg during the game. Christchurch, August 24.

Bennett being unable to go with the football team to Dunedin, the Selection Committee have decided to play both Allardyce and Webb, the latter or Wilson taking full back. There is also a chance of Torlesse not going South. Dunedin, August 23.

The following football team has been chosen to play against Canterbury : —Full-back, E. Austen ; three-quarter backs, O. Bee, M. Ross, A. Wedder3poon ; half-backs, R. Fraser, J. B. Thomson ; forwards, James Allan, W. Gibson, T. Henderson, A. W. Morris, W. McFarlane, R. Mill, W. Strong, F. Tutuiomp, H. Tresder. The team averages over 12st, and is thought to be a good one, though one or two plaver3 are omitted that it was concluded would be in the team.

Wanganui, August 23,

A meeting of footballers on Saturday night decided to form a Rugby Union, and to invite the Sidney team here.

THE SYDNEY AND AUCKLAND TEAMS. (united press association.) Auckland, August 25. The following is the Sydney football team : —P. Allan, J. Austin, F. Bcllbridge, R. Blacksland. C, Y. Oaird, P. Colquhoua, E. Cameron, ‘l’. P. Carr, G. W. McArthur, A. Pearson, H. Read, J. Shaw, M. Shortus, G. Walker, E. Weaver, R. Warren, Warlnough, aud Wiseheart, the latter being a Soudan hero. A Sydney paper cays that the team is regarded as the strongest combination that as ever left the colony. Some of the forwards are a trifle light, but the backs are wonderfully fast. Blackland, Barr, and Shortus represent j union clubs, and they are well worth their place 3. The team do not visit Waikato. The match with Auckland will take place on Saturday. The visitors arrive in good form. Their average weight is about list 7st, and they are a very likely looking lot of men. J. A. K. Shaw is captain, C. J. Caird vicecaptain, S. N. McArthur manager, and Messrs Shaw, Pearson, and Warren Management and Selection Committee. The construction of the Auckland team will be same as that which played Wellington, with the exception that G. O. a Grafton forward, will replace O’Connor, who is suffering from a strained sinew.