FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 7 June 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA.

INTERVIEW WITH DAVE GALLAGHER. THINKS PROF ESS IuNAL SCHEME •OFF."

Per Press Association. Auckland Juno (5. David Gallaher, the Auckland member of the committee which selected the New Zealand (earn for Australia,, arrived from Christclmrch to-day. From what he ha:-, heard in tin- smith, Mr Gallaher H of opinion that the professional tour will fail through. "Thev juav he able i' l gel good forwards." lie said, "hut ! don't think thev can get good hacks > for the "All liiacks." they n,av fret one or two (not selected for Australia) but 1 dr. not not think they will gel many oth'rs. The general ojiinion in the South is that the tour is "„„■,•' tlnuHi tae promoters may proceed with tile men whom tl.oy can „ et . --ft was lb'•'■'""l »i .the South » he said, "that the movement was being mainlv organised m Auckland, color being lent to this by th" twelve Aucklamlers refusing t() ,i„ n " Ihe ream f or Australia was chosen" on Monday night, but it is impossible to publish i t . ,], e rt ,. lst)U |ie!|]i? I]nil a]] players, before being included, are required to sign another declaration, though not a sworn declaration. Mr Gallaher brought copies of this undertaking with him, and all the placers selected whom he has seen have' signed it. Int!! all have been seen, not only in Auckland, but also in the South, the ' team cannot be announced, the sclce ' tors having chosen several alternatives ' in view of the possibility of some of the ' selected refusing to sign. When ~11 w i|- I ling to do so have signed, the names will \ be telegraphed to Wellington, and from / there the team will be animonccd to- f morrow.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. Per Press Association. Wellington, June ti. _ I lie following team represents New Zealand oil the Australian tour:— Full Back: G. Spencer (Wellington). Three-quarters: Wallace and Mitchinson (Wellington), Dive (Tarauaki), Iryer (Canterbury). Five-eights: Hunter ami Mynott (Tarauaki), Eckhold (Otago). ' Halves: Roberts (Wellington), Coleman (I'arunaki). Wing forward: Gillett (Auckland). Forwards: Front rank, Casev (Otago) ami lyler (Auckland); locks.'Cunningham (Auckland), Paton (Otago); side ami back O'Suliivan (Taranki) .McDonald and Johnston (Otago), Seeling and Irancs Auckland). Hogun (Wanganui) and J. Spencer (Wellington).

Ter Press Association. Wellington, June (i. Urigiit, Cross and Byrne, who had not signed the declaration, attended a mating of the R U gby Union and explained that they had at first refused because they considered it unfair that a fnv bhould be singled out. Thcv considered every player should be asked to sig.i. They hail no intention of going with the professional team, and knew nothing about it. They had now signed Jie declaration.

SENIOR GRADE. STAR (9) v. INGLEWOOD (.1). The above teams met at the local Racecourse ground yesterday afternoon, when the visitors were defeated by nine points to three—Star three trie 9 and InglewooJ one try. Considering the damp weather preceding the match the ground was in good order. The visitors were late in arriving, the result being that the last quarter-hour of the game was played in the failing light. The contest was very willing, especially the second spell, the pace being a rattler. There was no wind, so neither side had any advantage from that standpoint. A good number of spectators attended, and a a the game wore on a deal of good-natured barracking was indulged in. The Stars set the leather in mo; ion, and played towards the western goal. For a while p!ay was dull and devoid of incident. From a loose scrum the home backs got the leather and a passing bout resulted, but before much advantage had been gained the visitors got around and a smart loose rush took the play into Star's 25, where Haskell secured and dodged over smartly. The kick failed. ' j

Inglewood (3) Star (0), Play centred, and an interchange of kicking by the three-quarter line- gave the home team the advantage, the forwards wearing down to Inglewood's territory. Inglewood vanguard speedily relieved to neutral ground, where a scries of scrums and line work was the order. Then the home backs had a turn with a passing rush, but Inglewood collared very smartly. Tom Smith secured, and being blocked, h- screw-kicked towards the posts. The black forwards took up the running, and the score was equalised by Ryan getting over. The try was not converted. Star (3) Inglewood (3).

Play was of a give-and-take nature for a while at centre. Then from a line-out Ihc black forwards, headed by Ambnry, broke through, but the oval went out of touch. Portier secured from the line-out, and putting in one of his effective kicks, gave the red- a cliance. Wearing steadily down the line the ball came out to De Launay. He cleverly evaded several men befo/e he was grassed. A scrum ensued, and Potier got possession ju 4 t opposite tiie posts. It was a fine clianeo for a pit shot at goal, but Ihe leather was greasy, and instead of rising ran along the ground and Stars forced. For a few minutes Stars attacked vigorously and got down to Inglewood's 25, but the red vanguard rallied and again turned defence into hot attack. (Iwing to over kicking the visitors were again fore>il. The half time whistle sounded with tie oval iu midfield.

On resuming, the red forwards male the play, and the home team were for a term confined to their '25. Play w.irelieved to mid-field, and a series of kicks gained for Inglewood the ad vintage. Then the home vanguard broke through and with a dash hail the play in dangerous territory; in fact they hid almost a- clear run in, but the Inglewood full, who played well throughout, ..■cured and kicked' out of touch'.' Th ■ next bit of interesting play was between the Star backs, notably Pyke and Black. Eac-li was well graced in turn. Plar.were awarded a free kick, and Black had a shot at goal. The angle was very awkward, but Black went within an inch or two of safety piloting the ball between the posts. Then Thomas (Star) -ccure.l ami put ill a line run, niakimi a good opening. Pyke was tiler.' to lakthe oval, but llle pass came too short, anil a certain try was lost. Star continued to force play, and had the ],„il'hiick whipped the ball out instead of eit'aer kicking or trying to break

through several score- might hive lieeit added to the winner.-' tally. The Star forwards on two occasions took play right up to the coveted line, only to l.e forced. It was now fnglewond's turn, and with a tine dribbling rn-li they wept right tin the fi-ld. Fyke, however, got down and stayed (lie rush, an I llyan broke through'.in capital style and reversed the scene of play, the hall fining out of toiicli. Fi-oin a scnini the h.niie hacks got p.is-e-sion. Sinilh ieIllCr Villi (Hit nil the corner llf'i'l' a 'Joel -print. From the iiK-nl tlf li.illenue out to I'yke. who. put ling -mac "inc" into his -tridr. ran riLrht around tile opposing hacks and land-d a try. The kick wa- again futile. Star- I'.; liiL'lewnod :!.

The Macks hen- put in a lot of dashing work, which was vigorously repelled liy their opponents, and play got to centre. Soon after Fyke and Mick gave another decent exhibition of football, hut they were gra-s-d. I'oticr Mid

de Lamia y putting in effective defensive tactics, stars were now very aggressive, anil the play for it time was within five yards of Inglcwood's goalline on tic corner, where a couple < f free kicks to Inglewood relieved !he tension. Inglewood's front row took play right up to Star's 25, and for a few minutes the blacks were kept haul at it lo defend. Then Ryan and Anthury broke aw,,v and turned the tables. Slar secured a 'mark in front of tile goal-

pn-t-. awl an easy goal was placed by Fellringer. Star !); rnglcwood 3- • Tin- visitor- slid fought pluekily,and took Hi- piny well up the lield. The home (cam replied, and a good rush wis stopped by Uc Lamiay, who cased by' a

I useful kick. Pvko returned the-kiek. | and piny ended in the visitor*' 2.'!. Sir Geo. Hopkins controlled the game . to the. satisfaction of all.

TUKAPA (('.) v. ELTIIAM (I)). The ground was somewhat heavy when the above (earns lines out at Taumata Park yesterday afternoon. Rain threatened, but held off during the game. Eltham were without the services of Lewis, whose place was filled by an explayer, Do Launay. The match was further robbed of much of its interest by Dive being practically unfit to play, he having badly strained a leg whiie practising in Christclmrch for the North i v. South match. ]|e was practically a "passenger" during the greater part of Ihe game, and lost two certain scores bv his inahiity to inu-tcr the nece.---.irv pace to take him over (he covet,.,! n,,/ '[■■„, forwards were pretty event;,- matched. but if' anything Elthani were sunerior. and towards the latttcr end of Hi"'game were getting all over their opponents. The Tukapa back combination was very -Mod. Hooker especially playing a very honest game. Frewin received an injury to his ribs.' and had a roving commission in the second spoil. The most prominent all-round plaver on the ground was Morse, the Eltham liveeight, who headed almost nvry rush, and. on several occasions broke clean away by himself. Tile game was fast, from start to finish.

Klthain kicked oil' with the wind, and an exchange of kicks coded without advantage. The Elthani forwards instil tiled a series of forward rushes, which were well stemmed by Frewin and ilynolt. Fast following up saw .McLean L'ollarcd with the ball, and the ensuing scrum saw a pretty passing rush bv the Kltham backs, the ball being handled bv iirown. Morse, Glenlworth and Dive, the alter scoring, although well laeklcd bv Mynott. The kick was resullless. Eltham 3; Tukapa I). I'he home team again came away, but

Haidgraves' and Mynott's kicking nullified their efforts. Morse headed the Eltham forwards in a rush which was stemmed by Ilardgraves, and Crowlev was prominent in retaliating play. McLean secured and being badly missed by the Elthani forwards, sent to Ilardgraves, to Hooker, to Mynott, the latter "scoring a good try. The kick at goal was unsuccessful.

Kltliam 3; Tukapa 3. Play continued mostly on tlio (own team's side of half-way, and on several occasions Tukapa were hard pressed defending their lines. Morse, Dive and De Lannay indulged in a passing rush, the latter being thrown out near the corner. Morse secured the ball from a subsequent serum, and burst tliroiurli the Tukapa defence, being well stopped by Honcyficld almost mider the goal posts. Keeping up the attack. Tukana sought respite by forcing. Myno'tt was prominent at this stage in defence, and at the first opportunity led an attack which was stopped by De Launay marking. Eltliam was penalised and Hardgraves with a big kick found the line near the corner. Frewin secured from the scrum, and a neat passing rush by Frewin, Mynott, Hardgraves 0 and Hooker left the latter with 'a clear vim in, Dive being unable to stop his man. The kick was rcsnltless. Tukapa (I; Eltliam 3.

Play was fast on resuming, and the local forwards smothered lloneyficld in a handy position. .Morse and (Uentworth had a dash, but the latter seemed to run into trouble instead of avoiding it. and the Tukapa forwards came with a line rush, headed by Crowley, the local backs being caught out of position. Potts got round smartly,, however, and cleared. Mynott, Hardgraves and McLean got going again, but Dive marked. Some verv hot play followed in mid-field, both side's handling the ball with great freedom. Tukapa, led by Crowley and George, carried play to the Klthaiu end, but°nn infringement enabled Eltliam to clear, and Morse carried play into Tukapa's territory. Play settled down about the '2.1 Hag, and Dive had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Later Brown set up a line attack, the ball going to Morse and Dive. and a certain score was lost by the last named, who was a cripple, trying to git through on his own. Half-time was called with play near the visitors goal.

Notwithstanding the pace lit which the first spoil was contested the game never (lagged for an instant, and couiinued hard right to the call of limn. Playing with the wind, the Tukapa supporters were sanguine that a fair scon' would be piled up. but the unexpected happened, and except for about half a dozer, occasions, most of the play was on the Tukapa side of half-way. Especially during the last twenty minutes Tukapa were hard pressed, and were lucky in not having a score notched against them. The spell needs little description, although it was interesting and attractive to watch. The town team on one occasion had a good opening to score, but Hardgraves tried a drop kick instead of transferring to McLean. Later on the ball was twice given to Dive wlrcn within idrilcing distance, but he was unequal to even ol'dinarv ell'ort, and retired to full-back. Moir coming up to centre. The change soon put a dill'creut complexion on tlic game, but the change came too late. The last ten minutes was fiercely contented inside the town mens i"), but the defence of Mynott. Hardgraves and Co. was hard to penetrate, although Marsh on several occasions occasioned them considerable anxiety. <h'cr-oagerness by the attacking forwards enabled Tukapa to force twice in succession, and the ability of the defence was sufficient to enable Tukapa to maintain the advantage of the try scored in the first spell. The whistle [sounded with play near Tukapa's line.

For the winners Crowley was the most prominent of the forwards, and was wellsupported in the loose by Storey and Steele. Mynott played a. lovely' game, his defence being particularly solid, although ho oneo was seen to turn his hack to a rush. Hooker. McLean and Ilardgravcs played up to form. Frewin was not so prominent as usual, for which his injury was no doubt accountable.

Morse was the life of the southern team, prominent alike in attack anil defence. Drown was clever behind tin' scrum, and sustained his reputation as a rush-stopper. (ilentworlh was -'olV," but Moir was safe at full-back. The most prominent of the forwards appeared to be Potts. McCracken, Were, Burke and McDonald. Mr (I. <!riHUhs' decisions were tini]uostioncd.

SECOND GRADE. STAR v. INdl.KN'ool). Star If. dofeafcl Inghwuod 11. at hi IClewood IIV !) points to ... Trie, were scored for Ihe winners l.v Whilaker. Smith and Hopkins.

TI'KAI'A 111!) v. KI.TIIAAI (III). These loams ui.'i at Western Park. The e;anie. resulted in ;i win lor Tukapa bv 111 In 10.

THIRD GRADE.. TI'KAI'A v. F.I.THAM. Flthain 111. defeated Tukapa 111. at F.ltliaiu yesterday liy !l points flwii tries and a penalty* tno.'