FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 475, 31 August 1899, Page 7

FOOTBALL

[By

Vigilant.]

AUCKLAND v. OHINEMURI. A Poor Show hy the Reps. Last week I expressed the hope that a match would be arranged for last Saturday, so that the representatives might have the advantage of playmg together in a game. If I could have foreseen Saturday’s play I would not have give utterance to that hope, for the exposition of football given by the chosen players of Auckland was terribly off. I suppose the exhibition did not count for much in the eyes of the players who deeply disappointed the spectators by their tame display. Against the Ohinemuri men —notwithstanding they were a fine body of grafters the Auckland reps ought to have run up a big score. But they did nothing of the kind. They won the game certainly, but the win was not of the sort to encourage people with the idea that our men would have a successful time on their southern k£ip. The reps, won, and for that much thanks. Had the Ohinemuri backs possessed a little more knowledge of the game I believe there would have been Rome more crowing in the Thames Peninsula. e have been spared that, so we must put down the exhibition as due to careful tactics in order to prevent accidents. The rep. forwards should have simply run over the opposing,vanguard, they really did it now and then, but the spasmodic efforts quickly snuffed out, and the pack returned to the go-as-you-please style of play. Just for a few brief moments in the second spell the team woke up to the danger they were in, and put a little dash and vim into the game. However, the Ohinemuri men were not to be walked over, and finding the work too hard, perhaps, the Aucklanders ungracefully returned to the old order of things. The form was not representative by any means, but, doubtless, when “going for the beans ” on Saturday we shall hear of a far better exhibition. And we shall want to. The Ohinemuri forwards were a sterling lot, and they worked very well against their more experienced and weightier opponents. Coote, at half back, pat in a big amount of useful work both in kicking and defence. He stopped the rushes gallantly and when his forwards gave him the ball be was quick in getting it away. Bockley was also very useful in defence. He marked Phelan very effectively, and spoilt the latter s openings time after time. George Gillett, the full-back of the rep. team, played centre three-quarter for Ohinemuri, and a rattling fine game he played. .He was the mainstay of the team, and in kicking, running, and tackling he was alike excellent. He had every opportunity given him of showing his defensive powers and he proved himself capable and sure. Bradley and Landy, the wing threequarters, also played with plenty of dash, while McLean at full back did his work cleanly and without any fuss. He was generally all there in collaring his man and some of his kicking was excellent. The forwards were all very keen on the ball, but, of course, were not such a brilliant pack as the Aucklanders undoubtedly are. Nevertheless they played a vigorous and sterling game. The rep. forwards played quite below the standard expected of them bar doing the few minutes referred to above. Generally, they lacked dash and seemed disinclined to make the game .willing. Murray was conspicuous as he always is, while Laing and Wilson on the wings were quite alive and kicking. “ Jock ” McGrego” was at certain times the same old “ Jock,” but at others he was hard to recognise as the man who played such a brilliant game for the Thames. Young, at half, showed no falling off on his best form, though now and then his kicking was all awry. Phelan —well Phelan must have been “feelin’” a bit sick at leaving the Wairoa belles, for he displayed nothing like his true form, slbeit Rockley looked after him very closely on the near side. Absolum ought never to have played on Saturday. He was not fit, and he played against the doctor’s orders. He looked to be badly hurt after the impact with Bradley, but under the care of Dr. Erson he quickly recovered. McPike played a good game, as did Harrison, but there was not quite the passing one expected from the openings made. Pillenger, who came on the field when Absolum retired, did all serenely, and Dick McGregor, at full-back, was safe and sound. It was no fault of his that Bradley scored for Ohinemuri, for Harrison, instead of leaving the ball to McGregor, tried to be too soon, and failed, kicking the ball right into Bradley’s hands. Absolum scored the first try for Auckland, and but for his usual weakness of making for the touch-line instead of the enemy’s line direct, he would have scored more. Harrison also scored, through the help of McPike. Murray’s place-kicking was good, though he was not successful in gaining a goal. Twice he hit the post, and the third try was not very far away. Six to three in favor of Auckland was the final score in a game that reflected more credit on the losers than the winners.

THE AUCKLAND TOUR.

FIXTURES. September 2. —Otago. September 7.—Canterbury. September 9. —Wellington. September 14. —Taranaki. The Auckland reps, left for the South by the Rotoiti on Tuesday. The team travels under the joint management of Messrs F. Murray and J. Gillett, and consists of the following:—Fullback, G. Gillett; three quarters, Absolum, McPike, Harrison, McGregor, and Pillenger;

five-eight, Phelan; half-back, Young; wings, Laing and Wilson; forwards, Irvine, Gillett, Scott, C. McGregor, Cunningham, Murray, Gallagher, Wilson (City), and Tyler.

At Parawai on Thursday teams representing the Auckland and Thames Unions played a drawn match neither side scoring. At Farndon Park, Napier, on Thursday, the Hawke’s Bay reps met and defeated the Manawatu fifteen by 37 points to nih At a meeting of the managing committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, held in Wellington on Thursday night, a letter was read from W. McKenzie (a well-known ex representative player), stating that a friend of his waa anxious to know the conditions which would be required td send a football team to tour Great Britain under the auspices of the New Zealand Union. TTis friend proposed that a team, which should consist of twenty men, should leave the colony at the end of next season, and be absent for eight months, that it should be selected by the promoter and two gentlemen nominated by the New Zealand Union, that as the expense of the tour would be £3OOO, the promoter should receive eight per cent, on the amount he expended, and one-fifth of the net proceeds, and that the team should also play in New Zealand and New South Wales. It was decided to send a copy of Mr McKenzie’s letter to each of the unions, with a request that the unions should express their opinions on the proposal The junior team selected to represent Hawke’s Bay against the Wairarapa juniors, at Farndon next Saturday, is as follows: —Full-back, B.

Franklin ; three-quarters, F. Russell, D. Nicholson, G. Martin ; five-eights, G. Baird, T. Jago; half, P. King ; forjvarde, McCarthy, Mullaney, Falvey, Gardiner, Graham, Tyne, Cunningham ; emergencies, Horne, Minett (forwards), Eddy (back). The senior representatives left for Wellington on Tuesday, and played at that place on the following day. The only alteration in the original selection is that Bissell (five eight) was unable to get away, and his place is taken by J. O’Connell. Baker accompanies the team as extra forward. —Napier correspondent. On Saturday the Otago and Taranaki teams met at Dunedin, and after an interesting game the contest resulted in a draw, each side registering a try. In the second spell a very serious accident occurred to Armit, the crack threequarter back. It is feared that there is injury to the spine.

Taranaki plays Canterbury at Christchurch on Saturday. The Thames School of Mines team played the Auckland University, at Potter’s Paddock, on Saturday, when a thoroughly enjoyable game ended in a draw. The University team was presented with a beautiful banner, which had been made by Mrs Segar and a number of other ladies interested in the University. At Devonport on Saturday the North Shore Rowing Club played the Auckland Rowing Club, when the Shore won by 10 points to nil. Peter

Gerrard scored two tries, both of which were converted. Canterbury beat Nelson on Saturday by 17 points to nil. On Saturday the Wairarapa reps, defeated the Manawatu fifteen by 17 to 3.