FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 512, 8 September 1902, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

INTER-STATE MATCH. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyrigh' Brisbane, Sopt. 7. At football New South Wales beat Queensland by 13 to 8.

OTAGO DEFEATS WELLINGTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. Wellington woro beaten by Otago yesterday by 8 points to nil. Stalker secured a try iri the first spell from a quick piece of passing, and at the last moment Knowles dived through a scrummage on the line, and Roddick kicked a fino goal. The game was fast and willing, and was much appreciated by the crowd, some 4000. The local men wero played out before tiie end, and the score was only a question of time.

SOUTHLAND v. CANTERBURY

By Telegraph Press Association. Ohrisjchurch, last night. The footbiill match Southland v. Canterbury was won by the home team by 21 points to 4, the winners beating their opponents in all department- of the game. NELSON WINS CUP MATCHES.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Nelson, last night. Tho football cup matches have concluded. Nelson defeated their rivals, and won tho Benior and junior cups.

FOOTBALL IN OTAGO.

By Telegraph— Press Association. Dunedin, last night. Tho Otago v, Wellington Association football match for tho Ohallengo Shield resulted in a win for Otago by 8 goals to 1.

Two Rugby matches woro played yestorday between country teams and Otago Rugby Union junior teams. Vincent (11 points) beat Otago (8), and Otago (5) beat Maniototo (nil).

TRIAL MATCH.

I Notes by “ The Whistle.”)

Thoro was perfect weather on Saturday afternoon last, when tho Poverty Bay Rugby Union held a trial match at Victoria Domain, with the object of selecting a representative toara to meet Ilawko's Bay hero noxt Saturday. Thoro wero several absentees from tho teams selected, tho most noticeable being Waitai, Tc Reina, J. Hay, We pi ha, and Reynolds. Tho teams took tho field as follows : A Team : Ball, Skeet, Porter, McGrutlier, Johnson, Poananga, Williams (captain), Newton, Martin, Moana, Swann, Davitt, and Hansen.

B Team: Kelly, Witty, Nolan, Loah, W. Hay, Burns, Miller, Colobourno (captain), Dwyer, Kay, R. K. Murphy, R. C. Murphy, liatea, Osborne, and Bright. Tho game was fast, but tho play was not as good as it should have been. Though playing a couple of men short, the A sido completely ran over their opponents, and piled up 87 points to 9. Though they scored so freely, tho exhibition given by the A team was not of a scientific order. Tho absence of J. Hay and To Roina seemed to havo altogether destroyed tho combination whioh proved so effective on tho preceding Saturday. The bulk of tho scoring was dono by tho forwards, who gavo a fino display. Tho work of Moana, Davitt, Swann, Newton, Martin, and Williams among the forwards was a long way in advance of tho display given by tho opposing vanguard, and was tho causo of the groat disparity in tho scores.

Williams did somo splendid place-kick-ing for tho A team, and Dwyor kicked a beautiful goal from a mark from tho centre of tho fiold for tho 13 sido, and also converted tho try gained by Bright. Ball and McGruthcr each bad a turn at full back for the A team. Tho former did some effective collaring, and took and fiolded tho ball well, but his kicking was ineffective. Tho lattor was clearly out of his place. Skcot, Porter, and Ball, the threoquarters, altogether lacked combination. Porter, at centre, mado some dashing runs, and was most difficult to stop, but ho displayed a tondency to, hang on too long, and lost chancos by neglecting to Bond tho ball along to Skcot at tho psychological moment. His passing was also too slow and too high. Skcot took the ball and kicked well, but did not run straight, and passod wildly at times. Ball also showed tho bad fault of running across the ground, but put in good work at times. Johnson, at five-eighths, put in a lot of useful work, and kicked and collared in fino stylo. Ho also backed up better than any of his companions. His worst point was a tendency to selfishness, as inoro than once he spoiled a good passing rush by being brought down with tho ball in his possession. Poanango, as serum half, gavo tho best back display on tho A side. Ho was quick at getting tho ball away, backed up as smartly, and kicked and collared well. He beat his mon cleverly, and made ono or two fino runs. In fact, he has never been Been in anything like tho form ho displayed on Saturday. Kelly had a lot of work to do at fullback on the B side, and did most of it woll. He took the high kicks safely, and returned them finely, but his defensive powers were not always what was required. Witty, Nolan, and Loah, on the threequartor lino, did n lot of useful work, but thoir collaring was weak, with the exception of the last-namod. They showed no

combination, however, ancl never looked liko scoring. Tho halves, Burns and W. Hay, gave a fine display in all departments, and played a dogged, uphill game throughout. They stopped many rushes well, collared soundly, and passed and kickod in capital style. Of the forwards, Hatea, It. C. Murhy, Miller, Dwyor, and Colebourne were most prominent, though R. K. Murphy, Kay, Bright, and Osborne rendered valuable assistance. It was very noticeable that tho B forwards hooked the ball in almost every instance from tho scrum. The line-out work was poor, few of tho men jumping for the ball, and there wore far too many knoeks-on. Mr W. S- Mcprcdio \vas referee, but did not give general satisfaction. Messrs A. W. Bees and J. A. Eaton wero the line-umpires. THE BEI’BE SENTATIVE TEAM. On Saturday evening, Messrs R. Colo, J. A. Eaton, A. W. Rees, and W. Gibson met at the Gisborne Clun, and selected tho following team to represent Poverty Bay against Hawke’s Bay, on Victoria Domain at Gisborne, on Saturday next :

Full-back : W. Waitai (West End). Tkreequartors : J, Skect (West End), To Boina (Huia), D. lv. Porter (Kaiti-City), Halves : E. Johnson (Huia), ,1. Hay (Kaiti-City), Poananga (West End). Forwards: Moann, Swann, Hatea (Huia), Wepiha> L. Williams, J. Davitt (West Enl), J’ Martin, J. Newton (Kaiti-City). Emergencies : Backs : Kcre, W. Hay, Ball. Forwards : A. E. Colebourne, R. C. Murphy, H. Bright, and H. Miller. Tho team is the strongest that has represented Fovcrty Bay for many seasons, and, though lacking the essential combination which a big match or two would give them, they may bo rolled upon to uphold tho honor of tho district on the Rugby football field next Saturday.