FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 13 August 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

-- * Horowhenua (14) v. Foxton (10) Neither of the above teams had their full strength at the racecourse on Saturday last, when the visitors proved the belter team, scoring four tries (one converted) to the locals’ two converted tries. The Horowhenua team owe their fictory mainly to their half and Thompson, both of whom initiated many passing rushes, which the weak defence of the Foxton backs could not check. By the way, the fault of Foxton backs has always been that they play too close up, and do not seem to realise that to be effective each man should mark his man. Bocal forwards, had much the best of the visiting vanguard in the loose, and in fact all departments of the forward work, with the exception of hooking, at which Horowhenua frontrankers excelled. It is well that the referee was not always in the. position to see visiting half-back deliberately pulling the ball and otherwise out of scrum, or else his backs would not have shown such superiorit} 7 in attack, while the repeated attempts at off-side play of several locals made the game heartrending not only to onlookers, but to the referee, whose whistle was much in evidence as a consequence. The game was conducted in the most friendly spirit throughout, and was ver} 7 interesting at times. Foxton missed several good chances to score, while Horowhenua had bad luck in getting over the line several times, the scores not being allowed owing to infringement of the rules. Thompson, Winiata, Rawiri, Cook, Cootes, and others were prominent for the visitors, while Wright, Bowe, Momo, Shadbolt, Frankland, and J. Coley were the most noticeble Foxtonians. Mr F. Woods made an impartial referee.

After the game, both teams dined together at the Manawatu Hotel, Dr Mandl occupying the chair. The usual toast list was gone through, the speakers being ; The chairman, Messrs O. Austin, Sutherland, F. Robinson, Woods, A. Shadbolt, Burns, O. Bright, M. Winiata, and H. Nicholson. Songs were rendered b} r Messrs Rawiri, Woodford, Hooker, Sutherland, F. Woods, and J. Dunn, while the visitors rendered hakas. Mr T. Cargill officiated at the piano. Notes.

Just prior to the close of the Saturday’s game, Momo had the misfortune to contract slight concussion of the brain, through contact with one of his own men, Shadbolt, whilst both were making for an opponent. Momo having slipped, and whilst in the act of rising from the ground, Shadbolt catching him rather forcibly on the back of his head. Dr Mandl was soon in attendance, and the popular Albion taken to Hickson’s Hotel, where he was cared for, ultimately regaining full consciousness, and we are pleased to say is now quite recovered. Foxton will probably plaj’ Manawatu in the return match on Wednesday, August 28th. The locals should keep on training, as they have every chance of victory. With the object of keeping the locals in training a match is being arranged for next Saturday with Albions and Awahou.

Subscriptions are slowly coming in towards the McEwan benefit fund. Tickets are now issued for the benefit match at is each, and these should easily be disposed of. Should Sandon not play Awahou in the benefit match it is quite probable the Palmerston Old Boys will send a team down for the occasion. However, a good match is assured.

A date will be fixed shortly for the annual sports and concert and dance.

The following will represent the Albion juniors in the return match with Levin Wanderers at Levin to-morrow. The game will start at 1,30 p.m., as a curtain-raiser to the Horowhenua - Hawkes Bar 7 rep. match. O. Cook’s drag will leave the Manawatu Hotel at 11 a.m. sharp : —Fullback, Bona : J. Walker, W. Cook, Rauhihi ; 5/s, Tawhia; >4, Furrie; forwards, Cummerfield, . Coley, Broad, M. Cook, The Gunner, Rimmer, Bowe, Shields and Evans. Emerg.— Webb, W. Walker, A. Rimmer, and J. Coley.

Third Test Match.

A Drawn Gama. Sydnev, August 10 The final test match between Australia and New Zealand was played at the Cricket Ground this afternoon in fine weather. Additional interest was centred in the game, as the visitors had won both previous test matches, and the team to oppose them on this occasion excluded all Queenslanders, and was practically the same team that lowered the “ All Blacks’ ” colours in the second match against New South Wales. The match therefore really resolved itself into a third match. New Zealand v. New South Wales, and it was fully anticipated that the attendance would prove a record but it did not. There was not more than about 35,000 present, which is far Below the attendance in the previous matches against the redoubtable “ All Blacks.’ ” Governor Rawson and party were among those who attended.

When the game began there was a fresh north-easterly breeze blowing, and Australia having won the toss elected to play with the wind behind them which gave them a great advantage. The first half spell was a disap-

pointing exhibition of football, no brilliancy being displayed on either side. The visitors were satisfied to play a close forward game in face of the wind, and although the home team gave the backs more chances than did their opponents, they were not able to do much in gaining advantage in the game. For a lime the plaj r was sluggish in the extreme, and the refereeing was not of a character likely to help the game along. The first quarter of an hour’s play saw practically the game hovering in neutral territory and there were no scrums on the part of either side. This dilatory play, however, did not fall in with the ethics of the New Zealanders and they charged down the field making matters very warm for Australia. Woods, however, stopped the movement by a useful mark and sent the ball out behind New Zealand’s line. The latter forced, and almost immediately, by the aid of McKivat, had to carry out similar tactics. When the ball was in play again. Australia with a good passing rush drove the “All Blacks’’ back on their own line, but here a free kick relieved them, although they failed to make the most of it, and another rough and tumble ensued on the Blacks’ back line which looked like trouble for them. However, their forwards hustled the ball back to the centre, where there was a long period ot uninteresting play. At this time Australia, when within the visitors’ territory, looked as if about to score, but their chance was spoilt by a bit of bad passing. Shortly before the whistle sounded half time, Wallace got a mark close to the Australian goal, but the ball went wide, , and then the spell ended without either side having registered a scoie. The second spell opened hopeful from a spectator’s point of view, and enthusiasm was raised to the highest pitch when Woods, getting away neatly from a scrum, started a fine passing rush which carried the scene of pla} 7 well into the visitors’ countr} 7 , and then Woods again getting possession after a great movement removed the ball to the centre, and eventually capped his efforts by darting over the line. Messenger was entrusted with the kick at goal and the flag hoisted. Australia 5 New Zealand o

From the kick out the Blacks charged down field, and ran over the opposing forwards, but Dix, taking the ball neatly, got in his kick well down field, and the game coming toward the Australian line Fryer marked in a nice position. The kick at goal, however, went wide of the posts. After this play became more open, but Australia, with the stimulus of a score, were having the best of it, and local enthusiasm ran very high. The Australians continued to have the best of the game, and were outplaying the New Zealanders, whose tail appeared to be on the droop, but the supporters of the latter admit that they never knew when they were beaten. The Australian team continued to play with great vim, and a fine rush on their part had the “ All Blacks ” again on the defensive, but the Inters’ forwards gradually worked into neutral territory. The Australians rushed again and went over the Blacks’ forwards but the back division checked a further advance. From a scrum which followed, Roberts who was playing an excellent game, sent the ball into the centre of the field, where the New Zealanders had the first penalty recorded against them. After give and take play just inside the half-way flag, Cunningham started a forward rush in which Francis, Nicholson and Mitchinson were prominent, the last named put in a long kick, and Dix, the local full-back, in trying to secure possession came into collision with one of his own threequarters, and between them they dropped the ball, and Mitchinson who had followed up his kick smartly was on the opposing backs before they had time to recover, and then gathering up the oval placed it nicely behind the posts. Wallace essayed at a goal and equalised the score by shooting the leather over the bar. The board then read. New Zealand 5 Australia 5

The score on the part of New Zealand gave them fresh life while their opponents were equally determined to prevent a further score, with the result that the game became very willing. The vistors endeavoured to add a winning point and took play to the Australians’ country and the latter had all their work cut out to prevent the Maorilauders scoring. Again and again New Zealand were attacking Australia’s line and Roberts on more than one occasion nearly brushed his way through, but just when success appeared in th e ascendency the home team were awarded a fre'e kick which relieved the position, and almost immediately the whistle sounded no side, the game ending in a draw, the score being a goal from a try each. This left the New Zealanders with two wins and a draw in the test matches. All the Southern division of the team left by the Monowai. The Aucklanders return on Wednesday. There is a rumour • that Johnston may be induced to join the professional team for England.