FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1328, 30 August 1886, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v. HEW SOUTH WALES.

Auckland, August 28.

The intercolonial football match, Auckland v. New South Wales, took place thin afternoon at Newmarket. 6000 people were present; the weather was showery, and the ground sloppy. Shaw captained the Sydney team, and J. A. Warbrick the Auckland team. Lecky was unable to play owing to the death of bis father. A. Stewart, of the Grafton Club, replaced him. Auckland won the toss, and having the wind in their favor, had the best of the play in the first spell, but it was confined to work among the forwards, the backs not being able to run. The Sydney men passed splendidly. A few minutes after starting Whiteside got in from a short run, but Warbrick missed the goal. Towards the end of the first Lindsay got a try, the ball being passed out from the scrimmage Byan took the kick, but missed the goal. The Sydney men weto forced down four times in the first spell. In the second spell Sydney improved, but was not equal to the local team. Shaw, captain of the Sydney team, retired in the middle of the term, his shoulder being injured. Shortly afterwards J. A. Warbrick got a try, the ball being passed out of the scrimmage. Warbrick again missed the goal. The Sydney men rallied towards the end of the game, which resulted in a win for Auckland by six points to nil.

WELLINGTON v. NELSON.

Wellington, August 28.

About 1000 were present at the match Wsllingt >n v. Nelson. A sharp wind‘waa blowing ; the ground was slippery and the weather cold-

In the first spell Smith scored a try for Wellington, and Taia’oa kicked a goal from a mark; In the second Ellison by his backing up obtained two tries, but none of them were near the goal posts and nothing was scored from them. The Nelson players showed much inexperience in the game ; never atlemtped during the whole match to paas.and rarely to dribble. Some of their backs and one or two of the forwards stood out from >the rest, and there was some good collaring. The strong wind assisted the local men daring the first spell, but Nelson took little advantage of it. Owing to the state of the tur? the game was nearly all among the forwards and was by no means tereating. Nelson was ont-matched all through. Tha score was 10 points to nothing.

CANTERBURY T. OTAGO. Dunedin, August 28

It was deciJed to play the Canterbury v. Otago interprovincial match notwithstanding that the ground was anything but satisfactory. The match was an enjoyable one, and resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. On the whole Canterbury had the best of the game, their style of play proving more suitable to the state of the ground. Time after time the Otago backs lost ground by attempting to pick up the baP, while the Canterbury backs always kicked. Fraser’s kicking and general smartness saved his side over and over again. Helm ore, Horner, and Allardyca played well for Canterbury. There was a large attendance, notwithstanding the cold and sloppy condition of the ground.