FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2244, 16 July 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

In connection with the Thursday competition on Victoria Domain this afternoon, the times of commencement of the games were inadvertantly given incorrectly in yesterday’s issue. (Jitv and Star will play at 1.40. p.m., amt Alhambra and Gisborne will meet at 3 p.m. • . ■ Tr Tho City team is as lollows :—Huston, Taylor, Puflott, Roderick, Grinjinton, Roderick, Cramp, Bayly, O’Neill, Lvford, McPherson, Braggo, Grant, Bright, Puflott; emergency, AlcGonigal. THE BRITISH TOUR. TARANAKI DEFEATS THE VISITORS. [Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, July 15. After tlio hardest gumo contested in Now Plymouth for a long tinio, Taranaki to-day pulled off a victory against tho Britishers by 5 points to ml. Harding, with his best possible forward team on the field, was confident of beating Taranaki’s vanguard, but tlio’ result belied expectations, and tho forwards were 6 0 evenly matched that open play was to a largo extent rendered impossible. The game was very fast, as may bo judged from tho fact that there was only oiico force-down during the wlvolo of tho play. Taranaki’s scoro, within five minutes of time, was the result of a long throw-out by Colomnu to Hunter, the latter passing to Dive, who galloped right round the English backs. Coleman kicked off against tho sun, Dyke finding tho line near the centre. Tho British carried tlio first scrum, Harding somling tho ball out in the Taranaki twenty-five. O’Sullivan and Alynott headed a rush to Dyke,"who roturned to tho centre. An oxohange of kicks ondod in Hardgraves finding tlio lino in Britain’s quarters. Horo Coleman got away, but was well collared by Davoy, who kicked to Cameron, the latter fiuding tho line close to the. visitors’ goalline. Harding and his forwards replied with a fine rush; Vassall improving with « good kick, which Hurdgreaves nullified. Morgan secured the ball and set off with AlcEvedy, Vassall, and Chapman, tlio latter being well taken by iSlieehan in Taranaki’s territory. - Here the local forwards secured and a good, snappy passing rush took tho ball right back. Play strenuously on the British side of half-way till a mistake let Down away into the local quarters. Securing from a scrum, Morgan passed out, Alynott intercepting in a clear field, but was called back for knock-on. Alynott smothered Davey. from tho next scrum, and securing the ball, took pi ly to tlie British end, whore, from a mark, Dive made a fine but ineffectual shot. Play continued in the visitors’ territory and, from a high centering kick fly Coleman, O’Sullivan secured and dashed across, but was called back. Keeping up the attack, Dyke was hard pressed, but was equarto the emergencies, and eventually Harding cleared with a penalty kick, and the forwaids, following up fast, penned play at the local end, but an infringement lost them tlio advantage. Coleman, centreing high, let Alynott away, but Crowley held too long under the British goal, and the visitors cleared their line,. Morgan and Smith headed a rush which heat the local backs, but Hurdgravee pulled off a brilliant save. Tight plaj followed till half-time.

On resuming, Alynott broke away with the ball from TV. Morgan, sHardgrave and Divo taking it into the visitors’ twenty-five. Play waxed . very lively, being mainly confined to the visitors’ territory through Hardgrave’s line kicks. Eventually the British backs got going, but their efforts were spoiled by a bad pass to Williams. The forwards took up the running. Cameron being called oil to exert himself to save. Desperate play followed, neither team being able to cross the other’s twenty-five, till Coleman let Dive and Cameron away, “Tuan” Jones being collared near the British goal, but an infringement brought relief. Dive shortly after had an unsuccessful shot at goal, the British registering the only force of tliematch. Hunter and Alynott replied to the kick-out with ’a good run, from which Harding secured tho ball, and dribbled through splendidly, “Tuan” Jones, Vassall, and "Williams carrying it on. In afast passing rush the latter was collared from behind by Cameron when booking dangerous. * Dive, interbepting, broke away and kicked past Dyke, but tho latter reached the ball first, and found the line. Davey, Edgar Alorgan, and Harding dribbled back, and pressed hard for a time till a penalty brought Taranaki relief. From Taranaki’s twenty-five Alynott got away, and, with Tamil and Rotheray, took play to the visitors’ twen-ty-five. Coleman 'threw in to the centre of" the field, Hunter shooting tho ball to Dive, who swerved round three backs and scored near the corner. Cameron kicked a fine goal. The Taranaki backs were now getting the ball from the scrum, and kept up a battering attack, but tlie defence was too solid to penetrate. The game, though desperately hard, was stated by an Englishman to be the fairest yet contested in New Zealand. Air. Wyllie refereed.

"WELLINGTON A r . AVAIRARAPA. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 15. " The AA T el!ington. Wednesday football representatives defeated tho AVairarana Thursday fifteen at Athletic Park this afternoon by 15 points to 3. The weather, conditions and tlio state of tlie ground prevented anything like good play: For AVellington tries were obtained bv Whittaker (2), Brown, Gossling, and McKay. AVairarapa’s score was a try obtained by Fairbrothor.