FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5706, 14 July 1879, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The match which was to have taken place on Saturday afternoon, on the Basin Reserve, was “New Zealanders against The World.” This, however, fell through, owing to “ The World” being in a great minority. No less than forty-five players turned up in uniform tor the occasion, thirty of whom were colonials. This speaks well tor the intere.-t taken in football by the Wellington especially considering that the gronnd on Saturday was in a fearfully muddy state. A great and increasing interest seems to be taken by the public in this gamp, and |t is much to be regretted that the desk of the weather did not appear to have an equal appreciation. Berry and Davey picked sides, and a. scratch match, which lasted an hour and twenty minutes, was played. The bad condition of the ground, and the large number of the players, made the game slower than it otherwise would have been ; nevertheless, much amusement resulted from the ridiculous figures which were cut at intervals by -zealous leather-hunters on .the slippery grass. The burly form of Johnson Thomson would be seen, like Saul amongst the Israelites, towering above the rest, when suddsnly it would disappear and the owner of it might be spied biting, not the dust, but the mud. It is unnecessary to particularise the play, as it was very even throughout. Those who most distinguished themselves were Cooper, A. Thomson, J. Thomson, Decide, Lynch, Rae, Berry, and Rule. ' During the last twenty minutes Rule obtained the ball and took it gamely to the lines of his bppo. nents, who exerted their best powers of defence to save a score against them. Nevertheless, Rule carried the leather behind the goal line and tried to touch it down. Three of his opponents, however, were on to him, and a maul in goal ensued, in which Rule, being outnumbered, was worsted. He is a very plucky and active half-back, but should rely more on kicking than running. The Wellington Club have secured the well-known Auckland representative half-back, Warbrick, who has come to this town. They are further strengthened by the return of Mr. Galbraith, the well-known forward, and should make a better stand in their return match with their successful rivals, the “ Athletics." An interesting game of football was played by the Reform Clubs at their oval, Hobsonstreet, on Saturday afternoon. There was a large number of spectators, many of the fairer sex being present, some of whom showed their interest in the game by donninn- the colors of the club. The sides were under the command of Captain Sandilands and Vicecaptain H. McKenzie, Sir. Waite acting as umpire. The matck: resulted in a victory for

■McKenzie’s side, after a very exciting game, byfive goals to four. A few weeks back the old "Victorian players seemed so.stand out prominently for the superiority of their play, but now it would be invidious to single out any of the members for special praise, as all played remarkably well. A visit from a Dunedin team is expected this season to play an interprovincial match under the Victorian rules, and should the members of our local clubs play as well together as they did on Saturday, it may confidently be expected that they will give a good account of themselves in the contest.