Football.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 5 September 1890, Page 2

Football.

MARRIED .v SINGLE. We have been asked why a report on the football match between the Married and Single did not appear in these columns after the match. We must apologise for the short coinings— or long drinks— of our reporter. We had made every arrangement to have the game scientifically described and attended personally to encourage the critic in his duties. We shall now endeavour to give our readers our view of the match. The day was exceptionably calm and beautiful, and the players appeared sound in wind and limb. The ground cuosen was a portion of the race-course. At either end of the field two players were placed, which wa were told were the " full backs," as to the description of the one on the Single side side there could be no doubt whatever about, but the Marr.ed " full back " looked as though he would stand still further developement. Tlie " forwards " seemed an exceedingly appropriate name for those who ran about and talked. The game puzzled us completely, as after a '• kick oft' ' there would be a sudden rush, and sort of " close" meeting and then such speechifying, as though the whole business of the town was being suddenly attended to. Then two bosses with handkerchiefs on sticks rounded these " forwards '' up, and by violently brandishing their weapons about secured silence, but their work must have been very fatiguing, as the same process had to be kept repeated continually. To spectators who lost, the words and heard only the hum the effect sounded, at one of these talks, as though a mob of wild " gobblers " had been suddenly disturbed. Ihe game was intensly exciting as when it was over we enquired of every spectator a« to which side had won, ami none of them knew, but now, after time has been given for quiet reflection we are enabled to state that the single men beat the married men by two points to one. The players hugely enjoyed themselves, a young and active '• torward " had the whole of his body covering split down the back and thus allowed him to keep cool all through the game. Another player had enjoyed a Kick ovor the eye, which gave him sometniug to attend to during the intervals between the speeches. As a relaxation to running and talking the whole field assisted at the restoration of a player who sutferred from cramp, and to straighten him out, lit to play, they walked over him a few times and thus saved the game from being delayed. The play gave the utmost satisfaction iv every way except in the list of killed : and wounded, and after the various charges, tumbles, crushes, and kicks, the list , of casualties at the «nd of the day was provokingly small. This must be looked to in future. If our reporter plays in the next game and suffers from cramp we shall esteem it a favour if an outsider was permitted to " straighten him out.' : We know of one ready and willing.