FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2211, 8 June 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE SELECTED PLAYERS. On Saturday evening the selectors for tho Poverty Bay Rugby Union, mot and selected the following players to go into training with a viow to being chosen to play in tho British match: —Backs: \Vi Repa, Malloy, Brown Turei, Kaipara, Graham (nest End); Pullott, Rowo, Vnllanco (IvaitiCity); Wogan, Thompson, Bowman, To ‘ Roinga (Tnkitimu). Forwards: lleke, Hakiwai, Pine, J. Newton (West End); J. Nicolas, Lowe, Scott, Morso (Kniti-City); Lyons, McKenzie (Tnkitimu). Tho selectors reservo to themselves the right to include other players or to otherwise alter their selection as circumstances dictate. Any of tho players chosen who will lie unable to play aro requested to so inform the secretary to the Union (Mr. E. L. Maude) as soon as possible.

WEST END 13 r. TAKITIMU 9. These teams met for tho second time this season oil the. Domnin on Saturday afternoon. Considerable interest was taken in tho fixture as Tnkitimu were considerably stronger than on the previous occasion when they met. The weather was excellent, and the ground, although in places a trillo greasy, was in good order for a fast game. There was a good .attendance of spectators, and their enthusiasm was most marked on several occasions throughout the game. Takitimu won the toss, and played with tho sun behind their backs. Tho Blacks pressed hard from the commencement and compelled their opponents to forco inside tho first couple of minutes,_ coming .again with a good passing rush, tlio Blacks backs were nearly in, Kaipara being .thrown into touch at tho corner Hag. Wogan. took a clover mark and tho ball was well returned by Brown. From some scrambling play tho hall again came out to the Blacks’ backs, and a smart piece of .passing between Brown, Kaipara, Wi Repa, and Gorrard ended in tho latter scoring at tho corner.. Wi Repa failed to add the extra .points. West End 3, Takitimu nil. Tho Blacks returned to the attack on re-starting, hut Thompson relieved the pressure by a fine line kick to tho Blacks’ twenty-five. Even play followed, neither side having any material atlvantage. The Blocks’ (backs were passing veil at this stage, and both Kaipara, Wi Repa, and Malloy were nearly in. Bowman was prominent .in defensive play, and relieved with a good kick. The ball was sent back, however, ■ to Wilkinson, who made a mis-kick, and. Pine, following up fast, obtained possession and ran in. .Brown kicked a good goal. West End 8, Takitimu nil.

Tho Reds now commenced to warm up to their work, and kept their opponents on the defensive for a time. Gibson had .an excellent chance to score, but instead of cutting in for the line ran across the field and a golden opportunity was lost. Halftime was culled with 'the scores unchanged. The Reds assumed tlie offensive after the interval, but faulty handling by soino of the back minimised their efforts. Tho backs on both sides indulged in an interchange of long kicks, and once Gerrard was nearly over. A good run by Malloy and Kaipara ended in the former transferring to Wi Repa, who ran round and grounded the ball behind the posts. Brown easily converted. West End 13, Takitimu nil. The Reds now got to work with a will, and Bowman broke clean away. He ran up the line, centred the ball high, and following up ha.rd, blocked Somervell’s return, and scored a well-' deserved try. He took the kick himself, but failed. West End 13, Takitimu 3. Tlie Blacks were now penalised on several occasions, iiul were-compelled to act strictly on the defensive. Some heavy scrummaging took place outside the Blacks’ line, and Bowman obtaining, ran -round the scrum and over the line. Tim kick at goal was •again a failure. West End 13, Takitimu 6. With only a few minutes .to "o, -the Rods made it very “Willing,’ and made great- efforts to score. The Blacks defence was sorely tried, and Wogan eventually got over at the corner. He took tho kick hut mode a .poor attempt. I Vest End 13, Takitiinii 9. The final whistle sounded almo-.it immediately, lcliving West End victorious. Mr. W. Hay was -referee. For - the winners, Kaipara played a really sound game,. and Malloy nnd Wi Repa were also good. Pine, Hakiwai, and Heke were the best of-tike forwards.

AVogan, Thompson, -Bowman, and Te Reingi were the. pick of the Reds’ hacks; while Lyons, McKenzie, and Wilkinson were most prominent amongst the forwards.

JUNIOR MATCH

WEST END 13 v. KAITI CITY 3. City won the toss .and defended the western igdnl. .Pritchard started tho. ball rolling, and Wotty returned to West End’s twenty-five. For the first quarter of an hour the. Blacks were constantly on the defence, <md eventually from a fine-out in the Blacks’ twenty-five Coleman scoured, and beating his man, punned to Henley, who scored. E. Luttrell failed to add the extra points. The Blacks now livened up to their work ami took the ploy to midfield, where from a loose scrimmage lloche kicked down the field, and ißu-rke, following up-hard, secured, -and making a dodgy run-heat four men and crossed the line. Ko-Ici-r-i failed with the kick. Soon after the whistle 'sounded half-time, with the scores: West End 3, Kaiiti-City 3- '

From the kick-off play centred lor a while, hut West End were not to be denied, iui-d a loose rush by McGuffie, Kokiri, and Hephurn carried the ball to the Blues’ _ twenty-five, where they were kept actively On the defence. O’N-iel saved by a good line kick to the centre flag, and,from the line-out the Blacks secured, and a dribbling rush carried the/ leiither close to the Blues’ line. . From a rush by Peterson, Pritchard, . Roche, and Olsen, Petor&on scored near the- corner;, and Burke added the major points with a beautiful -kick from a difficult angle. Weat End 8, KaitiCity 3. The Blues now livened up. and soonhid tho Blacks’ on the defence. Give-and-take play ensued, and from a rush by the Kaiti-City towards, in which ’ McKee, Moore, and Bright were prominent, dribbled, the ball over the Blacks’ line, and a score looked very probable, but R-iwai forced. From the drop-out, Grenfell .returned with ii kick to West End’s twentyfive, where a lot e.f loose play ensued. The Blacks then took play into the Blues’ twenty-five, where from a forward rush Peterson scored/his second trv. Olsen kicked a goal. West End 1.3, Ivaiti-City 3. From the kick-off Somervell returned to .the line, and City tried hard to crass the Black’s line, hut the defence was too strong. Soon after the whistle sounded, with no further addition to the scores. For the winners V. Oman. Burke, and Riwai were the pick of the hacks, While MeGuffie, Kokiri. and Peterson were the best of the' forwards. For the losers Witty, A. Luttrell, and Grenfell in the backs were prominent, while Mcßae, Moore, and B. Bright were the best of the forwards. Mr. -H. M. Walker refereed. Messrs M. Sceats and A Hepburn acted as line umpires.

THIRD GRADE. In the 'third 1 grade—competition, Kaiti- Ciy defeated. West End by. 5 points to 3, .after a close x.me. in which Mr. M, Osborne officiated as referee, : SCHOOL BOVS v. WORKING BOYS The iGisfcorne iSehool boys met a team of working boys on No. 2 around before the junior match. The School team proved much too superior for tlieir opponents’, and nan out easy winners by 22-points to nil. Mr. 0. It, Qlseji held 'the whistle.

FIRST TEST MATCH

BRITISHERS IGNOMINIOUSLY DEFEATED. Press Association. DUNEDIN, Juno 7. Tho first test match between Now Zealand anil Britain was played today in tho presence ol about- iy,UUW spectators. Tho weather turned out splendid, and the ground was in capital order. It was expected that tho contest would result in a close finish, hut before tho game had been, in progress long it becnino oviutMit tJnit the home team would win by a sub-, stantinl margin. , , . . Tho New Zealanders asserted their superiority at the outset, and tho gniuo lmd been in progress only about ten minutes When they registered tho first score, a uenalty goal kicked by Roberts. Thomson next augmented the score by making a dash down tho lino and getting over at tho corner, Roberts kicking n line goal. A little later Mitchinson dashed over the British lino, and tho major points were added by Cillett. New Zealand still 'maintained the upper hand, and lrom a passing bout Cameron scored at- tho corner, Gillett kicking a goal at a very acute angle. Shortly boioro lnilftim'o a scramble took place on tho visitors’ line, and Roberts snapped the ball up and dived over, Gillett failing with the kick. When the teams crossed over, New Zealand had a load of 21 points. Tho second spell had not been in progress long before Roberts" got away on tho blind side of tho serum, and eluding opposition, scored at tho corner, Gil•lott’s kick at goal being a failure. Tho visitors then hold their own better for some time, and after pressing the home team hard once or twico their backs broke away from midfield, and a passing bout by Davey, Williams, ‘‘Ponty” Jones, Vassal), and Gibbs ended in tlie last-named scoring what was probably the best try of the day. Jackson added the major points. In the closing stages New Zealand roturned to tho attack, and a passing rush terminated in Hunter scoring beside tho posts, Roberts’ kick at goal missing tlie mark. Within a few minutes of time Vassail and Gibbs missed tho ball near the lino, and Mitchinson snapped it up and dived over. Francis converted with an excellent kick.

The winning team held the advantage almost throughout, and never, after tho. game had been in progress for half nn hour, did tho visitors look like getting near their opponents. The New Zealand team played splendidly, the forwards following up mid tackling splendidly, and tho backs passing and cutting-in cleverly and' using their speed to the best advantage. The home, backs were very smart in getting away, and when once going they took a lot of stopping. The New Zealanders played with bettor combination and frequently gained large ( stretches of ground. Some of the visitors played well individually, and on the whole they showed greater resource in footwork than the New Zealanders did, but there was a lack of combined effort, and generally, when a man got away, he lacked support, and of course the chance was lost. The line-kicking and fielding all round was of high standard. The placekicking was very good, some goals being registered at very acute angles. The New Zealanders were very quick at getting on to tho British halves, who had therefore considerable difficulty in getting the ball away to the backs. The visitors did not indulge in as much passing as their opponents, and even when they made efforts in this direction they were often nullified by “Ponty” Jones failing to take the ball.

PRO-BLACKS DEFEATED. United Press Association—Copyright. (Received June 6, 7.13 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 6. Australia defeated New Zealand by I I points to 9. (Received June 7, 10.5 a.m.) 'The * Pro-Blacks concluded their tour with "a match against, Australia, in which the home team proved the victors by 14 to 9. The weather was fine, and the attendance good. Tho teams were:—

New Zealand: Back, Tyne; threequarters, Rowe, Barber, AA f . AVynyard, Tyler; halves, AA’rigley, AVvnyard forwards, Lite, Cross, Johnston, Gilchrist, Pearce, and another.

Australia: Back, Hedlev; threequarters, Cheadle, Messenger, Anderson, Devereux; halves, Rosenfield, Holloway; forwards, Graves, Gann, Lutze, Pearce, Jones, Hardcastle. Play, excepting towards the close of the second half, was mediocre.. At the opening the home team pressed, hut the tide was soon’ turned,, and the first score went to the visitors, Holloway, picking up in the open, wa.s penalised ,and Wrigley kicked a goal. Slow. nlay followed. Then Pearce (N.Z.) marked at half-way, and Wrigley landed a goal. A third goal was landed by Wrigley as the result of a-mark by Gilchrist. At halftime the score was: New Zealand six,. Australia nil. In tlie second half Australia showed to much better advantage, and in the closing stages completely outplayed the Blacks. Tries wore secured by Anderson, Graves, Jones, and Messenger, and Mossenger converted one. J. Wynyard secured tlio only try for tho Blacks, but Wrigley failed at goal:

AUCKLAND GAMES. (Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 6. The first round of the Rugby football championships was continued here to-day- in ideal football weather. The attendance (2000) suffered by reason of the strong counter attraction of the .Great Northern Meeting at Ellerslie. In the senior grade matches Grafton and ’Varsity drew, 3 points (one try) each. Ponsonby defeated Parnell by 17 points (four tries, one converted, and a penalty goal) to three (a field goal). City had an easy win for Newton, scoring 27 points (seven tries, three converted) to three (one try). A CHRISTCHURCH MATCH. (Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 6. The senior football matches were postponed this afternoon in favor of a match at Lancaster Park betweon teams from the- town and country. The result, 48 i joints to 5, was a very easy win, lor the town, whose backs were altogether too last and clever for the visitors. Tho showing of tho town. forwards was, however, not altogether satisfactory, and they will need to improve betore next Saturday. The country backs had practically no opportunities, but among their forwards were one or two very 'promising men, wlu>,_ in good teams, would develop into really useful players. Large as the town score was, it would have been considerably increased had the place-kicking been even moderate. Out of fourteen tries only three were converted, but after the opening stages of the game the kicking was not taken seriously, and the attempts were made by a different player on almost every occasion. THE CANTERBURY TEAM. United Press Association—Copyright CHRISTCHURCH, June 6. The following have been selected to play for Canterbury against the An-glo-Welsh team: Fullback, A. E. Doell; three-quarters, F. C. Fyrer, R. G. Deans, TV. B. Fuller; five-eighths, E. B. McDonald, G. D. Gray; half, P. Burns; wing' forward, D. D. AlcPhail; forwards, J. Maliony, T. Bond, \Y. Meuzies, J. Baker, B. Hopkins, E. Evans, and T. Bain.