FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 301, 30 April 1896, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

PARNELL V. WAIMATE.

The football season was practically opened on Saturday last, when the longtalked of match between the Waimate (Taranaki) fifteen and Parnell took place at Potter’s Paddock, Epsom, and was witnessed by some two thousand spectators. The general impression was that the visitors, who are considered the premier team playing under the Taranaki Rugby Union’s auspices, would prove too strong for the local

opposition, more particularly as it was whispered round that they came into our midst thoroughly wound up for the fray, with several week’s practice to their credit; while the maroons had only spent a couple of weeks together at the gymnasium, and had done little or no outside work. As the teams entered the deciding ground immediately after the toll of three o’clock, it'was noticeable that the Waimate boys held the advantage in weight, though for activity and general appearance there was little or nothing to choose between the two fifteens. But the conclusion of the match told an unexpected tale, and the Aucklanders left the field victors by 12 points to four, which, though apparently a heavy beating, is not as severe as it would appear at first glance, no less than seven of the winning team’s points coming from goals landed by Murray, one from a mark, and

the other a penalty goal. But to revert back to the afternoon’s doings, it was plainlv noticeable that the invading team lacked a knowledge of the finer points of the game, which might on several occassions have greatly relieved them, while both teams lacked? combination, and little or no passing worthy of mention was indulged in. In fact, from a spectator’s point of view the struggle was a decidedly uninteresting exhibition of scrums and free kicks, but in saying this we have to make'every concession for the fact that this was the initial contest of the incoming season. Then, again, the visitors are not the team that have carried off the senior honours down below for the last three years, as J. Lambie, Hughes, and H. Good were not with them, a trio that would have strengthened the Waimate ranks to such an extent that an entirely different tale might have been told on Saturday. Below are my notes on the play and players.

Murray has not forgotten how to place kick during the off-season. He kicked two beautiful goals on Saturday, and went very near another;from past the half-way flag. C. Young, who played centre threequarter for Waimate, is a fine stamp of a player; without being brilliant, his kicking and running was good, and he got off a few passes to his wings. Edmonds' captained Parnell, and, as usual, played a clever all-round game; his great forte seemed to be stopping rushes, and time after time, when it looked as if Waimate was well under way, they were blocked by Edmonds’ forwards cleverness. “ Doss ” Jervis gave us a taste of his old form, playing in the Parnell v. Waimate match. His long drop-kicks were a feature of the game, and his defensive work was also very good.

Elliott played his usual hard game, and made many openings, but on two or three occasions he passed very wildly, and lost what advantage had been gained. Whitley, Erith, and Hancock were very smart in loose play, and it was from the latter opening that Brodie scored his try. The Waimate forwards all grafted hard in the scrum, but lacked the knack of heeling out the ball. The Parnell for wards were very strong on this point. Jacobs was the only scorer for Waimate, and his smart drop kick was a clever, although a lucky, piece of play.

North Shore, City, Grafton, and Suburbs teams all held practice matches last Saturday. The Wairarapa Rugby Union has a credit balance of £5 12s 3s on last year’s transactions. The Union has decided to register under the Unclassified Societies Act of 1895.

“ Hughbie ” Dacre, who played for Suburbs two seasans and latterly m Wellington, is now in Invercargill, and is reported to have played a splendid game against a Dunedin team some few weeks back. John McConnell, one of our most popular forwards of last season, left for Christchurch on Thursday, where he will do street duty for the local police force. Smith, Absolum, and probably Siddle, will be compelled to play for Suburbs this season, much against their wish. On Thursday night la«t. the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union hel<l their annual meeting. Present : —Messrs F. Logan (chairman), Wilson, Mitchell, H. Swan, A. C. Bennett, Fleming, O’Connel, Donne ly, and Gould. The balance-sheet, which showed a credit balance of £llO 19s 4d, was unanimously adopted. Mr F. Logan was elected president, and

Messrs Lowry, Cotterill, Bennet, Thornton, Whittington, Morgan, Fenton, Sainsbury, Sidey, and Drs. Milne, Thomson, Jarvis, and Brennan were elected vicepresidents ; bon. secretary, Mr W. J. Reid ; hon. treasurer, Mr 8. Fleming (reelected). Mr T. Morrison was re-elected a delegate to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The opening of the season was fixed for May 2nd, at the Recreation Grounds, when a match, Town v. Country, will be played. Messrs Swan, Fleming, and Kelly were appointed to select the town team, and Messrs Tomoand and O’Connell the representatives of the country. Entries for the first, second, and third championships close with the secretary on April, the 30th An application from the Taradale Football Club for affiliation with the Union was granted. North Shore will be without the services of D. Gage this season. He left for Wellington last Thursday.