FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 116, 24 August 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

BATTLE OP GIANTS. Writes the Wellington Times' special correspondent anent Saturday's big battle:—The match throughout was a (battle of giants—a struggle for supremacy between two of the finest fifteens which have ever stepped on to a Rugby field. What can there be to wonder at that the enormous crowd quite lost its head and for a time. became part and parcel of the magnificent contest which was being waged ibefore its eyes by the thirty keen, strong-limbed young men who were the pick of the two provinces? The day was one to be remembered, and the sight one to treasure. Enthusiasm was in the air; excitement reigned su- ' preme. The pity of it all is that a moral •victory does not carry with it the itun furly Shield. Wellington scored a try to a goal from a mark, which carries a sound! of superiority, 'but not the reality i of it. Wellington can be satisfied t'hatj its boys did their best, and a magnificent best it was. They did not win the coveted trophy, ibut they went nearer to it than any other fifteen has done for years.

Wellington have had hard luck from the start. In the first place the best fifteen in t'hat city was not available for the trip. This was bad enough, >but when one of the players who did travel became unwell in Auckland supporters* ot the men in black began to have fears. At the last moment —in fact, after thb team had donned its playing clothes—a, doctor had to . be brought to Alexander at the hotel, and the 'result, was that the Wellington Old Boys' forward was forbidden to take the field. Bruce, of St. James, was a good substitute, but the change at the eleventh hour was a bad omen. Those who 'have been brave enough during the last few days to appear in Queen street with the colors of WellingI ton in their coats have had any number of opportunities of hearing about the ■ prowess of the Aucklanders, but once declare oneself a Wellingtonian, and there were a dozen Aucklanders to waylay one with stories of what the mighty northern pack was going to do. Wellington supporters smiled at the story a. day or two ago. To-day it is a grim i memory. I !. | For some years now the Petone Foot-' tell Club has occupied a prominent posi- : tion in all the championship contents, and one season tihey headed the lists in ' all five grades. This season they have not done quite so well, ibut nevertheless their record is one to be proud of. At this stage they are leading in ' the juniors, fourth and fifth grades, second in the third grade, and fourth in the senior championship. i