FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2246, 18 July 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

The Saturday competitions, after a lnpso of tliroq wooks, will bo again resumed on Victoria Domain this atternoon. In tlio senior match, West End v. Kaiti-City, an excellent contest should result. Beth teams are short of soveral good playors; but this serves only to make tlio result more uncertain-. The gnmo will commence at 3 o’clock. On No. 2 ground, at tho same hour, Kaiti-City juniors meet Takitimu juniors. There will also bo two games commencing at 1.10 p.m., when Takitimu thirds play West -End thirds, and a challenge match, Town Cadets v. Country Cadets, will eventuate. Kaiti-City seniors will bo represented by the following:—Tate, Mullanoy, Byland, Gillies, Urinlinton, Hart, Rowe” (oapt.), Nicolas, Delaney, Grant, Scott, Winter, Lowe, Babbington, and Morse (wing). Kaiti-City .juniors areas follows: Coleman. Witty, Luttrell (2), Grom fel, O’Neill, Bollock, McGregor, Bright, Jeffries, Hickey, Paterson, /Mcßae,, Moore, and .Fraser. The Takitimu junior team will be picked from the following:—Campbell (3), Morel 1, Hughes, Morphy, O’Donnell, Witters, Lowtlier, Andrew, Callighan, Clark, Dunlop, McGregor, Roderick, Snowden, Robinson. Tho Kaiti-City thirds will bo represented to-day ns follows:—Pollock, Wyllie, Huston, Fitzgerald, Lang, Cramp, Pollock, Bristow, Nicolas, Bryant, Harding, Bright, O’Neill, Fromm, Wyllie. Eemergencies : Craig and Hansen.

THE BRITISH TOUR. TO-DAY’.S MATCH. [Press Association.] . AUCKLAND, July 17. The British team against Auckland will be: Dyke, Vassal], .-“Tuan” Jones, McEvedy, Laxon, Williams, Harding, Morgan, D.ibblo, Down, Hind, Smith, J. F. Williams, and Thomas. The fifteenth mail will be chosen to-morrow.

Tho British football team to play Auckland to-morrow is not considered a strong side, a number of prominent players being laid up with injuries. Six of the nlayers who took part in tho second test are unable, from this cause, to take part tomorrow. Tlio forwards arc considered the strongest nortion of tlio team, and it is expected that a fine game will eventuate. Tho weather has been fino to-day, with a drying wind, aikl at the time of wiring there is every prospect of a fine day. The fifteenth man will probably be chosen from “Polity” Jones or Chapman. Arrangements have been made for the team to leave by special train for Rotprtia at 8 o’clock to-morrow evening.

The referee (Mr. Charters) appointed tor to-morrow’s, match has not arrived in Auckland owing to the bad weather on tho West (Mast, and it is doubtful whether he can arrive in time for tho match. Mr. Gallagher to-night stated that it was' his intention to quarter the New Zealand team, the Southern portion of which arriv e iff Auckland on Sunday, in the city in order that a practice may bo had at Alexandra Park every day next week. The third test match promises to be a great struggle, for the Britishers hope to have a fine side in good order for that game.

[Special to “Times.”] AUCKLAND, July 17. In an interview with Jackett, ho said the team had had a most enjoyable time since tlioir arrival in the Dominion. Queried re to-morrow’s match, ho replied: “I am purely expressing my own sentiments when I say that if we had our proper side tomorrow I candidly, believe we could beat Auckland with* 12 points in. As it is, our best players are temporarily disabled, but all the same wo will give Auckland a . good go.” Jackett further explained that, with the exception of a few matches, tho referees had been “hot stuff.” “On several occasions,” he said, “the refereeing has been equivalent to ten points against us.” Referring to the Taraiinki, incident, Jackett expressed the opinion that if the try scored against them was brought before the union it would bo disallowed. “I was in bed when the match was played, but the rest of the boys have assured me that it was the cleanest and most sportsmanlike game they hail played in the Dominion.” Asked what he thought of Mr. Charters as a referee, he said, “Well, lie refereed in a previous match, and we think he will give satisfaction to-morrow.” He concluded] “If over I have anything to do with another team visiting New Zealand I will advocate going into the mountains in Wales to pick a team of forwards from among the miners. Wo have had a pretty good doing.” Harding then appeared on the scene, . and, asked to express his opinion, said, “Our best team will not be in the field to-morrow, but I am confident of a good go.” A BRITISH GRIEVANCE. [Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 17. A grievance is expressed by some members of the British team regarding the Taranaki match. It is stated that the game was really a draw, the reasons given for this' assertion being that one of the Taranaki forwards was injured, and Dr. McEvedy and Smith were attending to him when tho ball went out of bounds. The ball was put into play quickly, enabling Dive to race over unopposed. The visitors state that the incident is quite consistent with the bad luck 'that has pursued them during their tour of the Dominion'.

TARANAKI’S DEFENCE. [Press Association.] NEW’ PLYMOUTH, July 17. In connection with .the Auckland wire relating to th e complaint of the British team over their lost? in the Taranaki .match, the “Taranaki News” 6ays the statement is ing. Dive did not run over unopposed. Ho raced neck and neck with Vussall and Dyke and', much to the surprise of everybody, beat them. It is true, that two of the Britishers stopped playing just before the ball was whipped: out by Coleman, but even if McEvedy and Smith had been in their right positions it is improbable that the score would have been averted, so smartly was the ball taken by Hunter and transferred to Dive. The movement was electric in its suddeiiesss, and had Dive been collared Cameron wag. lying handy, and probably would have got over. It is unfortunate', says the “News,” that the Britishers should take their defeat in the spirit they evidently are. Tho refere 0 did not blow his whistle to stop the game, and if two of the visitors stopped playing for the nonce it was their own loss and should not bo made an excuse for the Brit•shers’ inability to win a match in which all impartial critics agree Taranaki held the advantage. Taranaki won by playing to the whistle, Britain, lost by neglecting it.

WELLINGTON PLAYER. SUSPENDED. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 17. G. Spencer, of the Melrose Football Club, who is alleged to have IpcJs-

od an opponent during a match last Saturday, and was ordered off tlio field by tho referee, has boon suspended for twelve months by the commit too of the Wellington Rugby Union.