FOOTBALL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9171, 15 June 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

MAORI TEAM IN AUSTRALIA. United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. Sydney, June 14. About 20,000 were present. The game was fast and open. Messenger was in great form. He kicked six goals and scored two tries. Pakere played brilliantly for the Maoris, while Pihama, Rotatana and Asher distinguished themselves. A try each was obtained' by Mokotuki, Asher and Pakere. Two were converted by Papahura. New South Wales scored 30 points and the Maoris 10. CANTERBURY 13 v. BRITAIN 8. Per Press : Association. Christchurch, June 14. There were 14,800 present at Lancaster Park and the gate totalled £IOOO. The teams were as published.

The British captain won the toss, and Eain kicked off for Canterbury, who had the sun in their faces. Gibbs marked and returned the bail down the field. The Canterbury forwards, however, adopted loose play, and the game then returned to the visitors’ 25, where, from a scrum, the oval came out to Burns, who, assisted by Fuller, made an effort to get over, but lost the ball, and Ponty Jones touched down. Morgan obtained the ball from the scrum which ensued from the kickout and transferred to Tuan Jones, who found the line well down the field. The British forwards broke away from the line out, and Gibbs rushed Dnell, who was about to kick, and secured the ball. He passed to Dibble, but he was tackled, and pushed out in touch-in-goal. From an exchange of kicks, Dyke failed to take the ball through it bouncing awkwardly, and Canterbury looked as though they were certain to score, but Bain was offside, and a penalty kick brought relief. The British forwards now had the upper hand in the scrums, which allowed Morgan to give Tuan Jones, Ponty Jones, and Williams a chance to attack, which they did in good style. Fryer, however, effectually settled the last-named player when he was making a dangerous run by springing across to the opposite wing. McEvedy was the means of stopping the Canterbury team a little later, but they returned to the attack, and Mahoney, with Gray supporting him, beat Dyke badly. The ball was taken over the goal line, but Gibbs (by a good spring) saved the situation. From a scrum near the line Burns sent the ball out to Gray, and from the latter it was transferred to Fuller, who dashed over near the corner. He took the kick himself, but the ball went across the field. A free kick to the visitors was a slight relief, but owing to McPhail’s fast following up, compelled Canterbury to force. The next few minutes’ play then centred, and Morgan secured the oval and sent it out to McEvedy, who, after making all the running, passed to Ponty Jones, and he scored. Gibbs’ kick went wide. A fine rush by the home forwards was stopped by Ponty Jones,’ and then Gibbs gave ■ a fine display of dribbling. Gray marked, stopping the British forwards’ rush, and shortly afterwards Chapman started the home forwards and put his side on the offensive, an attack which was ended by Ponty Jones kicking to touch. THE SECOND SPELL. Canterbury were penalised in the, loose work which followed the kickout through McPhail being off-side, and a little later Burns started a passing rush, but Deans was tackled. Gray later transferred the ball to Fryer, who, by a long kick, sent it over the goal line, and a force resulted. Burns kicked the ball into the centre a little later, and through McEvedy making a slip McPhail secured the ball, and placed i it close to the goal posts. Fuller added the major points. Deans marked Gibbs’ kick-off, and found touch at half-way. McPhail was here conspicuous in a rush, which took play into the visitors’ 25, but the danger was removed by a free kick to the Britishers. The Canterbury forwards soon came back, and Fuller essayed a goal from a penalty for off-side. The attempt was fruitless, and, Bain marking the kick-ont, Deans gained a lot of ground with a'high punt. Exchange kicking among the backs followed, and, after Fuller had taken a mark, Morgan was temporarily laid out in stopping a rush. A well-directed kick by Fuller forced the Britishers. Burns* obtaining possession, passed to Gray, who sent the ball on to Fuller. The latter made a good try to get through, but through off-side play the visitors had another free kick. The Oanterburf forwards came ‘again with another rush, which Dyke stopped by marking. The local men soon returned to the attack, and in a loose scramble Bain got over. Fuller again kickiug a goal for Canterbury. On the ball being set in motion, some fine passing by the visitors took play into the home 35, Evans, Bain, and McPhail being mainly responsible for taking the bail back again. Fuller put in a fine run, and was well stopped by Wi-. aams. Fine footwork by E. Morgan relieved his side, and then McPhail was largely responsible for the leather going back to the British 25. Tuan Joues, by running and kickiug, returned, Gray marking. Chapman directly afterwards gained applause by a fine dodgy run :whilst in Canterbury territory. The same player, a little later, was well stopped by Deans when looking very dangerous. After some loose play in the centre of the ground Archer broke away and, after some splendid footwork, scored a fine try, which was converted by Gibbs. Directly after the kick out, misfielding by Deans let the British backs in again, and Ponty Jones kicking across to Chapman, who carried on the A loose rush by the visiting forwards, in which Archer, Dibble, and Ritson took the most part, took the ball over the line, Ritson and Dibble both hesitated to touch down, and Fuller, rushing up, forced, a certain score being thus missed by ' the Britishers. Two or three long kicks followed between the backs, and the whistle sounded, the scores being— Canterbury .. ..13 Britain .. .. .. 8 Mr F. Laws, of Wellington, was referee.

NORTHERN UNION GAME. Wellington, June 14. Six. or seven thousa «1 per boms attended Athletic Park yesterday afternoon, when the professional Rugby team which recently toured England

and Australia played an exhibition match. The match was arranged as a ; benefit to Mrs Baskerville, .the widowed mother of A. H, Baskerville, the promoter of the professional tour, who died at Brisbane. Great interest was taken in the game, it being the first played in New Zealand under Northern Union rules. The game was exceedingly fast and pleasing from a spectacular point of view, as the scores (Blacks 55, Reds 20) indicate. Tills is due to several reasons. First there are four fewer men in the field, then the scrums are lighter and briefer, and there is no line-out play, a scrum being formed every time the leather goes out of bounds. The ball is not rolled into the scrums as in ordinary Rugby, bat bounced in, and it shoots out to the backs like lightning. In place-kicking the kicker does his own placing, and takes time oyer the kick, there being no charge by the opposing forwards, as in amateur Rugby. Whenever a player with the ball is brought down lie is released by his captor, and must restart the ball. All these alterations tend, of course as they are intended to, to make the game fast and interesting to watch. The passing of the professionals yesterday was particularly clean, and their running and tackling was picturesque, hut the interest of footballers and football enthusiasts were diminished by the fact that the sides wereunevenly matched, and in any case it was but a “scratch” game.

BULLS 5 v. EXCELSIORS 0,

This match was played on the Mar ton Park and was won by Bulls by a converted try to nil. It was a poor exhibition of senior football, the visiting forwards lacking that dash which has won many a hard game for them. The Excelsior backs occasionally got on some smart work and one fine, passing rush should have resulted in a score, the last player taking the ball forging his way to touch line, instead of cutting in. Morris also narrowly missed a score for, the home team. The visitors had their opponents in difficulties several times, hut the backs were too safe. The Rev. Father Molloy controlled the game satis-, factorily.

HUNTERYILLE 9 v. MARTON 0.

The above raatchfwas played“on .the Domain ground on Saturday. Both teams were weakened by the absence of several players bub the play throughout was of a very interesting: nature. Good work by the; Htmterville forwards, assisted by clever kicking of the backs, kept play in Marten’s territory. From .the kickout from a force Illston and j.ago.put in some good work and Mclntyre making a very foolish kick on.rhis own line, enabled Jago .td shore..: Taylor failed to convert.': Shortly afterwards the Hunterville forwards swept in a body across the line and G. Stratford scored a try, which was not converted. Hunterville.. wore hooking the ball from the scrum every time, but the slippery, nature; of the ground and ball prevented, the maroon backs opening up the game. On resuming after, the -spell, play* centred and shortly "afterwards was taken in Marten’s territory, but the Martou forwards swept, down,: th£ field, and Pritchard stopped .them iii' great style. Not to'be denied Marpressed, but fine kicking by "the maroon backs relieved and play again settled in Marten’s 35. Miine, Stratford, and James broke right through and G. Stratford, scored. No goal resulted. Plav for: the remainder of the game was in Marten’s 25’s. The mainfeatures of the match were the fine loose rushes of the Hunterville forwards and .the safe taking and accurate .kicking of the backs. The Marton backs -fre- - quently let their side down and only the safe play of Beckett and Sigualk saved them from greater defeat.

MANGAWEKA 3 v. OLD BOYS 3.

The football match, Old Boys (Tai-

hape) v. Mangaweka, resulted in a draw, each side scoring 3 points. It was a hard fought game and one of the best from a spectator’s point of view, that has been played on the local gronnd since the old Hnia and Mangaweka battles in the early days. The second round for shield honors will be watched with considerable interest at this end.

“During a scratch match the other day Mr Mat. Carr had the misfortune to fracture his collarbone. A. Thompson met with a similar fate and are both thrown out of harness for a day or two. tfAIHAPE v. UTIKU. From Our Taihape Correspondent. "The match, Taihape v. Utiku, was played on the Taihape ground though neither siae scored it was a very interesting game as the teams were evenly matched. But with a little more combination on the Utiku side, I think that team would have won. The game was particularly » forward one. The Reds (Utiku) playing not to allow the ball to go out-as they relied on their forwards to carry the game through, and though the local team tried to pass opt the opposing forwards were down on them every time, and the game ended without a’ score. The game, though at times was rough, 3 T et it was played in a splendid spirit. The wrangling and spiteful play sometimes seen on the football gro.cmd was noticeable by its entire absence. This was largely due to the referee (Mr .Thompsoij) who had thorough Control, of;- the game and alsqdtjje, opnß<|eiDice' • the whole of the : hTo'-fhe entire satisfaction of the"spectators his decisions were prompt . and decisive and when penalising either side he invariably gave out were the breach was, which, in my idea, is a good course to adopt. We would like to see this course adopted by all referees. Winiata played Mataroa' on the latter’s ground* Mataroa scoring thier only win on the first round by 9 points to 6. This completes the first round in Awarua Union, and the position is as follows Old Boys won 8, drawn 1. Taihape won 3, drawn 1. Mangaweka won 3, dost 1, drawn 1, Utiku won I, drawn\l, lost 2, Mataroa won 1, lost 3. Winiata lost ,4. ft The second round -will start on Saturday week. Next Saturday the Taihape juniors play a Moawhango junior team. At Fei Wing on Saturday Old Boys (Palmerston) defeated Feilding by 4 points to 3. Amedeo dropped a pretty goap and Price scored a try for Feifiling. Feilding juniors defeated Linton by 9 points co uii.

At Wanganui Pirates defeated Wanganui by 19 points to 3. At Marton on Wednesday the Excelsior seniors will meet Hunterville. This should be a good game.