FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, 22 April 1887, Page 13

FOOTBALL.

A match was played at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon between the Union and Wellington Clubs. The weather was very fine, and there was a good attendance of the public, about 600 persons being present. The match, which was a very interesting one, resulted in a win for-the Union Club by two trieß to nil. It was decided to score in accordance with the new rules, and consequently the Unions won by two points. McLeary kicked off for the Unions, and for a few minutes play was centred in the Wellington ground. Smith, Richardson, and Barr by some good play subsequently released their side, and the play was even. The Union forwards, who appear to improve each time they play, were not to be denied, and soon had their opponents in trouble again. Cockcroft, who is undoubtedly one of the best forwards in Wellington, played a grand game from the outset, and was ably seconded by McKenzie, Adcock, and Crowell. On the Wellington side, Barr, Barnett, Richardson, and Smith were playing well. Play was even for some time, Jenninga and Kilner, the latter especially, doing good work by some smart runs and punts on the Blue side, and Smith, Stock, and Lightfoot, a new half-back from Christchurch, and a good one, on the Wellington side, distinguished themselves by some capital play. Presently Parsons, the Union three-quarter, made a splendid run, for which he was deservedly applauded by the spectators. For some time play was close to the Wellington line, and it looked as if the Blues were bound to score. Some good play, however, by Stock, Richardson, and Hirschberg temporarily removed the danger, but Parsons, by another good ran, which was checked by Lightfoot,. and Cockcroft by a good dribble, soon had the ball back again. The latter subsequently kicked the ball over the Wellington line, and McKenzie, following it up well, nearly scored. As it was the Wellingtons were only forced down. A few minutes later the Wellington men were again forced down. Smith won the applause of the spectators and the approbation of his side by a splendid piece of dribbling, which took the ball right up to the Blues’ line. It did not stay there long, however, for by some joint play on the part of Adcock, Little, and Jennings, the Unions’ line was relieved. The Wellington men, playing much better than at first, soon brought it back again, and Smith nearly scored. Half-time was called with the play uncomfortably close to the Blues’ line. Barnett kicked off, and a few minutes after starting Stock made a splendid run from a pass forward, whioh was evidently not noticed by the umpires. Kilner equalised the play by a splendid punt into touch. The play was in close proximity to the Yellows’ goal-line for a long time, Lightfoot, Richardson, Barr and Barnett, and McKenzie and Parsons doing a lot of work for their respective sides. After several scrimmages had taken place within a few yards of the Yellows’ line,. the Union men having all the best of them, Adcock fell over the line and secured the first try for the Blues. The kick was not a difficult one, but Little failed to do anything with it. From this juncture till within a few minutes of time the Unions had all the best of the game. O’Neill presently made a, splendid run, and finished up by getting over the line. Little again took the kick, but failed to score. Play was confined to the Yellows’ twenty-five for several minutes after this, and Adcock nearly got over again, being collared within a yard of the Wellington line. The Yellows rallied after this, and cleared their quarters, Smith, Webb and Barr being conspicuous in th® movement. A little later Barr ran over th© Union line and touched down, but the ball was called back. Time was called shortly after this with the play in neutraL ground. Considering it was their first game this season, the Wellington men did very well, the backs especially. Lightfoot played, splendidly, and Stock, Hirschberg, and Richardson played well. Among the-for-wards, Smith played a grand game, and Barr, Barnett, and Webb were about the next best. The Union forwards played a splendid game, Cockroft, Adcock, McKenzie, Crowell, and Little being about the best of them. Kilner, Parsons, and Jennings played well among the backs, the > former especially. Messrs McCardle and. James acted as umpires, and Mr A. V.. Knapp as referee. A match was played between the Bonek© second and Melrose first at Hobson-Btreet on Saturday, and was won by the - Bonekes by a goal and a try (the trieß,being obtained by Beck and Blaoklock) to a try (obtained by Smith). For the winners Beck-and)Brown, among the forwards, and Bright among th© backs, showed best form; while Smith and Bernes played best for the losers. Orientals v. Pirates. —This match was played on Saturday afternoon, and. resulted in a draw, neither .side scoring. The Orientals played with six substitutes. Curtis, Clark, Fraser, and Tringham did best work for the Orientals. A match was played on the Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon between the first fifteen of the Rival Football Club and th© second fifteen of the Wellington Football Club. Owing to the Wellington men being very much out of form, their opponents had all their own way, and won by 5 tries to nil. The tries were obtained by Rose, E. Barnett, Galloway, D. Barnett, and Drummond, from which no. goals were kicked. The second fifteen of the Rivals journeyed to the Lower Hutt on Saturday and played a match against the Epuni second, which resulted in a draw, each side scoring 6 points. The match between the Nondescripts and Rivals was not played on Saturday, owing to a misunderstanding as to the time of starting the matoh. It ia understood that Crow, of the Meri«

▼ale Club, is coining to Wellington to reside, and will join the Union Club. There is also a probability of AUardyce, of the Sydenham Club, Christohurch, and Leckie, an Auckland representative, joining the same Club. T. O’Cannor, who represented Auckland last year, has decided not to play football this season. , There is soma talk of Jaok Taiaroa and Joe Warbrick getting up a club at Napier. Napier footballers recently lost a gool player in the person of Wallace,. a Maori, who showed good form in the match against Wellington last year. Francis, the redoubtable potter of the Fast Christchurch Club, will only play in the important matches this season. * In view of the approaching Cup matches he Wellington Football Club have seleoted the following players to go into active training ; Messrs Atkinson, Barnett, Barr, Buoholz. Barron, Fairbrother, Gibbes, Gordon, A. and H. Gore, Hirschberg, W. Holmes, J. Hume.F. Hutchinson, Halcombe, Lewis, Lightfoot, Miles, Mitchell, W. MoLean, HT MoCardle, Pou Pike, Porntt, Beeves, C. Richardson, Richmond, Bobinson, Say well, J. and E. SrrHtb, Stock, B. Taiaroa, G. Wallace, P. P. Webb, Weber, F. Young, and A. Winter. The whole of the above are requested to meet at the Club’s newly-acquired ground on the Island Bay racecourse on Saturday next. A 'bus will leave the Government Buildings at 2 p.m. sharp. Members are reminded that their places in the teams will depend mainly on their regular attendance at practices. New members can also obtain a game on going out to the bay. A football match was played at Newtown Park on Wednesday between the second fifteens of St Patrick’s College and the Weilington College, and resulted in a win for the ■ former bv three tries to nil. The tries were got by Farney, Boebuck, and Hodgkins. The game was well fought throughout. At the meeting of delegates to the W.R.F.U., next Monday night, several important alterations in the existing rules and by-laws will be considered, and new ones introduced. Amongst the latter is one providing for the barring of defaulters. This is very much needed, as a great many players make a practice of joining Club 3 oo their reputation, and consider the latter sufficiently paid by their membership. Another new rule proposed is that defining playing members, which will prevent Clubs importing men from other towns to take part in important cup matches. _ Crownall, who met with an accident to his finger yesterday, is a footballer of some little note, having formerly represented Northern Wairoa, and being at present a member of the Uni*n Club of this city, for whom he played against the Wellingtons-on Saturday He is also a running man, and competed under the name of Baker, his sporting name, at the Druids’ sports on Easter Monday. A match will be played at Lower Hutt on Saturday between the Union second and the Epuni first. The following is the Union team Backs : Full, Webley ; three-quar-ters, Lawson, Jacka and King; halves, McCulloch and Chatwin; emergency, Parker. Forwards McKenzie and Hill (wings), B- McLeary, Scutt, Skinner, Marryatt, Kelly, Whiting, Prince ; emergencies, Sharland, Steward and Deehan. The team will leave town by the 2 o’clock tram. The following team will represent the Bival F.C. on Saturday against the Wellington College on the Newtown Park, at 3 o’clock Dixon, E. Barnett, Dowsett, Boss, Gillon, Govan, Galloway, D. Barnett, Bose, Penny, O’Shea, Gardner, Drummond, Dunne, and Ryan. Against the third fifteen of the Wellington F.C. in the Hobson-street paddock, at half-past 3McKenzie, Burke, Bichardson, VV atson, Jewell, Hall, Randall, D. Barron, Fisher, C. Jordon, Keefe, Gormley, LeCren, Smyth, A. Easton. Emergencies —Crombie, C. Jordon, Gell, and A. The following fixtures for Newtown Bark have been arranged for the ensuing season: April 23.—Rival Ist v. Wellington College Ist, No. 1 ground; Melrose Ist v. St Patrick’s College Ist, No. 2 ground ; Poneke Ist v. Athletio Ist, No. 3 ground. April 30.—Wellington Club’s practice, Ho. 1 ground; Junior Chp match, No. 2 ground ; Union 3rd v. Wellington 3rd, Union 2nd v. Poneke 2nd, No. 3 ground. May 21.—Athletic Ist v. Wellington Ist, Ho. 1 ground; TVellington 2nd v. Rival Ist, No. 2 ground ; Wellington 3rd v. Bival 2nd, No. 3 ground. June 11.—Melrose Ist r. 2nd, No. 1 ground ; Poneke Ist v. Athletic Ist, DPoneke 2nd v. Union 2nd, No. 2 ground ; No. 3 ground, not allotted. . July I.—No. 1 ground, not allotted; Union Ist v. Athletic Ist, No. 2 ground ; Athletic 2nd v. Poneke 2nd, No. 3 ground. Cup matches will toke place on the dates not included in the above list.

(united press association.) Auckland, April 20. At the annual meeting of the Rugby Union to-night a letter was read from the Wellington Association suggesting that the latter should reply to the Sydney Association on behalf of the Colony re the visit of a New Zealand team. It was agreed that as the Sydney Association had communicated direct with the Auckland Union, they would reply accordingly. The old squabble over <fche umpiring was discussed, and entirely new officers were elected for the comine season.