FOOTBALL MATCH. CANTERBURY V AUCKLAND. [By an eye witness.]

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 669, 2 September 1876, Page 2

FOOTBALL MATCH. CANTERBURY V AUCKLAND. [By an eye witness.]

Hrivr *h.>*er* of r.iin, and gasfs of wn cl ushered in the day upon whtob wa* p'a>eil th) first luter-ptovincial f >vt li-tli much witneosed in Auckland. Those whutse pursuits and avocations had u^tess*tely i endured them but little acquainted with the rough Aud tumble noturtt of a football match naturally expected an adjournment of the tpoit, but tho Cunteri-ury team had to leave by the lUwea ou Fuday, aud though the fountain* of ttio skies bad beea openo I, snd tho artillery of Heaven had buen playing orer the heads of the combaiants, the match would have been played. Tow»r.is the middle «f the dty, tiowevvr, the weather moderate I » little, and a little before two o'clock the rival teims started in two drags for 14ller*lie Gardeus the scene of theirgconUiot for aupreinioy. I hwteied to put in an appearance, punctually at the hour niDiui tor tho <omuieuoemt.nt of the st'U.'gle, but, afttr waiting patiently, note-book in hand, fur about Bon minutes, I ventured to enquire as to the cause of the delay' and learned, to my great amuaement that though rigged out in all the necssuy paraphernalia, and burning with all the a dour of youth aud burnt uii over w tli animal vigour, not one of the 32 men, including the umpires, had thought of providing a " bone of contention." All were ready to pursue the leather, but tho leather was not th<ro to b« hunted. However, in a few more minutes this *' trifling" d ffiomty wmm overcome and tba t«o teams stepped into the arena. Well, I have seen some good men strip for f< o hall, but rarely has it been my lot to witness a stronger, healthier, more wiry, or more serviceable lot than the CaDter. bury Representatives. As they stood in a loly, togged out in their white knicherboaltera, c&pa »ni) jerecy, and stockings of black and red stripes, shewing out their form* to the be«c advantage, they ' seemed tne v>ry impersonation of hardy ma»hood. They averaged eaoh man u they stood llxt lOlbs. The Aucklanders looked well tv their blue and white uniform, bur, were umoh lighter, and a more QQe v«n lot than tueir opponents. Still, aoti vlt y WM evidently a characteristic of i heir team, and they seemed fit to stand the punishmant they were about to re* ceivrt from aheir heavier antagonists. Tho names of the Canierbury team were as follows : — J Anderson, captain, (vierchnton, Etimbro') ; J Barker, (Ohristchch College) ; C L Croiton, ,(L'udou); E Cotu-nll, (Cbrtetchurch 'ollege) ; J E Evann, (Cheltenham) ; Q FT Lee, (Wettmiueter) ; H VV Moore, (rUdl«y College) ; H MoOarde:l, <Ohristchurch College) ; W Million, J Millton, L M Olhvier, D Potts, A Potts, G Potta, (rhrstchuroh Collfge) ; W Stringer, Bi^h Sohool, Chrutohurob.

Auokland Mas represented »>y VV Gudweou, Wood, J iNvlau, Jonea, C Saarland, Wood, Cox, Uatro, J Gudgeo „ T M*vjky, I" «I«iMl«r»o"i Carter, Whewed, W Koh.'iHou (;»pt*iii), l**«*Th© jp'ala *** rfl '"t'^ft'l '«3 rt ja-ilaapirt an I iU • breadth ■ f the sjrnund wi- ab»u 80 yarda. Canterbury won the to»i, a>i«l at \> * « ly '<-'* «» "-»«■ * IU tnrte <) ' ol " L ' i Robinion, who bad been .Wd U *P* U ° o { U«j -vuckUud u-\m, launh <l tho hall by % vi^orou* place kick, m iho direotiou Of tbe foreiguor. goal. Tb» loc*l team commenced against tbe wind. Ihe postt>.»ii9of ha Auckland men wrreaa follows Whewell «nd Jonea (back*), lUibinaon thre-q iarter back, Cox and A ood halfback the rest forward. It had beeu arranged that B.obiu»on ahoold play with VVo« d half-back, an.l Cox forward, bur, very wisely this was altered, aud tbe tno lutle «.u«8 were allowed, a* they have io often done btf.ro, to act togethar a. nutes, in tb« position i«f tult-baoka. H-m, to remitt* the tak. Q nek at liautniaf, tho .*jrtUera boy* followed up t*o,. o*'t«a'. kuk, and aeemiug to take their morj ponderous opponents by bujp,i*e 10 two nunutea and a-half, ha i the ball forcaji over their gaol line, where Daor« threw faimielf headlong ou it, and ••cured t le tir«t touchdown for Auckland. Eobmsou vow tried » p!*ce kick at tbe S utbera goal, but the winl and slippery a ate of tne ground »ad ball were too j much f »r him, aad the try «aa mused The ba'l having been again got into play, •omo lively sport «n«ued. 000 very atnu Intt aomd«nt occurred. A wire hid bean atretohed ronoi tna> fi.ld of combat, and Gudgeon, iv ruuoi i& after the Uathrf into toaob, laded to observe H, »ud bu;»t headlong through the obitaole, cwryinij it aw»v for many yaids, and complawl) aoa P( a -q the wire. For •oma time Auckland »e*m«d to hare a hub the beit of tbo game, althoagh, from Urst to la.*t i» the toninagei, Cauterbury was oat and oat too good for the local boy«, the atreugtb. and aet-rmiuation of thd thr.e Pott*' brothera ea ryiug all before .hem. At ;«> in'nutM to 4 o'coon, G. l'ott^ oy a maxnifioent drop, aant tha ball flying past th« Auckland goal li c, where VVnawell haa to toucb it down. G«me : AuokUnd, 1 touch down (3 point-) ; CAiitarbury, I fufco dowu (tiHii-poiut). Carter, D»ore, UobinB)n and Wood Wtre at thin time pl*yin« rdinarkiMy well At 345 o'clock, Canterbury tecured »i»othtr toroo <io vn tae b*U hAvi.x beeu a^ai.i kicked by O. Potta. Ul2 minuet* to 4 o'clock, » grand united ruith wai m»le by the Canterbury men. Tbty literally ru«h jd in-ou^h the rauk.of their cp^on-nt., anl, for a moment, Aucklina - i-oal wa« not worth a uuuieut 1 * purchase, wh-n Whewell collared tbe ball, i-n-i. without atopping to faoe the o^p^ite goal, by a »idi kick, «cut the bill 60 ja'.U away from hn own end. At 10 minute* to four, time was called, and end* change 1. After 5 minutea intermi*«io:i, Moore kicked ..ff for C .nterl>ury . Uu ig'O ihi r ; ■hevred some flrat-ratc play. A mo- 1 oxcitiog Bc«ne here wok pl»s.« Aucklaud «cut the ball beh nd Cn tirbmy'* noil and tbnr b.ick, toaare a force down, attempt -d to kick it out, but u,i««d, «nd it flow atraigbt for the i-entre of tbe goal hue llenUer«on rushed h«*dlong through iho foo and nearly imcceeded m gftiing il touched down, but umacd bin footing und tl>e ball wat ultuntttelj forcad dow Ploy for five minutea altar that was ver> even. At five niimttea P»«t four tho b-ill wi, again b«autitiillj " dro^ptd" by Wool behind the «jouiberner'» goal line, and Niln racum ftUei- it m grand ntyle •uc-.-xded in scoring auo'hor touchdown for ih- Noith. Kobuiioi aj«*>'» toot tb« trr, but vm again o»ft>riun<«t». Ac *7 a,ii..tb.-r forcj dow wh» scou ed fjr Auckloud At 415 one of the gra*te*t runs •( th.- day was inida by Stringer ior OduLerU bury, lie g»t nearly throui<h the wh»i« of hia opponenu, but mua.ug his footing, waa collared anl held. luita*- <)>* llj attervrnrdi Mo J^rdall dil a a.nnl>r t nr.n but m*t wuh tlw tt»m ■ fate a* fetringer. Indeed the ground was altogetna- too alippory io give « chauoi to a g()o>l .ununr. At 4.20 time wm again called. Eobinwn for Auckland kicked off at 4 2S, when Cm g.ttm^ in uncle a *p'«nuid run goiting wed "P to thd Southsrnem' (jo»l and w.ndmg up witti i» drop. At 435 Canterbury aeemed to rally. They got tage her and uktutf advwuUgo oi a c >uple ut inuila o i ihe part ot the local men, ruahed the ball throe part* ih» leogui of the field and aoored anither forou down. At 445 rivum, (Uanterburj) m«le a flae drop right over AuckUnd'e go.»l line, and aoovhef force d wn r aultud. S ore— Auckland, 61 ; Canterbury, 1. Aft«r thj b ill w« nicked off Carter theffed tome good play on the >iorrhern touch liv*. Cotteriil lor Canlerbu y olio ahowed up well. At nine miuutea to five, Canter burf again gjt a force down. Immediately afterward* the Huutherner* «i^h on« of thoau treuieud'Ous ruahe« which termed <o li-ar all befor.- thorn a/am arnt the bill bthtnd tho Northern goil line, but Whawell toOugh hotly pursue! did not (ouch it down but kicking right round (hastened the ball flying «g«n t>w»rJ* t"e foal of the •tranger*. At aeven minutei to ttv« time w*» u.illed for tbe last time. Cotte.il kicked off well and the South a^aiu tuahed the baLr dowu to Auckland* q <al a>id aroured another force down. I wh aorry ju«t a*' thUtime to notice a <ood daal of od-aidini{ on the p»rt of Auokaul, but; will not mention mmes. Ac 6 6 weight, began te toll heavi y on the " looala," an.l the vi*ilor« wemed to b*ve a good deal the beat of it. .- hnrland here had to retire oonaidurably damsged. Cb^terill, ((Janterbury), und Jonn, (Auckland), ra ide two fine kicka, but they produced no Iruit. It was now Auckland* turn to rally and they got tbe ball well a* ay to Canterbury 7 ! end wuere a to nfic uciim. age took place, but i.obinon bj a well directed kck aetared another fore down. Wo ju juit at this time oame in for a Ur^e ilura ofpuniahment vVheu within five ii.inutfß of time being called, all the ttrength and energy and pluok of Canterbury teemed to revive witti double vigour. Thi>y ran the ball down to Auckland 1 ! territory and kept it thera ; all the loc»l b ijs could do, there it atuck. The ohucrs and oountar ohcera of the crowd which now numbered fully 1,000 became vooifaroua and a acora entued whteh I hiivi* never teen iwca I wii.ne«<ei tho old de ith'ahond and croaa bon^t of Blackhath performing in the old country. The f n I of th<> (truggle wai a free kick for Canterbury right in front of goal. L «a» determined to try it bj a " place," but the kick waa mused b" Coiteri 1, Uo'nnmikiiga grand ru<hjuat aa Cottarill w>a making the plaue kick from Bt linger 1 * free catch and tha Aucklanda* 1 * ruthing in, Another tevere aanmaga took place which w.ia only ended by the umpire* calling " time." The final acora atanding at 3 for Canterbury and 7 for Auckland, tue latter winning by 4 pointa. Ringing e'.eera were (ti»«n for tho visitor* and tbe home team by the crowd, nn<\ tbua an led one of the brat if not the beat fume, we feel certain, ever pluvel in the Colony Too muo i f. raiae oinnot bo given to Canterbury. They ure away from homo with probably many of their beat player* left *>• hind and have been aiz days trnYelling Thoir skill and pluok are be send nil quMMon and 1 »bou d like to back them all ronnd the Colony, except perJii pa at Wellington. A. band wa« on tho ground aud th*«r«* waa a food attaodaoco of tbe fair itx. In itbe eraoipg tb* 7a.i m^ tuaiu nttd cnUv

.u ail vi uiuikt by t o vucLlaud pojjjle mi dia.nkk U l.alf pisbiovcn :ihout7o persona m\ liowntu it oiitO}jtU'JUS dinn> r at thu lint el, Albeit -t iei, |jiovid,>cl bj host Gortii.m in lu-t bos style, tho tiund* b'Uig of the chou'i i>t and in si mn d <lc-o ptiou Mr liobcrD Gi ilum ocuu|'ia I Ui< elift-r, n 1 Mr Jjiucd i-maill the viecliuir, and A plea-aut and Hgi<;eable evening Wat epeiit by riirors un t gu.-ati.