FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3102, 5 June 1917, Page 9

FOOTBALL

A COOD CAME TRENTHAM AND WELLINGTON ■ Good football was witnessed at Athletic Park yesterday, when a team from Trentham met and defeated a Wellington team. Tho khaki team looked excellent on paper, and on the field it (proved to be far too good for the City fifteen. The camp combination read like a New Zealand selection, containing the names of many of the best provincial players. The City team was the younger and the lighter, and, in all the circumstances, it should bo complimented on the good showing it made. It showed up better than tho scores indicate; it held its heavier lival fairly well, but tho camp team had scoring ability, and that is , what counts, "\yith a seasoned general to lead it, Wellington would have considerably reduced the cap between itself and its opponent. The individual efforts of its players wero often good, but tho combination was not of the best. Trcntham scored very shortly after the kick-off, M'Rao (Wairoa) forcing a way. across the line. Madden (formerly of iWelliugtoii) converted. Trentham, 5; Wellington, 0. When play settled down again it was clear that Trentham was first into its stride for it had quickly taken the upper hand and was pressing tho City team very olosely. Various forward efforts placed Txentham in a good position, and then the ball was allowed out to the backs. It ran alonft the khaki line prettily, and when it reached Madden, the fleet winger used his speed to advantage, and, outpacing the defending backs, scored. No goal resulted. Trentliam, 8; Wellington, 0. Tho next try also fell to Madden, and a while later M'Kae scored a second time. Neither of these tries was converted, but Trentham now led by U points to nil. Tho next two triee fell to the Auckland back. Mackay. Both the northerner's tries ' came from nassing attacks, and the points were attractively obtained. Both attempts to convert failed. Wellington now attacked vigorously, and Trentham was penalised near its own- goal. Morton took the kick for Wellington, and goaled. Trentham, 20; Wellington, 3. Wellington kept the khaki team pinned in its own twentyfive fov somo time, and, owing to fumbling by Madden, the City team nlniost crossed Trenthnm's line. However, the effort came to nothing. Trentham got out of trouble, and looked like going light through, but was stopped by the full-back. Wellington made things very lively fov Trentham, but was constantly driven back by the accurate line-kicking of James Ityan. the former Petone crack. Ryan rolieved a period of dull forward pluy by intercepting a pass and cutting rapidly through tho Wellington backs. A promising run wag abruptly ended by ft heavy tackle from behind. From a ecrum on Wellington's side of half-way the ball went out to tho Trentham backs, who lost no timo in instituting a passing rush, Crnwsliaw (South Island) made a good run, and transferred to Madden, who dashed over near the corner. Ryan's attempt at goal was interrunted before he cot his kick in. Trentliiuii, 23; Wellington, ;). The Trentham forwards liiul an excellent chance of Bcoviiiff immediately nfter this, but a pass forward destroyed the opportunity. A good loose rush by Wellington backs and forwards took them to tho Trenthnm line, where the defenders were penalised. Morton took the kick for Wellington, mid succeeded in landing a goal. The final boll sounded immediately afterwards with the scores: Troiithain 2.1 AVellington G Str. Tv. Fordyco was referee.

bury representatives defeated Tliomdou by Four goals to one. The winners were much bigger and heavier than the visitors,, who wero further handicapped by having had a rough trip down. Tbo scorers for Canterbury were O'Neill and Sprosbon, who scored two goals each, and for tho visitors, O'Neill, Stirling, Eton, Cording, Morgan, and Thomas played well. • To-day, in. a game, against third-grado representatives, iho visitors were more evenly matched, winning by two goals to one. Thorndon attacked with a fine passing rush. After missing . several chances, Nicklo scored from a difficult position. Both sides pressed in turn, then Thomas added a goal for Wellington. , In the second spell Canterbury attacked hard, fine work by Stirling and Eton, however, holding them. Finally, O'Callaghan scored a. lino goal for Canterbury, and from this onwards there was a splendid struggle, but there was no further score. Stirling, Dunne, Eton, Nickless, and Thomas played well.