FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2886, 30 April 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE ENGLISH TEAM IH NEW ZEALAND.'

The Otago Match.,

The weather was lovely for the first match in New Zealand of the English Football team, if anything a little too warm. The attendance at the Dunedin ground was enormous, being estimated at about 10,000. The Englishmen were the favorites, 3 to 1 being freely laid. The Otago men were taller on the whole, but the Englishmen were sturdier, their average weight being •12st while Otago's was 12st. The Englishmen won the toss, and kicked off, rushing the Blues for some time; By good following up, and by steady combined play, the Otago men cleared their lines and carried the ball to the half flag. After some give and take play, in which both sides collared well, Anderton ..(England) made a grand run from a pass, and was in touch in goal at the corner flag, a maul resulting in favor of Otago, who cleared their lines and looked like scoring until England again got the leather, and carried the play by a good run to the half flag. After the throw out Otago were again pressed. Soon, after some give and take play, the English goal was in danger, but after a few seconds they were given a free kick for an infringement in the rules. Hunter, returning well, caused the play to appear again in the English twenty-five, Scrum now followed scum in quick succession, but never lasted long, A combined rush of the Otago men now followed, in which Morrison potted a splendid goal, and Otago drew first blood. Otago was again pressed after the kick off, and ■Thomson relieved them by a good run, but Stoddarfc more than neutralised it a few seconds after by a still more brilliant one, and was put out of touch just at the corner flag. The ball was well thrown out by the English, and their splendid passing resulted in their securing a try, but a good run by Lynch and a jump succeeded in preventing a score. The Otago men then woke up and a splendid dribble by Thomson resulted in England being forced down. From the kick Noel made a grand run, and then Davie (Otago) should have scored, as from the throw out he had the ball nicely passed to liiin,'but he mulled it. Stoddart got away several times, but was always collared by Lynch' or Thomson. By good play on the part of Otago, especially Macfarlane, the ball was presently in the Colors' twenty-five, and though the play swayed back and forward, it remained there until half-time was called, with Otago's score 3 and England 1.

Morrison Melted off for Otago after" short interval. The Englishmen now commenced to give a taste of their quality, and played harder and rougher. A combined rush by them took the play into the Blues' (Otago) twenty-five; and the Englishmen were evidently determined to score, Their efforts were neutralised for a time by the conspicuous play of Lynch, Macfarlane, Morrison, and Gibson. -Faster and faster became the play, the English playing into each others hands so well that it was impossible to distinguish individual play, At last the leather was passed to Anderton (England), who made a splendid fending run along the line, and got in at the corner lag. The kick by Haslamwas a miserable exhibition, and the score now stood—Otago, 3; England, 2, From the kick off Otago got the worst of it, as the play was soon in their twentyfives again, and, notwithstanding their strenuous efforts, they could not get away, the' running and passing of their opponents being too good, At last the ball was passed to Speakmau (England), whopotfced an undeniable goal, The score was now 5 points to 3. Direotly after the kick off, the play was back again in Otago's territory, the combined play of the English being beautiful to witness, Once or twice Otago got on way with a dribble, but it was back again almost immediately. Time after time the English screwed the scrum, and got away with the ball, and it was evident that they would add to their score before time was called. Their play was rough, and once one of their men was hooted for scragging Thompson and throwing him into touch very roughly, Speakman getting another pass potted another goal within five minutes of time being called, the score now being England 8, Otago 3. From the kick off, the Blues rushed the leather into the English quarters, and a good run by Noel, nearly resulted in a score. Throwing the ball out before the line was formed, the Englishmen dribbled it down the line, although many of them were off side. The Blues carried the play out of their twenty-five, fti}d here it was when the whistle sounded, and the Englishmen were left victors in their first match.

The Wellington Evening Press is, by the coupon system, getting the opinion of its readers as to their idea of the constitution of a thoroughly representative Wellington team to play in the football match with England. The result of tliQ voting will appear on Monday, 7th May, The return match -Greytown v. Carterton on Saturday last, was won by the latter by one point to nil. The match on the Masterton Football Club's ground on Saturday between the first fifteen of the Masterton, Bed Star, and Te Ore Ore Club's and. a nineteen of the same Clubs resulted in a victory for the. fifteen by two tries, scored respectively by J. Perry and W. Day.' The game was a fast one throughout, the passing being an especial feature, The following team has been selec.

ted by Mr W. Hiracliberg to represent the North Wairarapa in the match •' - ■ .■ against South Wairarapa at Carterton on Saturday next ;—Back, A. Erskine; / three-quarters, 0. Perry, R. son, G. H. Smith; halves, J, PerrjpJJ. H. Perry; wings, Pelliug, Houuslow; forwards, Whatman, Cox, W. E. Welch, W, Day, G. Welch, Igguldeni C. Bannister. Emergencies Full; back, D'Arcy; three-quarter, E. Pelling; lialf-back, Pane; forwards, . Chennells, Wilsone, Akitu, Emmett.

The match betweeu the Masterton and .Upper Plain schools resulted in a drawn game. The former play the Groytown School on Saturday next.