FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue I, 26 June 1897, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

The Cup matches were suspended on Saturday to allow of a match being played between representatives from Northern Wairoa and a team of Auckland players —not wholly representative. The teams were pretty evenly matched as far as condition went, but there the similarity ended, for the visitors evidently had not studied the fine points of the game ; neither were they so well up in the revised reading of the laws. Their passing was very good, and had they relied more on this means of gaining ground, and on combined rushes, their score would have been considerably larger than it was. For three parts of the first spell Wairoa held their own man hilly, and on more than one occasion were dangerously near the local goal. After this their misfortunes began, clever play on the part of Braund, Riley and Absolum enabling the latter to score at a difficult angle, but the shot for goal was a failure. Shortly afterwards, Braund again smartly passed out to D’Arcy, who literally plunged across the line. Murray managed to place a goal from the try, and the score stood : Auckland 8, Wairoa o. There was no furthur score in the first spell, but just after the beginning of the second half Braund secured the ball and passed to Absolum, who sent it on to D'Arcy; the latter threw to Riley, who scored, but Murray missed an easy shot. Auckland n. Wairoa now woke up and commenced an irresistible rush, carrying their opponents off their feet. A series of brilliant passes resulted in Morris securing Wairoa’s first try. The kick was a very easy one, but Smith (Wairoa) couldn’t lift the ball higher than a couple of feet. This was fated to be the visitors’ only score. Near the close of the game a free kick was awarded Auckland, owing to a Wairoa man lying on the ball, but the attempt at goal was fruitless. The game closed with the scores : Auckland 14 ; Wairoa 3. Perhaps the best play on the ground was that of Braund’s whenever made a mistake. He was instrumental in getting Auckland’s tries, and repeatedly stopped dangerous passing rushes of the opposing forwards. Next to him came G. Smith, whose kicking, running, and collaring was exceptionally good. Pitt, the North Shore man, surprised everyone by his fine forward play ; he was always on the ball, and his kicking and tackling were splendid. He is undoubtedly a coming forward. F. Murray, Gordon, and Handcock played well, but hardly up to their club form. Riley played a magnificent game, and A. Smith, at full, was cool and safe, never missing his kick. The Wairoa men played pluckily all through, but need to play more concertedly to be successful. Their forward play was at times brilliant, and their passing faultless. Prominent amongst the players were Phelan, Christiansen, Matthews, and Elliott.

A football match, Napier v. Pirates, took place at the Recreation Ground, Napier, last Saturday, and resulted in a win for the latter team. The Pirates played well, and scored rapidlj—indeed, when the game closed they had 34 points, while Napier had only 6. Maicon, Double, Brophy, Hollis, Strickland and Tankard scored tries for the winners, and Ryan potted a goal from the field. F. Jago and S. Jago, who rendered excellent service to their team, scored tries for the losing side. On Saturday afternoon a team from H.M.S. ‘Goldfinch ’ met the Napier Association Club's team at the Spit, Napier, and were beaten by four goals to nil. At Marlborough on Saturday an interesting junior cup

match was played between Tua Marina and Waitohi, the latter team going out by train to Tua Marina. In the first spell, H. Burroughs and J. Esson scored tries for Tua Marina, but fell to pieces afterwards. The visitors played with great determination in the second spell, and after some splendid passing, Wilmott kicked a goal from the field ; Carter did likewise near the end of the game, and Tua Marina not being able to increase their score, victory rested with Waitohi by 8 points to 6. Mr C. Simpson (Blenheim) acted as referee, and his verdicts were always prompt and fair.