FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 510, 27 September 1900, Page 7

FOOTBALL

THE ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHP TOURNAMENT. AUCKLAND EASILY DEFEAT WELLINGTON. The Asflociation Championship tournament commenced on Thursday afternoon last at Potter’s Paddock, when Auckland met and defeated .Wellington by six goals to one. The weather kept fine until noon, when it gave signs of breaking, and as the time for play approached steady rain set in, and this continued during the greater part of the afternoon. The attendance was not very large, but those present seemed enthusiastic in the game, and they were rewarded for their journey by a very good game considering the unfavourable circumstances under which it was played. Mr W. Heather, who officiated ias referee, gave every satisfaction, as also did Messrs Smytheman and Knctt, line umpires for Wellington and Auckland respectively. The personel of the two teams were as follows: —

Wellington — Goalkeeper, Burns ; backs, Godber and Swan; halves, Clark, Payton (captain), and Renai; forwards, Monat, McDonald, Collins, and Wells. — Goalkeeper, Southall ; backs, Wright and Hayman ; halves, Sawbridge, Bellamy, and Smart; forwards, V. Heather (captain), C. Heather, A. (Smith, V. Richards, ana H. Goldie. THE PLAY. Auckland won the toss, and took advantage of the strong wind which was blowing from the western goal. McDonald set the ball going for the visitors, and Austin Smith and V. Heather started a likely rush, which was, however, doomed to disappointment, as Clarke cut in and spoilt. The blue and whites again rushed down the field, but the ball went over at the corner. Wells, on the.resumption of play, got in a fine dribble and kick to centre, which put Auckland on the defensive. el ling ton got a corner, but the kick in proved resultless, as the ball was I headed over the. line.. Auckland rushed the visitors’ goal, but spoilt by Bellamy kicking over. Collins headed a dangerous rush on the black end white’s territory, but slipped when near the goal, and Southall quickly removed the danger. Renai neatly placed a corner for the visitors in front of the home goal, and a scramble ensued, from which the ball crossed the line.

Auckland, from the kick-off, quickly worked the ball down into Wellington’s quarters, and had things pretty well as they liked until Clarke again cut in and brought play back to the home team’s territory, where Bellamy saved a possible score with a good bit of play. On the resumption of play Wellington resumed the attack, and Paton attempted to head a good centre through the posts, but failed, and V. Heather getting possession of the ball, sent it well into neutral territory, and his fellow forwards took the ball close to the visitors’ goal, but in their eagerness to score kicked over. V. Heather shortly afterwards threw away a good chance by shooting instead of centreing the ball, and shortly afterwards Smith and Richards spoilt each other by both trying to take the ball at once. A little later Auckland were awarded a corner, and Sawbridge neatly placed the ball in front of the net, where the Auckland forwards nearly succeeded in scoring. Collins and Wells worked the ball back to the home goal after a fine dribble, but the latter ran the ball over. The home team now livened up, and V. Heather, after beating Godber, shot at goal, but Burns stopped and Gober kicked over. Goldie shortly afterwards had a shot, but the ball struck Swain and crossed the line, and Auckland were awarded a corner. Smart took the kick, but the only result was that the ball was again kicked over the line. Shortly after this 0. Heather beat Burns by a beautiful shot, from a pass from Austin Smith, and registered Auckland’s first .

goal, some thirty-five minutes after the kick-off. (Auckland 1, Wellington 0.) A few minutes later V. Heather tried at goal from a nice centre by Richards, but he did not put enough force into his kick, and thus failed to score.. V. Heather neatly placed a corner, and the visiting goalkeeper punched out, but Austin Smith promptly headed it through and scored Auckland’s second goal. (Auckland 2, Wellington 0). The weather cleared slightly during the second half, and Auckland showed improved form, and had matters pretty well their own way during the whole of the spell. Smart attacks were the general order, and Goldie, Auckland’s wing-for-ward, put in some very good shots at goal. Austin Smith got on a dangerous dribble, and took a shot which Burns just managed to save. The Auckland forwards again attacked, and after several unsuccessful attempts at goal, Richards managed to pilot the ball through. (Auckland 3, Wellington 0). 0. Heather made an attempt, but the Wellington goal-keeper saved, and the ball went back to Auckland’s territory, where Smith centred, and Goldie essayed at goal. His attempt, however, failed, and Smith gave V. Heather a pretty pass, which the latter sent right in front of Wellington’s goal, but the Wellington goal-keeper saved, but this relief was only mqmentry, for C. Heather returned a very hot shot, which the Wellington goalkeeper missed, and Auckland thus registered

another goal.. (Auckland 4, Wellington 0). From the kick-off Martin sent down a low shot, which grazed the goal, and Smith and Heather Bros, getting the ball, carried play into Wellington’s quarters, where Godber kicked intd touch. Wellington pulled themselves together, and invaded the home goal, but Southall saved. Goldie took the ball well up the field on the left wing, and essayed a shot at the goal but failed. About 15 minutes from time Austin Smith scored Auckland’s fifth goal. (Auckland 5, Wellington 0). Wellington again livened up somewhat, and about ten minutes from time McDonald beat Hayman, and sent in a fine shot, which Southall missed. (Auckland 5, Wellington 1). Play fromjthis out became fast, and Wellington on several occasions took shots at the home goal, but failed. Just on the call of time Richards shot Auckland’s sixth goal, and the bell sounding, left Auckland the winners by 6 goals to 1. Wellington seemed to have slightly the best of it at the outset, but the home team asserted their superiority before the game was far advanced, and held it throughout the game. Burns, the Wellington goal-keeper played a really good game, and the shots which he missed were really hard ones to stop. OTAGO BEAT AUCKLAND.

The final match for the Championship was played at Potter’s Paddock on Saturday afternoon last between the Otago and Auckland representatives. The attendance did not come

up to expectations, there only being about 1000 people present. The game was a fast and interesting one, and Otago showed superior combination to our local “ seekers.” Mr W. Heather gave every satisfaction as referee. The personnel of the teams was as follows :— Auckland : Goalkeeper, Southall ; backs, Wright and Hayman; halves, Sawbridge, Bellamy, and Smart; forwards, V. Heather, 0. Heather, A. Smith, V. Richards, and H. Goldie. Otago: Goalkeeper, W. Lothian; backs, W. Brown, and G. McMillian; halves, S. Middlemas, R. Neigle, G. Dodd; forwards, S. Brown, J. McMillan, D. McMillan, T. Aldridge, and W. Morrison. Auckland won the toss, and took advantage of the sun. D. McMillan set the ball rolling, and the visitors immediately proceeded to the attack. From some fine dribbling Middleman kicked the ball well down to the home goal, and Bellamy saved by kicking out. The Southerners still pressed, until Sawbridge relieved by dribbling down into Otago’s quarters, but this was only a momentarily r lief, for Brown and Middlemas soon brought play back by some fine kicking. The chance was spoilt, however, by kicking over. Otago got a corner, whicn was spoilt by being kicked too far into the field, and one of the Auckland backs kicked into touch. Dodd essayed a shot, but the ball went wide, and the

local forwards rallying gradually worked the ball back, only to loose possession however, and Middlemas gaining.it ribbled well towards Auckland’s quarters. With a nice centre he put the local goalkeeper on the defensive, and he saved by kicking out. Austin Smith, with a fine dribble, put the Southerners on the defensive, and then passed to O. Heather, who improved matters until he was beaten by Dodd, who kicked into touch. Auckland returned to the attack, and looked decidedly dangerous until the Otago goalkeeper threw out. This gave the visitors an advantage, and they charged down the field until Wright was met. He sent the ball back with a long kick, and it was taken to within a few yards of the Otago goal, where McMillan saved by kicking over the line. Auckland got a corner. Otago cleared, and by combined play, pressed Auckland hard for some minutes, Wright ultimately saving. Morrison, with a good kick, placed play in front of Auckland’s goal, but their chance, a rather easy one, was spoilt by the ball being kicked over the line. The Southerners kept up a strong attack on Auckland’s goal for some time, until O. Heather took the ball down from mid-field, and passed to his brother, but his kick was not hard enough, and G. McMillan saved. The visitors again pub Auckland on the defensive, and J. McMillan essayed a shot from open play, but kicked too easily, and Wright cleared Auckland’s lines. The ball travelled well into Otago’s territory where Goldie spoilt a good chance by

kicking too hard. Bellamy took a long shot, but the Southern goalkeeper sent the ball out and the forwards getting possession of it rushed down into the home territory where they had the Aucklander’s on the defensive. S. Brown sent in a fine shot, but Southall was equal to the occasion and punched it out. Otago remained on the attack for some minutes, until off-side play by S. Brown gave Auckland a chance to elear their lines. Richards gave C. Heather a good pass, and the latter beating MoMlilan attempted a shot but failed. A few minutes later halftime was sounded. On the resumption of play the odds looked all in favor of the Southerners as the sun was not right in the local men’s eyes. It was not, however, until a few minutes before the call of time that they managed to pilot the ball through the posts and thus win the championship by one goal to nil. They assumed the aggressive from the start, and time and again should have scored only for inaccurate shooting. About the middle of the spell Auckland carried the ball well into Otago’s territory from a freekick, and O. Heather looked as if he had a certain score, but he was too eager and sent the ball over the top of the goal, thus loosing Auckland’s best chance of the day. Towards the end of the spell Otago made shot after shot at the home goal, but m every instance were beaten by our goalkeeper who was playing a splendid game. He,

however, made a mistake at the end of the game which cost his team the match. A free kick gave Dodd a chance, and he placed the ball right in the mouth of the goal. Southall in endeavouring to punch it out knocked it right into the net and thus Otago scored their only goal. Almost immediately afterwards the bell sounded and the Otago team left the field victorious by one goal to nil. ... The Otago team deserved their victory as they showed superior play and combination throughout the match. ' They should have scored more had they been able to Shoot better. Lothian did not have much to do, but what he was asked to do he did well. &• McMillan and W. Brown are a fine pair of backs who kick and elf I p VFoII. Dodd, Middlemas, and Nagle each did their fair share, of the work and fed their forwards well. J. McMillan, D. McMillan, and S. Brown were, perhaps, the pick of the visitors forwards, but there is little to choose amongst any of them all being real good players • Southall, the goalkeeper for Auckland, had plenty of work to do, and did it creditably until he made the slip at the end of the game, which cost Auckland the match. ■ Wright was not as good in his kicking as Usual,'and his companion back, Hayman, showed very poor- tackling abilities. Bellamy and Saubridge were the best of the -halves, Smart, their colleague, was a bit slow, and seems to have a good deal yet to learn before he can rank as a first-class rep-man. The forwards deserve very little praise for their lack of combination, and especially after their display angainst Wellington on Thursday last. WANGANUI V TARANAKI. WIN FOR WANGANUI BY 8 POINTS TO 6- ' The return match between the Wanganui and Tsiranaki reps, was played at Hawera on Wednesday, September 19, when the Wanganui representatives won by eight points to five. Tie leather, was fine, and the ground was in capital Ord’t. Taranaki won the tpss, and took advantage of the strong wind which was blowing. The game was nOt a good exposition of football, and the spectators were very partial. After some tiwo or three attempts on Taranaki’s part to spore, A. Hunter managed to evade the invincible Takarangi and scored, Hardgrave kicked a fine goal, which made the score five to nil some five Triinntns after the start of the game Near the ehd' of the first spell a passing run was started by Morgan, Who sent the ball on to Shannon, who transferred to Tregear, and the latter dropped a pretty goal. This left a margin of only one point on the call of half-time. Soon after the kick-off in the second spell Wanganui were forced, and Walsh, one of the Taranaki Wings, was ordered off the field for striking Montgomery. About half way through the spell Steedman and Bobinson took play into Taranaki’s 25 by a fine passing run, and Shannon got a mark. This gave Takarangi a shot at the goal, and the Maori landed a fine goal. This placed , Wanganui three points in the lead, and the score remained at this until the call of time.

! The play throughout was a long way below representative form. Taranaki had to play several emergencies. Young was picked to play full-back, but had to play forward, whilst Alf Bayly, who has not played before this' season, was prevailed on to don the jersey once more and play full-back. Morgan and J. McLean flayed in the place of Hamlin and O’Dowda.

i Mr Emmett, of Masterton, referred in the Taranaki-Wdnganui match, but some of his decisions did not suit a . certain portion of the spectators, who showed a very Unsportsmanlike manner in hooting, and when he crJe-ed Walsh off the hoofing Was intense- After the game was over he was followed up by a hooting ard yelling crowd, who

went as far as to pelt him with mud and stones. It is only fair to state that the Taranaki players and officials were thoroughly disgusted with this contemptible conduct, which, as far as our experiencs here in Auckland goes, beats everything ever witnessed on a football field before, and.it is to be sincerely hoped that such conduct will never be witnessed again.