FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2165, 22 August 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONALS,

N.S.W. AGAIN BEATEN. United Press Association —Copyright (Received August 21, 8.20 ji.m.) SYDNEY, August 21. There was fine weather to-day and about 3000 were present at the football match. A strong south-westerly breeze was blowing. The local team was weaker than on Saturday, and there was a good deal of ragged play at tho opening. Tho home team got tho ball from the scrum moie often, than their opponents, but were generally kept on the defensive. A superb run was made by Messenger, who feinted in and out through the blacks, but this effort was finally spoiled by a forward pass. The New Zealanders again drove the blues back, compelling them to force several times. The New Zealanders were within an ace of scoring, but luck was against' them. Shortly before half-time the blacks scored in quick succession. Wynyard and Todd came away, and the latter neatly side-stepped Fry and scored. Turtill failed at the goal. The blacks dribbled back, and from a scrum the ball came through to Wrigley, who dived round the pack and scored. Turtill again failed. In the next few minutes Rowe got a try, Wrigley failing to convert. The spell ended : New Zealand 9, N.S.W. nil. In the second spell the game was fairly even for a time. The local team then placed the blacks on the defensive, but Todd intercepting a pass got down-field and scored in the simplest fashion. Wrigley converted making the score 14 to nil. The local men appeared demoralised, and the standard of play fell. They managed to obtain a score which was the result of a fine piece of passing, in which Cheadle, Holloway, and Cann participated, Holloway scoring. Messenger kicked the goal, making the score 14 to 5. On resuming Dobbs was,rather badly hurt, and the locals played a man short. From a throw-m Tyler got possession and ran in. Wrigley converted, the score then being New Zealand 19, New South Wales 5, and there was no alteration when the game ended a few minutes later. WHAT WILL THE N.Z.R.U. DO ? Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 21. The Auckland Rugby Union tonight decided to ask the New Zealand Union what steps they proposed adopting in regard to professional football. WELLINGTON MEN DISQUALIFIED. Press Association. WELLINGTON, A-ugust 21. ' The management committee of the Wellington Rugby Union to-night suspended six players for-participating in the professional match at Sydney.' ROTORUA V. AUCKLAND. Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 21. The Auckland Wednesday Union representatives ’ were defeated here this afternoon by the Rotorua reps by o points to nil after a good game. The Rotorua team was mostly Maoris and they scored near the call of time. Rotorua play Auckland here on Saturday.

SOUTHLAND BEATS OTAGO.

Press Association. INVERCARGILL, August 21. The thirty-fourth interprovincial football match, Otago v. Southland was played this afternoon and resulted in an overwhelming victory for Southland by 20 to 5. A' large percentage of the country players in the Otago team was subject to considerable comment, but these men by no meanß fulfilled the anticipation of the Otago selectors. In the first spell Otago, with the advantage of the sun and a slight breeze, were kept defending with the exception of a single dash when Dwyer, after a fine' run, was tackled on Southland’s line, a force resulting. Otago lost the ball every time in the scrums and were never past half-way. Southland scored one try and potted a goal. In the second spell the Otago forwards showed to slightly better advantage, but were obviously beaten. The Southland backs improved very .much in combination, as the result of which two more tries were added and converted. The second of these goals was a particularly fine effort by J. McNeece, who a short- time later completed Southland’s score by placing a fine penalty goal. From a loose forward rush Borrie sent the ball out to Eckhold, who made a fine opening .and passed to Chambers to Tansey, "the last-named scoring. Eckhold converted. The Otago half got the ball only twice from the scrum during the whole match.