FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 315, 22 June 1889, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Captain Tucker’s paddock to day—Pakehas v. Maoris. The match with King’s College, Paramatte, re ml ted in a win lot the Maoris by 21 pointe to nil. In a recent match between Wairoa and Mohaka, the latter refused to abide by the referee’s decision, and as Wairoa would not give way the Mohakians left the field, the match not being finished. From Australian papers just to hand it would seem as if the Maori team were cutting but * sorry figure in the Australian game. One paper says :—The Maoris cut a very poor figure before the Carltons on Saturday. Of course, it’s very easy and nice for some of the select lew to pander to the New Zealanders, by telling them they can play the Australian game, but, in my opinion, they cannot; and more than a few weeks’ practice is required to become efficient in the intricacies cf the native game. . . From the commencement of the game it was seen that the Maoris were deficient in the real points of the Australian game, and had met the best team in the colony tcfshow them where they were weak. Mr Herbert Gladstone, speaking of football says:—Football at best is a rough game, from which a certain amount of knocking about, with an occasional accident, is inseparable. Among boys and men, other than roughs, this is kept in reasonable check by ordinary fairness which condemns unneces sary rough usage of a weak by a stronger player. Undoubtedly, not a few matches at the present time are disgraced by sheer brutality among the players, which is actually encouraged by the spectators. The fact is, as it appears to me, the taste for football has outrun the proper organisation cf it. The spread and sale of gate money are alike detestable nnder present conditions. The evil which exists will tend to cure itself, but the rapidity of the cure will, however, depend on the formation of a healthy public opinion, and an increased, not diminished, interest, on the part of those who, by position and experience, are most likely to get the direction and organisation of football playing into proper shape.