NOTES ON THE HARTLEPOOL MATCH. Thursday, November 14.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 331, 5 January 1889, Page 6

NOTES ON THE HARTLEPOOL MATCH. Thursday, November 14.

We journeyed down to Hartlepool yesterday (Wednesday) morning to try conclusions with the Rovers. On our way down we were at raid that the rain would fall in the atieinoon and spoil the attendance. Luckily, howevoi, it hung 1 oft, and though the day was rather dull it was nice football weather. As &oon a^ w e arrived we were informed that the factories, lumber yards, etc., %\eie closed for the half-day to enable the employees to bee us play, in tact, it was a general half-holiday for the llartlepool public The consequence was we were met by a large crowd of men, women and children near the railway station. We took luncheon ac soon as we pot to our hotel, and then prepared for the match. Tho street opposite the hotel w/i"; crowded long betorc we started for the ground, and when we did make a move the streets weie I almo:>t unpayable. A brass band preceded us to tho battle held. The spectators numbered about S,OOO. The local papers say lhab Hurtlepool turned out a* though our visit was- a royal one. W'ewontheto-sand played with the wind. After some give and take play McCausland, Elliott and H. Warbrick had each a shot at goal, but without result. Gage made a mark at a fair distance from the goal, but JSicCauslaud failed to impiove it. Shortly afterwards Ellison crossed the line and scored tirst blood, but McCausland again failed at the place kick. Nothing ot importance occurred aftei this, although the game wat very fast. At halt time the Maoiis were 1 try to Hartlepool Hovers' nil. On 1 et-umption, our opponents playing with the wind, foiced us down several times by haid kicking. The game continuod to be very tast and exciting. Our fellows began to work with more spirit towards the end of the game. Madigan made some sensational runs, which were heartily appreciated by the spectator. Keogh also put in a fine dodgy run and all but got over. Anderson, Williams, Ellison, Tairoa, and Maynard put in some very smart runs, as did Wi Karauria. The last named passed all his, opponents, but somehow or other lost the ball and a moral try. The " Newcastle Daily Chronicle " gives the following account of the match :— Hill kicked oft from th% tea end against the wind, Madigan very promptly returning, and Bell, from a kick off Warbrick, landing into touch at thiee- quartern Several scrimmages then occurred, the 1 lovers gaining ground, and again reaching the centie ; and boon the visitors' fcerritoiy was invaded, and thence retiring close to the Hovers' goal. After some close play, Warbrick landed the ball into touch, but it was soon worked back to the centre. Gage made a fine catch, Warbrick nearly kicking a goal, and the Rovers had to touch down. Kassel made hib mark, without result, the ball retiring into touch in the Rovers' quarterb. Their forwards, however, took the ball to the centre, and Huntley, kicking to Warorick, the latter wa- collared immediately, some close scrimmages, near the centre, ensuing. From a fiee kick, Gage landed the ball in the Rovers' quarters, and the Maori forwards rushed the ball close to tho goal, an excitingscrimmage resulting. Kas&el relieved by a kick into touch. The ball was diiven past the centre, but the Maoiis quickly returned it, and Pease, dribbling well to Wenbridge, a scrimmage was soon foi*med, from which Emmereon kicked splendidly up the field, Warbrick returning the ball to the centre. Yiend 'claimed a free kick, which was barren of result, and Smith passing to Emmerson he kicked into touch close to the Maoris' line. J. A. Warbrick passed to W. W ar brick, and he to Madigun. The latter put in a splendid run, getting beyond the centre when stopped- The great feature of the game resulted just befoie half-time, when Ellison scored a try, but McCausland 's kick failed, leaving the score : Maoris' 1 try,

2 minors ; Hovers, 1 minor. Ellison kicked off on changing ends, play soon getting into the visitors' quarters, where some good scrimmages were witnessed. JKassel speedily made his mark, but though the ball went beyond the posts it was outside by a yard, and only a minor resulted. Play was now very fast* and mainly central, until Madigan getting the ball was pushed into touch by Emmerson, theleathor travelling down to the Rovers' end, where it was kicked into touch again. Emmorson relieved by a kick into touch near the Maoris' 25, in which play now settled down, until a fine run by Madigan brought it to the centre, and from ft kick by Emmerson tho Rovers added another I minor. McPherson, by a splendid kick, ' pub on another, nnd repeated the performance the next minute, the Maoris having to touch down just after from a good kick of Pease's. Madigan getting away was J driven into touch near the centre, where several scrimmages ensued, whence May nard ran to tho quarter flag, where he was lioored by two Rovers after a brilliant tussle. Emmerbon now kicked to the visitors' end, Madigan only just saving by kicking the ball dead. McCausland got a free kick, but Williams carried the bail so well up or only just to miss a try. Play now returned to the centie, Hill cleverly kicking into touch. Keogh narrowly missed a try, ami Madigan was forced into touch after a last run, Warbriek being soon obliged to tom'h down. Nothing resulted from a free kick ot the Maoris, and after some splendid pushing Taiora was only grassed u couple of yards from the Rovers' goal line, neai which the game finished, leaving the ► core thus:--Maoris, one try, two minots ; Roveis, eight minor?. Teams: — Maoi b — Back, W. Warbrick (captain) : three-quarter backs, McCausland, J. A. Warbrick and Madigan ; half-backs, Elliott, Gage, Keogh ; forwards, Ellison, W. Taiaroa, Webster, Williams, Maynard, Karauria, Anderson, and Nehua. Umpire, Mr Cr. Wynyard. Rovers— Back, W. If. Bell ; three-quarter backs. Ku&sel, McPherson and Emmerson ; half-backs, Scott and .Smith ; iorwaids, G. Bell, Danby, Hill (captain), Blain, Huntley, Pease, Snowdon, Thwaites, and Yiend. Umpire, Mr O. Stephenbon. Referee, Mr 0. A. Blackwood, Durham, County R..U. On Tuesday evening eight or nine of the New Zealand Football Team were taken over the famous C'oxlodge Colliery. They all expressed themselves delighted with their visit. The following account of an interview with Joe Warbrick appears in the " Northern Daily Mail :" Shortly after the teimination of yesterday's great match, I hurried off to the King's Head, ascended to the upper regions?, and there, in a comfortablyfitted bedroom, containing a bath, displaying signs of having been recently used, J beheld the captain of the Maoris, Mr Joe Warbrick, arranging his toilet. " Come in," he cried as I entered, but that command or permission was totally unnecessary, for almost as the last word died away on his lips I comfortably .seated myself »nd wag leisurely contemplating the colonial s dressing operation. 11 . " Well," T asked, " what do you think of the Rover*. ?' For awhile he was silent, probably unable on the spur of the moment to command words in which to express his feelings. At last he blurted out, " A decidedly good team. The game from beginning to end was exceedingly close." " Is it the toughest one you've had?" " Well, J shan't say that ; but, mind you, it was a regnlar stifl job." At this point another member of tho team entei'ed the room, and, unaware for the moment of a stranger's presence, exclaimed enthusiastically, "By Jove, they've got a fine spread downstairs for us ; covers for eighty." "How ha\e you fared &ince landing in England ?" I inquired. A consultation between the gentlemen took place, and their fixture card was brought into requisition before a reply was forthcoming. At last the unanimous answer came, " We've played 16 matches ; 10-t 6, drawn 1, and iron the re^r. *' "But this," added the captain, "is only my second match in England. 1 broke my letr ami dislocated my ankle in a football match just befoLC we left home. I played at Tynemoiith and in the game to-day just to try the strength of my repairs. ' " And how din the ankle answer?" " Well, 1 cannot yet place my full weight on it, but," he concluded, in half comic, half tragical tones, " we hope it will get. beitei." "Idaresaj one or another ol youi team will receive an injury of some sort at every match V" "Ye*, that's about it. Six of our men are now on the sick list : and, in fact, we ha\e never yet placed our best team on the field." " What are your strongest point*? T hoaid many favourable comment on your pas&ing during the game." " Oh," he replied, " we have no particular point ; and in reality we consider our passing our weakest." "How." 1 next ventured, "is football progressing in New Zealand ?" " Ugh !" exclaimed both gentlemen in chorus, and then the captain proceeded, " itis doing splendidly. The people are going mad over it. Let me give you an instance. Tho town of Auckland contains a population of 35 000. Out of that number 16.000 assemble on the Held when fixtures are played. That, of course, i? the Rugby game." " How is the Association doing '!" " Jiardly anybody goes to see it," he replied, and then proceeded, " Don't think me biased or selfish, but I can assure you that the only men who play the Association are fellows who can't make their way with the other code -in fact, broken-down Rugbyites.' Turning again to matter* moie closely asf-ociated with the team, I inquired as to how many '* hands " they carry. " There are twenty-seven cf us in all." " Ls it correct that several Englishmen arc on tho team ?" "Yes; there are four. Our original iutention was to keep it a purely native team. But my 'smash' altered affairs. The Englishmen, however, really belong to, us, for "they were all born in New Zealand. " What about ' Maori,' is thai, your proper tiUo ? ' "No: it is you English folk who have given us that name. Our proper title is, ' The New Zealand Native Football Team. ' But we don't object to ' Maori. 1 " "Havoyou enjoyed your visit to England ?" was my next query. "I should think so." "And what think you of Harllepool folk ? ' His eye twinkled as he replied, "Do you know, we like hospitality. Now, the people here do understand football ; and the reception we got to-day makes the ] game a real pleasure. " | Mr J. R. Scott, the able and courteous ' manager of the team, was the next to enter I the room, and talk became still more in- I teresting. " Will you come back to us ?" 1 inquired as soon as the new arrival had settled do w n. "Indeed we will," replied the manager, 11 if a date can be conveniently arranged. West Hartlepool have asked for .i fixture, and wo shall accommodate them if possible. What," he askod, presenting me with an | elegantly got-up fixture card, 'do you think of Thursday, December 13th ?"

"Well," I replied, "as you cannot give us a Saturday, a Wednesday would be preferred." "All right," he concluded. "I will endeavour to fix a Wednesday somewhere about the 12th." •* Has the tour proved a success ?" "No ; it has nob como up fco what we expected, though up to the present it has paid, and then we have the best 'gafceH' to come yet. Hotel bills have been our chief complaint. In England you charge £3 10s a week, wherean we only pay 35s at home. We never anticipated such accounts." * ] " What ha<* been the ' gate ' to-day V" , " £150." ' 11 Where do }'ou go after leaving Hartlopool ?" 'To Carlisle ; and then about the end of the month to Ireland. Scotland wouldn't arrange a national match with us and we shall therefore not cross the bonier. At the end of March we leave England foi an Australian tour. In New Zealand," concluded the manager, "our captain played in fcwen by-seven inter-provincial matches — which are equivalent to your county tixt,tirefc> — and he never once played on a f-ide which lost." " Until I broke my leg," mournfully interposed the hero, and with that, he tramped down to dinner. The lepnst served was a sutnpi uoii" one the presidential chair being occupied by the ex-Mayor (Aid. T. Richardson), whiUi, besides myself, he was supported by the alite of the town and all tin- prominent followeis of the leathei. J lappily the boast-list was a .short one, the greater part ot the evening being devoted to harmony and conviviality. Songs were rendered by many, whilst one and all puffed at cigars of the finest brand and sipped beverages of every sorb from the innocent lemon to the " H.ii'tlepool 'stonisher "or " Real. Old Irish. " The toast of " The Visitors," given by the Chairman, was enthusiastically received, the proposer remarking that though defeated the home team had naught to be ashamed of, for the victory was nob gained by the Maoris without a stubdorn fight. The scene on the ! football field would convince their visitors that Hartlepool had some *go" in it, and more especially as not a single trip was run into the town, so that the reception accorded was really and truly a local one. Captain Warbrick then called upon his men to drink success to the Hartlepool Rovers, which they did, accompanying it with cheers renewed again find again, in the peculiar tashion of their race. The game, said llr Warbrick, had been an exceedingly pleasant one, hquahble", which unfortunately characterised too many matches, boing absent throughout the whole afternoon. "What is that war-whoop ofyoui^?' 1 inquired of a player seated oppo&ite me " Ac ako kia kaha" (for ever btrong) was the reply, and immediately half-a-dozen English voice*- were vainly endeavouring to screech it iorth. At the conclusion of every song the attempt was energetically renewed, and when all was over and 1 had " turned in ' the echoe.- of "Ac ako kia kaha" still rang in my ear?.