FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5391, 8 July 1878, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON AND ATHLETIC CLUBS. The long-postponed football match between the Wellington and Athletic Clubs came off on Saturday, and resulted in a victory for the latter by a goal and a try to nothing. Tho ground was in fair order; but owing to the succession of wet Saturdays of late, it was expected that the game would ‘‘drag" a good deal. The result, however, proved the contrary, for the match was undoubtedly the best local oue ever played here. The two teams appeared on the ground at 3 p.m, —the Wellingtons dressed in their yellow black striped uniforms, and their opponents in blue jerseys and stockings and scarlet caps. Viewing the two teams on tho ground before play, the spectators predicted an easy victory for the old club, partly on account of the greater experience of tho team, and partly on account of the greater weight of their forwards. The Athletics, however, proved the oft-repeated tale in Wellington that a light and comparatively young team will very often defeat a heavier and more experienced oue by combined action, and by playing, not for individual glory, but for tho success of their side. Welsh won tho toss for choice of goals, and arrayed the Athletics facing the south. The ball was kicked off by the Wellingtons, but was returned by Campbell, who opened the day’s running by a dash down the field, where ho was spilled by C. Pollen. The two sides then opposed one another in sundry hard scrimmages, in almost all Of which the Athletics contrived to pass the ball back to t eir quarter-backs, Welsh and the two Berrys. Davy and Black, who were playing quarterback on the Wellington side, however, proved too smart to allow any opposing backs to get very far, their collaring being very good.

The play throughout was greatly confined to the forwards and quarter-backs. This was chiefly owing to the superior play of the Berry brothers, who. played a most brilliant game throughout, and by their example did wonders towards the success of their side. The bail was for the greater part of the first half-hour kept well down by the ■Wellington goal; Taylor making a smart run for the Athletics, and Black making an extremely good run lor the Wellingtons. Davy and H. Pollen made some fair runs, but were collared -by Welsh and W. Berj-y. After a deal of scrimmaging, in which the Wellingtons managed to carry the ball well up to their opponent’s goal, time was called, and sides changed. After a run by Galbraith, who>was collared by W, Berry, the Wellingtons were compelled to touch-down behind goal. Galbraith, FirzGerald, Cowie, and C. Pollen now worked with a will, but their efforts were not well backed up, and proved futile against the play of Hickson, Churton, Wright, Cooper, and Blaeklook. Kerr made a fine kick over the advancing forwards to Campbell, who made the best run of the day ; his ambitious career, however, was cut short, by Grant, who brought him to earth. After some good passing among the forwards on the Athletic side, and some good collaring on that of their opponents, Bishop got the ball by a kick from Welsh, and nearly rivalled Campbell by a good run. He was spilled by Burnes, after having passed on to Davy, who was mauled by W. Berry. Welsh, by a drop, compelled the Wellingtons again to touch-down behind goal. After the ball was again iu play a scrimmage took place in front of the Wellington's goal, out of which Blacklock contrived to take the ball and pass it on to Dumbell, who by a pretty kick landed it over the gaol. The hall was kicked off again by C. Pollen, returned by Campbell, collared by Kreeft, passed on to Cooper, who made a fine dash before being capsized by Nixon. Time was again called. Scrimmaging was now the order of the day for some time, the Wellingtons trying their utmost to retrieve their misfortune, and the Athletics doing their best to uphold their advantage. The ball was kept well Up near the Athletics’ goal by the Wellingtons for some time, but Burns, Leokie, Cohnal, and Cooper managed by hard working to get the ball away well into the field. The Athletics were, however, compelled to touch the hall down behind goal. Several good attempts at runs were made by Kerr, H. Pollen, and Davy, but they were seldom able to pass the quarterbacks of their opponents. The Wellingtons touched down once and the Athletics twice before time was again called. The last halfhour was noticeable for a touch-down, obtained by W. Berry for the Athletics, well backed up by Hickson and Kane. The punt out, however, was missed by Welsh. Taylor made a capital run, but was stopped by Kerr, whose collaring is always to be relied upon by his side. The remainder of the game was taken up chiefly iu scrimmaging, in which respect neither team seemed the stronger. No further score was made on either side. The Wellingtons were compelled to touch down twice; hut as it was arranged that touch-downs were not to count, no alteration was made in the score. Mr. Knapp acted as umpire for the Wellingtons, and Mr. Mclntyre for the Athletics.