Football Gossip

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 17, 22 July 1893, Page 9

Football Gossip

+ [By Umpire.] The , match on Wednesday week between I.P.C. and Pirates was an interesting - one all through, several of the passing rushes being up to Maori form. The one Anthony started was the best piece of play seen ori the ground, and shows that Doo can now be relied on to keep his head when wanted. Manson’s kick from the touch-line was a beauty, also -Rodgers’ pot. Why didn’t the second one go as well, Herb ? . , Martin showed some good following up in the first spell, but want of condition told its tale in the second. : What was the Pirate skipper thinking of when he got away and didn’t pass P Was there any glue on the ball, Nib ? The Blues seemed to lose .heart in the second spell, or was it not enough wind ? The game was certainly a fast one . ' Heave was not in usual form with his feet, and Oldham had a little too much to do in watching two men. Tapper was in good form. It seems wonderful how this player comes on just before the trials. By the bye, how would three half - backs do against Otago this year ? I throw this out as a suggestion to the SIF. R.U. match, committee. With McRobie and Tapper in the open, arid Cuff or McKay behind the scrum, the Reds ought to make things warm either in attack or defence. Why will McKay persist in playing so close to the scrum F Even if you don’t pick it out, Mac., it looks mighty like it sometimes. ! ' ' ' . Todd is a good man on the line, and if you would only jump a little more,

Charlie, you -would be hard to beat.; Rochfort promised big things at last trials, but so far he has not kept up the record. Ashcroft also wants shaking up a little. Commenting on the second test match played in Sydney between N.Z. and N.S.W., an exchange says : “ The play of the visitors lacked dash, but considering the number of games they had played in such a short time, and the manner in which they had been entertained during the visit, this was not to be wondered at.” That little word “entertained” means a lot, as most visiting Unions find out after a game is lost. During the first game, Surman, an ex-Maorilander, made a big run. Starting from his own 25, he dodged a man, and then set off for the N.Z. line, with Murray in pursuit, and after running nearly 100 yards, scored near the posts. Sam Cockcroft is doing big things among the forwards, and he is also one of the most popular men in the team. The Star had a very easy win at Gore on Wednesday week. A contemporary states that very little interest was taken in the game, the attendance was the poorest on record, and the Gore men went on the field beaten before the start, therefore our crack club had a very easy time of it. “ Carbine ” did not have many shows to distinguish himself, A. Wallis bestowing him a good deal of attention. Dick, however, came to the front, scoring- tw r o tries. Next Wednesday ought to see a large turn-out of spectators on the new ground, when the Star and Pirates meet. The Colours are certainly favourites, but if the Blacks will only keep up their pecker and play with some confidence, I expect to see a good scientific game. , The second match will also be interesting-, as it practically decides who is to have the junior premiership. Wednesday last was an off-day, no matches being played, except a junior game between the Union and the Southern Cros*, the former winningby 8 points .to 2. Murphy and Purdue for the winners, and Inglis and Stead for the losers, were the pick. Would it not have been a good idea to have had a trial match, then the committee would have been able to judge of the respective players’ chances for the forthcoming Town v. Country match. I throw this out as a hint to future match committees.