LATE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 370, 26 August 1897, Page 10

LATE FOOTBALL.

[By Our Wanganui Correspondent.] Undoubtedly the finest game of football ever seen in Wanganui was played on Tuesday between the Auckland and Wanganui representatives. After defeating Taranaki and Wellington it was generally considered the visitors would outclass the local men, but the result pioved the' opinion to be entirely wrong. The game whs hotly contested from start to finish, the Wanganui forwards playing a great game, and a splendid all-round exhibition was witnessed by the spectators. The first spell ended with no score. In the second half Auckland was constantly on the defensive, and the Wanganui team was within an ace of scoring on several occasions. Ten minutes before time Absolum, after a good run, squeezed in right on the corner, but with two local backs jamming him out, there was a good deal of dissatisfaction at the score being allowed. No goal resulted, and Auckland led by 3 points. Just on call of time Wanganui again attacked, and got a penalty in fairly good position, the ball going just outside the bar. This left Auckland the winners of a magnificently-contested game by the A- narrow margin of three points. Both teams are to be congratulated upon the splendid exhibition they gave the public. The best of good feeling was shown between the teams. Auckland’s gen- ' tlemanly style on the field of play was favourably commented upon. Smith hardly got any opportunities, being too well watched, but he appeared a bit groggy on his pins. As all played on both sides for all they knew it would be invidious to single out any, but Masefield, Auckland’s fullback, did his his work well, and never made a mistake, as had he done so it would have cost Auckland the game. Mr A. D. Thomson gave full satisfaction to both teams as referee. A large crowd of the public and footballers gave the Auckland boys a hearty send-off at the railway station.

[by our nabieb correspondent.] The Poverty Bay footballers fairly walked over the Hawke’s Bay team in any department of the game in the match played between them last Saturday at the Recreation Ground, the score at the finish standing:—Poverty Bay 16 points against the local men’s 3. The Hawke’s Bay lads, although much heavier than their opponents, ,were as green as leeks. No combination, no pace, and entire ignorance of each other’s play, were cardinal features of their play during the progress of the game. It is the same old story. A hogfat lot competing against a well-trained combina- > tion, with the usual result —a tremendous beatring. Every member of the visiting team played really well, and therefore do not require individual ' mention. For the losers, Simmonds, who up to this has not been considered by the powers that j)e sufficiently good enough to fill a place in a ■ representative team, was far and away the best performer. Gage, who suffered from want of condition, was also well in evidence.