FOOTBALL MATCHES.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 25, 21 July 1885, Page 2

FOOTBALL MATCHES.

GISBORNE U. NAPIER, The annual match between Gisborne and Napier took place on Saturday last, and resulted in a decisive victory for the Napier team. Owing to the late heavy rains the ground was in a most unfavorable condition, but the attendance of spectators was very good. From the first it was too apparent that the Gisbornites were overmatched, and although they played with pluck and determinatton is was plain that they stood little chance against the opposing team. At an early stage of the game Gisborne lost the services of one of her men in the person of O'Meara, but still continued a game struggle; L. Rees making a splendid rush, only failing through a fall. Thevictory, although decisive, has only squared accounts between the two teams, Gisborpe having been, previous to the last defeat, one game to the good.

(own correspondent.)

Napier, Monday. The football match on Saturday last between the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay teams excited much interest, about 500 being present on the Recreation Ground to witness the match, a good sprinkling of ladies being among the spectators. The Gisborne men were overweighted, and though they played very pluckily they were unable to score, Hawke's Bay winning by nine points to nil. Utmost good feeling prevailed throughout. The Gisborne men, at the close of the game, honored Warbrick, Captain of the Hawke’s Bay team, by shouldering him. In the evening the visitors were entertained at dinner at the Criterion Hotel, when expressions of hearty esteem were interchanged.