FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 214, 16 September 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WANGANUI BEATS TARANAKI.

ALF. BAYLY BREAKS HIS LEG

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Saturday. The Taranaki representatives played Wanganui this afternoon in the presence of a good number of spectators, and were defeated by the narrow margin of a point. Wanganui's score xvas nine points, made up of a try secured by Steadman (converted by Robinson), and a pot from the field by Robinson. Taranaki scored eight points, which were the result of two tries by Dowd (converted by ilaxven and Mynott). The game was interesting and exciting throughout. Taranaki’s passing and rushing was a treat. The backs played a great game, and had hard luck in not scoring on several occasions. Wanganui xvas not too good collectively, but individuals distinguished themselves. A regrettable feature of the game xvas an accident to Alf. Bayly, by which he broke his leg. He xvas removed to the hospital. The game was played in a stiff wind.

AUCKLAND DEFEATS WELLINGTON.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Saturday. Auckland gained a well-deserved victory over Wellington, in the presence of

an attendance of between 4UOO and 0000,

, ! including the Governor. The crowd took ! a keen interest in the proceedings, and | liberally applauded the victors. Welling- ; ton bad the luck to win the toss, and j gained the advantage of a strong wind, but made little uso of it. In fact they j were out played from tiie jump, and tho ! Auckland forwards smothered them time and again. Tho tirst score fell to Auckland, but this, it turned out, was a mistake. Tiie ball was kicked over the line to Slattery, who grounded it, and let go. Rod McGregor fell upon it, and the referee was unable to see what actually occurred. He awarded tho try. Shortly nftor Wellington put on a spurt, and after some free passing Slattery's strength enabled him to hurl himself over the lino, making them three all. | j fn tiia second spell, Wellington against I I the wind played much better, and so good were the forwards for a time that they flattered the spectators into bolioving that thoy would win. fn the last quarter, however, the team went to pieces, and Auckland scored two fine tries. The second was the result of soine very bad play among tho Wellington backs, xvbo could easily have kicked the bull out of touch. No goals were kicked, and tho scuro when the bell went was Auckland ... ... ... fl Wellington ... ... ... 3

Both full backs, and Asher and Buckland on the Auckland side, played a fin# gaum.

AUCKLAND DEFEATS GOLDFIELDS TEAM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night. In the football match on Saturday, Auckland defeated Ohineniuri by 9 points to 6.

TRIAL MATCH,

•Notes iiy “The Whistle.”] Tun inability of the Tc Kan College students and several other prominent players to obtain the necessary leave to nn.-thle them to accompany the representative team to Napier necessitated a great • leal of alteration in tho teams originally chosen by the selectors to take part in hist Saturday's trial match. When the hour for starting play arrived, it xvas found that there were not two full fifteens on tho held. Several of those selected to play were among tho spectators, xvhilc some of the best men strolled on to the ground without their playing togs. This state of tilings has existed for many seasons past, and it is about time the Union insisted on being treated with some show of courtesy by the players. Some of the moil appear to take trial games as a joke. ff we are to have football, let us play the game like men, and not sulk like children, and refuse to play because we are not picked on the side or in tho position which we think xve should occupy. Surely common courtesy should prompt a player selected to take part in a trial match to acquaint the Secretary of the Union of his disinclination to play. The suspension of a foiv of the worst offenders for a period would have the effect of preventing a recurrence of the deplorable condition of affairs which existed on Saturday. After considerable effort on the part of the selectors, the following teams were induced to take the field:—

A Team.— Full-back, Witty ; threequarters, Bakov, Te Keinga, Ngatai ; fiveeighth, Reynolds ; half-back, MeCredie ; wings, Eaton and Murphy ; forwards, Colebourno, Swann, Ngawini, Shorratt McGrath.

B Team. —Full-back, Symes ; throequarters. K. Campbell, Roderick, Leah ; halves, Brown, Gollop, Watone ; wings, Quinn, Sheet ; forwards, Wepiha, Hakawai, Cockerv, Murphy, W. Roderick, and Williams.

Two short spells were played, and the game was controlled by Mr K. Cole, whilo Messrs A. W. Rees and A. Robinson acted as flag-umpires. The men played well, but the advantage of a couple of extra men and of a good deal more weight in the pack gave the B team considerable advantage over the A, and the former eventually won by 6 tries to 1. Trouble was not taken to convert the tries. The greatest blemish in the play was tho want of combination. The backs took up their positions on the ground badly. Particularly was this fault noticeable in the defensive play. Symes played well at full-back. He handled and fielded the ball safely, and kicked splendidly. Baker, Teßeinga, and Ngatai played well, but the first-named pair have a bad habit of getting out of their places, which would land their side in difficulties if doue in a big match. Reynolds and MeCredie did not get much opportunity to distinguish themselves, as tlie opposing forwards seldom let the ball come their side of the scrum. The forwards worked well, with the exception of if. Murphy, who was unrecognisable as the Murphy of a couple of seasons ago. Witty, at. full for the B team, got through a lot of work most creditably, and will be a useful man when he picks up another stone or two. Leah played about the best three-quarter game on the ground, and had he a betier knowledge of the game would have earned for himself a place in the reps. Roderick and Campbell also put in good work, while Brown played splendidly at five-eighths. Gollop made a first appearance as a half-back, and struck us as being a good man, but seemed unable to keep his feet. Quinn and Skeet. at wing-forward, were very active, and were on to the opposing backs time after time. Of tire forwards, Williams played a great game, and Wepiha, Hakawai, Cockerv, and Roderick also put in grand work. Messrs A. Rees.R. Cole, andW. Gibson met at the Gisborne Club on Saturday evening, and selected the following team to play against Hawke's Bay, at Napier, on Friday next. 20th inst.: — Full-back: H. Symes. Three-quarters : T. Watkins-Baker, Ngatai, and Te Reinga. Five-eighth: G. Revnolds. Half : W. S. MeCredie. Wings : J. R. Quinn and J. A. Eaton. Forwards: L. B. Sherriff, E. Sherratt, W. Duggan, Williams, H. Colebournc, M. McGrath, and W. Roderick. Emergencies : Back, Leah: forwards, Ngawini, Skeet, Cookery. Though the defection of Porter, Jones, Brown, Wepiha, and Hakawai greatly weakens the team, the fifteen selected is the strongest which has represented the district since 1596, and only wants a few games together to make it a strong side. The team leaves by’ Wednesday’s boat, and returns on Saturday. We wish the men bon vogage, and are confident- that they will worthily uphold the honor of the district on the field of play.