FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 66, 5 August 1912, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

NEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright, Received 4, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, August 4. In Rugby football New South Wales beat Qpeensland by .12 points to 3. WELLINGTON MATCHES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Yesterday afternoon was very cold and wet, interfering considerably with outdoor games. The senior Rugby matches resulted as follows:—Athlete beat Petone by 5 points to 3, Oriental beat Melrose by 12 to nil, Wellington beat Victoria College by 13 to 9, Southern defaulted to Poneke.

CANTERBURY (17) v. SOUTH CAN TERIiURY (8).

Chvistchurch, Last Night. The game bet ween the Canterbury and South Canterbury representatives was played yesterday. On account of the bad state of the weather the ground at Lancaster Park .was practically unplayable, so the mutch was contested on Christ's College ground, which, taking all tilings into consideration, provided a very fair playing area, although it was never in suitable condition for scientific football, and a snow s.torm which preceded the game did not improve matters. Last year the game was played at Timaru. and ended in a somewhat unexpected win for South Canterbury by 10 points to 3, but though this afternoon's game resulted in a win for the local representatives by 17 points to 8, play was at times very even and interesting. The Canterbury forwards played up much better to-day than they did against the North, Island country team, and at times their play was really first-class. TARANAKI CHAMPIONSHIP. WAIMATE (5) v. CLIFTON (0).

fronth prevailed over north at Hawera on Saturday for the Taranaki championship, when Waimate beat Clifton by five points to nil, but there were many who thought that ,a reversal of the scores would have more correctly indicated the merits of the respective fifteens. Barely 1000 persons witnessed the match, which was played on the show grounds, part of the time during a heavy shower of rain from 10 to 15 minutes' duration. Clifton .surprised many by the sterling fight tliev put up. Indeed, on the whole it must be conceded that they had the better of the game. During the first half Waimate seldom crossed the halfway line, while Clifton repeatedly attacked their citadel. Chance 'after chance went begging. The Waitara contingent could do everything but score. In the second half the wind and sun were in favor of the southerners, who in consequence had the bigger say in matters, Nevertheless Clifton were frequently the aggressors. The spectators had 'quite settled in their .minds that the match would >end in a draw, when, with four minutes to go, Wells, Colmau and Meuli successfully worked the blind, the lastmentioned player scoring a pretty try. George converted with a .beautiful goal. The try was the best piece of work the whole afternoon, for play was mostly confined to the forwards. Both packs were in fine form and played well, but largely owing to the greasy ball and ground there was practically 110 spectacular play. The contest was very spirited and willing throughout. Waimate kicked off, tat Kupe failed to find the line with the return. An interchange of kicks saw tlie ball go out of touch at half-way. Bertrand followed up well and tackled Daly, and Clifton were in the opposing 25. From a scrum the Waimate half (Wells) passed to his five-eighths, but Franklin mulled. The Yellows were making it eager, and Waimate several times cleared with great difficulty. The Blues broke the siege with a big forward rush. Fuller got the leather, but was too slow in getting his .kick in, with the result that he was effectively floored. Shortly afterwards the ball again came his way. He again attempted to run instead of finding n,c line, and in consequence nearly let his side down. The delay cost him the use of hi si leg. He had to retire, and Whaka came on in his place at full-ibaek.. Clifton'were now in a tight fix. The plainsmen swarmed down, and Taylor dribMing on from the side of the scrum a try looked imminent, when a penalty saved the situation. Kupe took the kick and booted the ball Avell down the' line, lierndsen headed a Clifton rush, which ended in the opposing .backs securing. The leather found its .way into Daly's hands, but lie did not improve the situation, merely running across the field and out of touch. A knock-on ly ©rowley saw a serum, which Pini utilised for a fine dribbling rush. Kupe saved with a good line kick. J. Crowley was again prominent in a dribble. He passed Daly, hut ran out of touch. An exciting mo* ment came "when Cai.ni led a hot forward invasion, which was only held up on the line. The kick out was returned to touch by Bertrand with a splendid effort. Clifton were penalised, but Colman's toework was at fault. A force-down resulted. The kick-out was returned to touch by Kupe, who was kicking splendidly. Waimate'a stock was now congiderafbiy below par, the Yellow backs being able to more than hold their own. Kupe received from a line-out, and sent the ball out to Goodwin, who ended a dangerous sprint by throwing: out. The episode culminated in a touch-in-goal. Then rain came down. ,T. Crowlely punted down the field, and followed up ■well, tut Waimate managed to stem the tide. Clifton .were having things pretty much if not all their own way. Once Bertrand ran right through the .Waimate pack with the iball at his toe, and Colman just marked in time. Cain and fiermlsten again pressed hard, Meuli just forcing in the nick of time. Within a tainute afterwards Eggleston punted right down the field, and Waimate again .had to seek Belief in ti force. The Clifton backs then got going, the. ball travelling from Crowley to Kggleston, who gave a bad pass to Bertrand and spoiled things. Meuli t'lien put in a good run for the. defenders. Waimate were awarded a free kicK well over the half-way line, .but disclaiming a shot, at goal, thev merely found the line. Nothing came of this miove. A line-out resulted, but their backs did not seem to be aible to get going, with the result t.hat (ho tables were soon again turned in Clifton's favor. Cain was twice penalised for off-side play. From one of the resultant kicks Colman found the line in a good position. Bertrand slipping nearly let his side down.but Whaka

saved Avilli a timely ] uiiit. Kupe afl'i>r<lcil fsirtlicr relief with a o-ood kick. lit- was villi a con !i, lent, feel in;; (lint virion- would be theirs now (hat the wind mid sun were in (heir favor thai Waimate took (lie field in the second half. Clifton ait tucked from the start, hut. Oolnian and Franklin raised the siege with an electric rush, a line-out. resulting in a dangerous position. There was a succession of scrambles, but the. Blue .pack were well held bv Clifton. From a scrum a Waimato back worked the .blind, but was held up on the line. Loose .play followed in front of the goal,

but <1 Crawley saved with a magnificent punt. Bertrand cut in and gained much ground, tot the leather again found its way into Clifton territory. Wells picked up and passed to Franklin, to Colmanbut the last two mulled the 'ball between them. Taylor was prominent in a Blue rush, but Whaka, ,who was holding big end of the stick up splendidly, saved by forcing. Bentrand passed to EggUston, w"ho, dodging his man, found the line near touch-in-goal. Burgess broke away with a rush, but Eggleston lined., Clifton were several times called upon to save. Colman gave a bad pass to Daly, enabling Bertrand to cut in and beat three men before he was grounded. Clifton were more than once penalised, and once Goodwin marked just in front of the posts. Every now and again the Clifton pack would transfer play to the opposing 25, but they were now mostly on the defensive. Waimate had a chance of drawing first blood when Wells marked, enabling Franklin to have a shot at goal. It was a poor attempt, however. Then for Clifton Bertrand marked in mid-field, Kupe attempting to land a goal frotni a short distance inside half-way. Tie did not put enough boot in. however. Just vvhejie it seemed that a draw was inevitable Burgess and Ryan came on with a splendid rush, but Bertrand saved by kicking behind. From the resultant scrum the leather came out to Wells, whi passed to Colman. The lattertransferred to Meuli, who worked the blind and scored with a fine dash near the corner fliig. (Jeorge goaled with a splendid kick. —Waimate 5, Clifton 0. Clifton then tore down the field, but all of no avail, and four minutes later came the call of no side. Mr. Hopkins made a good referee.

Tlio .Manawatu Union has notified tht Taranaki Union thati t will be unable to send its representative team to New Plymouth on Tbnrsday next as arranged. The Tiiranaki Union has accordingly decided to play a North v. South trial match at ' Stratford on Thursday afternoon next. At the eonelusion of the game the team for the Northern tour will be chosen. The following is the team selected to represent the north:— Full-back, Stewart (Stratford); three-quartern, Bertrand (Clifton). Don Cameron (Stratford), L Whitaker (Tukapa); five-eigliths. J. Stohr (Tukapa) and Kupe (Clifton); half. Brown (Tukapa): wing forward, MeAllmn (Star); forwards. C'ain and Berndsteu (Cliftonl. Young (Stratford), Smith (Stratford), Hawkins (Star), Dewar (Star), Ward (Tukapa). Emergencies: ' Forwards, Mackay and Carey (Okato); backs, Crowley (Clifton), Dud Cameron (Stratford).

The north team will be playing in Taranaki colors, viz., amber and black, and the south team in colors. All emergencies are requested to be in attendance at Stratford, as it is the intention of the selectors to give thorn all a trial. A team from New Plymouth journeyed to Rahotu on Saturday and were defeated by 14 points to *3. This was the only fly in the ointment, as the entertainment meted out to them by the Rahotu residents, and Host F.meny in particular, made the trip a very enjoyable one.

At the Criterion Hotel last week the Star junior team, successful in the contest for the Carbine Shield, spent a pleasant couple of hours in making a presentation to their' -manager, Mr. C. Sadler, as a recognition of the part he has played in their successful season. Mr. E. Doekrill, president of the club, presided, and after several popular toasts the chairman rose to perform the pleasant duty of presenting the guest of the evening with a case of silver-mounted pipes and a tobacco pouch, as a slight token of the club's gratitude to Mr. Sadler for his hard work on their behalf, and a mark of their esteem and respect for their manager. Mr. >Sadler suitably acknowledged the gift. •THE LEAGUE GAME. lIAWKE'S BAY li v. WANG AN UT & By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night, llawke's Bay and Wanganui met on Saturday afternoon in a League representative match. Despite showers which fell in the morning the ground was in good order. Intermittent showers fell during the afternoon. The game was of an indifferent i victory resting: with the visitors by 12 points to 8. j

Rugby football enthusiasts in Taranaki will be pleased to learn that the New South Wales v. Taranaki match is to be played at New Plymouth on the 20th inst. Taranaki will place a strong team in the field, and will be assisted by some new talent. The New South Wales team will include the famous* Messenger, who should undoubtedly prove a draw in himself. The Taranaki league are arranging a goal kicking competition between Messenger and one of the Taranaki team. ' " • .

Tho Wellington v, Taranald match takes place in the Recreation Ground# on the 15th inst. and should prove «SOQ<l open fast game. Wellington and Taranaki have met once before at Petone in' 1903, when TaramaJci .were victorious by 22 points to 18. ' - A North v. South Tararaki match is to be played at Eltham on Thursday next, ami as the teams are equally divided spectators should seen an interesting game. The following -will represent the north team: E. Stockman, M. Julian, Ci. Salway, T. Jones, C. McLean, Bullot, H. Toeker, M. Kyle, A. Lilc, Pukere, P. Allan, H. Hancock, P. Burgess. The team leaves by the 12.50 p.m. train. Mr. W. J. Perrett will referee.

"Clews" Moir is back, from the Australian trip. He says that the team played well, and that Messenger's kicking beat New Zealand In the final match. He further states that "Shaver" Hardgrave was in rare form, and that three Taranaki boys played in the Queensland t. New Zealand match, viz., A. Hardgrave and L. Moir for New Zealand, and George ("Babe") Hooker for Queensland. Since Moir's deserved elevation to Dominion representative honors ke has been renamed "Gunner" Moir by .the boys.