FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 161, 2 August 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

, RUGBY. I THE PONSONBY CLUB TOUR. ' METROPOLITAN UNION DEFEATED. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Received August 1, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Saturday Night. There were 'BOOO present at the match between l'unsonhy and the -Metropolitan Union. The visitors, having arrived only a few hours previously after a lough passage, were not i*n the best of trim to tackle th 6 strong Metropolitan combination, but they wasted no time in finding their legs. Withki a few minutes of the start Murray got going, passing to Bates, to Lavoury, and the last-named secured a try, which O'Leary converted. Then in quick succession the Metropolitans were twice penalised, »nit from flic second O'Leary landed a goal. The Metropolitans now got going, attacking strongly, and Would scored an unconverted try. Even piny followed, ending in the visitors being penalised, and llow kicked a fine goal. ■Just before the spell ended, Ponsonby, by dashing play, carried the war into | the enemies' territory, where Morse ran ■n and O'Jjcary converted. At halftime the scores 'were—Ponsonby 13, Metropolitan (I. Early ill the second half McCabc got a try for the locals, Booth adding the extra points. Prom this out there was a great battle, the Metropolitans attacking strongly, anil the visitors putng up great defence. Neither side succeeded in increasing the score. Ponsonby showed very strong forward and superior combination, but for gome time at first the backs were a bit slow.

KEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND. Received August 1, 5.5 p.m. Brisbane, Saturday Night. At Rugby Now South Wales defeated Queensland by 8 points to 3. BULLER v. ELLBSMERE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. om „ „ Westport, Last Night, fhe Bullcr v. Ellesmere (Canterbury) football match was played at the Cape roalwind ground yesterday, and resulted in a win for Duller .by 13 to C. In the first spell Ellesmere scored a goal from the field, Hartgill taking the kick from a mark gained by Corrie. The next score was a try rather flukily scored by Brown. In the second spell Ji'iller pressed all the time,- and Woods and Corbett (2) scored -tries Col fin converting the two with long kicks at difficult angles. Buller outclassed the visitors in both the back and forward divisions. Mr. Wilson, a selector of the South Island team, refereed.

NELSON v. MARLBOROUGH. Nelson, Saturday Night. Tim annual representative match Nelson v. Marlborough, played here to-day, wag won by the visitors bv 15 points to nil. The ground was heavy and in a sloppy condition after the recent ram. Marlborough had the advantage of weight in the forwards, who were responsible fo r the win. The backs of both teams were evenly matched. Tries were scored by Casey, Church, and Costcllo, none of which were converted, and Church kicked two penalty goals.

MANAWATU CHAMPIONSHIP. Palmerston North, Last Night. The Fcildiug Football Club defeated Kia Toa m the final for the Hankins Shield.

THE MANAWATU TEAM. Palmerston North, List Night. The Manawatu team against Taranaki will be:—Backs, Skelly, Stalker, Read, Martis, Ford, Stewart, OiHcv; forwards, McMinn, Brough. Carroll, Whisker, Ryan, McNae, Wighton, M. Carroll; emergencies, Buchanan and Best.

WELLINGTON MATCHES. Wellington, Saturday Night. The senior championship matches on Saturday resulted—Athletic, 3, v. P<>'■eke, 0; l'etone, la, v. Old Boys, 0; St. James, 11, v. Wellington. 8;' Oriental, 18, v. Victoria College, 8; Melrose, 13, v. Southern, 0.

NORTHERN UNION GAME. MAORIS v. AUSTRALIA. ANOTHER VICTORY. . A HOSTILE DEMONSTRATION. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Received August 1, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Saturday Night. Three thousand attended the Maori Match against Australia. Play was most willing, anil at times very rough. The Australians, adapting themselves more to the visitors' tactics, Were able to hold their own better than in the previous matches, and at the end of the first half were leading by !) to 8. Plav in _ the second spell was* exciting. The visitors added three points, and the Australians answered, bringing the score to 14 all. Fierce play followed, and the Maoris succeeded in putting on the winning goal shortly 'oefore "no time" sounded. The most prominent were Asher, Papakura, Pukere, Kopana, and Winccra. One of the decisions of tiie referee against the Australians led to a hostile demonstration, and at the close of the game a hooting crowd numbering several thousands surrounded the referee, the police with difficulty rescuing him. Mis clothes were torn and lie received a nastv >vound above the eye..

TAItANAKI v. AIVKLAND. The following will represent theTaranalii Northern llugby Union team iiguinst Auckland at Auckland next .Saturday, 7th August:— Full-back—A. Uardgraves. Three-ipiarters—K. Buckland, C. Moir, C. McLean. Five-eighths—W. McLean. Half-backs —B. Krewin r and W. Morev. Forwards—Front row, L. Walsh, \V. .Morris, S. Stroud; middle row. E. Haskell and T. Smith; back row. 11. O'JJriseoll.

The match is creating a great deal of i.iterertt in Auckland, on account of the recent revival of the Northern game there, and also on account of the cloSc matches between these teams last year. The Taraifaki back team is very strong in defence, besides being good in attack, whilst their forwards Hfe fasf. and good tacklers. '1 lie team Jeaye by the Uarawa on Thursday night. Mr. P. IMcillvride will again .accompany the team as mapager.

ifext Saturday evening at Auckland a meeting of tile prompters of tlje New Zealand Northern Rgby team tp visit tl|e Old Country will be held to arrange matters. As the selectors are to be at the match on Saturday to "spot" players' form, and as certulTi Taraiiaki players have a good chance of getting in, it behoves all the players to plav their best.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. HUOWX SHIELD HATCH. WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Lust Night. Wellington met the Canterbury rep.Ts«it«tives vfstcrday for the lirowij Shield, and after ap cxcitijjij contest game ended in a draw, Wellington retaining the shield, The gt'»iiml was heavy, as the result of ;il| iil|-iiig!|t downpour of rain, but the weather had cleared mid was bright and sunny, A strong northerly wind sometimes spoiled the result of a well-timed piece of work.