FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 486, 29 July 1890, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

There was a rattling game played on Saturday afternoon, the representative fifteen playing against a team of all comers that increased to 24 before the game was finished. Several of those chosen for the representatives were again absent and the emergencies bad to fill up the vacancies. There was a good attendance of spectators, including a number of young ladies, though the afternoon was too raw to ba comfortable for spectators. The game was a fairly even one for the first spell, the representatives playing well but being unable to get through the great crowd that faced them, except on several occasions when they worked soma nice dribbling rushes. The game throughout was a very pleasant one—every player seemed to be on his mettle, but there was the greatest cordiality all through. Tne forward work of the all comers Wat very good, but combination was lacking, and once the ball was forced through the crowd the goal-line was always in jeopardy. It was astonishing to note the improvement that had taken place among the representatives, and Langford’s kicking was magnificent—far and away the best of the Raason. Some of the goals kicked were very difficult, but in regard to the only one that was missed the attempt was a capital one. The all comers failed to score, their chief capacity seeming to be to make a good game of it. On the other hand the representatives made some smart scores. Touches down were cleverly secured bv Tuhoi, Robinson, Lvsnar (two), Nisbett, and Hutchinson. Every member of the representative team played well. The fullback had an easy timo of it, being only called on a few times and then responding expeditiously. There requires to be a great deal more care in the line out, in one instance two successive freekicks being given to the allcomers through carelessness. This is almost inexcusable, but it is just as well that it should happen in an unimportant match, so that such a danger may be gunrded against in the future. Niabett’s dashing forward play was greatly admired on Saturday. Lysnar showed a great improve ment in condition, playing hard and fast, though at times inclined to be reckless. Allen was, as usual, very serviceable. Langford was a source of great strength on the line out. Staite played much better last Saturday than he has previously done this season. Rua was prominent all through the game. Matthews tried the dodgy runs, with very fair success, though little could be done in that way against so many forwards. Marshall and Hepburn also played a rattling game. No special mention need ba made of the other players beyond saying that all did well, while there was no remarkable individual play shown. It might, however, be in place to remark that Fairley and King showed a great improvement.

The match for this afternoon will probably be Turanganui representatives versus a team of allcomers. There was naturally some diesatisfaction caused by the proposal to allow the ground to be taken up at this stage—when the representatives want to get all the practice they can—by many who have to far taken little interest in football—no doubt because they cannot get up to play on Saturday, bat tbat can hardly be taken into account. In a match against allcomers every visitor will stand a chance of being picked, and a fair team can be got together. The desire is that Gisborne should win bo>h Napier matches if possible, and this can only be done by the representatives getting every opportunity for practice, while on the other hand it would be simply ridiculous for the Turanganui team to go in for what would be to them a sheer walk over match. In any case the Gisborne Club was fairly entitled tn be consulted in the arrangements for the proposed match. The following fifteen represent the Turanganui team, play beginning at 3 p.m.:— Priestly. Skeet, Matthews, Burns. H. Maude, A. Wade. Hepburn, Lootnb, Nesbitt, Robinson, Skipworth, Featon, E. O'Meara, Crawford, and Sherriff. Nothing definite.was received by the mail concerning the annual match with Napier. It is certain it cannot come oft on Friday in Gisborne, on account of the Turanganui team leaving on that day for Napier, but it is hoped tbat it may be arranged for later in the season. Our Napier correspondent makes a reference to the subject, but his letter was necessarily written before the Napier players had time to consider the last communication from Gisborne.