FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 807, 18 August 1877, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND T. DUNEDIN. The two teams started for EUerstie yesterday, at two o'clock, and despite the badness of the weather, there mast have been about 1800 persons present, who arrived by rail, drag, horse, and foot, to wibuess a game whioh has not been ex* ' celled, as far 'as good play is concerned, m Auckland. Auckland won the toss, it being arranged that four "half-houra" were to be played, and owing to the absence of one player, who come by train and was late, started, with 14 against Otago's 15. It was arranged that three tries were to count as one goal, force* down to count for nothing. Owing to the heavy state of the ground, it soon became apparent that scrummages would be the order of the day, and m these the Dunedin men, like the Ohristohurch men of last year, certainly shined m, oarrying nearly every Bcrummaga against our men by their firm and compact style of playiug. The play of the first half-hour was m favour of Auckland, who kicking with the wind forced tbe ball down m the quarter of the Dunedin men. Woods, as half, back, sending it down, and Nolan and Burgess taking it on. Paul, m the scrummage, was playing well) hut it seems invidious to mention names, as all did their work, and what is more, did it inora than well. Eose, by a good run, " carried the ball into the centre of the ground, when he was splendidly collared by W Robinson, jpjnd a push of the

Auckland forwards took the ball up to the right hand, touch Hue, and Dunedin. were forced to touch-down, an exploit hichiWaa ahprfcly after, repeated. The ball wa^i^ped^^ti^d after further Borummf||sr flenderaSS followed well up aided bjggWood, got it m the Dunedin meji's q^afiierH, and scrummages again resulted. £$t- Robinson got away with the o|y, bupheing tackled, passed.it oleverly knees to Ring, who, amidst great cheering, ran m ani obtained a try for; Auckland. The try was disputed by the Diigedinlnen, and referred to the umpires, til ' objection being "that Robinson was collared or the ball held before he passed baok. The umpires wero of different opinions t . to the Auckland,. m?n im nedi'itely had the .ball brought back and kicked off, thus giving into a case whiob, had it baeu settled m their favour, have decided the match by two pbioir.'Tlme '» r as dalled shortly afterwards. Directly the ball was kicked off m the. second half hour, Dixon, the captain of the Dunedin team, signalised himself by a brilliant run, but was well tackled by Garter, and though Dunedin followed up well, Mercer was quick enough to drop into touch, some distance from Auckland's goal. Toe Dunedia man worked it up co the touch Hue, and a fine rush ;on thi ir part, followed by a good run«by«.A Cargill, took it well up to tbe Auckland goal Hue. Oargill was collared byßLng, and another auoeemon. of sorijimages all m favour of Dunedin necessitated Auckland touomng down, do that the play f^r the remain ter o the half hour and the tbird and fourth half hours, much resembled the first two. The wliole backs had little to do, but every man on either side played well and did hit work; BtttlDunedin had tbe best of the second, bait hour's play. Directly the third half hour began a most palpable r case of ' rabbitiuq ' occurred by one of the Dunedin men, who threw himself on the very ankles of an Auoklanl man, and thus spoilt. what promised to be one of the best rubs of the day. Mclntosh and Hunt were playing well, and a good kick by Wood was followed well by Burgess and Nolan, who charged an.! spoilt Dixon's kick, and by a clever piece of passing managed to get the ball down into the Dunedin quarters. The foui-tb and last half hour was commenced by a brilliant run by Dixon immediately after the kick. off, he being veil collared by Wood, who passed to Nolan, and the ball, m spite' of a rattling good onargd by .Burgess, was taken behind tbe Auckland goal line. —Further description of- the play would be tedious : no score was made, and the game resulted m a draw, i'he sides appeared to be as even as could , the Dunedin men being certainly better collectively, the Auckland man, to our thinking, butter individually. Tue Dunedin men, carried nearly every scrummage, and, like the Canterbury men last year, played together as "a whole," setting .an example whiob. our men might well follow. Tbey showed the great advantage of " practice together," whereas our men — SJme of whom had never played with each other before — played for tneraseives. Dixon, Sweete, Rose, and Oargill, #ere oonspicious all through — Dixon especially , showing, to advantage. Of the Auckland team— and. of these we had rather speak m view, of future matcuea — our I'asc man, Ring to wit, had but small •'show," owing to the heavy state of the ground, as . his pace could not tell 3 had"' tue day been fine and the ground hard, tnere is small doubt but that our men,, would have shown to greater advan.age. Dunediu were a good even lot, and a trifle better, we think,' than those who played Canterbury, and every man who played, played hard. W W Robins m, as Uaptain and player, did a lot of work, aid both by his taukling and lieau w~>rk (especially his following it up) was an advantage. Nolan ran hard, and 1$ Robiuson and Fiul. Molntoiu with Hunt m the scrummages did uiact ; bub \of all the en on either Bide, chough 10 seems hard to say so, it it is to be taken m disparagement of others, Cvimm-na us to the v " emergency nun " ill Burgess, who,".fro(n first to i«st, worke 1 hjuesiy and stro"g, wituout ahow, and did uwre work, than any other man- Shakespeare and Paul were well m tne Borcuninagea, but as we have oftea written, our mea never will form a scrummage propdrly. Too much praise can hardly be given to Wood, and he maintamed ais reparation, which is saying much Tua gwn - t uuducided though it was, w*3 p^ >dao.Mve »f great excitement, the speet»turs cueering both sides alternati ely ; und, c usuieaug the crush, fair order was Kept. The teams were driven intocowuind *#§, and on their way were cheered h artily, i.tdiea especially honouring tacm ■vtth waving* of white handkerchiefs. I\jas end jd oue beat game played acre.