FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 140, 4 June 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

I BRITAIN v. SOUTHLAND. WIN FOR THE VISITORS. Per Press Association. Invercargill. Last Night. The British team scored the second win of the tour to-day against Southland, whom tliev beat l'.v 14 to S. The Hritisii team was—Jackett. "Johnny" Williams, "Tuan" .loiies. "Polity" Jones. -McEvcdv. 'Merrv" Williams. W. .Morgan, ll)ibble. "Kirk, ArVIA-r. Tlilmias. Smith, • Jackson, Down, and Hind. Of these I "Tuan" .lones, -.lorry" Williams, Thomas j and Hind have not before played dm-j j ing the tour. The team played an immeasurably better game, both back and I forward, than they did against Otago. The local team started off promisingly, and vrithin ten minutes Hamilton landed a fine goal from a free kick for infringement in a scrum. j Southland 3; Britain 0.

At this stage. Hamilton, lock-wing • was the outstanding forward both in . attack and defence. When the spell was ' half through, he broke through from 1 half-way, from loose play, outpaced the inside backs and punted over Jackett's head. Jackett recovered wonderfully well, and got to the ball with Hamilton, hut the latter dribbled away from the Britisher, and when on the line passed to Clark, who scored. Hamilton made an easy goal. Southland 8; Britain 0. The Britishers responded well, and their backs began to take a hand in the game. Morgan started a lieautiful passing rush, which ended in McEvedy bc'mg slopped right on the Kouthluud line. In like manner, Williams, on the other wing, was thrown out at the corner flag after a dashing run. Here, from a very long throw-in. "Tuan" Jones fielded in great style, and passed to McEvedy, who *cored a pretty try, which Jackson converted.

Southland S; Britain 5. From this to the end of the spell, play was confined to a heavy straggle amongst the forwards in the centre of the ground. Several times the local ■men broke through, tat the beautiful line-kicking of Jackett invariably sent them back. It was obvious from the start of the second spell, that the visitors intended to make every use of their backs. The j forwards on both sides were thoroughly I tired, but the Britishers obtained the J liall in the serum* with persistent regularity, and this gave them a controlling

interest in the game. Morgan cleverly fed his backs with his "flick'' puss .and the other backs consistently fed McEvedy, who was in great form. The first score came early from a passing rush f m which Williams was stoppad right on the Southland line. A player swung across his own line, and foolishly kicked across the field, enabling McEvedy to dash in and score an easy try. Jackson again made no mistake with the kick at goal.

Britain 10; Southland S. The local forwards were for some time penned in their Own 2J, but at i last broke through. An over-hard kick, i however, proved disastrous. Jackett i fielded quickly, beat the solitary close- : following man, and running in-field, potted a beautiful go-.il. • Britain 14; Southland 8. From this on there was no further score, but for tJie next ten minutes tue British backs kept up an incessant at} tack, Mctvedy being special}- prominent. Tiny were unahle to score, however, chiefly on account of the defensive work of V. Stead, Hamilton, Hill, and A. McNeece, the last named of whom tackled in great style at full-back. Almost the whole uf the second spell was marked by the magnificent linekicking of Jackett, "Polity" Jones, and Jackson, and by the apparently total inability of the .Soiithlamlers to find touch During the first spoil, the scrummers shared the ball jairly equally, but throughout the second" half it 'was almost invariably obtained by the visitors. They were superior to the local forwards, too, in line play, while the attack of the Southland "backs could not compare with that of their opponents. In loose forward play only, did the local men show to any advantage, and even this was considerably nullified by the great line-kicking u f the Britishers. The gate totalled about £4OO, which means an attendance of auuicwherc about 7000.

WELLINGTON 13; WANGANUI 3. Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Tlie first intarprovinci.il match of the season in Wellington was played to-day on Newtown Park between Wellington and Wanganui, the visitors being defeated by 13 points to 3. The match was not nearly so one-sided as the scores indicate. For Wellington, tries were obtained by Hitehings, Evenson. and Matheson. and two of them were converted. 11. Abbott obtained a try for Wanganui, Southconibe failing with" the kick. WANGANUI 13; KANGITHyKI ;!. Per Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. The annual representative football fixture, Rangitikfci V. Wanganui. was played to-day in the presence of about Mm people! The conditions of the weather were all that could lie desired. The first spell was of a very interesting nature, the visitors having all the better of it, and the scores were equal, three jioiuU each. In the second spell, they fell to pieces, and Wanganui were able to pile up 12 points, the final score being: Wanganui 15, Rangitikei 3.

At a meeting of the Wanganui Rugby Union held to-day, the following motion was passed:—That the management committee of the Wanganui Rugby Union endorses the action of the "Sew Zealand Union in remaining firm on the arranged gate entrance for the first test natch to be played in Dunedin, the entrance fee being considered reasonable for such an important match. THE AUCKLAND UNION. Per Press Association. Auckland, Uist Night. At a meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union held to-night the question of a dale for a Kanfurly Shield match with Marlborough was deferred. The Union decided, in response to a circular received from the New Zealand Referees' Assmiation, not to countenance the Ills a day out-of-pocket expenses a-ked for liy referees appointed to outside representative matches. It wat also decided to write to all other Unions in New Zealand suggesting that no outside referees lie appointed.