WELLINGTON v. OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 61

WELLINGTON v. OTAGO.

WELLINGTON, December 11. The following team has been selected to play for Wellington in the cricket match against OtagQ on December 27, 28, and 30 : —Williams. C. Hickson, Mahony, S. Hickson, Hales,,- Laws, Gibbs, Tucker, Monaghan, J. P. Blaoklock, and Cobcroft; emergency, Beechey. A NpTABLE FOOTBALLER. NEW PLYMOUTH, December 16. The death of Mr Alf. Bayly at Wanganui on Sunday removed one of the hero.es of the football field in New Zealand. A man of ample means, he was ever liberal in assisting the Taranaki Rugby Union in its preafitucnt days, and was many years president of the union. As *, player he was one of the brightest o? the many brilliant stars turned out by Taranaki when the province was at the height of its football fame. He was almost incomparable as * five-eight or three-quarter, and was * wonderful skipper. He represented Taranaki every year from 1885 to 1901, inclusive, a record that will always take a ,power of beating. In his last match against Wanganui he had a leg broken. He had not intended to play in the match, but was managing the team. The team was a player short, and the veteran donned the Aniber and Black rather than see his province undermanned. Cheers greeted the idol of the spectators as he took the field. One of the most painful incidents in Mr Bayly's football career was the accident which resulted in the death of A. Armit in the match Taranaki v. Otago in 1899. Armit was running with the ball, and Bayly faced him to collar him. Armit, always an adept at hurdling a low collarer, jumped. Bayly, too seasoned to be deceived, rose and took Armit around the ankjee. /V fearful fall resulted, Armit seriously ' injured his spine, and in a few months died. Bayly was fn no way responsible for the accident, and was terribly cut up about Armit's death. He is. said to have vfSgt like a child. This event made a deep) impression on Mr Bayly. He was ever a changed man after it. In short, it hastened his end. Besides being a representative of Taranaki, Mr Bayly was bne Sti New Zealand's 81<»fc &moug j?*gkj. He

was a member of the New Zealand teams ' of 1893, 1894, and 1897. Aboirff , a year 'ago the Government purchased his estate near Stratford, and he was i entertained by , a valedictory gathering. In failing health some months ago he went to reside at Wanganui. The end was not unexpected.