FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 9 August 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

j THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR. | REASSURANCE FROM SYDNEY. Sydney, August 8. After the Rugby Union meeting last night the Secretary stated that the Council of the Union was satisfied there was no suspicion of professionalism attaching to the members of the New South Wales team nor to the New South Wales members of the Australian team, which is to play New Zealand on Saturday. l'rior to his departure for New Zealand Seeling was interviewed. He denied that lie was one of tho selectors of the New Zealand professional team. The statement was a gross libel. He had been approached regarding the matter. That was all. lie could take his word that the list of professionals cabled from New Zealand was almost entirely wrong. It included six of the team at present in Australia. This waa not correct. There might be perhaps one but 110 more. The whole team had booked passages for the return to New Zealand.

Seeling announcer] his intention of retiring from football for good. He did n:it iuieud to take any more risks. The n >in. he added, had all suffered in health at Sydney and in Brisbane. Every member had had dengue fever or iiilhienza. THE .lUNIOR REPS. TRIAii MATCH.

The trii'l match between North ;u"ld South junior teams eventuated at Stratford on Thursday. The soaking rain which fell all through the night and the morning had made (he ground: very slippery, and water lay in great pools in several places. The Southern team arrived three men short, and three Northerners were pressed into service. The teams were:— NORTH. Full-back, J. Collins (Stratford) : three-quarters, Stohr (Tukapa), Brown (Stratford), and Johnston (Eltliam); five-eighths, Morey (Tukapa); half, Wellcr (Star); wing forwards, Curtis (lnglewood) and Q. Pearce (Star); forwards, C. Pearce (Star), Homier (Stratford), Morris (Tukapa), Tichbon (Stratford), McCoy (Star), C. Brown (Stratford), and S. MaSlin (Elthain).

SOUTH. Full-back, (i. Ryan (Waimate); threequarters, Miles (Kaponga),Morison (Hawera,_ and H. Cameron (Stratford); five-eighths, ICoru (Okaiawa); half, Crowley (Waimate); wings,Ryan (Waimate) and Newlove (Eltha-in); forwards, McDonald (ITawera), Hughes I (Waimate), Winters (Raponga), Murphy (Hawera). lfobertson (Waimate) Hurley (Waimate), and Heller (Eltfuim). More.v captained the North and R. Ryan the South team. Despite the weather conditions the g.ime was fairly interesting. The South team comprised a heavier set of men than had been selected to oppose thorn, but they were not so nimble. In tiie close play they had an easy advantage except that the North "ho'okcrs" worsted them in nearly every scrum. In back play the North men held an >.idvantage, using m ore judgment than their opponents. The South men did the most passing, but not a yard Was gamed in the majority of their handlings; whilst on the other side the little passing that took- place was generally of some value by "cutting in » tactics. The game was fought in splendid spirit and there was not a ''knock-out," t.xeept that Morison was lamed late in the second spell. It was unfortunate for he was the best of the Southern !>aeks. apart from the full-baelc. On the Whole the losers had the better of the game, an d should have registered a bigger score. In the, first spell honors were oven, eaeh side scoring a try Just on call Of time the North men added another try, which was converted, an" the game ended—North 8 South 3.

In the first spell the Southerners were generally aggressive, although now and again A. Pearce and Morris worsted their forwards, whilst Stohr and Morey gave them lots of trouble from the rear division. Weller. at half, proved his mettle, going down to and stopping rushes in good style. The leader of the attacking forwards was the wing forward Ryan, seconded by Hurley. Rolvertson, and MaeDonald. Amongst their backs Crowley and TCoru were fighting well. The second spell was rather more interesting, the g.ime being well opened out. 11l this spell Morev stood out prominently as (lie best back on the ground, follins was moved up from full-back to three-quarters. The scorers for the winners were Stohr and Mom's fPearce converting), and for the losers 11. Cameron. Mr Martin was referee. The selectors expressed the opinion that the junior football this year was of a very high standard.

TARAXAKI Tr. v. WAXGAXUI rr. I In? 'laranaki and Wanganui first juniors meet at Ilawera on Saturday afternoon. The selectors, Messrs D. MaI.,nc, )l. Stocker and J. Young, have pirked die following team to represent Tnranaki; Full back. 0. Ryan (Waimate); three-quarters, Stohr' (Tuknpu). Brown (Stratford). Collins (Stratford); ike eighth', JJorcy (Tukapa); hnl?. Welter (Star); wings, A. Pearce (Star), and Ryan; (Wainiaate), forwards. Hurley (Waimatr). Brown (Star), Robertson (Wainutt), Morris (Tukapa), Winters (Kapiinga), Tichbon (Stratford), McDonald (ilawcru). Emergencies: Fonvards, S. Maslin (Eltliam), ■(. Hughes (WaiiniaU'); back, Crowley (Waimate). Camcion (Stratford).

A match between the High School and the Kia Oras was played yesterday on the High Schoo! ground, and resulted in » win for the School by 14 to 6. The game was well contested throughout, but the combination of the School told. For the "winners Coker. Quilliam ?.nd Potts scored, while Coker converted one. For the Kia Oras Tunbridge and Mumby scored.

The Star second team has decided to leave on their lour on the 24tli inst.,l but the itinerary is as yet uncertain, owing to the failure of th« Auckland clulis to reply to correspondence regarding the possibility of arranging a match in the Northern city. Toe Star Club declines to agree to the proposal to play the matcli as a curtain-raiser for one of the interprovineial matches in Auckland.