FOOTBALL MATCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6694, 30 September 1882, Page 3

FOOTBALL MATCH.

SYDNEY v, WELLINGTON.

The Sydney foothill players returned from their eouthern trip at 1 p.m. yesterday, having 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 235 they left for the Newtown Park, where the return match with Wellington was to be played. The visitors had gained each a decided victory on the former occasion that the majority of the spectator!, 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. gala which swept across the ground, and the lowering cloud! threatened to make matters thoroughly unpleasant, No rain, however, fell. . The local team consisted of the following players Full-back. Hrth ; halt do, A. Thomson, McCardell, and G. H. Smith ; quarter do, changed between Morrison and Brown, the off man playing forward. Morrison was the only country pUyer. Forwards: Campbell (captain). Cooper, Heberts,Gibbes,Webb, McGregor,Kirk, Brown, and Peate. The Sydney team played almost the same a! before, the only difference being that Richmond played forward in place of >7ennings, who has left the colony. Campbell won the toss, and elected to face the eastern goal. Baper simply dribbled off, but the ball was immediately sent out of touch on the southern side. On being thrown in, Fligg made a run right across the field, dodging and trying to get through, but he was run out of touch. Baper next essayed, and got . across to the south side, near the Wellington goal, ■where he was cleverly collared by Webb. The Wellington forwards then dribbled the ball to the centre of the ground. Baper 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. Bayliss next made a good run, but was brought to grass by Thomson. Baper immediately followed, bat, after some fine dodging, was grassed by Webb, not, however, before he had passed to Bayliss. Webb, was, however, quickly away, and Bayliss also came down. For the first time Wellington got .well past the centre of the field. It was 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 bail •was quickly sent back to the eastern end,;only to be quickly dribbled back by the Sydney forwards. Flynn got a pot.at goal, andi succeeded, amidst loud cheers. Game, 4 to 0. On Campbell 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 bajl out of dangerous proximity to their goal. Several scrimmages took place close to the j goal line, the men closely packed, getting right past the goal, posts againatj 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 pgain

forced down. For the first time in, twenty minutes the ball was carried into the,' Wellington goiters, bat 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 goals had been changed, Wellington got the ball near their opponents 1 goal, but McCardell made a somewhat ill-judged: pot at goal, which resulted in Sydney forcing down, and then getting the ball to the middle of the ground. There was now a good deal ofj open play, in which Richmond, Raper, and Walker for Sydney ; and Campbell, Roberts, Firth, and McCardell, for Wellington figured to advantage, but nothing came ofitforsometime, Enper, however, eventually getting aruu from near,the goal line, securing a touch-down. Thallon 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 oi the ground, Firth returning it with another' splendid kick, repeating the performance halt * minute later. Walker then essayed a run,” but after passing the : ha'f-backs he was beautifully grassed by Firth. Richmond and Walker ' each made a 1 smart attempt to get behind the goal line, bnt the ball was always-worked, back again by some good dribbling. The ball being kicked into Walker’s hands, he made what must undoubtedly rank as the beat bit of football play that has ever been witnessed in Wellington. He was near bis own goal at the time, bnt by his peculiar manner of dodging and fleetness of foot, aided hot a little ,by extraordinary strength of limb, he oat-stripped or brought to grass all who came in hie way, and was at last permitted to toneh-down at leisure right behind the goal. Thallon, again took the kick, but .in sending the ball high be evidently failed to allow for the wind, for it was carried some yards to one side. Score, >8 to 0. Once mote the ball was dribbled back to near the Sydney posts, and Cooper made a fine run, but he was brought to grass when within a yard of the line. Roberts made another good msh, but he also was collared. Several 'good scrimmages took place close to the visitors’ quarters, and the ball was then dribbleji 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 collating 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, and the players then returned to town. ; The Sydney team left laat_njght for Auckland, by the Te Anau, and,, after playing a return match there, return to Sydney by the Rotorna. j