FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 232, 8 December 1888, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE GREEN COLORS DOWN AGAIN WARBRICK COMES OUT TRUMPS. INTENSE INTEREST & ASTONISHMENT London, Dec. 5. The Maoris to-day defeated a team representing the North of Ireland, at Belfast, by two tries to nothing. The greatest interest was evinced in the game, and the play of the Maoris created much astonishment. The previous matches had the effret of arousing the intense interest. The batting was against the Maoris.

FURTHER DETAILS. WARBIiICK AND WYNYARD INJURED. FOUL PLAY AT KENT. A HARD AND ROUGH MATCH. L 'NDON, Oct 19. The match against the County Kent, at Blaekheath on Oct., 10, was looked upon in the football world as tho first real test of the Maoris’ cap ibility. There was a very large attendance at the Rector / Field when play commenced. The spectators could not have been less than 10,000 and there was an even greater attendance of ladies than at Richmond the week before. The lookers-on were treated to a grand exhibition of the game, and the play excited the greatest interest throughout. The County was rep - resented by the strongest fifteen it was possible to raise, and their supporters were full of confidence. The Maoris h iving lost the toss Ellison kicked off, and the play for the first few minutes confined to the centre. Tnen the Maoris rushed the ball into the Kent 25, but Hubbard relieved his side with a good run, and Christopherson nearly dropped a goal, the ball hit’ing the crossbar, and rebounding into play. After this narrow escape the New Zealanders played up finely, and some splendid passing between Keogh and Elliott esulted in the former getting it. From this try McCausland kicked a neat gaol. This reverse roused the Kentishmen, and they played up vigorously, quickly rushing the ball into the visitors’ territory. Hubbard now secured the ball, and after a smart run, succeded in getting a try close to the touch line. The place-kick was a very difficult one, and Christopherson’s attempt, though good, failed. Verv er-n play followed, tire ball travelling from end to end with great rapidity, until Rashleigh muffed a long ki k of Gaze, ani the Maori forwards rushed the ball over the line, Arthur Warbrick gaining a try. McCausland’s placekick failed, and half-time was immediately called. Scores: Maoris, I goal, t try; Kent 1 try. Throughout the whole of the second half, the play was very fast and exciting, though neither side succeeded in adding to the score. Kent certainly had very hard luck, ss Christopherson missed the ball once when he could hardly have failed to score, and the s ime player shortly afterwards was within an ace of dropping a g>al. Spurting, too, succeeded in dribbling the ball over the line, but failed to secure a try. Kent pressed the Maoris for the last fifteen minutes or so, but the visitors fought gamely just at the end, and when time wan called the ball was very near the Kent goalline. Victory thus rested with the Maoris by a goal and a try to a try, exactly the same S"ore as against Surrey the previous week. The Maoris played a splendid game throughout; and though Kent were decidedly unlnokv, I think the butter team won. As in the match against Surrey, the victory was largely due to the fine forward play The b'Ck», however, showed to more advantage’hin in the fixture at Richmond W Warbrick at full-back b ing very conspioimns Keogh, at half, also pliyedwell; and Elliott was. as usual, in sp en lid form. The f-mrth fixture of the tour was against Mos-'ev, a suburb of Birmingham, which possesses a very fair cluh Though th * hardware town is a stronghold of Association football, the Moseley men hive a good following of their own, and over 5000 people assembled to see the 100 Is p’ay the New Z-i’landers, and—as it turned out-give them their first beating. The home side kicked off. and after a few minutes play in the Maoris half, the bdl was gradually worked back, and the game waxed fast and furious in the home 25. The Moseley men played a very rough game, and the Maoris soon-lost the va'uable services of Wynyard, who had to retire with a sprained ankle when the game was only five minutes’ old. Tn snite of this loss the New Zealanders had the best of the game, and Elhson scored a t-y. from which McCausland place* a goal. Mosely now played extremely hard, and their roughness increased as the game went on. They soon scored iwr tries, both of which were turned into goals, and at halftime the score stood 2 goals to 1 in favor of Mos-ley. Just before half time W. Warbrick was bad'y injured, and had to be assisted off the ground. Hl very pluckily came out again to play but he was too lame to be of much use. Durof ths sacon I half ths New Zealanders played only 14 men against nnnon p ntfl’ full aide, and they not on-y held their own, hut had considerably the beat of the play. The Maoris at once began 'o press their onnonents, and Elliot gained a trv, which McCausland could not improve up n. The New Zealanders were now. paying miffnificently, and Gage made a brilliant run, which nearly scored The play continued in the home 25 T’’e Maoris were sev ral times very near scoring, but all their effo r *’s were unavailing B , and when time was cal’ed Moseley still he’d the advantage. The full smre wa* :Mnseley. 2 coals and 1 minor ; New Zealanders. 1 croal 1 try and 4 minors. The New Z •*’ nders played a fine game forward, but their three-quarter backs ! were hardlv so good as their opponents. There wa« great exultation among the spectators on the victnrv of the Moseley men, but they can scarcely be congratu’ated on it. They played a very rough game all through, and wrangled in a very unsportmanlike manner, and Warbrick’a injnrv was caused by a piece of what seemed to be deliberate foul p'ay. After this unexpected reverse, the New Zealanders journeyed to Burton-on-Trent,

where they met the local team yesterday. The weather was magnificent, and about 5000. penpie were present. The Burtnn team is a very good one, and the committee had pot together a first-rate fifteen. Burton kicked of with the wind, and at once assumed the aggresive, causing the Maoris to touch-dnwn several times. A smart run by Taiaroa relieved his side, but Burtnn once mnre returned to the attack and F. Evershed, obtained a try, which Sul’ey successfully placed. Half time-ar-ri-ed wrh the score unaltered but soon after re-starting Ellison gained a try, from which r MoCausland equalised the score. Play was now very even, and the Maoris had rather bad luck in not scoring, two free kicks by McCausland just falling short nf the goal. Marsden now secured the ball from a throwout, wh’oh the umpire wrongly gave in favnrof theßurtonians, and making the most of his chance, got a try right in the corner. Sulley failed at the place kick, and from the drop nut the Maoris played up very hard, but failed to gain a further point. Time was soo' called, leaving the home team victorious by a goal and a try to a try.