FOOTBALL.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 173, 21 August 1897, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. (BY TELEGRAPH— OWN CORRESPONDENT). Auckland, Last Night. The football match between Auckland ami Welliogton, which takes place tomorrow m the latter city, is exciting a great deal of interest in football circles here. Telegrams from Wellington state that Auckland are the favourites on the strength of their decisive victory over last year's champions—the Taranaki representatives. Wellington, Last Night. The Auckland team practised this niorniug. It is now raining, and the ground is .unlet' water. The Auckland men arc in good form, and keeping very quiet. They will play with determination. The odds are sto '2 on Auckland. The visitors have a strong forward team against thcni. The teams are : Auckland : Masefield, Absolum, Smith, Harrison, Riley, Brnuud, Gallagher, Brady, Murray, Caere, Oillett, Speight, Wilson, Anderson and Pitt. Wellington : Baumber, Mat son, Wallace, Lawu, H. Kelly, Woods, Hardeastle, W. McKenzic (captain), W. King, Spencer, Young, A. Campbell, Gallagher, Speedy and August. TE AWAMUTU-lIUNTLY MATCH. In reply to the ll«ev. Mr Hudson I must say I quite agree with him when he says that the referee who will be an unqualified success has yet to be born. In speaking of the inconsistency of his ruling on Saturday last I referred to the frequent knocks-on which occurred. In a number of instances where a glaring breach took place a scrum was given, while on the other hand when the ball was accidentally knocked on a yard or so a free kick was awarded. However, Mr Hudson was consistent, for at least twice when the ball was knocked on in a most deliberate manner by a Huntly man he awarded the penalty kick to the offenders ! Of course as it happened no harm was done, as no score resulted from the award ; but it would have been exceedingly hard on the Te Awamutu players if they had lost the match on account of a field goal from one of those kicks which in reality should have been given to them. I also entirely agree with Mr Hudson that a referee cannot always detect all that goes on in the field of play, and that on Saturday last i.o spectator could possibly tell the reason on every occasion for the referse'.i decision. In fact I doubt very much if the referee himself could do so. [Reporter W.A.] This afternoon the Hamilton East and West boys, under 1«">, will try conclusions on Sydney Square. It is to be hoped that all those who have been chosen in the Waikato " rep " team are in active training for the coming match with llotoru.i, to be played on Sydney Square on the 4th September. They will need to be on tlirir best behaviour to successfully cope with the Kotorua boys.