FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 858, 28 June 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

AWAHOU (0) v. ALBION (0)

Those who attended last Saturday’s senior fixture, Awahou v. Albion, expecting to witness an interesting game were not disappointed, it being undoubtedly the best match played on the local ground this season. Both clubs were represented by their best teams, Albion forwards being strengthened by the inclusion of Larkins and Bowe, and Awahou’s team was also an improvement on that which represented the club the previous Saturday. The game was most interesting from start to finish and for the most part was contested in the b .'St of spirit. The Awahou forwards were the heavier of the two sets and in scrum work and in the tight had the best of the play using their weight to advantage. In the loose Albions had slightly the best of it. The Albion backs were superior to their opponents, but did not show out as well as they have in previous games, owing to their forwards being usually beaten for the ball in the scrums. For the most part of the game play hovered iu the vicinity of the centre of the field, although each side went within an ace of scoring on more than one occasion. In fact Boue (Albion) was successful in getting over the Awahou line on one occasion but the try was disallowed on account of an infringement of the rules. The best passing rush of the game was towards the end of the second spell by the Albion backs, the ball going through the hands of practically all the backs, but an likely score was thrown away by an erratic pass. Owing to being late in commencing the game the latter part of the second spell was played in a very bad light. Mr A. K. Drew, of Sanson, controlled the game and gave every satisfaction.

The junior match was won by Albions by 6 points to 3 after a very interesting game.

The first match of the thirdclass competition was played on the racecourse on Saturday, between Awahou and Albion, and resulted in a win for the former by 8 points to 6.

I<ast Saturday’s senior fixture was set down to commence at 3 o’clock, but the kick-off did not take place until almost half an hour later. Consequently the game had to be finished in semidarkness, The sub-union executive should, in future, see that the matches are started well up to the advertised time.

At the end of the first spell of Saturday’s senior fixture it was found that one of the Awahou players (W. Andreseu) had received a rather severe injury, and would be unable to take part in the rest of the game. The Awahou skipper asked that another player be permitted to take his place which the Albion captain agreed to. A sportsmanlike action of this kind will go a long way towards bringing about a better feeling between the two teams.

The secretary of the local subunion has received a communication from the Oroua Sub-Union, in reference co a “rep”match. The date suggested is July 16th, the match to be played at Feildiug.

The “All Blacks" defeated Australia at Sydney on Saturday by six points to nil. The score was made up of two unconverted tries scored by Wilson and Fuller- The attendance was 30,000 and the game was the finest of the tour.

The Maori team defeated the Americans by 14 points to 11 after an interesting and exciting contest.

Australia defeated the “ All Blacks ” in the second test match yesterday by xi points to nil.