FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 477, 8 July 1890, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Ths match set down for Saturday was between two fiLcens (probable representatives) respectively picked by Staito and Pola Keiha but seventeen a eide played. The teams were evenly matched, but a description of the game is hardly worth giving, because the strangeness of the company inlo which individuals found themselves thrown prevented anything like combined play on either side. However a few comments may be made on the play of those who were most prominent in the game.

btaitr’s team. Fisher was the life and soul of the winning side, playing a brilliant dashing game all through, and showing a knowledge of the rules which might well be a pattern to many other players. Staite played a rattling good game, being especially smart in picking up and kicking f along the line. Matthews was prominent all through the game, and made the moat of the few chaocea he had to get away, while time after time he succeeded in routing ihs opposition rushes. Bingham hardly got a show to give an idea wbat he could do, but seemed to be up to the mark. Albert made one or two serviceable runs. Priestly was a very sure full back, always smart in the return, and those who tried to elude him were soon despatched to ohsw the gras”. In the forward division Bolton played tbs best game of the day, never lagging onoe, and following up with great celerity. Loomb was also very prominent. Allen and Langford did not show up so well as on the previous Saturday, while Trotter did much service. Crawford was not in good form. Mitchell and Hepburn shone out occasionally. Monett dribbled well, but generally was too slow in moving,

fola’s team. H. Maude, at half, undoubtedly played the best game all through, doing good all round service. Bua was of course very prominent, but ha got few chance* to make the dashing run* for which he is noted. Fisher, Matthews, and Priestly always managed to be in the way when Rua had got a nice thing on. Butene was a very safe full back. With the exception of one or two smart rune, Rees was not very successful, and has a bad habit of letting his opponents get an advantage through his falling on the ball. It was through this that Fisher got the first goal that was scored, Hutchinson was surprisingly poor in the first spell, making several awkward mirtakee, but he seemed to wake up in tha second spell, and did splendid service in the latter part. Burns a'so played badly in the first spell, and then more than made up for it in tbs second, when ho did some very useful and elever work. Among the forwards Marshall and Robinson were a great source of strength. Nisbett played a fine game, bat is not well up in the rules. Riki did] capital work whenever ha chose to wake up to it, and scored a smart try, but he is sometimes inclined to rest at the expense of his mates. Pola, Tuboa, and Weka did good work. Smith strove bard and with very noticeable results for his side, but he had few opportunilies, and the company did not seem to suit him nearly bo well as that he had on the previous Saturday. Lysnar appeared to lack form, though every chance he hail was effectively utilised. One error of judgment, however, ought to be a warning to him in future. In taking a kick from near tbe corner cf his goal line, instead of shooting the leather up along tbe line, he sent it opposite the goal, when it was smartly picked up by Staite, and a pretty goal immediately potted. The native forwards all played well.

There was no brilliant play daring the afternoon, and the teams coming together without any special practice it could not be expected there would be any combined play. Hutchinson, for instance, seemed quite lost in the first spell, but in 'the second ba was a wonderful help to his side, thus giving an example of how a good player may be out when he does not know who he is dealing with on his own side. Fairley, who seems altogether out of form this season, also showed up well in the second spell. What both teams seemed to want more than anything else is a fuller knowledge of the rules. The new rules make it ss necessary to be careful of your own play, giving no chance for free kicks, as it is to try and prevent your opponents scoring in straightforward play. By a little carelessness one men may give a vietory to his opponents without their being put to more trouble than a shot at tbe crossbar from a free kick. This will be especially dangerous where a fast, trained team like that Napier will bring up adopts the usual tactics of rushing down upon the Gisborne men before there is time for thought. There was not a good dribbling rush on either side on Saturday, and the only really good bit of passing was when the ball was sent to Mat'hews, and enabled him to make one darhing run. In one oaBC a Maori neatly passed the ball into the hands of Mouatt, who was on the opposition side 1 In another initsnea a forward ran into one of his own men and shouted to that person to let him go. These ludicrous example* are only given to ensbl* players to see some of their weak point* a* they can be seen by a non-player, and thus by friendly criticism to enable ths best possible representative fifteen to be placed in tbe field. Dods, whose exclusion from the probable* wsnrv nTi An SfttHrflov

derist from playing, for a short time at any rate, through having hurt hi* ankle on the previous week. FBOBABLE FIFTEEN. On Saturday night tha following names were selected as the probable fifteen to play against another eighteen : — Full Back: Priestley. Three Q larters: Stait, Skeet, and Beet, Halves : Fisher and H. Maude. Forwards: Bobinson, Nisbett, Langford, Allen, Bolton, Marshall, Hutchinson, Tuhoi, and Trotter. Tha Eighteen are as follow*:—Full Back: Butene. Three Quarters: Matthews, Albert, Bua, and Christian. Halves: Burns. Dods, and Biogham. Forwards: Lysnar, Loomb, Crawford, Pole Kolba, Skipwortb, Mitchell, Bberriff, Smith, Fairlie, and Hepburn. One cannot help wondering what claim Skeet has to be in the team. He has proved bimself a splendid player under the old style, but ae he ha* no*, been at the practices and shown what service be can accomplish under the new rules, he should nbt be included in the first fifteen. Even Rees, who is acknowledged to have been one of the beat of players in past seasons, on Saturday permitted Staite’s team to get a goal through adopting taetios formerly allowed—falling on tbe ball. Matthews did not make a mistake on Saturday, and whenever he got an opportunity he made good use of it. The exclusion of Rua might be thought to have a weakening influence, but he has a habit of disregarding the advan. tape of combined play. Footballers are particularly requested to put in an appearance on the ground each Afternoon, when the ball will be there for practice purpotM. A great amount of Interest ha* alrfody been emitted in the mitoh to come offuNtl Saturday.