FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2223, 22 June 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY COMPETITIONS.

Despite the very unfavorable weather conditions, a fair number of people wended their way to tho Domain to witness tho trial match between a Gisborne team and a combined I e Kanaka and Gisliorno fifteen. Owing to the lien.vv rain which had fallen through the‘week, tho ground was m a. verv sloppy condition, and in places pools of water were several inches deep. Notwithstanding them: advorso conditions, some good football was shown, although anything approaching brilliant play was an impossibility.

GISBORNE 14 V. COMBINED 3

Shortly after 3 p.m. these teams lined out, tho combined team appearing in royal blue, while their oppononts wore the West. End colors, black. Kaipara won the toss lor the Blacks, ami attacked the western goal. The Blues kicked off, and alot of serum work took place in midfield. The Blue forwards were beating their opponents in the pack and getting the hall time after time, hub their backs did not appear to bo.ablo to take advantage of the openings. From some looso play Thompson broke clean away, only to be recalled by the whistle, and a moment later a nice run by Graham mot with the name fate. A had miss by Hart and Gerrnrd let the Black forwards in, and they swooped down on the Blues’ lino. Sharp, however, was equal to the occasion, and saved splendidly. In the Blues’ twentv-fivo the Blacks’ backs got going iii a nice passing run. Bowman obtained from the pack, and passed to Kaipara, who. alter beating a couple of men. transferred to Malloy. Tho latter nlayer ran straight through, and scored a good try between the posts. Uu licit lmd no difficulty in converting. Gisborne 5. Combined nil. Even play followed the kick-out for a time, but from a line-out Lowe obtained possession, and a nice run between AVogan and Puflett ended in the latter scoring near the corner. Puflett failed with the kick. The Blacks’ hacks got going several, times, and some fine forward rushes were witnessed on both sides. No addition to the scoring, however, took place, and half-time arrived with Gisborne 8 Combined Team ... 0

After the interval tho half-backs and full-backs on either side changed places, Valla nee and Sharp replacing Bowman anil Tate in the Black team. The Blacks eon tinned to press , _ and Malloy and Puflett were nearly in at the corner, but good tackling by the Blues’ backs saved a likely score. Returning to the attack, the Blacks again indulged in a pretty passing run, Vallance, Kaipara, Miller, Puflett and AVogan handling in turn. Puflett could easily have scored himself, but unselfishly passed to AYognn, who got over.He took the kick himself, but failed. Gisborne 11, Combined nil. Loose play followed, and some amusing spills in the mud provoked the laughter of the spectators. Vallance got the ball well away on the blind side of the scrum when in his opponents’ twenty-five, and gave to AVogan. The latter made a short run and passed to Miller, who, using his pace to advantage, scored close to the posts. Puflett failed to add the extra points. Gisborne 14, Combined nil. The Blues now made determined efforts to score, and gradually bore down on the Blacks’ lino. Some heavy scrums took place outside the line, and eventually Nesbitt fell over the lino amidst applause. Thompson failed with the kick at goal. No further .“coring took, place,' and the game finally ended in semi-darkness with the score— Gisborne 14 Combined Team ... 3

For the winners Kaipara, A r allance, Malloy, and Puflett were the best of the hacks, anil Scott, Pine, Nicolas, and McKenzie wore the pick of a good pack. Graham, Thompson, and Bowman were most prominent in tho •losers’ back division, wliile Scfton, SherrifT, and -Grimmins worked hard in tlie forwards. Mr. M. 11. Walker controlled the game.

JUNIOR MATCH

KAm-OTY 27 V. TAIvITIMU NIL

These teams met on No. 2 ground, and the young Blues had a rather easy win by 27 -points to nil. For Kaiti-City Grenfell, Bright. A. Luttrell. and Witty played well, and R. Campbell. Hughes, Lowther, and Roderick were the best of the losers. The game was played under a protest, Takitiinu alleging that their opponents were playing an ineligible man. Mr. O. R. Olsen refereed.

THIRD GRADE,

KAITI-CITY 13 V. TAKITIMU 5

A fairly hard-fought game between these teams resulted in a win for Kaiti-Cit.v, who scored live tries (unconverted) to their opponents’ goal from a try.

OUTSIDE BANNER MATCHES,

TOLOGA V. TOKOMARU

[Si’eciai, to “Times.”]

TOLOGA BAY, Juno 20,

An exciting game was played here to-day, when Tokonmru met-the local fifteen. Both teams were well represented. and a hard, closely-contested game ended in a draw.' neither side scoring. Considerable interest was manifested in the match, and there was a record attendance of spectators, including a large number who had journeyed from Tokomaru Bay.

POXSONRY WINS AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

[Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, June 20. The senior grade ltugby football championship matches were concluded here to-day in splendid weather. Ponsonb.v, by defeating City by 3 points to nil, have now won the senior championship, and tho competition will be declared closed, and the “rep.” programme commenced next Saturday. Newton defeated ’Varsity by 9 points to 6, and Parnell beat North Shore by 15 points to 3. There was an attendance of 9000 at Alexandra Park.

GAMES AT WELLINGTON,

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, June 21. The principal Rugby senior games were played on Athletic Park instead of at Miramar vesterday, and despite unpleasant weather there was an excellent attendance. The senior games resulted as follows: Melrose 13 beat Oriental 3, Petonc 29 beat St. .James 0, Poncke 14 beat Victoria College 0, Southern 5 beat Wellington 0. Old Boys 8 beat Atletic 3. ;

THE DUNEDIN MATCHES,

[Press Association.]

DUNEDIN,, June 20, Tho championship matches were continued t-o-da.v in fine weather. Dunedin 6 beat Alhambra 3, Southern 15 beat Zingari-Richmond 3. Port Chalmers 12 beat University nil, Kaikorni a beat Taieri Rovers 4. Pirates 6 beat Union 3. Dunedin are now leading for the banner with Alhambra second.

INTER-ISLAND GAME

INJUSTICE TO HAWKE’S BAY

[Press Association.]

NAPIER, June 21

Tlie following resolution was passed at a special meeting of the Hawke’s Bn v Rugby Union on Saturday night:

“Considering that this union, if not the largest, is one of the largest in the Dominion, we desire to -place on record our regret that not one of our olayoTs is included in the North v. South Island match, and are of opinion that such action does not tend io encourage football in the Dominion.''