FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3684, 30 August 1927, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES. CANTERBURY 17—TARANAKI 8. Christchurch, August 27. In fine weather and on a ground which despite heavy rain throughout the week was in good order, the Canterbury representatives fifteen defeated the Taranaki touring team at Lancaster Park by 17 points to 8. For Taranaki, Walter and O’Keefe scored, Brown converting the latter’s try. The Canterbury scores were Robilliard (2), Daley and Scrimshaw. Lilburne converted Daley’s try. AUCKLAND 26—HAWKE’S BAY NIL. Auckland, August 27. In the representative Rugby match to-day Auckland won its seventh fixture this season by defeating Hawke’s Bay by 26 points to nil. Scores for Auckland were registered by Wanoa, Lucas, Hadley, and Sheen (one each). Berridge converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. The weather was fine and the ground dry. WAIRARAPA 20—WANGANUI 11. Masterton, August 27. Wairarapa defeated the Wanganui touring team to-day by 20 points to 11. The conditions were not conducive to good play, the ground being slippery while rain fell at intervals making the ball hard to handle. Wairarapa had much the better of the game, though Wtanganui forwards in the first spell had slightly the better of exchanges. The first spell ended eight to nil, in Wairarapa’s favour, Faulkner and Cundy scoring. In the second spell, Stringfellow and Parker (2) scored tries and Cundy kicked a penalty goal. Ellery, Vangioni, and Darby, scored for Wanganui and Leaky converted one. WELLINGTON 23 —MANAWHENUA 14. Ten thousand spectators assembled at Athletic Park Wellington, on Saturday to witness the game between Manawhenua, holders of the Ranfurly Shield; and Wellington, and were rewarded by seeing a mixture of very good and very indifferent Rugby. At times the Wellington backs rose to great heights, but many tries were thrown away by players trying to beat too many men. The scrummaging throughout was very poor, the ball rarely coming out cleanly to the waiting halves. Had the Wellington backs used more judgment in the second spell, the t margin of victory would have been much larger than 23 points to 14. The Manawhenua representatives were weakened by the absence of Jacob, and McDonald and an injury to Hunt. The shield-holders gave a disappointing exhibition of back play, but the forwards were always among the opposing backs and played their usual fast, open game. The opinion is given that as a result of this game Manawhenua’s chances against Taranaki are considerably improved. WANGANUI JUNIORS 24—HOROWHENUA 15. Wanganui junior representatives defeated the Horowhenua junior team at Wanganui on Saturday, by 24 points to 15. Play was even throughout, and Wanganui were little superior to their opponents. Indeed the southerners were unlucky in scoring on several occasions, and the blues’ win was mainly due to solid forward play. FOXTON AND LEVIN D.H. SCHOOL TEAMS. VISIT LOWER HUTT. The Levin railway station presented a very animated appearance on Friday morning, when 43 girls and boys from Levin and Foxton District High Schools embarked for Lower Hutt, to participate in Rugby and basket ball matches with teams from the Hutt*District High School. Upon arrival at Wellington and while awaiting the train to convey them to the Lower Hutt, the visitors inspected the Parliamentary Buildings and spent an interesting time. The visitors were met in Wellington by Mr. Millard, of the staff of the Hutt D.H.S., who accompanied them to their destination. Onarriving at Lower Hutt, the party were met by Mr. Kidson and the visitors were taken to their respective billeters.

•Owing to the state of the ground the matches were postponed until Saturday morning. The afternoon was spent in seeing the sights of Wellington, while in the afternoon the visitors were entertained at a social and dance.

The morning of the match dawned fine with a strong southerly blowing. Hutt, playing with the wind, were continually on the attack and the spell ended, Hutt 15—LevinFoxton nil. The second spell show; ed a complete reversal, the visitors hammering continuously at the Hutt line. Amid great excitement the score crept up gradually, and there was a breathless hush when Wehepeihana placed the ball in an attempt to convert a try scored under the posts. The score was then 15 — 14, in Hutt’s favour. But the kick missed. The whistle went for time and Hutt had won a very exciitng game by the bare margin of one point. For the combined team Weihepeihana and L. Moffatt played brilliant games. The basket ball Inatch was an-

other veryvinteresting game. Playing with fine combination, Hutt led at the end of the first spell by 8 points, .16 —8. The second spell saw the visitors assert their superiority, and they scored a well deserved win, 26—18.' After the match, Mr. Kidson, headmaster of the Hutt District High School, spoke briefly, saying how pleased they were to have the visit and hoping that the visitors had enjoyed themselves. Mr. Marsh and Mr. Procter, on behalf of the Levin and Foxton D.H.S., replied, thanking the Hutt for the hospitality extended to them and hoping that next year the Hutt would return the visit. The afternoon was then spent in saying good-bye to Wellington and the ■ teams embarked by the 5.40, reaching home tired, but happy. Mr. Marsh and Miss Downes from Levin, and Mr. Procter and Mrs. Stanley from Foxton, accompanied the teams. HOROWHENUA THIRDS 14— RANGITIKEI 3. The third grade reps, of the Horowhenua and Rangitikci Sub-Unions met at Marton in a disappointing game on Saturday. The day was beautifully fine but the ground was very heavy, resembling a quagmire in parts. Horowhenua had at least a stone advantage in weight all round and out-classed Rangitikei both back and forward and thoroughly deserved their Ivin. The visiting teams score was made up of three tries, one of which was eoh- , verted and a penalty goal, to an unconverted try. TEAM TO PLAY TARANAKI. The following players have been selected to hold themselves in readiness for to-morrow: — Backs. —Williamson, Hunt, Roberts, McDonald, Darragh, Brophy, Mullins, Goldfinch, W. Parata, Akuira; forwards: Jacobs, Anderson, Person, Tremewan, Galpin, Parsons, Crawford, Dalziell, Heatley, Miles, Hammond, Payne. The. acerbity engendered by football to-day had its parallels dn the good old days. The following is a paragraph from the Lyttelton Times of fifty years ago, a telegram from New Plymouth, dated August 15th, 1877: “The Dunedin football team | landed but refused to play, although the Taranaki team had made every preparation for the match, and players had come from Patea, Hawera, Wlaitara, and Inglewood to take part in the game. On hearing the determination of the Dunedin men, the players expressed themselves in no complimentary terms. One gentlemen offered to back Taranaki fpr £SO for two hours’ play, but the Dunedin men refused. A dinner had been arranged but the Taranakians abandoned the whole affair. There was considerable excitement over the action of the visitors.”