FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2168, 26 August 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR TRIAL AIATCH. The above game was played on No. 1 ground at Victpria Domain last Saturday afternoon. Both the teams wore short handed and their ranks had to be filled on the ground. The A team won the toss 1 and elected to defend the Western goal. From the kick-off the B’s attacked and Kelly securing from a wild rush gave Rowe a good pass. Rowe with a fine dodging run crossed the line and scored. Robinson took the 'kick at goal the bull just missing the posts. The B forwards with the ball at their feet carried the play into the A’s territory where Kelly snapped the leather up and scored. Robinson again failed with the kick at goal. From a free kick in the A team’s quarters Robinson landed a neat goal. Robinson made a splendid opening and gave the ball to Kaipara who transferred to Kelly, who raced across the line and scored. Heko kicked a good goal. From a loose rush Kelly gave Kaipara a quick pass and this tricky player succeeded in grounding the ball behind the line. Pine failed with the kick at goal. Bright broke away from the line-out and dribbbled the hall over the line, where Hansen fell on it scoring thfl A team’s first try. Aorere made a good attempt at goal but failed to find the uprights. Half-time was then sounded. Upon the resumption of play the B’s continued to add to the score, Alutu crossing the line after a strong run. Pine also scored, Robinson converting. Alutu again scored, Somervell converting, the game ending B team 30, A team 3. For the A team Wi Friday, Ryland, Leah and Pita te Hau, of the backs and Hansen, Somervell, Alutu, and Bright of the forwards were the best. For the B team, Rowe, Robinson, Kelly and Tait of the backs and Lyons. Parker Turei. Hansby, Lowe and Nicolas were the most prominent. Air. W. Howard had control of the whistle and gave every satisfaction. JUNIOR TRIAL AIATCH. This match eventuated on No. 2 ground and drew a fair share of onlookers. The form shown was of a high standard, the players putting forth, their best endeavors, hoping to secure the coverted position of a representative. The A team won the spill of the coin and played with the sun behind them. The ball was set in motion by Alorrell and S. Coleman returned. C. Somervell secured and made a good run passing wide. The B’s secured from a scrum and Porter (half) slipped round the scrum cleverly and sent the leather out to Pollock who found the line. Cooper snapped the leather up from a footrush and shot it out- to Coleman who, making a fine run kicked out-. The A’s half-back. Knowsley, was getting the ball awav from the serum in first-class styie and some good passing was indulged by the A backs. The B forwards initiated a determined footrush and swept 1 the ball into the A’s territory where Burke secured and scored. J. Roderick tailed with the kick at goal. Knowsley secured the oval from a scrum and sent it out to Witty who made a brilliant run, being tackled near the line. Porter started a passing rush which carried play out at the corner. The A forwards by fine footwork transferred play on to the B line where Lnttrell relieved by a fine line kick. Half-time was then called. Upon resuming the B team assumed the aggressive and for a time the play remained dangerously near tho A’s' line. Callaghan brought relief with a good line kick. The A’s vanguard headed by Hogg, Seymour and Poynton transferred the 6cene of operations to the B’s quarteft, where O’Neill gaining possession potted a neat goal amidst great applause. From a scrum in mid-field Porter secured and shot the oval out to J. Roderick who, evjpli/ig his opponents, crossed the line and scored a fine try. AtcLachlan was entrusted with the kick at goal and succeeded in guiding the oval over the b ar - Porter again broke away from behind the jiack and sent the ball to Roderick, who transferred to Pollock 'who ran in and scored behind the posts. The kick at goal was a failure. The game ended B team 11, A team 4. For the A team C. Somervell, Witty, Knowsley and Callaghan, of the backs and Seymour Poynton, Cooper, and Hogg of the forwards played well. For the B team Lnttrell, Pollock, AlcLacklan, Roderick, and Porter, of the backs, and of the forwards all played hard games. Mr. 0. R. Olsen controlled tlie game in an able manner. THIRDS. The third grade match was between West End and Takitiimu, and was won by the former after a. good game by 3 points to nil. Smith scored for West End. Air. J. Somervell made an efficient referee.

The following team has been chosen by the selector's to represent Poverty Bay in their matches against Hawke’s Bay and Hastings:—Full-back. Taiit; three-quarters, Hylands, Puflett, Alaller; five-eighths, Kaipara, Robinson; half, Graham; forwards, Hansbv, Nicolas, Turner-, Somervell, Lyons.' Hansen, B. Thompson, and Lowe; emergency, Kelly. The team is requested to meet, prepared for practice, at Aliller’s corner at 7.15 to-night.

NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONALS

AGAIN BEAT jST.S.W. United Press Association—Copyright Received August 24, B.S. p.m. SYDNEY, August 24. The third. and last football match between professional footballers of New South Wales and of the Dominion of New Zealand was played this afternoon, and resulted, as did the former games, in a victory for the Maorilanders, though in this instance it was only by the narrow margin of a converted try to a pon- . alty goal. TJio weather was fine but tlie'attendance fell far below those of previous Saturdays, being estimated at not- more than 8000. Messenger, who played such a fine game against tho amateur “All Blacks” during then- visit and who recently joined the ranks of the professionals, captained tho local men and fortune favored him m the spin of the coin.Short y alter the Ne.w Zealand “All Golds ’ had kicked off.' the Welshmen shitted the Scene of play to their opponents’ territory and there they penned them for a.quarter of an hour tho strain being relaxed by AVriglev’ who.kicked into the local 25 and, fob lowing up smartly, was down on his man before lie had time to gather up the oval. Messenger, however, was near at hand and saved a score as?' amst Ins side by kicking out into « dead country. On resuming play was once more in New Zealand ground ■ : where for off-side play in their 25 the visitors were penalised by having a tree kick given against them, and, . Messenger successfully piloted the ball *• over the bar, drawing first blood for ' tlie Welshmen. As the ball was sent m play the blacks swooped into their opponents’ 25, and tho blues had all tlieir work cut out to -irevent them - scoring- Johnston made a desperate effort to get over and looked like • scoring, but Hedley, the local fullback, who was putting in some excellent defensive work, collar'll him right- on the line. Hedley gained,' possession and sent the ball into tho~J centre of the field where plav liover.-l for a time. Then Smith 'made un effort to break through his opponents but was unsuccessful, and the blues who were if anything more ; b-.ip holding their own, gradu illy pushc’ the New Zealanders back si-d ErUy being very slow in securing tlie mil from the scrum the blues smo‘)ier<-l the New Zealanders before the l ac i s got to work. Botli sets of ‘or vs,-Is ' wore playing a hard game, but the visitors, with a dribbling rush, after a long interval of play in the neutral rtJue, broke through and got into tho \A elshmen s 25, where the super!) defence of Hedley once more saved the position. Tho local men were making use of the line to greater advantage than their opponents, but Turtill,tho visiting goal-keeper, prevented anyone invading liis ground. Half time was sounded with New South AVales having three on the board to Nctv Zealand’s nil. The “All Golds”

started the second spell by at once placing Noiv South W ales on the defensive and there they kept them for some time, but the visiting backs were unable to get going though, and time and again they charged separately. Olten when the New Zoalanders had what appeared to be a chance to score it was lost by erratic passing. This gave the blues a olianco to move forward and, charging down, kept the visitors hard pressed and battling to save a further score being registered against . them. From a free kick Wrigley kicked down the field and Messenger failed to take it. giving Johnston, who had followed up Wrigley’s kick, the opportunity to snap up the lea- ■»- tlior and cross the line. Turtill was entrusted with the kick and placing a goal made the score read, New Zealand 5j New South Wales 3. Open play, mostly in the centre of the field followed until Turtill kicked back to Granville who worked the game into the visitors’ quarters, and securing the ball marked. Messenger had a futile shot at goal. A few minutes later the game ended. THE BROWN SHIELD. Pross Association. AUCKLAND, August 25. The Brown Shield Competition (Association football) will be commenced in Auckland next Wednesday afternoon and continued on Saturday. The Wellington and Taranaki teams meet on Wednesday and Auckland meets the winners on the following Saturday.

RUGBY UNION’S “MEANNESS.” AN AUCKLAND REPLY. Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 2.5. For some time past- since the pro—'—""f essiona 1 movement was brought before the public complaints have been made that the Rugby Unions in New Zealand were to be blamed iu a more or less degree owing to what lias been alluded to as their meanness towards those who provide the sport. The Chairman of the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union had something to say in reply to the charges at a recent gathering of footballers. He contended that this criticism was applied because of a want of knowledge on the part of the critics. Already this year over £lO5 had been spent on juniors, while to assist football in the public schools over £25 bad been spent. For the benefit of senior football, including the present Southern tour of the Auckland team and excluding the cost of caps for the reps., the Union had spent- no less than £439 for this season. Last year £240 was given to reduce the debts upon the various training sheds—£4o to each club. This made a total of £BO9 spent wholly upon the players and for the advancement of football in Auckland. The Union a few years ago bad purchased a new ground at Three Kings for £3600, but which liad now increased in value to £9600. This ground was a very valuable asset to the Union and was good for all time.

MARLBOROUGH BEATS NELSON , Press Association. NELSON, August 24. The interprovinical match, Marl- f borough v. Nelson, was played here to-day, the weather conditions being perfect, and the' game resulted in a win for the former by 19 to 8. The visitors put up all their scores in the first spell, out-classing the local team in fill departments of the game. Nelson livened up in the second spell and were attacking for the greater part of the time. Two tries were scored, one being converted. Marlborough play the Golden Bay reps. at Takaka on Monday. AUCKLAND B (6) v. ROTORUA (6) Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 24. The Rugby fixture here this afternoon was between the Auckland B team and the Rotorua representatives, who defeated the Wednesday Union team on Wednesday. The ground was heavy and ram fell frequently during the game, consequently the ball was very greasy and good handling was out ot the question. The visitors, who were comprised principally , Maoris, had rather the best of the game, their passing at times, considering the ball, being very g*>od. The game eventually ended in a score of 6 points each. Two tries by the * rep. team were scored in the first half when Auckland had the wind with them. TARANAKI BEATS WANGANUI. A REFEREE AT FAULT. Press. Association. WANGANUI, August. 25, The football match, Taranaki v Wanganui, was played on Saturday afternoon in the presence. of 3000 spectators. The game throughout was of a very interesting nature, principally confined to the forward S in which both teams proved themselves fairly equal both in the - open and the loose work. It any 'thing the local team had slightly the better of it. The back play was disappointing but can easily be expained backs hardly ever gamfng possession. The final score was, , Taranaki 5, Wanganui 3: The visitors’ score was a very-clever one by ' Hunter, going through from a scrum . on Wanganui's line, and Coleman * succeeded in adding the major points. In the second spell Manganui obtained a mark from which iouthcomn.be kicked a beautiful goal. Exciting play ensued to the finish, both teams at times pressing. No flirther score was registered anti Taranaki won by 5 points to 3. Mi. Kattern officiated as referee but failed to see several glaring breaches. CANTERBURY BEATS OTAGO. Press Association. DUNEDIN, August 24. The football match, Canterbury v. ' Otago, was played to-day resulting in a win for the former by 14 points to nil The wefithor was wretched, a steady rain having faHen since mx,-ly on Friday morning. Canterbury i proved (be better team in almost every department of play, but their success was chiefly due to the act that the forwards secured the ball < 'in almost every scrum, tlie backs thus getting better opportunities ' than those of tlio homo team. The visitors were faster and played well together. The tackling of Otago was very poor.- For the winners Deans . scored two tries, one being converted by Fuller. Harrison and Mcl hail ' '■* also scored. WELLINGTON BEATS AUCKLAND. Fiess Association. WELLINGTON, August 24. Thoro was a fine day and a largo attondanco for the match between s*. Auckland and Wellington, but owing to recent rains the ground was sort and ■ muddy. Jflio Northern forwards played finely, hut the backs were weak and mainly owing to tins the visitors were beaten by 11 to o. Wellington had four “All Blacks bohiud the scrum and all of them were wonderfully fast for such a wet g-o'md. Their dash and combination upcet Auckland and were in strong contrast to the faulty defence play of the visiting backs. It was only the slippery ball that saved -Auckland several more tries, but it is quite likely that on dry ground the vigorous play of their forwards would have placed a few more points to thencredit also. In the first spell Mitchinson scored after a brilliant run and in the second spell Anderson obtained two tries, from one of which a goal was kicked. Auckland’s score was a try by Francis, who played a great game, and was splendidly seconded by the other forwards.