FOOTBALL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1110, 31 July 1882, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Gisborne v. Napier. [By Our Special Correspondent]. The fourth annual celebration of this match came off in the Farndon Park, which is situated at a convenient distance from the Farndon Railway Station, on Saturday afternoon last, and resulted, as our telegrams of that afternoon informed us, in a victory for the Napier team by three “ tries.” To say that the result was a surprise to many would be to very inadequately describe the feelings of those who witnessed the match, as it was looked upon by the knowing ones as a certainty for Gisborne, bar accidents, and as high odds as three to one on our local boys wore going a-begging, but damo Fortune, with that delightful uncertainty which so characterizes her actions, stepped in, and, to use a sporting term, the pot was completely boiled over. It is not our intention to criticise the individual play of the respective members of our teams, as it would be unfair to suppose that each and everyone of them did not do his utmost to avert a defeat, but to review the team as a whole it must be admitted that the defeat was in a very great measure attributable to the weakness in play of the backs, who distinguished themselves from beginning to end of the game by mulling the ball, i.e., failing to hold it, on almost every occasion on which it came to their hands ; the play of the quarter backs and forwards was brilliant, but they did not receive that amount of assistance and backing up that so distinguished the play of their rivals. There was a very marked improvement noticeable over previous matches in the manner in which our boys passed the ball, but there is still too much tendency on the part of some of the players to run instead of to drop-kick when there is little chance of a successful run in. It is to be hoped that this match will prove a valuable lesson in many ways to the Gisborne boys, and will teach them amongst other things not to think too lightly of their rivals ; tho Napier team is one that is to be by no means despised, and we have no hesitation in saying that there are players amongst them who would be no disgrace to u team picked throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand.

THE GAME. Play began at 2.40 p.m., it having been decided by the respective captains to change goals every 25 minutes. Gisborne kicked off against the wind, but by a drop kick from one of the Napier backs, the ball was soon returned, and being well followed up by the forwards, was kept well down towards the Gisborne goal. Our boys having the wind against them, had their hands pretty full in resisting the attacks of their rivals, who managed to twice force tho ball down behind the goal line, time was, liower, called without anv advantage in tho wav of score being gained by either side. The wind which, uring the first 25 minutes had been strongly blowing, had now, unfortunately for our mon, abated, depriving them of the little advantage that had been previously enjoyed by the Napier men j notwithstanding this however they seemod to have pulled themselves more together, and by some hard play, managed to keep the ball well towards the opponents goal lino j time was however again colled without a score boing obtained on cither side. During this lap Bourne distinguished himself by making a splendid drop kick from the centre of the field which fell within a foot short of tho middle of the goal j Oatridge also by a well directed and very smartly kicked drop sent the ball very close home. In the third 25 minutes, ofter a few preliminary skirmishes, tho Napior men managed to rush the ball down towards the Gisborne goal and to open the score by a clever run in, which was effected by Potts, who played most pluckilv throughout j the place kick for goal proved, unsuccessful, and the ball was soon sent merrily rolling- again, but only to be shortly as Buchanan managed to again secure it, and notwithstanding tho efforts of tho Gisborne boys to atop his career, ran in and scored a second touch down. The fourth and last 25 minutes now began, Gisborne requiring a goal to win, but fato seemed to again pursue them, as St. Hill, by a very clever drop from tho field, managed to place a goal to the score of Napier, thus increasing their score to one goal and two touch downs to Gisborne’s nothing. Berry, however, who had been playing like a demon throughout, here managed to get away with the ball and very cleverly touched it down, almost behind the adversary’s goal, from which he scored the first and only score on the Gisborne side, this was followed up by another touch-down for Napier, scored by Begg, and almost immediately afterwards time was called, the match resulting as before stated, in Napier scoring one goal and three touch-downs to Gisborne’s one goal. Before closing we cannot but remark on the exceeding good feeling that was exhibited by both teams throughout the match, and although bruises and cuts were visible on almost every face, they were soon forgotten and the utmost good-fellowship reigned. The arrangements that had been made by the entertainers were on a most liberal scale, and left nothing to be desired.

THE DINNER. At 7.30 p.m. the Gisborne team wore entertained at a dinner at tho Caledonian Hotel to which some 50 people sat down. Tho Chair was occupied by Mr J. W. Carlile who was supported on his right and left by the Captains of tho respective teams, Messrs Berry and Begg. After the good things provided had been done justice to, Mr Carlile proposed tho first toast of tho evening “ The Team,” which which was followed by “ Our Guests ” by the same gentleman ; in proposing this toast tlio Chairman made complimentary remarks on the play of teams, and the exceeding good temper displayed on both sides during the match, and trusted that the return which would bo shortly played would be characterised by the same good feeling. Before the response to this toast he would call upon Mr M. 11. Smith for a song. Mr Berry responded to tho toast of our guests, and followed it up by proposing the health of the victors, tho “ Napior Team.” This was responded to by Mr J. W. Begg (tho captain). Mr Pott proposed “ The Umpires.” Mr Berry, song. Mr M. H. Smith responded for tho Umpires. Mr F. F. Kennedy, song. Mr V. Day, song. Mr M. H. Smith “ Tho Ladies.” Mr Joo Leonard, song. Mr Buchanan responded to the toast of tho ladies. Mr Berry proposed the health of the See retarya, which was responded to by Mr Fulton (Napier), and Mr Pavitt (Gisborne). Mr Cook, song. Mr Smith proposed the Chairman. Mr H. Humphries, song. Auld Lang Syne concluded tho evening’s revelry, and the team wera escorted down to the Spit in a five-horse brake by the Napier boys, and embarked on board the Arawata which had been detained purposely to allow of the dinner taking place. Thus ended a moat enjoyable trip and one not likely soon to be forgotten, and although our boys were beaten, we must wish them butter luck in tho return match.