FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 487, 31 July 1890, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE TURANGANUI REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. Tub Turanganui fifteen leave for Napier by the steamer to morrow evening, and play the second fifteen of the Pirates (the crack Napier Club) on Saturday afternoon. A numbir of other Gisborne persons ars likely to go down for the trip and to witness the match. The local team has been unfortunate in not having had much combined practice, as tbe only ground at present available is generally taken up witb other matches on Saturday afternoon ; but though they have not had much combined play as a fifteen most ot the team have had good individual practice. The Napier footballers will no doubt be surprised to learn that several of the fifteen are also in tbe district's representative fifteen, but this is accounted for by tbe rapid advgn e made by the Turanganui Club, which a couple of seasons back could hardly be called other than a boys’ club. The following is the team finally selected :— Priestley. Skeet, Matthews, Burns. H. Maude, A. Wade. Hepburn, Loomb, Nisbett, Robinson, Skipworth, Featon, E. O'Meara, Crawford, and Sherri ff. Priestley is the district full-back, and from his recent play is acknowledged to be the beat Gisborne has yet placed in tbe field. At halt distance Skeet is a very strong player, very hard to grass; medium kick, fair collar, and good hand to score. Matthews is a fast runner, and smart all rounder; rather light and easily held when collared by a strong opponent. Burns is also smart but is still lighter. Can stop a rush well by lifting and kicking, but should this season avoid running unless when well backed up. The three quarters point is a strong one. Wade has not been playing so well this season as he has done previously, but he is a good reliable man ; has a tendency to fall on the ball, which should be avoided; rather I this section. H Maude is well up in ‘points; smart, dodgy runner, good collar. I Tbe forwards are a very good selection, th y weakest point being in dribbling. There is* I tendency to lose ground by forcing the ball I when it ought tn be worked gently forward. In this respect the captain should keep a sharp eye on his men and give them hints as the game progresses. Handballing, too, is * failing which there should bs care to guard against, for a few mistakes of that kind is worth more to an opponent sometimes than the hardest bout of fast play. Nisbett and Loomb are the pick of the forwards, witb Robinson always at hand. Niebett'a weakest point is in running, be can seldom pass a good back if there is any ground to be covered, but wherever the ball is ha is sure to ba at band. Hepburn is weak in collaring, but plays with great dash. Skipwortb is of th* best material, but lacks dash, and allowa himself to be nailed much too easily. Featon is the kick of the team, and makes a very serviceable forward. O'Meara plays well when in practice, and though he could have done with a great deal more he is bound to play his best under the circumstances. Crawford has been off color thia season, but is well acquainted with bis company, and plays with correctness; if hs strips in condition he will be a great strength. Sherrill is a sturdy player, not in his best condition, but a hard nut to flatten out. He appears at times to be fogged as to some of the rules, and should not neglect ti satisfy himself on any points In regard to which he may be in doubt. The team is weak on the line out, though good in the " marking ” of opponents. The captain should try and arrange in each spell for special players to get the ball thrown to them in the line, varying the tactics according to the way the men are " marked ” from the other side. In passing, too, there has not been sufficient practice, but as the team is characterised by nothing in the nature of individual selfishness this defect may not tell greatly against them. Gisborne people are taking a large amount of interest in the match, and whether th* team is victorious or the reverse, it is felt that the best exertions will bo made. Our opinion is altogether in favor of the Gisborne team, despite the need for more combined practice. Still a great deal will depend on the way in which the local captain instructs his men when hs has had a chance, so to speak, to take the measure of his opponents, and the closest attention should be paid to those instructions.

On Tussday afternoon the Turanganui fifteen played a team of allcomers which totalled twenty-eight. Nisbett was the only absentee from the fifteen, and Nazer took his place. The game is not worthy of description, though it made an enjoyable afternoon'* sport. Of course tbe allcomers had the best of it, getting two tries against nil. The tries were got respectively by Weka and A. DeCosta.