FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2475, 22 May 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

England v. Auckland.

(by our own reporter),

The first match between the English team and the Auckland representative fifteen was played at Epsom on Saturday in the presence of 6,000 people, and ended in a victory for the visitors by 0 points to 3. The English team consisted of the following Fullback : A. Paul. Threequarterbacks : J. T. Haslam, H. C. Speakman, J. Anderton. Halfbacks : W. Bumby, J. Nolan. Forwards : R. L. Seddon (captain), C. Mathers, H. Eagles, T. Kent, A. J. Stuart, A. Penketh, A. J. Laing, R. Burnett, S. Williams. The Auckland team was as follows Fullback: R. B. Lusk. Three-quarter-backs : R. Whiteside (captain), E. McCausland. C. Mailigan. Halfbacks : J. Conway, A. Braund, W. Elliott. Forwards: T. O'Connor, M. Keefe, O. Wells, J. Lecky, C. Marshall, F. Twiname, W. Hobson, R. McKenzie.

Both teams were heartily cheered on making their appearance on the ground. Soddon won the toss and chose the eastern goal. The day was very wet, but the ground was good, though the wet grass made the ball very slippery. The game was very well contested all through, The Englishmen played a good deal off-side, and had not Whiteside got hurt the result would have been different. Soon after the kick-off Elliott dribbled across England's line and touched down, but the try was not allowed. Good runs were made on both sides, and the English forwards with a loose rush, got over the line. Seddon scoring a try, which Paul converted into a goal. Shortly after the kick out Whiteside got hurt in the knee, but continued playing. About ten minutes before time Anderton got another try, and Paul again kicked a goal. At half time the ball was well in the middle of the field, the'«core being, England six, Auckland nil. After the kick out, the Auckland men got on a loose rush, and three minutes after the kick off, McKenzie got a try at the corner play, and by a magnificent kick McCausland got a goal amid great excitement. The score now was England six points and Auckland three. The play for the rest of this spell was of a give-and-take character, in which the English had rather the best, as Whiteside had to retire from the effects of the injuries to his knee; after twenty minutes play, no farther score resulted, and both teams were loudly cheered on leaving the ground.

Press Juniors v. Hamilton West School.

The first football mat jh of this stuon in Hamilton was played on Sydnoy Square on Saturday afternoon last, when the Press Juniors and the Hamilton West School met. Although it was a misoriblo, wot day, and the ball very greasy, the game was pretty fast, and resulted in a victory for tho Printsrs by 3 points {1 goal) to 2 points (2 tries). Messrs J. Andrew and F. Gaudin umpired for the Press and School, respectively, and Mr A. Sage filled the position of reforee, and all three gave the greatest satisfaction. J. Tidd secured a try for the Press about the middle of the first spoil, from which he kicked a goal, and that was tho only score they made. Soma little dispute arose about the goal, as the school's umpire said it was a " poster," but as the umpire for the Press and the referee were in favour of it, tho goal was allowed. Shortly after this J. Harris, by a bit ot smart play, got a try for the school, but no goal resulted. Not long afterwards the same player got another try, but no goal was kicked, and this was the last score cf tho day. There was no score made in the second spell, but the Printers had the best of the game. For the school, Parr, Cossar Oldham and J. Harris played the bost, and for the Press, J. Tidd, E. Johnson, Elliott and Wilson, although every man on the field worked well. It is worthy of note that there is not half so many " rows" with the boys in their matches as in the men's. The return match is arr.mged for Thursday next (Queen's Birthday).