FOOTBALL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8910, 2 September 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Wellington v. Taranaki. Watch Abandoned. Per Press Association. Wellington, August 31. Wellington was to have played Taranaki to-day and the match was regarded with keen interest as the two teams are considered to bo the strongest in the field this year, liain, however, had covered the ground with water and was still falling hi sheets this afternoon. Nevertheless, nearly 2000 people filled the stand and an attempt was made to play. The men struggled on for one spell of half an hour. Their clothes and boots wore filled with water and they wore perished by the icy wind and rain, but after this experience it was decided to abandon the game and to call th.e match off. Just at the close of play Wellington had scored a try with the wind behind thorn, but this was no criterion of actual superiority.' Great disappointment was evinced at the result, Put'it iff : a wonder that the players had pluck enough to play at all, seeing that they could scarcely • move. They were ahklo deep ill mud and water and the |jqli might as we 1 have been covered with grea-e-Auckland v. Otago, A Drawn Game. Press Association. Dunedin, August 31. The inter; rovincial footba 1 match, Auckland v.rOsago, was played to-day,-the game resulting in a- draw', teaia scoring sky* points. The weather was fine and the* ; - attendance '-numbered abont ■i.ooo. 'The game was evenly contested bud was fairly interesting. -In .the first Spell Murray ' and Smith scored |o&,Jho visitors, neither try being converted, while Eckhbld kicked a penalty goal for citago. In the second spell MacPherson Scored .for Otago, no goal resulting. Otago secured the ball from most of the scrums but the backs’ passing wt\3 erratic and chances were lest in consequence, (j'ho visitors were frequently penalised for offside play and the referee cautioned two or three of them for unnecessary tackling, eventually ordering McCormick pff the field for collaring Eckhold after the latter had kicked, Hawke’s Bay v. Poverty Bay. 35 to 8. Per Press Association. Nawek, August 31. aim representative match Poverty Bay versus Hawke’s Bay was played on the Recreation Ground this afternoon, and a vew fast and interesting game ended in favour of Hawke’s Bay by 35 points to b. The visitors were no match tor Die local reps., and were outclassed in every department of the game. Wairarapa Matches* Per Press Association. AfiSTEETON, September 1. The Wairarapa seniors tbe Bush Union on Saturday at Mangatainoka by fourteen points to nil. Tho Wairarapa juniors defeated Wellington juniors at Greytown by 21 points to 3. Wanganui v. Manawaii'68 to 0.

The following alleged Manawatu 'Representative team journeyed to 'Wanganui on Saturday : —Full, Hughes ; three-quarters, "Williamson, Downes, Martis; five-eighths, C. McLeau ana Anslow ; half, Oagley; forwards, I uki. Eevl, Whisker, Ryan, Alatbieson, Morns, Shadholt, Torstonsen. The ground was in good order but the ball was greasy. As expected too W ancanui team scored whenever they' wv,ntea to and at the end of tho game had piled up the record score of 6G points to nil. The following were try getters: Suiter (1), Absolnm (3), Abbott (3), Daley (2 , and Guscott, Anderson. Mitchell, Carroll, and Soutbcome one each. _ Soutnconioo ticked a penalty goal. Six of the tries were converted, five by' Sontbcoiubo and oaa by Absolnm. Air G. Simpson, ot Wanganui, refereed. . SoccerAuckland Defeats WellingtonPer Press Association. Auckland, August 31. The final of the Drown Shield Tournament was play'ed under Hew /ealano Football Association rules here to-day, in wet weather, between Auckland and \\ ellington before an attendance of over 2000. A splendid game resulted in a win for Auckland by throe goals to one. The ■winners were undoubtedly tho better team. They will bold the shield till 1008. Taihape Defeat Hula. Tiie final match between Hnia and Taihape took place on Saturday. This game caused a great deal ,of m- , terost, as it practically decided the winners of the cup. Tnough both of tho teams have still to play Taoroa, yet these games cau have no interest as far as the cup is coni' cerned, as Taoroa. has no chance ol I ■ winning it now, having iost too I- many games. Taihape was only one I- point ahead of .the Huias,. and if the ■' latter could have won on Saturday I they would have secured the cup. I' Both clubs put their best m the B: field, and a keen struggle took place, i and I may just say that there were B- no “beg pardons” in it. Though ■i-Haia fought hard, yet _ Taihape ■ft proved more than, equal in ah H emergencies, and won by G points tc Ka. It was altogether a forward B?game, and very uninteresting from ; •■Spectator’s point of view, nothing ■put a series of sernms of which Tai 'had all the best of it. Of tin

players tho three Leahy brothers, Woods, Bertram, Driukwator, and Aldridge wore very prominent, tho back division not having a chance. For the Huias J. Pino and Punch Pino, with Rogers, were the pick of tho team. Mr 0. L. Dymock had charge of tho whistle, and gave every satisfaction. As the Taiiiapo team have now won tho cup three times it becomes their own property.