FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3003, 14 September 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

, England v. Auckland.. , Adokland, September 12, The return football mateh between the English team aiid .the-Auckland representatives'was played to-day at the Tramway Company's grounds at Epsoin; the game resulting in a draw. The : weather wag fine, but the ground was Bomowhai hard, arid during the second spell a cold and ' changing wind interfered somewhat with the Melting. There were ; about 2000 people present. The following were the teams:—England -4 Full-iaok, W. Burnett; three-quarters, A.E v Stoddart [captain], Haslam, ,Dr Crooks; halves, Bumby, Speakmau; forwards, Paul, Stuart, Banks; Laing,; Wilhams, E. Burnett,- Kent, Eagles, and Thomas. Auckland—Full-back, Lusk; threequarters. Brown,; Masefield, Tanfiold; halves, '-Brauiid, Herrold; forwards, O'Connor, [captain,] Wells, Crowe, MarshahV'Hobson, MoKenzie, Hefferman, M'Lean, Lecky, During the .first quarter of an hour Brown played full-baokfor Auckland. The local men had the best of the game, especially, in the second spell, when the Auckland forwards worked Jiard, their rushes being a splendid feature, whilst they carried the ball before them in the scrums. Buinby, Stoddart, Haslam, and Eagles, played well for the Englishmen. The Auckland men won .the toss, and had the wind and sun hi then- favor during the first spell, Soon after the opening Haslam made a splendid pot at gaol, but the ball fell short. A smart return by Masefiold was well followed up by the Auckland forwards, who, with a fine dribbling rush, took tho ball over the Englishmen's line, but it went among the spectators and was dead, a certain score for the local men being thus saved. A good deal of scrum work ensued in midfield, alternating with punting play. Eventually the Auoklanders setout witkanother dangerous dribble until Eagles and Haslam relieved their quarters and took the ball down to Brown, who smartly returned it, Bumby and Banks headed the rush of the Englishmen, ;whioh was beautifully stopped by Brown a few yards from the goal line. Wilhams gained amarkinthecentre of the field, when Paul took the place kick but no score resulted. Brooks stopped a fine rush by the Auckland forwards, beaded by lecky and Hobson,' when Kent and Stuart led a counter' rush,' and from., the sorum Speakman passed to Stoddart; who made a good but unsuccessful pot at goal. Lusk now took his place as full-back in the Auckland team, Brown playing threequarter bade. Stoddart tried a run, but was collared by, Herrold, but from a line out Stoddart again got the ball from a neat pass by Bumby, and got in with a grand dodgy run, scoring the first "try for England. Paul took tho kick, but did not place a goal.—England 1 point, Auckland 0. Half-time was called shortly afterward. When the second speu was opened, the Auckland men rushed the ball down to England's twenty-fives, and Brown mado a pot at goal, but the leather fell underneath the bar.,; Tanfiold shortly afterwards made another unsuccessful pot. The Englishmen were here closely pressed, and Herrold made a run in, but just fell short of the goal hue. The visitors ot length cleared their territory, Speakman being conspicuous for good play; and after loose play the ■ Auckland forwards spoiled an attempted pot by Stoddart, but the English captain got tho ball again, and was collared outside the Auoldand twenty-five. Securing the leather once more, however, Stoddart made a bold effort to get in at the corner, and actually passed the line, when he was tackled by O'Connor, and lost the ball, Herrold forcing down, amid great excitement, A fast rush with Herrold in the van took the ball up to England's goal line, when Williams kicked it out amongst the spectators. ■ Play shortly after was again in ' the visitors' twenty-fives, and some fierce scrums took place. Crowe broke through over the line, but was called back. A second attack followed, and Braund getting the leather mado a clever feint to pass, but ran and dodged i through, crossing the line and touchi ing down amidst great cheeriug. Lecky took. the kick, but tho ball went wide.—Englaud 1, Auckland 1. For a little while after the kick out, the play was about. England's twentyrfive, but it was soon transferred to midfield, where it was when time was.called, tho match thus , resulting iu a draw.

The following team will represent the second fifteen of the Bod Star Club against the second fifteen of Te Ore Ore on Saturday next:—Back, H. Welch; three-quarters, Biobards, E. Welch, T. Bannister; halves, Baillio, Thompson (captain);„forwards,Holford, McKenzie, Mawbinay, Morris, Campbell, Ewington, Westbrook, CoUier, Braggins; emergencies, Broom, Grantham.

England v- Wairarapa- ' (ByTouchline.) Tun English team, as published yesterday, is without doubt as strong a combination as our visitors can put in the field, especially behind the scrum, and as our reps, have to pre-, vent' such men as Stoddart, Buiiiby, Speakman,. Haslam, Brooks, and Anderton from sooring,- it behoves our matoh-eommitteeman—Mr ; Ei M. D, Whatman-to select the best tacklers, m well as pur surest kicks, and smartest u,p; to oppose this team;,- The Wairarapa forwards oii\K;be.;thoroughlyfeliefl uponi if , : ' „ they play ;v >;confidence, butit'.iß. ; ,^elesß/toVhayoVgo6d ; forable; to

which was not the case on last'against the Wellington team. %£\ : & Mr Whatman will have to mate an _ ■ * Vif? alteration in the team to play against j{', \:- the English, and a very material' v '''„' alteration too. It is well known that y the yisitois avoid tho pack scrum, in fact they break, it up by screwing, if ' ; there is: tlieleast opposition to their first' ,;< afibrt,;. This being so the Wairaraptf" ■ ">' can well.' afford to spaio a man among '.their forwards, and "place ' r,» extra strength behind, as tho English- ' ,' men; the instant the scrum is broken >. -_ come through in a body, thus throw- . , '' ing nearly all their weight upon tho apposing halves'. My opinion is we would stand a far better chance of success if we were to play with seven backs, viz., three halves, three threequarters, and ono full-back, as wo should then have an extia barrier to break through. lam not advocating for a weak forward team against cur opponents, as I see by the published list that ihoy have a pretty tough lot selected, but an additional man behind would bo of more advantage to the teamithau by playing with our. full number in the j&mm. This appaient weakness in a measure can be avoided if our wings are instructed to "pack in," instead of playing away from the scrum ; they can easily give their weight, and be ready, to detach themselves if wanted. Besides, they will not have wings' against them, and will also have the * knowledge that an extra •* man is behind them, and will, or should, consequently give their weight to the scrums with an extia degree of confi-, deiice, lam not in a position io' dictate to Mr Whatman the team he should select, as I havo not seen the whole of the Wairarapa practise matches, but having seen the Englishmen in two matches, I have a pretty good idea of the game that will bo played on Monday next, and I trust tho few hints I now give may serve to strengthen our team for the match. ',- Auokland, September 18. [ The English Footballers left to-day by; the s.s. Wairarapa for Napier, where they play a match on Saturday. ft}

In the match Wellington v Hawkes Bay, played yesterday, at Napier,'tLe former won by four points to three.