FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2208, 4 June 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

This afternoon at a quarter to three a team representing the iliursUai plavoi’s will meet a representative team of the Saturday players. t wat> originally in tended That tint? match should take phiee yesterday, tho Prince of Wales' Birthday, but owing to that day not being held as. a holiday, it was decided to move the fixture on to to-day.- in consequence of this, it is now found that the W.iturdav team, which, on the original choosing, was a’ fairly strong one, will be somewhat weakened, and inability of plavers to get oil’ work may also a fleet the Thursday team to some slight extent. Notwithstanding tins, however, both tea him will bo fairly representative, and a close and interesting game will doubtless result.

The following will represent West, End Football Club on Saturday next : Seniors—O. Hepburn, Miller, \Vi Bepa, Malloy, Brown Turd, Knipara, Graham, Murray, Blair, Newton, Hakawai, Heke, Brooking, Pine., ami Olive; emergency, Gernu’d. Hurds— Roche, Makonri, Oman, Clark. AA bitfield (3), Smith. Hepburn, O’Meara, Newton, Patterson, Porter, Koluri, H. Muldoon. AUCKLAND RUGBY UNION. Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 3. At a mooting of tlio Auckland Rugby Union, belli to-night; the question of a date for a Ranhirly Slneld match* with Marlborough was deterred . The Union decided, in response) to a circular received from tho New Zealand Referees’ Association, not to countenance the 10s a day out-ot-pocket expenses asked tor by tho referees appointed to outside representative matches. It was also decided to write all other, Unions in New Zealand suggesting that outside referees be appointed. INTER-CLUB MATCH. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Juno 3. A football match, Dunedin Pirates v. Christchurch, took placo at Lancaster Park this afternoon, when, after a fast and open gamo, Christchurch won by 22 points to nil. NAPIER V. HASTINGS. Press Association. NAPIER, June 3. The senior Rugby football match to-dav between Hastings and Napier, played on tho Be creation Ground, was won by Napier by sixteen points to Hastings won the junior contest by 8 points to 3. WANGANUI V. RANGITIKEI. Press Association. WANGANUI, June 3. The annual representative football fixture, Rangitikei v. Wanganui, was played to-day in the presence of about 1000 people. The conditions of the weather were all that could bo desired. The first spell was of a very interesting nature, the visitors having all the best of it. Tlio scores were equal. 3 points all. In the second spell they fell to pieces, and Wanganui were able to pile up 12 points. The final scores were: Wanganui 15, Rangitikei 3. At a meeting of tlio Wanganui Rugby Union, held to-day. the following ’motion was passed: “That tlio Management Committee of the Wanganui Rugby Union entirely endorses the action of tho New Zealand Union in remaining firm oil the arranged gate entrance for the first test match to be played in Otago, the entrance fee being considered reasonable for such an important match. WELLINGTON 4'. WANGANUI. Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 3. The first interprovncial match of the season in Wellington was played to-day on Newtown Park between Wellington and Wanganui, the visitors being defeated by 13 points to 3. The match was not nearly so one-sid-ed as tiie scores indicated. For Wellington .tries were obtained by Hit-cliing-s, Evenson, and Matliison, and two of them were converted. 11. Abbott obtained a try for Wanganui, Soutlicombe failing with the kick. BRITAIN DEFEATS SOUTHLAND. (Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, June 3 The British team scored the second win of tiie tour to-day against Southland; whom they beat- by 14 to- 8. Tiie British team was: Jackett, “Johnny” Williams) “Tuan” Jones, “Pontv” Jones, McEvedey, “Jerry” Williams, W. Morgan, Dibble, Kvrke, Archer, Thomas, Smith, Jackson, Down, and Hind. Of these Tuan- Jones, Jerry Williams, Thomas, and Hind have not before played during the • tour. Otherwise the team is the same that played Otago, und they played <an immeasurably better game, both back and forward. The local team started off promisingly, and within ten minutes Hamilton landed a fine goal from a. free kick for an infringement in- a scrum. At this stage Hamilton was the outstanding forward, both in attack and defence. "When the spell was half through he broke through from halfway from loose play. He outpaced the inside backs and punted over Jackett’s head. Jackett recovered wonderfully well, and got to the ball with Hamilton, but the latter dribbled away from the Britisher, and when on the line passed out to Clark, who scored. Hamilton made an easy goal. The Britishers responded well, ■and- their backs began to- take a hand in tho game. Morgan -started them in a beautiful passing rush, which ended in McEvedey being stopped right on - Southland’s line. In like manner Williams on the other wing was thrown out at the corner flag, after -a dashing run. From u very long throw-in “Tuan” Jones fielded in great style and passed to McEvedey, who scored a pretty try, which Jrjck’son- bonverted. From 'this to the end of the spell play was confined- to a heavy struggle amongst the forwards in the centre of the ground. Several times -the local men broke through, but the beautiful line kicking of Jackett invariably sent them back. It lias obvious from the start of the second spell that the visitors intended to make every use of tlieir backs. The forwards on both sides were thoroughly tired, but the .'Britishers obtain the ball in tins scrums with persistent regularity, and this gave them a controlling interest in the game. Moi’g-nf eleverlv fed his backs with his “flick” pass, and the other backs consistently fed 'McEvedey, wild was in great form. The first spell come early from a passing rush in which Williams was stopped right on the (Southland line. • A Southland hack, fielding across- his own line, foolishly kicked across .the field, enabling McEvedey to dash in and score an easy try. Jackson again made no mistake with the kick at goal,' thus putting the visitors :in the iead. The local forwards were for -ionic time penned in tlieir own twen-ty-ijve, but at last broke , through. An overhead kick, however, proved disastrous. Jackett fielded quickly, beat the solitary close man following, and running in-field, potted a beautiful goal. From this on there was no further score, hut for the next ten minutes the British backs kepi up an incessant attack. McEvedey being specially prominent. They were unable to score, chiefly on account of the .strong defence of AV. Stead, Hamilton. and A. McNeece, the last-nam-ed of whom tackled in great a trie as full-back. Almost the whole of the second spell was marked by magnificent line kicking by Jackett, “Ponty” Jones, and Jackson, and by the apparently total inability of the Southlaiiders to find touch. In the first spell the scrummers shared the ball fairly eonally. but throughout the second half it was almost invariably obtained by the visitors. They were superior to the local forwards, too, in line play, while tho attack of the Southland backs could not compare with that of their opponents. In loose forward play only did the local men show to nny advantage, and even this was cousidembly nullified bv the great line-kicking of the Britishers.

The gate totalled about .6-100. which means an attendance of somewhere about 7000.