FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 110, 1 September 1892, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

[by

POSTER.]

In last Saturday’s trial match the teams were: —Probables—Full, Kissling; threequarters, Jervis, Riley, Masefield ; halves, Blewden, Braund, Rhodes; forwards, Bruce, Cole, Dacre, Green, McMillan, Speight and Ingles. Possibles —Full, Taylor; three-quarter, Gaudin, Breen, Branson; halves, Moore, Edmonds, Mercer ; forwards, Airey, Caulton, Geard, Green (Parnell), McSweeney, Montgomerie, Pilkington, Williams, Wright. On the whole the play was not brilliant, although some individuals shone, Gaudin, Moore, Blewden, Edmonds and Mercer among the candidates for rep. honours playing well in the back division, and Dacre, both Greens, Geard, Airey and McMillan being conspicuous among the forwards. It is hardly necessary to give details of the game, which ended in a victory for Probables by 15 points ton. In the first spell Moore from an excellent pass by Gaudin, scored a try, which Caulton did not convert, and C. Green from a Possible rush scored another, from which Edmonds placed a good goal. Airey also got in but the try was not converted. For Probables McMillan scored and Jervis converted, and—Masefield secured a try in a difficult position, which Jervis nearly potted a goal. " the second spell for Possibles was again instrumental in enabling Mercer to score, but the place was fruitless. For the Probables Masefield scored a good try and Jervis converted it, as well as a free kick awarded to Probables just before time was called. Neither fullback shone particularly, and I notice that Branson is to have a trial next Saturday in that responsible position. It is quite on the cards he may prove himself worthy of rep. honours in that capacity, and I commend the judgment of the Selection Committee. Peace, I see, is centre three-quarter, and if his hand is sound will doubtless be in the final selection, j Gaudin, however, is playing in such grand! form that his claim deserves serious cop J sideration. Jervis does not pray next Saturday, it being good policy- to give him a rest, but of- his- place' there is no question. O’Connor, I hear, will be well enough to play in the Canterbury match if selected. For Saturday’s match the following teams have been chosen: — Probables : Back, Kissling ; threequarters, Gaudin, Peace, Masefield; halves, Elliott, Braund, Paul; forwards, Cole, Brownlee, Dacre, C. Green, Maynard, McMillan, Speight and Stewart. Possibles: Back, Branson; threequarters, Breen, Riley, Mercer; halves, Moore, Edmonds, Rhodes ; forwards, Bruce, Caulton, Airey, Wright, Geard, Montgomerie, Williams, R. Green, and Stone. Emergencies : Taylor, Blewden, Hales, Pilkington, Brady, Ronayne, McSweeney, Inglis, and A. Harley. I am glad to see that three Thames men, viz.. Paul, Stewart, and Brownlee, are included. Those who criticise the teams must remember that they are only tentative, and really do not mean more than giving an opportunity to good men to show their best form, which is the raison d'etre of trial matches. Taranaki, on a wet ground, vanquished Canterbury by 10 to 6. The scores, however.. show that the superior place-kick-ing won the match, as Canterbury scored three tries, but converted none, while Taranaki scored two tries, converting one, and a penalty place as well. Canterbury combination is highly praised, so our reps, must leave no stone unturned to improve in that respect ; the forwards, especially, should practice combined dribbles with short toe-passing. Juniors. Ponsonby 11. v. City 11. A hard-fought match, of which City had perhaps a trifle the best, resulted in a win for Ponsonby by 5 points to 4. In the first spell Carr scored for City, but failed to convert. Downey was the next to get in, but Carr failed with the place. After more hard play, good passing enabled Masefield, after an excellent run, to score, but the try was not converted. The spell ended with the score —City 4, Ponsonby 2. In the second spell the only score was from a penalty kick awarded to Ponsonby. Cook took the place, and assisted somewhat by the breeze, sent the ball well over the bar from fully 60 yards, truly a magnificent effort. Ponsonby’s victory renders another match necessary

to decide the tie between the same Clubs. It will be played off on Saturday, and it is safe to cause interest and excitement. In the Wellington-Hawkes’ Bay match, which ended in a victory for the former by ii points to 5, I notice that one quondam crack half (Arthur Rees) distinguished himself by scoring a try and dropping a magnificent .goal from a penalty kick—Hawke’s Bay’s only scores. For Wellington Lee secured two tries and Gage and White one each. Ellison just managed to convert one, the ball striking the bar and rolling over. My Napier correspondent writes: — “ Hawke’s Bay were defeated by Wellington by 11 points to 5. The ground was in a very muddy state, though the day was fine, and there was a large attendance. The visitors were far too tricky, and used their heads more than their opponents, and were, in fact, smarter in every way. White, Gage and Lee (2) scored tries for Wellington, one of which was converted by Ellison. A. Rees scored a try and kicked a penalty goal for Napier. He played a splendid game.” (from our own correspondent.) New Plymouth, Aug. 30. The first rep. football match between Taranaki and Canterbury was played at Hawera on Monday. Weather was wet and the ground in a very bad state, water lying in pools in places. In the first spell Hugh Good kicked a penalty goal for Taranaki and Pearson scored a try which Good converted. Johnston scored a try for Canterbury. Taranaki had the best of it in the first spell.; In the second spell Canterbury played up and scored two more tries, Evans and A. Ebert being the scorers, but they were not lucky enough to get a goal. Near the finish of the game A. Bayly made a strong run, fended off Hobbs, the Canterbury fullback, and scored a try for Taranaki. Good failed to convert. Taranaki thus won by 10 points to 6 points. The game was principally confined to the forwards. Lambie, the well-known Taranaki forward, got his shoulder dislocated, but refused to leave the field, and played on. The Canterbury men left for Napier this morning.