NOTES by "K.A."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11814, 1 June 1893, Page 2

NOTES by "K.A."

Local playors were favoured with splendid weather last Saturday, though during the senior match it was just a little too warm.

Waverley boat Wanganui by fine superior close play. As long as the reds kept the gamo looso and throw tho ball about they held tho upper hand, but when it came to scrum work and closo rushes they were simply out of it. It was a strange thing, too, to hear tho Wanganui team telling ono anothor to stick to the passing game and then kicking it into touch— right into the country team's hands.

Burr, tho winnor's full-back, had a good deal to do. His paco comes in vory useful, but he is inclined to wait too long before ho kicks. None of the threequarters were at all brilliant. Mason is quite lost at centre, but all three kick " like Waverley." At half, Thorpe is not the Thorpe of old. Hunter played better than usual on the wing. EmmerHon waa a long way the best f^;ward, and he was well backed up by Wybourne, Harknoss, and Symes.

Blair, at full for Wanganui, wa3 the beat bank :>n tho ground, ile took tho ball splendidly, kicked in good style, and when hia kick did not reach touch put his men on side by smart foJowinsj up. All the pissing went out ia Rangi'B direction, but the Maori did not mike the mo3t of his opportunities. Ferguson, at centre, has a bad habit of running at tho man ho is passing to. Mitchell, on the wing, usually got a yard or two before he was collared, but hia kicking was weak. Of the numerous half-backs Cameron wn-s most conspicuous for his selfishness, while Tully paid more attention to the men behind him. Jn the scrum Crai<*, Elliot, and Sims worked hardest, while in the open Pownall's pace made him very useful.

The Wanganui Club has had hard luck in losing two of their bost backs this week. Tully left for Fatea on Monday, and "Dune." Blair got rather badly crushed by a fall of gravel at Bapanui yesterday.

The Kaierau-Turakina match was getting decidedly rough whon time was called. All through the game tho most noticeable feature was tho amount of talk indulged in by both sides. Patterson came out in a new position for Turakina, playing at full instead of half as usual. Tin was about the best of the country backs, and Glasgow forward, For the marions Craig, Duncan, Mciisan, Holder, and Bell were tho most conspicuous. Clubs in want of officials would do well to consult the Wellington Annual, in which a firm announces that secretaries of football, athletic, and rowing clubs will be supplied at reasonable rates ! The match between native teams representing Taranaki and Wanganui arranged for this afternoon has been postponed until next week, as the Northerns are unable to get down.

Greit interest is being taken all over the colony in the aeloction of the toatn for Australia. Forty names have been handed in to the N.Z.R.F.U., and from these 20 aro to be chosen. Tli3 trial match on Saturday should be worth going miles to Eeo.

Athletic beat Melrose last Saturday in Wellington by 10 point 3to nil, and Poneke beat Wellington although they had not a great deal to spare. A letter from Wellington says that the Ponekos are greatly fancied for the championship, and unless thoy lose matches while three or four of their best men are away with the Now Zealand team they pretty well have a mortgage on it. From tho same source I learn that public opinion in Wellington points to the following backs as next to certainties for tho New South Wales trip:— D'Arcy (Masterton), Bayley (Stratford), Gage and Wynard (Poneke), Rees (Gisborne), and Elliott (Parnell). Tho forwards aro much hardoc to pick, but McLean (Wellington) and Stowart (Poneke) are considered as " good goods." Duncan, of the Kaierau Club, leaves for Wellington on Saturday. The Mauawatu Union have forwarded the names of Epsed, Shannon, and .Robinson (backs) and Cockcrof t, Elliot, Mowlem, and Matravers (forwards) for selection in tho intercolonial team. Jlarlborough send Robinson (full or three-quarter?), Baillie (half), Marshall (forward), and Griffiths (three-quarter).

Hiroa and Howard, two of the Hawke's Bay nominees for tho team, will take part in tha trial match on Saturday. Both men are forwards.

In Christchurch, on Saturday, Linwocd beat Canterbury College by the 10 points to 6. Sydenham won their first championship match by defeating Christchurch (whe have lost all their matches) by 10 points to 9. East Christchurch put Kaiapoi down by 9 points to 2.

In Auckland the match between City and Suburbs attracted moat attention, City eventually winning by 8 points to 2. The Ponsonby-Parnell match was also watched by a large concourse of very excited spectators, party feeling running very high at times. Ponsonby started oit well, butPurne 1 ! finally won by 12 points to 4. Newton secured their fltst victory by defeating Grafton by 17 points to 4.