RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 197, 19 August 1907, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

FOURTH GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP. In the final of the fourth grade championship, Ponsonby beat Newton by three points, a penalty goal kicked by Webb to nil. Ponsonby thus secure the championship. THE AUCKLAND REPS. The Auckland representatives leave on their tour of the South to-morrow afternoon. It has been decided to send an additional player with the team, F. Herring, the City forward, being included, primarily as an extra front row man. Herring is a very useful forward, who can play anywhere in the pack. Seeltng having definitely retired from the game, Pople, the Grafton forward, has been selected ln his place, and Snowling, the Thames five-eighths, being unable to make the trip, has been replaced by F. R. Wilson, the Ponsonby three-quarter. The first match will be played at Taranaki on Thursday. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI. VISITORS WIN BY EIGHT POINTS TO NIL. NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday. The Auckland v. Taranaki junior representative football match was played on Saturday at the Western Park ground, which was in capital order, and the day was fine for football- There was only a moderate attendance of the public. The teams were fairly evenly matched as regards weight, though Auckland had some advantage in this respect. Throughout the game they showed far better combination, the resolt of having played together several times, whilst Taranaki was repeatedly disorganised, the men being strangers to each other's play. The junior team had played one match against Wanganni, but was altered by the selectors considerably. Owing to illness Morey the five-eighths, was an absentee, NuU replacing him.

The team, were: —Auckland: Fullback, Donovan; threequarters, Spragg, Hard wick, "Wynyard; five-eighths, Peach; halfback, Jackson or Stewart; wing-forwards, Wright and Linkhorn: forwards, Moir and McLean, (front row), Vosper (lock), Magee, Frisker, Sbaw, and Warbrick.

Taranaki: Fullback, Ryan; threequarters, Stohr,- Brown, Koru; five-eighths, Nutt; halfback, Crowley; wing-forwards, Ryan and Pearce; forwards, Morris, Robertson, Winters, Tichbou, McDonald, Brown, Hurley. Mr Geo. Griffiths had charge of the game.

From the outset the game went to the forwards, Auckland assuming the aggressive as the result of a lot of close work, displaying better knowledge of the game and altogether superior tactics. They swarmed down on the local line, where Hardwick made an unsuccessful shot from a penalty. Wynyard made an opening and play came right down to tbe home team's corner flag. From a long throw-in the ball was landed in front of tbe posts, where Crowled made the mistake of punting high. As a result Spragg grabbed the ball and scored an easy try, Hardwick converting. Auckland kept up the attack, Taranaki now and again securing and turning tne tables, but their work was not of a concerted order and their relief was but temporary. Pearce aud Nutt were doing yeoman service for the heme team, and Wynyard, Spragg, Wright, Peach, and Vosper were prominent amongst the visitors. For an exchange of wing-forward hostilities Taranaki were penalised, and a further score was narrowly missed. The blacks were kept busy defending, and from a scramble Spragg and others crossed the line. A score seemed inevitable, but Stohr obstructed and a try was awarded against him. Halftime was called shortly afterwards In the second spell the home team showeel .o better advantage, and pressed tho visitors bard on several occasions, compelIff ',? force - A Penalty kick wa_ ™?-? If beheved to give a score to Tara2__: *_". A _ ctlan< 3 umpire favouring that view, hut the referee ruled otherwise, ln Ih?_w y 0f the s P eU Stollr was disabled througn a collision with w Wvnyard. and this materially affected the team's to ™T w ay th r ' raVeUed ra P ld 'y **>_,___ U there was no further score, _s__t___P3E eDded witb *"*»»*» 8 Poiutt v A ,__ tlle d'nuer held in the evening tho _£_£_* of the J_ B * by SStK seleftTor W ho r me. lK>nOUre<l ' and later the team

OTHER MATCHES,

End by 9 points to nil For Ti West Co ßr °L?d B „ r /; ett Md Co - r. Briscoe and g C a°me Vhe--4^rflV?lefn d heXTd eSt >" torlous by 9 points to nil eld vle "

ROTORUA V. THAMES.

(By Telegraph.— Own Correspondent.)

THAMES, Saturday. The match between Thames and Roto rua. played here to-day, resulted in a win for Thames by 6 points to 3. The winders were the better forward line, but tTe R™ torna backs proved themselves to be fast and good kicks. In the first spell H Hay ward scored, after a pretty bit of liL play by himself and his brother New dlck failed with the kick. The scores were equalised by Niki markin- and TT Mitchell kicking a goal. In the _e____ spell McCallum scored a try, which _c failed to convert.

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL.

BULLER V. WEST COAST.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WESTPORT. Saturday. The uncertainties of football were never more fully illustrated than to-day, when the Buller team, which has suffered defeat after defeat to the tune of 28 to 0 by Canterbury, beat the West Coast team (which last week defeated Canterbury by 11 to nil) by 5 points to 3. " HAWKE'S BAY V. MANAWATTJ. (By Telegraph.—Precs Association.) PALMERSTON N., Saturday. The Hawke's Bay representatives met Manawatn on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large crowd of spectators and secured a win by 14 points to 6. The game was full of interest and fast throughout. ALL-ROUND CHAMPIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. By winning the junior football championship) on Saturday the Petone( Suburban Clnb has carried off every championship for the season, including two school competitions. PAEROA FOOTBALL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) PAEROA, Satin-day. This afternoon, the match between West and East resulted in a draw, no score. Tbe ground was very heavy. ASSOCIATION. The cup competition, under the auspices of the Auckland Football Associatidn, was continued at Devonport on Saturday. Following were the results of the matches:---CORINTHIANS V. PONSONBY. Shortly after the play commenced Foreshaw scored for the Corinthians, who kept the lead until just before the end of the spell, when Maldrum equalised the scores. Play was fast in the second half, and from a strong Ponsonby attack H. Webster scored, and though the pressure was maintained no further score resulted, the game ending in favour of Ponsonby by two goals to one. THIRD GRADE. Tabernacle v. Arawa A.—Tabernacle won by one goal (scored by Brewer) to nil. North Shore v. United. —A drawn game, each side scoring one goal. For United Potter scored, and for North Shore Woolley.