FOOTBALL. Waikato V. AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 649, 18 July 1876, Page 2

FOOTBALL. Waikato Y. AUCKLAND.

The team arrived in town sill safe on Friday evening after a very jolly trip, the weivther being splendid all the way down. On arrival at Mercer we found that there had bc;en a landslip on the line the evening before, R. mile or two from the station, tho evening train coming to grief, and the engine eapsizad, though fortunately no one w.ib hurt. Owing to the line not being quite dear we were put into some treeks and run up to the scene of the accident by the ballast engine, where the brain wa« waiting to receive the passengers. Saturday was just as fine a day, and the two teams, attended by a large number of spectators, proceeded to the North Shore, v here we found a nplendid ground in excellent order for the day, though thero was a heavy wind blowing nearly across the gronnd. Waikato looked bigger in tho field than the Auc'dauders, bub the fact of there being all in white accounted in si great measure for this, they having a little though not very much the best of the weights. There is not much to particularise about the piny on either side, which, was very hot from start to finish, all the players fighting fiercely for the honor of their respective districts. It was indeed the most orenly and keenly contested match that has ever been played in Auckland, and at the -cmi of an hour and forty-live minutes neither side had obtained even a touch down. There were few dispute's throughout., aad till agroed that the game had been a rattler. Tho kicking of Anckl.ind w,w very gool indeed, they hud. muHi the .advamrage in that part of the business. There was not very much rauuing done, Dicre of Auckland being the best of the lot, and indeed he played about the best all-roHud-muu in the town team. $ Wood, for Waikato, played splendidly, aud was admitted by all to be one of the vory best won on the ground. Altogether tho team has well upheld the honor of the Waikato, and I do nob think that the result would have beon much different even if we had had those fow players, who were left at hoia*, with us jiB when hard pressed Auckland played ft splendidly defensive g.unc, and wero very lurl to gel. through. Uu Monday (to-day) wp p!av 15 of tho (rraffc >n Ciub at the (Jlior.il Hall ground', and anticipate ft good gamp, their ttvim being composed principally of young players. T.io team wcim most hospitably eulortaiood in, t,lie evening at a dinner given in tho Thames Hotel, His Worship the Mayor being in tlio chair ; and after a spluiidid dinner -the majority of the players adjourned to the (Jhoval Hall, tv listen to (.ho truly wonderful voice of lima de Murska, and a ival good day 'a sport wa3 bi ought to an cud. Bonks,