FOOTBALL MATCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3780, 27 August 1883, Page 3

FOOTBALL MATCH.

Town v. Country

The above match was played on Saturday under most favorable circumstances, the weather being' really .splendid, though rather cold for onlookers, and the ground in first-class condition. The country representatives arrived in town about midday ■with ii strength of fourteen men, several of their chosen players, however, being unable to put in an appearance. Nevertheless the fact of the majority showing up so well at no doubt n great deal of personal inconvenience speaks well for the ardour and enthusiasm with which they looked forward to the mutch, and it is to be hoped that this, though the first, will not bo flic last occasion on which we shall have the pleasure of their company in Napier. At o o'clock tho ball was kicked ofV, the locals -winning the toss and taking the wind, Mr Duncan being in charge of the Country, and Mr Begg of the Town. It was agreed that the game be played in four spells of twenty minutes each. In the first spell, aided'by the wind, the Napier men kept the ball close on their opponents goal line, and though the latter struggled gamely, yet it ■was plainly seen that they could do little against the trained players combating them. More than once the ball was forced near their lines, but disputes as to its ownership constantly arose, until at last St. Hijll, by a dashing run, scored a touchdown for Napier. Eobinson made the attempt to kick a goal, but failed, although he narrowly escaped scoring. Tough struggling now took plane, and pretty, runs and passes were constantly made by Cotterill, Gibbous, and Begg. The Napier forwards were working hard, in fact they had to, as the country forwards, led gamely by Kells, Cunningham, and Winter, seemed determined as far as they ■were concerned that the ball should not pass thorn, but the enemies backs were too quick, and before long Bcgg cleverly secured si touch-down right behind the goal posts. Although in first-class position, and with the wind, Napier again failed to score. Time was now called, and it was Napier's turn to play against the wind and sun, but still the fates wore kind to them, and touchdowns after touch-downs wore being constantly scored by St. Hill, Anderson, and Cottcrill, and by the end of the spell the Town had seven trios in their favor to their oppenents >iil. On play being resumed in the third spell the Avind somewhat increased, but by this time the Country toughness and endurance begun to show itself, so that for ton minutes tho play became more even. Hcdley for the Country now showed prominently in Ins collaring and running and several'times* nearly succeded in getting woll down to tho Napier goal, but the Town hacks proved too quick, and pressed tho ballon to their forwards, -who pressed it on and enabled their "hall's" to score two more touch-downs which were neatly converted into goals by Begg and Eobinson. Tho fourth spell was played with greater spirit than any preceding, and the staying powers of both teams were now apparent. For Napier Harrap inado it lively in the scrimmages, and was woll supported by Simpson, Stubbs, and Parker. Lanauzo and Hcdley, however, kept checking any further advance on tho Town's part, and the spell closed without Napier adding to their already high score. Thus ended ono of the pleasantest games played this season, and it appears to be the anxious wish of each team to meet again at an early date, and tho country arc determined that the score of ten tries and two goals to nil shall be reversed in their favor in the next contest.

The Dinner

In the ovening the country players were entertained at dinner at the Masonic Hotel, •when sonio forty gentlemen, includingmembers of both tennis, .sat down to a very tempting repast, served in Host Hislop's best style. Whatever else may bo .said of football Avc have every reason to believe, after our experience of Saturday night, that a*/ - ' 111 jappotizcr it has few equals. The cons'erjuenoo of this was (to u.se a purely original expression) that "ample justice was done" to the succulent " mercies " —

both solid and fluid. The chair was occupied by Mr P. Logan, President of the Kupicv Football Club, ami tlio scuts of honorVn his right and left were assigned to Messrs Duncan and Kclls, the captain and secretary respectively of the country team. Messrs Bcgg and Fulton of the Napier Club acted as croupiers. The usual loyal unci patriotic toasts having been duly honored. Mr Bt3gg proposed the health of the visiting team. Ho hoped to met them again next year, and play a return match. A pleasauter game than that they had just decided lie could not desire, but ho was sorry tho country players did not have hotter luck. They were, however, entitled to praise for their energy in originating the match, and for their pluck in corning long' distances in the bitterly cold weather of the previous day—some of them forty miles —• to take part in it. He would couple the toast with tho name of Mr Kclls.

Mr Kclls acknowledged llio toast in .suitable terms. He said it wa.s well known by till present tlntfc many of those who had played for the country to-day woro out of practice; in fact some of them hsicT not taken part in a game of football for years. Three good men, too, whose assistance ho had reckoned on, were absent. Ho hoped, however, that the country team would take a much better stand on the next occasion. Mr Duncan proposed "The Napier Toafoi." It was, he said his, maiden toast, end he would, therefore, ask to bo excused from making a .speech. The toast was drunk with musical honors, and was responded to by Mr Begg. Mr St. Hill proposed " The Ladies " in felicitous stylo, coupling the toast with the liiuno of Mr Grogorie, who responded in. a bashful little speech. Mr Hedley, in proposing "The Old Game of Footballj" remarked that it was one of the finest of field games. He was much pleased with the play of the Napier team, and regretted that they could never expect to meet the town with a team equal to the latter's in point of practice. It was usual for country players to meet for the first time on the occasion of a match, and it was not to be expected, therefore, that they could beat the town. Ho had enjoyed the game, nud hoped that it would be repeated next >C Thc Chairman (Mr Loyan), felt proud of the enthusiastic manner in which the toast of H. Football" had been drunk. Ho had noted fov them that day as umpire, tind hoped to occupy a similar position on future occasions, although umpiring was not so much in his Hue as playing, and were it not for an accident that prevented him iroin taking active part in the game lie would Kindly take his place in the field. His duticmis umpire that day had been light, owing to the entire absence at disputes. Tho Napier men were to be complimented on playing a good forward game, but ho hoped to notice an improvement m their place kicking when they met tho Giaborno team. All should go in for more practice so Ms to bo able to convert trios into syoals. Sir Fulton gave the toast of Gncket. The football season had just come to an end, and they had now to look to cricket as a summer game. Ho hoped

that at the meeting of tho Cricket Association that had been held that afternoon a srood programme of matches had been arranged for the coming season. A good deal of healthy rivalry had lately spr'mm- up in cricketing circles_ by the establishment of new clubs. Ii cricket did not succeed in Napier it would not be for want of a good practice ground. They were also well supported in the matter of trophies. He hoped, therefore, that cricket would flourish this season. 'Without such games as football and cricket England would not be the nation that it is.

In responding to the toast, Mr Maeandrew said he was an enthusiast in cricket, and as a member of tho Petano Club ho could say that the players' in his district looked forward with as' much pleasure as any club in the province to the prospect of a good season, which he hoped they would

have. ~ Mr T. Sidey proposed "Iheiress, which was acknowledged by Mr Vv llsoii, of the Daily Tv.t.vmk.wu. Mr Kells on behalf of the country team, thanked the Napier dub for the hearty manner in which they had entertained their

visitors. During the evening songs were given by Messrs Robinson, T. Stuart, Humphries, ("!. Tanner, Simpson, Macandrcw, Kells, Wilson, Thompson, Finch, Hedley, _St. Hill, Logan, Harrap, Sidey, Ford, McVay, and Parker. . The proceedings terminated at midnight, all having spent a most enjoyable evening.