FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 646, 11 July 1876, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Otf Friday last a team of the Hamilton Football Club went to Te Awamutu, to play the local club a match, which had been arranged to corao off on the Ist of Jnly, but had to be postponed on account of the inclemency of the weather. After a disgusting rido through mad, the team arrived 11 strong, which looked bad. However, the Umpire a.nd another player being 1 picked up, they managed to take 13 into the field, against which number the local club played 15. The difference in the weight of the two teams was markedly in favor of Te Awarautu, and Hamilton found this out before the game was over. Johnson captained the local club, and the black and white caps were under the command of 0 G Wood. During the first half-hour the ball was kept well down towards Te Awamutu goal, and in the middle of the ground, it being forced down twice. N Hunt, for * Hamilton, made a sp'ondid rush just after play commoncsd, and took the ball right through the opposing team, forcing them to touch down. Daring the second half-hour no advantage was gained by either side, but in the third, Te Awamutu warmed up, and played wonderfully hard for a short time, forcing Hamilton to tonch down three times in t3n niinu fees. Their exertions told on them, however, and, until the end of the game, Hamilton had all the best of it, getting three force downers and a touch down*. The try at goal was, however, missed, the ground and ball being very slippery, and time being called shortly afterwards, the rna'ch ended in a draw, Hamilton having five forcedowns and a touch and try to three forcedowns. For Te Awamutn, Johnson played and look after his team remarkably well, and he was ably assisted by Calpan, Mullins, Parker and Cooper ; j

Lublin, too, ran well onco or twice, bnt be wants practice, in orier to h<\rn a little dodging, m « rann/M, no matter how -peedy (.md Lublin is very fust) he i=s cm sel lorn or ever run " straight " away from the fieU with success. Several of the others played well, and when they know more o f the g. ame wilJ be nQ meaa antagonists. For the Black and White, Hunt was decidedly the best all through ; Hilling pkyod well, and when he got the touchdown, was deservedly applauded, as he was completely baked when he reached the ball. All the others played well, though rather wildly at times. The match was a decided success, being played with good feeling on both sides, from start to finish.

this match with Auckland. On Friday next a team of fifteen go to Auckland to do battle for "Waikato. The following thirteen are chosen, and' the two others will be selected during the week :— A E Cox, E B Cox, C C Wood, J Wood, Bsauchamp, Pilling, Whitakor, N Hunt, Coleman (Hamilton), Parker (Cambridge), Coopor, Culpan (Te Awatnutu), and Forbes (Alexandra). Auckland has selected a rattling lot to oppose them, and there h sure to be a hard fight for victory. The Auckland team is composed of the following :— W Jones (Ponsonby F C), T Mackay (Ponsonby F C), L Yon Tempsky (Parnell F C), C Ewe* (Grafton F C), T Whewell (Grafton F'C), E Burgess (North Shore F 0), C Dacre (North Shore F C), E Duder (North Shore F C), J Nolan (North Shore F C), and W Gudgeon, W Woon, J B.xlneuvis, T Henderson, G Carter, and W Caverhill, of the. Auckland F C. L hear that the North Shore ground is very small— not 100 yards long. If this is the (jase, I feel sure that our men will refuse to play on it, as they would have no chanoo at all when so cooped up. The ground should be about 130 by 80 yards, and saroly that could be got somewhere about Auckland. When at Te Awamutu, I heard whispers of another paporhunt in the neighborhood, and I believeit istocoma off before long. This is as it should be, and I ara sure that, if they are continued, settlers from a distance would come and have a look ; and, if they had horse 3, many would not be satisfied with that, bub would join in. — Bones.