FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2797, 10 September 1883, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON. ; (Bt Tblegbafh.) , Wehinotok, Sept. 9. . The football match, Wellington t. Auck- ' land was played hare yesterday, and resulted , in a most unsatisfactory manner. Both aides , licked a goal, and Wellington alto obtained a ] try, which was disputed by Auckland ; bat the , referee garehis decision in farorof Wellington. . It is generally admitted by the moit impar- , tial of tpeotators, that the Aacklandera in , disputing this try were simply determined to | win the game by taking advantage of any ■ point that was raised in tba game. There , was an entire absence of the exoitement which was manifest when Wellington played the i Southern provinces, and this it to some extent attributed to the fact that Wellington had lost three of their most enthusiastic kickistj, and it was taken for granted that they were bound to be beaten. Horribly sold those who held that opinion mmt hare been when they taw the second (poll, in wbioh Wellington win eimply forciDg the Auckland men down, and for only a couple of miDutes did the local team allow the leather to oomt without the Auckland £6 yards msrk. Wellington hating tcored against Otago and Canterbury, rather threw the damper on toy betting which wa« likely to be indulged id by outsider*, and it was Dot until Auckland had obtained the first score that any wager could be obtained. Mr CotUr wa» chosen as umpire for the northerners, and Mr Firth for Wellington ; Mr Georgs Wright was elected referee, and Mr Mclntjre time-keeper. Wellington haying won the toss, chose the eastern goal and g&Te Auckland the benefit of what little wind there wat. From the kiok-off the Aucklanders were backing themselves at three to two to win the game. Warbrick kicked off for Auckland, and sent the ball well down to the Wellington quartern, where it was obtained by Moore, who by one of hit usual long drops returned it almost to the same spot from whence it wat tent. Araeil, for the Tisitors, got away, and ran well down the field until he was upset by Cooper, when the leather passed to Dutnbell, who wound up a good run by a long punt into touch near the Auckland twenty five. After it was thrown out the Aucklanders mad« a determiaed rush. The Wellington forwards were not to be denied, and George Campbell, the captain, getting hold of Carter, almost turned him a somersault. The first scrimmage now took place, and this was wel within the Auckland twenty-fire line. The Tisitors played the time off-side game at they did south, and which called forth ao much disapprobation. The Wellington people were not slow to notice this, aud Auckland were hooted from all tides of the field. This may be mentioned as the first occasion on which a Wellington populace has shown any partiality, at in the matches with the south, Wellington while being perfeotly impartial, wera rather inclined to favor Canterbury. For some minutes cries of " Auckland off side," " Flay the (jame," and tucb like were frequent. Wellington were keeping the ball well towards the Auckland line, and time after time did Byau and King attempt to get away, but the Wellington forwards were on them. After this Whiteeide attempted a ma, but he was uptet, and Cooper and Bobertg, of the local forwards, gaining possession dribbled the leather until close to their opponents' line, when Ryan fell on it. From the scrimmage which ensued Kyan passed to King, who made a brilliant run, but Roberts wai again in the way and King had to succumb. The local forwards who were a heary crowd, averaging close upon thirteen stone, were making the game unpleasantly fast for Auckland, sad once or twice it was an anchor to a aeedle that the visitors would be forced down. For several minutes, the ball was close to Auckland's touch, when Henderson, who was in the centre ot a scrimmage, heeled out, and Byan picking up the ball made a long drop into touch. This was the first time after ton minutes play that the ball was worked towards Wellington goal. Warbrick, for the visitors, was playing a grand game, but Whiteside, the northern " crack, was rather disappointing, and the opinion was freely expressed that if the form which he showed here was his usnal game Wellington had two or thre« men who could " lick" him. It is also mentioned that }n (be

Aticb'and team a good deal of jealousy bas nrieen, as several members are of opinion that Wsrbrick can " sail rings" round Whiteside. After the first ten minutes the crowd again hooted Auckland for their off-side play, nnd there waa a continual diluting on tna Auckland side of the umpire's decision. The ball was returned again an'i again, and it was not until Wellington worked it close to their opponents' goal that Auckland came to the decision that unless they played up the g>mi> would go against them. Davy for Wellington, and Warbrick for Auckland, now had a smart game to themselves. Both are well-known pedestrian*, b»t Warbriok having to carry the bnll was handic»pp»d, and before he con'd get well away he was upset. The ball waa then kept well in the centre of the ground, without advantage being gained on either side. After some scrimmages, Cooper, baoked up by hi* captain, made a tremendous rush towards Auckland's touch-line, and was only stopped when within a few yards of it. Here the wretched eff-side play of Auckland was again noticeable, and tuo vititors were booted by all sides for what the most uninterested footballer must have decided was unfnir play. The Anckhnd forwards particularly Carter, wero working hard, and squeezed the ball towards the Wellington line, but it was no good, as the only headway that Auckland could make against Wellington was when Warbrick, King, and Ryan had a long drop, and to their oredit it may be said that they never lost a chance. The Auckland men were taking advantage of " heeling out," and from frequent calls from their side to do so, gained but little advantage, as Wellington had their team so placed that tho fast " speelers " of the North never had an opportunity throughout tho game of getting away. Again the crowd booted Auckland for their off play, and there could be no doubt it was deserved, as Auckland was continually doubting the umpire's word, and the ball had to be returned. Davy elicited applause by a brilliant run, which Warbriok stopped. Then Dumbrll had a chance at goal, but he lost bit head, and attempting (o run, he was at once collarod. This lost Wellington one of the finest chances they had. The visitors rushed Wellington with ado peration that was evidently bent on scoring, but it was pitiful to see how the northern forwards wound up when the game went against them, and if any advantage was to bo obtained by off-side, the visitors were not alow to grasp the opportunity. Auckland's back* were working hard to pass the Wellington forwards, but Udy, the Graytown forward, was impenetrable, and, working in conjunction with others, time after time brought the vititors to mother earth. A scrimmage now was had dos* to tho Wellington goal, and in ths throw out Ryan passed to Warbrick, who had a " blind " shot at goal with greater precision than ho expected, and it was given & goal. This was scored as the first point for : Auckland, but the unanimous opinion of ' those behind the posts was that it was a " poster." No matter how it was though, the Wellington umpire gave it in Auckland's favor, but there remained the fact that the ball touched Brown,one of the Wellington forwards, before it went over, therefore it was no goal. This decision of Firth's is in accordance with those usually given by him, and the sooner the Wellington men discard him the better chance they have of winning a game. Immediately afler this eeore Whiteside tnost unfortunately hurt his leg, and had to retire, thus leaving Auckland with only fourteen men. From this point it was anybody's game until the spell, when Wellington had the wind. After seven minutes' spell the game was resumed, but Wellington was allowed the kick-off, which resulted in their forcing Auckland well down towards their goal posts. Here it was kept until Carter, getting potsession, wound up on* of his runs by a draw behind, which counted nothing. Auckland was si ill being hooted for their unfair play, and at one time it was doubtful if they would not get mobbed. The first spell ended in Auckland leading by a goal from the field. This snore appeared to inspire, the local men, who rushed the Northerners and the ball well within their 26-yard limit. Davy got posiession, and pasting to little Dumbell, tbe latter had a shot nt goal, and had it as fairly as could be between the potts. Auckland disputed tnis, and never on a Wellington field was such hooting beard aa then occurred. [Tbe remainder of the report is to confused that we can make neither bead or tail of it. A try gained by Webb for Wellington is mentioned, and then young Thompson ii slated to have " landed the prettiest goal ever leen in this town," " tbe masterpiece of the game," but as far as we can make out it was from some other try than Webb's. Tbe report conclndes :— "After tbe game was over, the try which had been obtained by Webb was disputed, but unfortunately for Auckland, tbe decision was given against the visitors, who, although pitying the meanest game ever played here, tried t» gain an advantage. Tho real result of the game is — Wellington, two goals and s> try to love. That Auckland scored the first was a fluke, and otherwise there was no credit in it. There can be no two opinions about tbe game. Had it lasted half an hour longer Wellington could have walked over the great northeners.j