FOOTBALL IN AUCKLAND. [ActæoN in the "AucklandStar."]

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 304, 3 October 1888, Page 6

FOOTBALL IN AUCKLAND. [ActæoN in the "Auckland Star."]

AtTCKi/ANDERS nave every reason to teel proud of the record made by their Representatives this season, and without wishing in the slightest to detract from the merit of the other provinces, I think it is a record chat fairly puts us at the top of the tree for 1888. I have no doubt that it would been a far better record than it is if it had not been for a series oi accidents and circumstances entirely beyond our control. Those who saw the two return matches with England will have no hesitation in saying that if McCausland, Madigan, Elliott, Whiteside^ and Lusk had been playing, and showing the form they displayed in the first two matches, Auckland would have been credited with two victories, "t" Five provincial matches have been played. Ido nob care for the term international, for it is misleading, Four of these were played against the Englishmen, in Wo of which the latter were victorious, once they were beaten, and the last match was a draw. The fifth provincial match was against the native team that is now visiting England, and proved a triumph for the local players. A team from the Thames Rugby Union was also met, and suffered a heavy defeat, while the old fixture against Tauranga was revived and again Auckland was victorious. Considering the number of matches played, the calibre of the respective teams played against, and the players Auckland was often compelled to fall back on, I consider that the record is ahead of any of the other provinces. When you go into the matter in detail and consider our success against the English men as compared with that of the other provinces, it will be found that we have all the greater claim to the title of senior province. A very marked improvement has been shown this season in the play of our representatives. Our backs have gone in for kicking more, and have shown better passing, while the forwards have displayed more combination and dash. Their well-known dribbling rushes have not fallen off, while their scrummage power has increased very much. The forwards have been very evenly matched all round, and I think we have never before had such a splendid lot of players. The backs have been quite up to the average of our "rep." players. We have never had a better full-back than Lusk, while Brown, in the same position, has been quite equal to the best we have had before. McCausland and Madigait showed they had improved since last season, but we had no opportunity of seeing, how Whifce&ide would shape, l as he unfortunately met' with a -serious accident in the first English match. Elliott showed good form when he played, while Braund was better than last season. Conway played well in the first two 'matches, but fell off after that. Among the new men, Herrold showed himself as good as any half-back we have had, while Masefield gave promise of following in the footsteps of the cracks whose departure we mourn. Of the other new " rep." backs, Tanfield is the only one that has shown any promise, and in a couple more seasons 1 expect to see this young player at the top of the tree. The following gives the result of matches up to date played by the Englishmen :— ,

RT^GBY MATCHES. •" Result: Matches played, 32; won, 25 ; drawn, 5 ; lost, 2. Score for-^-48 goals, 81 tries ; score against — 11 goals, 16 tries.

VICTORIAN MATCHES. Result : Matches played, 19 ; won, 6 ; drawn, 1 ; lost, 12. Score for— 7o goals ; score against — 106 goals. An English paper mentions that W. Tofts, a member of the Clapton Football Club, left by the Kaikoura for New Zealand. He is a half-back, and judging by his reputation, the club that secures" his services may- be regarded as fortunate.

,- A Boston man bet 50dol. that a barrel filled witlrgas would weigh more than an empty one. His eyes opened very wide when he saw that it did not weigh as much, j Madame Adelina Patti has returned to England from her tour in South America, where §he received £34,000 for her twenfcy- . five appearances. ; Japan has 250 newspapers, I,ooo, miles oi railway, and 2,000 or 3,000 miles of telegraph line. " ~ " _..--_"-' _. . Dr. Allansan, of London, is distinguishing himself by raising a fund to establish^ l vegetable hospital in; that city: , "», -<-