FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 977, 25 August 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WELCOME HOME TO NEW ZEALANDERS.

(P*r Press Association.) Auckland, Inst night. Tho Mararoa, with the football representatives, berthed at 8 o’clock on Sunday evening. The victorious team were welcomed by a crowd of from two to throe thousand, cheering lustily. The team were received by the Rugby Union officials and driven to the Royal Hotel. Today the team were officially received by the Mayor and complimented on their achievement. On Wednesday they take part in a match North v. South Island at Alexandra Park.

Hyams, interviewed, said the forwards were undoubtedly tho best that had ever represented the colony. A feature of their play was their evenness. The prediction that tho backs would be weak in their defence had not been fulfilled. They defended in good stylo when called upon, but were usually aggressive. He regarded the Queenslanders as a more formidable combination than the New South Wales representatives, despite the scores against both teams. The following represent (tho Auckland footballers on their Southern tour: Harrison, Absolum, McKenzie, Asher, Phelan, Garrard, McGrogor, Kiernan, King, Gallagher, Doran, Tyler, Hancock. Long, Nioholson, McDuff, Howard, Autridge, Bakowell, and Lewis. The team leaves next Sunday. At football the match Auckland v. Thames resulted in a drawn game, each side scoring 6 points.

Wellington, last night. The Poneke Football Club, by defeating the Oriental on Saturday, won the senior championship for the year.