FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2326, 7 June 1887, Page 3

FOOTBALL

Hamilton v. Cambridge

The first match of the season between the above teams was played on Saturday at Cambridge. Play was to have commenced at three o'clock, but in consequence of the Hamilton men not rolling up tho game was dolayed nearly half an hour, at which time they had only twelve men instead of fifteen on tho field, and even then Mr W. Von Stunner, who went to see tho match, and not to plav, was filling the place of one of the absentees. The secretary informs us that a full team promised to play, and we are only echoing tho sentiments of both the Hamilton and Cambridge players when we say that members who promise to attend, and then do not do so, deserve a severe censuring. If they find they cannot attend they should at once communicate with the secretary or captain, so that substitutes could be provided, and not leave their club to be represented by tour-fifths of a team, as (, , Saturday, a state of affairs that is most unsatisfactory both to victors and vanquished. Another matter that requires attention is the appointment of umpires. In Waikato it seems to be the fashion not to go to matches provided witli gentlemen competent to fill these important positions; but to trust to someone happening to be present who will be willing to officiate in that capacity, and very frequently men are chosen who do not thoroughly understand the game. The consequence is that the players are dissatisfied, and the poor umpire gets abused —very often audibly—and soon begins to wish 'himself well out of it. On Saturday umpires were evidently scarce, as Mr Allright was asked to take the onerous duties for both teams. The players were as follows :—Cambridge: Messrs N. Hunt (captain), F. Porter, R. Wood, W. Moon, S. Richardson, J. Power, A. Souter, A. Forrest, D. Hannon, F. Brindle, H. Wilson, Graham, Paltridge, McCann and Hjortb. Hamilton : W. Odium (captain), E. Pilling, H. Biggs, W. Von Stunner, R. Gwynne, F. Jolly, Manktelow, Gnbblo, Stevens, Hopkins, Hinton and Bindon. Cambridge set the ball going from the south-end of the field, and very soon had a touch in the Hamilton goal. Scrummages in the centre of the field followed, from which Wood and Forrest made good runs, but were both collared by Jolly. Pilling was well away with the leather, and looked like getting through his men, but Souter—who seems to be all over the field at once—stopped his career, and getting the ball passed it to Wood, who unfortunately slipped and came to grass. Porter was the next to try a run, but again Jolly was equaljto the occasion, and brought him down. Just after this the ball tuuehed the umpire, and should have been given as "dead," but was not. The ball was now kept dangerously close to the Hamilton goal for some time, and Wood getting it out of a scrummage was over the line with Gribble and Von Sturmer, "all in a heap." The Cantabs became very excited, and for some time vou could only hear, " Hold on Bob!" "Fight it out!" "Stick to it!" "Never say diet" and such like expressions. After the struggle had been going on for two or three minutes, someone ventured to remark that the umpire had given his decision that Von Sturmer had had the ball on the ground at the commencement of the struggle. On being appealed to,-such was tound to be the case. Where were his lungs or whistle? The ball was then rushed to tho Cambridge end, and the visitors got a touch-in-goal. Porter then made a grand run, and passed all but A r on Sturmer—full back—who collared him, but not in time, as he just managed to get the ball over the extreme end otthe goal line, and secured the first try. Wilson had the kick at goal, but_ could not manage it from so difficult a position. Fast play was now the order of the day, the ball travelling quickly from one end to the other, good runs being made by Porter, Soutter, Wood and Hannon that kept Gribble, Gwynne and Von Sturmer hard at work, and at one point Odium was compelled to " force down " in self-defence. Immediately afterwards Gribble went through the Cambridge men, and Moon—the full-back—was glad to give the men time to get up by kicking the ball out at the 25. After a scrum time was called. The second spell was commenced by Hamilton, and for a time play was pretty well in the middle of the field. For- ■■ rest then made a good run, and passed to Porter, who was promptly "downed" by Gwynne. Wood was the next to get possession, and after a lot of dodging passed to Paltridge, who obtained try number two, the ball being entrusted to Soutter, who neatly kicked it over the bar. When the game was started again, tho Hamilton men kept the leather in the Cantabs ground for a little time until Porter got possession, and then things were reversed. Gribble soon after caught the ball, and was off like lightning, and in fact was through the thick of his opponents before they knew who had it, but failed to reach the line. By a series of scrummages the ball was brought to the Hamilton end, another "force down" resulting. The next try was obtained by Wood. Hunt having got the ball from a scrum close to the Hamilton line, he ran right along it, but finding it' guarded at all points, and being hotly pursued passed it to Wood, who popped it over again at the extreme end of the line, no goal resulting. Paltridge obtained another try, but it was disallowed, in consequence of Graham having obstructed Von Stunner. Time was soon afterwards called, Cambridge winning by 9 [joints to nil. The Hamilton men expected to be defeated, but they played a most plucky game, Pilling, Gribble, Gwynne, Joily and Von Stunner doing veoinan's service. For Cambiidge, Porter, Wood, Souter and i"altridge played well, the latter having altered his tactics since last year. Graham wants to know a little more of the game before playing in matches. The proceedings closed with the usual cheers, after which many of the members of both clubs adjourned to the various hostelries and fought the battle o'er again.