FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 208, 24 August 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE VICTORIAN IOUKNA-UENT. (By Cable.—Pre?; Association.—Copyright.) Mw'houiHe, August 22. Tins ground was wet anil slippery. The Victorians showed much better! knowledge of the gai.ie_th.in the New I Zealand'ers. From the outset the visitors were outdated. At tha end of the iii'nt quarter the score Wih A'icloria 10 goals S behind* to 2 behind*. In each succeeding i[uaili'r the New Zcalandcrs were leu, farther in the rear. As in the previous mutch the New Zealanders pla\cd a better jninic in the second than in tin: lirsi hall, hut the result was a foregone conclusion alter the lirst few minutes', play.

JUNIOR EEP. .MATCH. | TAEANAKI v. AUCKLAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland. Nalmdav Night. The only lueal match-played'under the Auckland Rugby Union ' here was the Taranuki-Aiakiaud junior rep. contest, whi'.h resulted" in a' win I'm- Auckland by 1-1 points to .">. ivr 'the Taranaki team Stolir sored a try alter a run A 75 yards, and converted it himself. This was the only scare in the lirst spell'. In the second spell Cross. Fricker, anil Wynyard .scored Ivies lor Auckland, ami Dick Kicked a penalty goal and converted NA'ynyard's try.

WELLIXGTSX DEFEATS WAXGAXUI Bv Telegraph.—Press Association. Wangauui, Last Night. With the exception of the British match, the largest crowd of the seasja witnessed the representative match between Wang.mui ;uul Wellington un Saturday afternoon.' Wellington scorej an easy win, outclassing their opponents in every department of the game. Though the Wangauui forwards .played well, they were almost invariably beaten for Him ball, and once the Wellington backs got properly to work they outmanoeuvred the local men. •Wangamii were unfortunate in losing Seeling ear.y in the game, just after In: had scored and converted a try. Soutiieonibe folk his place. Very soon after the kick-u.'i Rangi Wilson scored for Wellington, as the Tcsult of a brilliant passing ruin. The kick at goal failed. Almost immediately afterwards Ryan seored in an easy manner, and added the majoi points.—Wellington S, Wangauui ad. The visitors continued their advantage and a few minutes later another try behind the posts was scored. The kick was resultlcss.—AVellington 11, Wangattui nil. Wangamii redoubled their efforts, and managed to take play lo Wellington's 25, where Seeling got the bad and scored alongside of the posts. The 'same player converted, but immediately l had to retire.—Wellington 11, Wang.tnui 5. From the kick-oil' Wellington rushed play to AYanganui's line, where Hardham secured anil seored, Alitchinson kicking a goal. Wellington 10, Wangauui 5. The spell then ended. Early in the second spell Suuihooiubc kicked a penalty goal for .Wangauui.-" Wellington 10, 'Wangauui 8. AVellington then became aggressive, and from a forward rusk Hardham scored, the kick being resultlcss.—Wellington 1'), Wangauui 8. Play for some minut's was- in neutral territory, and then 'AYanganui forced play into their opponents' 25, where Abbott secured and dashed over in a good position. Southcombe converted.—Wellington 10, AVanganui 13. From this cut Wangamii were kept oh the defensive. Rush kicked a goal from a mark, and llariharii scored a try, the game ending Wellington 25, AYanganui i:S. Air. Til'.y I refcreed satisfaotorily. ! SECOND GRADE UK'I'EF.SENTATIV.K AIATCII. Bv Telegraph.- -Press Association. AVellington, Last Night.

The representative match Wellington B team v. llorowlienua. played on Saturday, was won by Wellington by :!! points to nil. The game was very onesided.

HAWKE'S BAY CHAMPIONSHIP. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Napier, Last Night. . The game, between Hovers (Hastings) and Pakipaki at Hastings on Saturday ended in a draw; with the score of 3 points each, and thus Hovers came first in the Rugby senior competition. THAMES v. AUCKLAND. A WIN FOR THAMES.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Thames, Saturday Night.

Thames defeated Auckland Union re))-, by 11 points to u il. The game was principally confined to the forwards, but was fast/wi'lling, and oxcilin". Thames .cored two trio, (one converted), and kicked a penailv goal. Thames had the better of the ph'.v. Their lorwards were fast, and their dribbling rushes and deadly tackling were features of the game.' Smith "(Thames) and McGuire (Autklaiiirl were ordered oil' the fie.d for rough play.

PROFESSIONAL RUGBY. WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND. Tjv Telecr-tpli.—Press. Association. Auckland. Saturday Night. "The match played between Wellington and Auckland teams inid'-r Xorlheni Union rules at Victoria Park attracted an attendance of about SOOO. The mat* which' was followed with curious interest by the large crowd, ended ,_iu a win for Auukland by Hi points to 14. A feature of the match was the goal-kick-ing by W. Tyler, who kicked two from "marks, two penalty goals, and converted one try. Auckland's tries were scored by W. Wycj'ard and <Rowc. The. Wellington score was made up of' four tries scored by King. Barber, Twobill and MrGill. G. Spencer converted Barber's trv.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. TARANAKI CHAMPIONSHIP. ~ The final for the chamiiionship of Taranaki was played at Eltham on Thursday belv'eu Ibuvcra and Stratford Clnlis. Tic game was not very brilliant. w«ither conditions beinir unfavourable. The game ended without score.

The report that practically the whole of the V.'atii.iiitii reps, (amateurs) have decided to join (lie professional code is 'ub-tiinthilh- conv.-l, and the learn is expected to meet th- Wellington combination on the Pet one recreation ■••oiind in a rev week.' time (savs HiPetone Chronicle). The visitors will receive -0 uer cent, of (he gross receipt* of this match, but instead of th--I"!lance lein- distributed among the local players it will be set aside a= r, fund for th" pur-pose of extending Ihe Northern Union game next; season.