Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 965, 26 June 1897, Page 16

Out Door Sports

By • Haeeieb.'

COMING EVENTS. June 26— North Island v. South Island at Wellington. August 7 — New Zealand team v. Auckland. AJE&.U. Cup Fixtures fin all three grades). June 26— City v. Graf ton, Newton v. North Shore, Ponsonb; v. Parnell.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN AUSTRALIA. July S— v. New South Wales. July 7— v. Metropolitan Fifteen of Sydney: JulylO -v. New South Wales. July 11— v. Newcastle. July — v. Queensland. July 31— v. New South Wales.

Toe Wairoa-Auckland match, played

Potter's on Saturday last, and won by the latter by 14 points to 3, was not a particularly interesting game to onlookers, nor does it call for very extended description. The Wairoa team, although a fairly clever combination— l think the cleverest that -has ever visited us from the land of Sawdust — were too light forward to have a chance with the heavy lot opposed to them, and to this cause the extent of their defeat was mainly due. In other respects, however, and particularly m kicking, they compared very favcnrably with the home team, whose back play was not nearly so effective as, under the favourable conditions, should have been the case. Had even' a fair proportion of the openings made by the forwards been taken proper' . advantage of, the Auckland soore would have been much, larger, but numerous chances were. lost, in some cases through ill-judged and ill-directed passing, and in others by bad ' backing-np.' Whilst, however, condemning the want of skill shown- by certain of the local reardivision, it would be unfair to overlook the very creditable display of the visitors' backs. Playing, as they were, behind a beaten pack, their opportunities for attack were few and far between, but their tackling throughout was sound and their kicking excellent, both as regards' length and direction. Geo. Smith made a number of dashing runs, but, as I have previously remarked, has developed a habit of playing a ' lone hand ' too frequently. Carlton Hay. at five-eighths was decidedly off colour. Besides displaying a tendency to bore out to the touch- line instead of running straight, he almost invariably passed too soon. Torn Clarkin, whom it will be remembered lost the sight of one eye through an accident in the bush last year, is again playing for the Waihi Club, and I am informed is in capital form. G. Smith, Hancock and Wilson left by the Takapuna on Monday to join the New Zealand team at Wellington. .Murray, who only received intimation of his selection on Friday, found it impossible to arrange his business affairs at such Bhort|notice, but will follow to-day (Thursday). All through the season A. Braund has been showing better form than for several seasons backhand Saturday was no exception in this respect. It was certainly not owing to any lack of feeding on his part that the Auckland score was not larger ; he also punted well and displayed fair defence. ■ Daring Saturday's game some fellow, sitting down rather suddenly; came on top of AJbie Braund's knee, with the result that the latter had. to retire from the field. It is sincerely to be hoped that the injury is not of much consequence, as in Braund's present form the loss of his services wonld be a serious matter, not only to the Ponsonby Olub but to the province. :. . Bearing in mind that the Auckland forwards had not had a single practise together, and that they were playing a pack entirely strange ' to all of them, their performance on Saturday was extremely creditable." The chief weakness I noticed was" in the matter of fast following up. Gal- . lagher and one or two btherß were con- ", siatent in this respect all day, but one or two men is not sufficient; the whole pack should be going. . "

of the Auckland tbree-quarfcers. Ha displayed great dash and pace^ handled the Bali well, rand secured hia try Very oleyerly indeed. . : : -' •_' .; • " ■" . . :.i ■~';'-<V •.;."•'• The feeding of the Wairba half was not up to the mark: He did not get the ball from his forwards very frequently,-but when he did, did not mate the best use of it. ■-' •. ■ .:- '■ _ f ' -■■ The Wairola full-back got his fair share of work, and upon the whole performed satisfactorily. He might" with advantage hare made more use of the touchline, bat otherwise kicked well. - - . Phelari, the Wairoa five-eighths, had very few "opportunities of displaying the quality he is reputed to possess. He, however,. tackled well, and upon the few occasions when he received a paea from his half, made ground in the right direction. H. Smith at fall-back -was only in fair form. He certainly made no ' bloomers ' that I can call to mind, but there'' was a suspicion of leasureliness and over confidence about his work which gave one an uncomfortable sensation at times.' D'Arcy at centre three-quarters was sound if not brilliant. In the early part of the game his passing' was inaccurate, - but he improved in this respect as the game proceeded, and all through his defensive work was of the safest description. ' , Mr Campbell made an excellent referee and gave the utmost satisfaction to both sides. In just one particular, however, he was a wee bit lax. He allowed the Wairoa wings too much, latitude; frequently I noticed them standing alongside Braund whilst the ball was still in the scrummage. As elsewhere stated, the Wairoa pack were over-matched in point of weight and consequently did not show to advantage. I did not notice any shining lights amongst them, but generally speaking consider them a willing, hard working lot. - ' The four three - quarter game played by Auckland on Saturday . was not an unqualified success, but this, I am satisfied, was not the fault -of the system. Once let the players get accustomed to the new style, and there is no doubt as to its turning out all right. The Wellington-Taranaki match, which was to have been played on Tuesday last, has been postponed until after the return of the team from Australia. Taranaki, I understand, found it impossible to keep their engagement on account of a number of men being unable to make the trip. On Monday Wairoa met a Franklyn representative team .at Pukekohe, and defeated them by 22 points, to nil. The forward divisions were very evenly matched, but' the winner's backs proved themselves far and-away ahead of their opponents, Phelan and Harmon particularly distinguishing themselves. Absolum at wing three-quarters was rarely in his proper plac«s and once or twice spoilt excellent openings by failing to keep up with Biley, a thing unpardonable in a man possessing his pace. I would also advise him to use both hands when taking a pass ; the one arm business is very pretty and effective when it comes off, but it .doesn't always come off. In Harrison and Moros, Wairoa possess a fast and useful pair of wing-three- . quarters. The former, indeed, struck me as being something more than useful. He is a- strong runner, a safe tackier, and an excellent kick, using the. touch-line with great judgment. I shall be surprised if he is not given a show when the trial matches come to be played. Since the introduction of the present stringent law bearing upon wingplayers, I have always held that wing-for-wards could not, with' strict refereeing, be made of sufficient value to warrant their retention, and the experience of Saturday's game goes, I think, a long way towards proving the truth of my contention. The inclusion of Fred Murray in the team for Australia /has given very general satisfaction in Auckland. The ' Doctor ' is a forward of the right stamp — fast, powerful and clever — and although young in years is old in experience. He first won his cap (when a mere boy) in 1889, and has represented his province almost continuously since. Was also a member of the New Zealaad team in 1893, and of the North Island team against New South Wales in 1894. . The result of the North v. South match, to be played at Wellington on Saturday, will be awaited with great interest throughout the Colony. And especially so, I should imagine, by the selectors of the New Zealand teams, as thereby will-be demontrated the correctness or otherwise of their judgment in choosing Buch a small proporton of South Island players. The tioatherners , have, I believe, arranged to hold a practice, game during this week in Christohurch, aha are evidently sparing no .effort to ensure. success.;

team make the proportion of representation sas follows :— Taranaki, 6 ; Wefiliugtdn, 4 • Auckland, 4 • Canterbury* 3.; Osago, 3 ; and Wanganui, 1. ' ' '■''-.' '. '; I; heajf on good authority thatWatson Taranaki has decided to give -the game uto, ;' -at anyrate\he has retired from the New Zealand team, and Fred Murray has been, chosen in hie place. The fact that were only abte to play a dr%w with Wairarapa, who had. previously drawn with Wanganui, would, on the face of it, appear strong presumptive evidence in favour of the contention that Taranaki are over represented in the New Zealand team. An eye-witness of the Taranaki- Wairarapa match informs me that Taranaki's non-success was greatly due to that old bug-bear, over-confidence, the we -van - win - when -we - like kind of feeling which has lost so many matches. This may or may not be the case, I simply give it as it was told to inc.