All-round Sport

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 161, 24 August 1893, Page 6

All-round Sport

By “ The Hawk.”

Football. The Auckland v. Wairoa match was played on Saturday, at Potter’s Paddock, and proved to be one of the most interesting matches that have been played in Auckland this season, the game resulting in a draw, the score being 13 points all. Auckland kicked with the wind and kept their opponents well on their side of the centre during most of the spell. It was soon seen that the game would be a tough one, as the Wairoa forwards, who played splendidly, being very fast, besides wnich they also kept well on the ball, whilst their backs always tackled well, and the ‘ feint pass ’ by some of our ‘ clever’ men did not come off, as generally is the case with country teams. Only once did the visitors look like losing heart, and that was at the close of the first spell, when Otway, Braund and Edmonds scored in quick succession ; but the interval did them a power of good, and coming out for the second spell with a full determination to reverse the tables, and having the wind in their favour they gave the 1 town boys ’ all they wanted in the first part of the spell, simply romping over them, but after that when the scores were equal the Auckland men pulled themselves together, and just managed to stave them off from scoring again. d he visitors’ kicking and collaring were very good, and were the features of their play, whilst their forward rushes were irresistible at times, and not only one would come through, but four or five together, simply pushing aside our men like so much straw. But there are one or two things our visitors must learn in order to become first class. They should pay more strict attention to the rules ; they should learn not to play a ball when offside, and also take care to be onside at the kick-off, both at the centre and the 25. They seldom, if ever, gave their opponents the five yards required by the rules, and they have a bad habit of 1 knocking on.’ With a little attention to these details they will be a hard team to beat. They should also give a little more attention to passing and taking the ball, as they on several occasions fumbled miserably. Of the visitors Ten Kitching, Lourie and Butland were the best of the backs, whilst the Molloy’s and Neill were perhaps the best of a good set of forwards. Of the Auckland men the forwards played a very poor spiritless game, and several times some of the best men miserably ‘ shirked ’ the scrum. To my mind ‘ Nudger ’ Otway played the best game, working very hard, whilst the run from which he secured his try was exceedingly clever. Moore, on the wing, was firstrate, and played an excellent game. I have not seen a better game played in Auckland this season, while on the other hand Langsford, on the other wing, was very poor, and we have certainly much better men who could fill the position. The least said about the remaining forwards the better. Of the backs Clayton at full played wretchedly, being miles too slow for such a fast team as the Wairoa, whilst he showed a most reprehensible habit in laying on the ball like he did, thereby giving ‘ free kicks.’ His collaring was fair. Peter Mackie at three-quarter was out of his place, and it is not fair to criticise him too severely. He tried his best, and was decidedly better than Blewden, who was very much off. Kissling, as he always does, played a sterling game. On Saturday he was übiquitous, and I have never seen him play a finer attacking game, his clever feinting was immense, and he never hung on to the ball too long. Braund was all right as long as the opposing wings did not harass him, but in the second spell as soon as the Wairoa boys dropped to him, he was nowhere. He never attempted to stop a rush, nor did I see him collar a man, in fact when the visitors forwards came tumbling through the scrums in the second half, he seemed to get out of the way, whilst Edmonds, on the other hand, showed beyond doubt to all unbiassed minds, how much superior he is to Braund in all departments in a hard game. His defence in the second spell was superb; he always got his kick, no matter in what position, and his feinting runs were much more successful than Braund’s. It is to be hoped he will be in the team against Taranaki, as in my opinion he is much superior as centrehalf to any other man in Auckland, whilst he is also accustomed to play with Elliott. Moore should also be included as wing, whilst there is not the slighest doubt we

have not a better three-quarter in Auckland than Kissling. The representative football match between Auckland and Taranaki, which will be played at New Plymouth, is creating (writes the Taranaki correspondent of the Sporting Review under date August 17) a great deal of interest in Taranaki, and is eagerly looked forward to.

The Star and Waimate Clubs have played two matches for the Provincial Championship, and on each occasion the Waimate came out victorious, and thus win the premiership of Taranaki for 1893. In the first meeting at New Plymouth on Saturday week last, the Waimate won by by 4. points (goal potted by Hugh Good) to nil. On the following Thursday they met again at Hawera, when Waimate scored 7 points (a goal from a try and a try) to 3 (penalty goal). J. Lambie and Christie scored tries for the winners, and Young converted one ; and Robinson kicked a goal for Star from a penalty. The Star II and Hawera juniors will play off for the Junior Championship, and a hot game should be witnessed, as both teams are strong. —The Tukapa team will come out second in the Northern division for the Junior Cup. On Thursday last they journeyed to Stratford, and beat the local juniors by 13 points to nil. Braund played a good game for the winners.

The annual match between Auckland and Thames came off on Saturday, in fine weather. There was a large attendance. Auckland won by 9 points to nil.