FOOTBALL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 165, 30 September 1892, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v. SOUTHERN WAIROA. The visit of the Auckland Rugby Union representatives to this district hn.l been looked forward to with deep interest by all those who took any interest whatever in football, and the large turn out of the people on Saturday showed how general was the enthusiasm in the event. No previous event, as far as we can remember, has ever drawn togethei such a concourse of people, and we should not be doing our district justice were we to curtail our report of the proceedings of Saturday last; so craving the indulgence of those of our readers who are not interested in football matters we will begin at the beginning and go through the narrative of the Auckland footballers’visit to this district. The formation of a Wairoa Rugby Union last season gave football an impetus, and the Union has assumed an importance which indi.idual Clubs could never have reached. The Cup contests gave rise to some most determined games and the Club teams showed such excellent play that it was thought the Union might venture to contest with the Auckland Rugby Union for honours. Accordingly an invitation was sent to Auckland some two months ago asking them to send a representative team to the Wairoa so that local players might measure themselves with other districts, and also loam something more of the game than they knew. The Auckland Rugby Union responded on Friday by sending a fairly strong team, comprising several of its most prominent players. The visitors left Auckland by the early train on Friday morning and Helensville at mid-day in the s. s. Minnie Casey. A little delay took place on the trip up, but the team and friends, numbering about twenty in all, arrived safely at Avatapu at half-past eight. They were mot oil the ■wharf by a large number of our local players together with a number of young ladies anxious to welcome the Auckland, warriors. The first voice that came from the steamer was that of Masey enquiring Are you there, darling ? Which is my girl ? ” Then cheers were exchanged and a landing effected when the visitors made for the Aratapu hotel, Host JO’Connor’s, where they at once found themselves amongst friends. The Ho tun da Hink was kept open for them till late in the evening and they soon made things lively there. Mr Ik Hd wards, manager for the team, saw that his men all went to roost in good time, although one or two took some little looking up. Saturday morning gave promise ox a. lovely day and the visitors were early astir, making themselves acquainted with the sights and young ladies of the place. Boon after eleven the Minnie Casey proceeded down to Toka Toka in readiness for her trip up to the match, and the Tangihua went down us far as Tatarariki. About one o'clock the steamers were all at Aratapu when such a. sight presented itself as had never before been seen on the river, and people wondered where everybody else came from. At the Union meeting it was considered that not more than d()0 people would take passage on the steamers, but there must have been fully 550 persons on board the four steamers. The Minnie Casey, Kopuru, Tangihua and Zephyr all left Autapu about the same time, the three first being under charter to the "Wairoa Rugby Union. The Tangihua carried the two teams and the Band and brought up the rear, the Zephyr taking the lead. The steamers arrived at Mangawbnro and safely disembarked their living freight in ample time for the advertised hour of starting the match. The ground had been well looked to by Mr J?. Matthews and was in first rate order; the turf being dry and springy and favourable to a well practised team. When the game begun there Oreve about nine hundred people on and aronnft the ground, but the grandstand being ir, a bad position for football, and exposed to the wind was only patronised l»y about, fifty pimple. The following were-tlie reams that met : Auckland :—Full back, F. Taylor ; Threequarters, F. Gandhi, F. Blewdon and 11. Masefield ; Halves, Moore, A. Brauud (captain) and Ronayue ; Forwards, It. Bruce, W. Guard, It. Green, M. McMillan, T. B. U Connor, C. Speight, C. Stone and Caul ton. Wairoa :—Full-back, A. Smith; Threequarters, F. But!and, T. Elliott and J. Morrison ; Halves, Lmi Kitcbing, II- Lowrie and 11. Absolum ; Forwards, _ ltd Bassett (captain), ■ ! • E. Elliott. W. rvooxiams, 1 - Molloy, C. Matthews, WU,Keegan, Joseph Molioy and Tony Keane Braund won the toss and, electing to play with lire good breeze behind his men, chose to defend the river- goal. The Wairoa men with |heir maroon jerseys wi re the first on the field and stood in a cluster to await the entry of the Auckland reps. These, in blue and white jerseys, did not keep them longwaiting; cheers were given and the teams too*k up their position*. Mr Kilfoyle was the referee and Messrs F. W. Edwards and J. F. Smith the line umpires. TUB PLAY. Punctually at half past two Wairoa kicked off mid rushed forward ; tlie ball was returned and Absolum made a good run to Aucklan .-’a full b:uk who put him out m o- corn r w, w „ the throw iu Keane got over thy J'jje aud

scored first blood. Matthews failed to put the ball over : Wairoa 2 Auckland nil. Braund kicked out and scrum was formed on Auckland’s 25. The blues worked tbs ball up and Butlaud ran it down again but the blues rushed it back to halfway and Absolum returned it. O'Connor broke Ihrone-h the line out and Butlaud grassed him. Joo Elliott and Keans smothered some good passes and Braund marked on bis 25. Tom Elliott and Bmitb returned Auckland drops and Braund claimed free kick for off side play, Keane and Absolum showed good play and Com Elliott collared well, then Wairoa. got on a good rush and Auckland were given another free kick. Braund passed to Masefield but Kitching downed him. Wairoa then got a free kicx and Taylor returned to T. Elliott who kicked out iu Auckland 25. The Wairoa forwards played well together and were quicker on the b. 11 than their opponents, who seemed to get offside in the scrums. Kitching- and Keane wore quick on Braund, and Elliott and Bn Hand collared well and the spectators cheered Wairoa who, playing •against, the wind, had kept Auckland well in their own quarters for twenty minutes. St ne marked about half way and Gaudin tried at goal but it fell short. Play was then on the red’s 25 and one of them putting- the ball up iu front of the goal gave Gaudin a mark and Stone put the ball over the b%r; Auckland 4, Wdtiroa 2. The visitors got on a good passing rush but Tom Elliot! saved and dribbled tliroag'li. Braund passed to Blowdon and he to M i so fluid who ran in : Stone converted. Auckland 9, Wairoa 2. Lowrie stopped the blues’ advance and Absolum grot on another grand run. Taylor put him out five yards from home. A scrum was formed from the I he throw in and Bruce dribbled round. Braund was up to everything and passed out well but the red forwards were quickly on the ball. B. IvTclloy shewing' up. Tom Elliott took the ball well but his returns were not long. Matthews got on a run and Butland and Wool’ams shone out. Me Millan marked and Stone followed up but Lowrie saved. Braund came through and ran right behind the posts. Stone was again successful ; Auckland 3 4, Wairoa. 2. Play was now very fast and Auckland copied Can 1 erbury’s game. Masefield showed the local backs how to place their men on side by following-up hit kicks. Blewdon potted without success, and F. Molloy came through with a fine dribble. Kilohing was very quick on the opposing backs and held well. Moore made a good dodgy run and Keane downed Masefield. Auckinn 1 got two more free kicks and E. Molloy spoiled Blewdon’s return Braund started bis men off and the ball passed from hand to hand till McMillan scored Stone missed and after a little more play the first spell ended Auckland 16, "Wairoa 2. Tlie Wairoa forwards started off with a rush on to Taylor wlto saved, and then Absolum made another fine run but once more fell into Taylor’s clutches. Butland and Kitching were kept busy tackling- their opponents then O’Connor and Stone came along- with a rush but the ball was thrown on and a scrum was formed Lowrie, Woollains, Absolum, and Keane came away with a fine diibblo from half way and took the ball rig-lit over the line whex-e Lowrie secured a try. Matihews missed the bar, Auckland 16, Wairoa 4. J. Elliott dribbled well and Masefield, got on a run and bumped Smith, Blewdon scored a try and Stone missed, IS to 4. Splendid passing by Auckland and forward play by J. Elliott and E. Molloy, and Moore was knocked out for a time, but came to smacking his Ups. Keane’s following- up was good, and Wairoa got some fine dribbles on but Taylor smothered the ball. A scrum was formed in toe blues’ 25 and Absolum scored a try. Matthews again missed, Auckland IS, Wairoa 6. Wairoa dribbling rushes and Auckland passing- followed. Lowrie dribbled well and Iben Braund g-ot the ball from some loose Wairoa passing and ran in at corner. Stone missed. 20 to 6- O’ Connor gained ground with a run, and then more fine passing enabled Bruce to score behind the goal. Stone added the three. Auckland 25 Wairoa 6. Another rush by the reds took the ball over the line aud Taylor was smothered. Matthews fell on the ball but it relied away and Gaudin saved. Passing- again beat the reds and Ronnyne scored ; Stone missed. Masefield saved from a Wairoa effort and Absolum made'another good run. J. Elliott dribbled to Taylor and the game ended Auckland 27, Wairoa 6. Altogether we were well pleased with the pi owe; s shown by the local representatives, for they played a goo 1 game, and were quite equal to Auckland in collaring-, running and line work, whilst they shewed superiority in dribbling- and following up. Auckland was superior in picking and making fair catches and shewed splendid skill in passing ; they owe their decisive victory to thi-ir pro-eminence iu these respects. Those who have witnessed many Auckland games say that they never slaw her reps, show snob passing- before, and it is very probable that had t he two teams met before the AucklandOsaterbory match the result would have been very different in numbers. We wilt not particularise more than to sav that Albie Braund was the life and soul of his good team. The. game was a most amicable and quiet one throughout. Mas fi- Id had his chin laid open and got a stitch gut imo it ; Gaudin injured his knee aud Butland broke a small bone in his shoulder. The las! named did not know the extent of his injuries until Monday. After the game the teams returned to aratapu and in the evening were entertained at A BANQUET. This took place iu the Aratapu Rink and was catered for by Mr M. O’Gonuor in a very satisfactory manner. Two long tables were spread and about eighty persons sat down. Mr O’Connor, president of the Union, sat at the head of the main table, supported on either side by Messrs Braund and Bassett, the captains of ihe teams; op - posite the President sat Mr F. W. Edwards, who represented the Auckland Union. The seats of houour at thp olhor table were oc-

copied bv Messrs Meredith, vice-president, and C. 11. Ma thews, secretary of the local Union. The viands provided were good and substantial and seemed to give thorough satisfaction to all. One hy one however, the hands dropped and then The President arose and said : On me devolves the honour of proposing the toast of the evening-. I feel we are highly indebted to the Auckland Rugby Union for send - ing amongst us such a fine lot of young men. Their ability on the football ground is something to be admired, and I trust it will not be the last time we shall see them amongst us. We have been beaten but another time we shall give a better account of ourselves. ‘ The Visitors.’ ‘ For They are .Jolly Good Fellows’ and hearty cheers were given after each toast, but we make the statement, now once for all. Mr R. Masefield, of Arapohue. ‘ A Medley Song.’ Mr A. Braund, Auckland’s captain,thanked the Wairoa team for the hearty manner in which the toast had been received and for their very kind hospitality. He and his team bad enjoyed themselves immensely and hoped they would have the pleasure of meeting again. They had learned Wairoa somethingin the passing, but the local forward team is as good a one as they had yet met; the backs were a bit weak. A little passing will give the passing game and then IV airoa should be as good as any. He would like to sec Wairoa have a try at some other teams. He proposed the toast of ‘The Wairoa Team.’ Song, Mr Reg. Masefield,' A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss.’ Mr E. Bassett, Wairoa captain, quite agreed that they had learned a good deal that day. We have looked upon Auckland footballers as something above ourselves, but after having been shown today he believed that they in the North would soon be able to hold their own. Ho hoped Auckland would come again, and that Wairoa would be able to send a team down next year and that she would then be found close on Auckland’s heels. He proposed the toast of 1 The Auckland Rugby Union ’ coupled with the name of Mr F. W. Edwards. Song by Mr S. Edmonds,and in response to an encore ‘ Julia.’ Mr F. W. Edwards, on behalf of the Auckland Rugby Union, thanked the Wairoa for the hearty response to the- toast. The Auckland Union felt it to be their particular duty to encourage the interchange of visits of this nature. When the Wairoa 11. U. sent down asking for a visit it seemed quite impossible for to comply as we had so many engagements on hand. We felt it was an impossibility, but someone g-ot up and proposed that we should endeavour to send you a team as we owed a greater duty to Wairoa than to others, and it was incumbent upon us to got you into touch with the football world. We wish to get thoroughly representative form throughout the province, and I was specially requested to closely watch the game and judge of the fitness of some of your players to be picked in any representative team we may have to choose, I have noted the names of two or three of your players whom I shall be glad to recommend. I can quite endorse Mr Braund’s remark that your forward team of today is tlie best we have seen this season. There certainly was a lack of combination behind where it was a one man game. You must drop that game as it is impossible for one man to play fifteen. You saw today a little of the passing game. We thought we were the best of passing teams till we saw Canterbury. It only needs a little combination on your part to make the Wairoa tea m one of the best in the country and I hope when I see your team coming South we shall find it close up to our team. You can beat us in one respect, we cannot entertain with you; from the moment we came into the Wairoa waters we have been treated well. In Helensviilo we were told we should meet with a thoroughly good reception. I shall be very proud to report, when I get back to our City, that we have been received like noblemen. In conclusion he begged to propose Success to the Wairoa Union. Song, Mr Moore. Mr C. Matthews, responding for the Wairoa Union, said the local team was a fairly repi eseniative one. They lacked the passing- game i.s Auckland had before Canterbury came. He hoped they would be able to show Auckland next year that they were apt learners, and wipe out this old score. They never before had a team to show them anything. (A voice— What about Waima f). Song, Mr W. Bonella, Mr Matthews proposed ‘ The Referee, Mr Kilfoyle.’ He had done well for them that day, although some of them had thought that there was a good deal of passing forward by Auckland. If the referee had kept pace with the game to-day Ire was afraid he would not have lasted out the second spell. Song, Mr J. Harrison, ‘ My Arab Steed,’ encore ‘ I’ll take you home Kathleen. Mr Kilf >yle, the Referee, said one or two players were apparently not satisfied with his work. There may have been some passing- on to-day, for he could not fully keep up with the day’s game, He had always beea glad to make his visits to the Wairoa

and had no desire to do other' than justice to them. Wairoa was a little backward in appealing. .Song, Mr H. Absolum, encored, Mr Joseph Molloy proposed ‘ The Press ’ coupled with the names of Messrs Dargaville and Stallworthy. Mr Dargaville in responding, regretted that he had not been a player in the match of the day. (A voice—-I’d like to take a fall out of you). It might have been the other way. A portion of the press in one locality had made a false prediction. We knew that we had a man able to put Auckland down if he had fourteen other men as good as himself to help him, but he had not. Eor a long time we did not know whether he was going to be a rep. or not, and we said. By jingo, Absolum, if they are all better than you they are good ’uns, Mr Stallworthy said young Absolum had played a grand game and he gave him every credit for it, but there were other men on the field who played quite as good a game. Looking at the game today 7 he felt proud of the manner in which tne Wairoa reps, had acquitted themselves; the very superior passing- of the visitors had made the defeat, judging by the scores, a heavy one, and he would feel sad at looking at it in print. The scores represented the difference in the passing- of the teams, but otherwise he was really proud of the good stand made by Wairoa. Mr F. Ross proposed 1 John Stallworthy, the father of Wairoa football.’ Mr 11. Absolum proposed ‘ The Ladies.’ Mr Reg. Masefield, who was unexpectedly called upon to reply, said—Dash it all, boys, I don’t know anything about the ladies (Oh ! oh !). I don’t I never had anything to do with them (Oh !Oh !). Well, if it had not been for the ladies wo would not have been here ; at any rate I would not. McMillan there is a ladies' man a~id should have had this job (no, no). Mr Dargaville, too, has had his turn with the ladies (laughter) and could have spoken for them. If they love us we will love them. The Company joined in singing Auld Lang Syne and then dispersed, most of them making their way 7 to the public hall where a large number of young people had gathered for dancing. Here the visitors made themselves quite at home, most of them being practised dancers. The music was supplied by Mr W. Mareroft, assisted by 7 Messrs S. and A. Webb. At half-past eleven the assembly dispersed and the steamer took the Dargaville people home. The streets were kept astir for a while and thc-n the visitors went iu to supper, to which we were kindly invited by Mr Edwards, and soon all was quiet. Sunday turned out very wet, bxtt several local friends had determined to take the visitors for a ride and they decided not to accept the defeat. 'Horses were procured, also waterproof coats, and over twenty riders started for the coast, Tim O’Connor being first favourite. They went in the rain and returned in the rain, and by five o’clock all wore on board the Minnie ready for home. There was a strong and favourable wind and Helensville was reached at half-past eleven the same evening.