Late Football. The Match against Southland. [BY PELIGRAPH—FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER]

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 58, 10 August 1901, Page 14

Late Football. The Match against Southland. [BY PELIG RAPH — FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER ]

The Wellington-Southland match was played on Wednesday afternoon, in splendid w eat her and before a good crowd of spectators. The ground was a tnfle heavy, but in good order. The game was splendidly contested, neither team at any time holding a marked advantage over the other. It ended in a win for the local team by eight points (two tues, one converted) to three (one try) Southland won the toss, and the game was played with a strong sun in their opponents' eyes which affected their back play greatly. Rushes and counter rushes among the forwards were predominant features of the play neither team having much advantage. High kicking among the Wellington backs was left severely alone, Taylor rushing over the line and scoring. A great passing iusJi among the visiting forwards right on to the goal-line looked a certain score, but Gallagher knocked on. The second spell had hardly started when Bain made a great run right through the opposing team, scoring between the posts, and Jacobs converted. The play during this half was much better than in the first which had been too tight, but the Wellington skipper could have opened out with more advantage to his team. Within a quarter of an hour of the conclusion of the game, from a long throw-in, Kelly got well away to the goal-line, and, passing, made a grand recovery, and went over himself. Among the local team, Jacobs played a great game at five-eighths, Stead being a lesser light compared with him. Bain was the best three-quarter, though Rogers and Whittaker played well. Jenkins was a shining light among the forwards. Purdue is a probable New Zealand forward, and kept wejlon the ball right through. His brother, rejoicing in the name of "Pat," was, however, more effective. Taylor, known better in Wellington on the running track, got down on the backs very fast, although he was inclined to wait for off-side chances. Wylie, suffering from a severe cold, had to rest, and McAnally played with Dodd in front They got possession as often as the opposing hookers and both were prominent throughout. Coady and Brunsden were often seen on the line-out, both playing up to thedr best form. OBrien and Adams kept going in good style, but Gallagher did not play so well as in the Canterbury match. The backs> did not appear to have enougli to do. Wngley did his work in tradesmanlike style, his kicking being especially good. Row and Mclntyre were safe, but Wallace appeared to be "gallied" at times, hanging on to the ball too much, and not passing. His knee slipped early in the game but he wa& fortunate enough to get it back into position. Wood got on to Jacobs in great style, religiously stopping him. His work, both in defence and attack, when he got an opportunity, being up to his best style. Kelly did good work as wingforward, but in the second spell he occasionally came out among the backs, and did very fine work. He did not show good generalship m the second half, when he should have opened out the play a lot more He seemed to make the game too close for the team, and the backs did not get the opportunities they should have The game was a fine exposition of loose forwaul play, punctuated with occasional dashes among the backs, and should have ended in a draw. The teams were evenly matched. The Wellington team leaves for Dunedin to-morrow morning, w ith hopes of winning at least one match.

It b football that woiks up the muscle, And gives a man plenty of dash, It's kick, it's scrum, and it's bustle, And a geneial looking foi lash In the good old hunt for the leathei, If a cold )ou should have to enduie, You will boon pull yourself altogether With WOOUS GliKAl Pi I'I'LRMINT CURL. The Wellington Came id Club announces an intercolonial exhibition, to take place on 2nd September. As the prizes for successful exhibits are w orth having, the resultant show of examples of the art should be interesting. August. 26th is the latest day on which entries will bo received.

The Wellington Athletic Park Company, Limited, has cause for congratulation It has recently published its seventh annual balance-sheet, which will be interesting reading for tho directors and the public generally. Unlike previous years, tho balancesheet shows a credit balance, the preceding six having always shown a debit balance. The popular secretary, Mr. T. W. Williams, is to be congratulated on his energy and thoroughness, and the company have now a reasonably good start, and may confidently be expected to show an increased profit. For the promptitude in settlement of claims under the Workers' Compensation Act, the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company has earned for itself a reputation second to none. This company has recently insuied the whole of the ' employees of the Wellington Harbour Boaxd, Wellington City Council, Otaki Road Board, Manawatu Railway Company, Wellington Gas Company, Gear Meat Company, and many other large firms. The company's manager (Mr. Ralph Levoi) is a busy man, but he will find time to supply quotations to employers of labour, who may find it to their advantage to interview him.