FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 81, 22 August 1912, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON (24) v. BAY OF PLENTY (9). By Telegraph—Press Association. Rotorua, Last Night. The Wellington representatives played Bay of Plenty hero to-day in fine j weather. The visitors were superior in both backs and forwards, and had the best of the game throughout. The first .spell ended Wellington 16, Bay of Plenty G. The local scores were notched in the early stages. For Wellington Wilson, Mackenzie and Ellery crossed the line, Macfarlane converting two tries and putting over a free kick, in the second spell Bay of Plenty put in some better play, though the visitors were never once extended. Roberts and Young scored for Wellington, Macfarlane converting one. Rongo Nuku scored for 'Bay of Plenty. The final scores were: Wellington 24, Bay of Plenty 9.

MANAWATU (18) v. NELSON (16). Palmerston N., Last Night. The representative football match, Manawatu v. Nelson, played here to-day, resulted in a win for Manawatu by 18 points to 16. The game was closely contested. It was only won in the last two minutes. The back play on both sides was poor. WELLINGTON B (20) v. HAWKE'S BAY (15). Napier, Last Night. Wellington defeated Hawke's Bay in the Rugby football match here to-day by 20 points to 15. The first half was very even, and ended with the scores level—lo points each. Both teams played with good combination, and the tracks got ia some good passing work. Wellington had the best of the opening part of the second spell, and added seven points before Hawke's Bay scored. The latter livened up near the end of the game and added five points. Hawke's Bay were attacking vigorously when the whistle blew for no side. Cunningham, Body, Sullivan and Evenson scored tries, and Dingle and Nunn potted goals for Wellington. Poroliiwi and Johnson scored tries for Hawke's Bay, one oi which Smith converted. He also kicked a penalty goal, and Ashton potted a goal for the losers. TARANAKI v. WAIRARAPA. Given fine weather it is anticipated that there will be a large attendance at the Recreation Grounds this afternoon to witness the representative fixture, Taranaki v. Wairarapa, Both teams are in good form and an interesting game is expected. The match will commence at 3 o'clock.

THE LEAGUE GAME. THE AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE TEAM. Wellington, Wednesday. Members of the New South Wales League team arrived by the Maunganui to-day. The team is accredited as being the strongest that has ever crossed the Tasman Sea, and includes such international representatives as McCue, Farnswortli, Hallett, Sullivan, McMurtrie, Frawley, Deane, and Courtney. Members of the team worked to-day on Ke'.burne Park in preparation for their match against Wellington on Saturday. Wellington, Last Night. The League footballers from i\ew South Wales were given a civic reception in the concert chamber of the Town Hall this evening. The "Mayor, Mr. D. McLaren, welcomed the visitors and expressed the belief that they would be able to show the local men some points. Messrs. H. E. Miller and J. E. Blue responded. The former said, in reference to the question of amateur or professional, that this was an individual matter. The League provided for both amateur and professional. Mr. Blue said that before they left New Zealand they would convert 97 per cent, of the Rugby Union enthusiasts.

FOOTBALL TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS. To the Editor. Sir—lf you are sufficiently in the confidence of our Rugby Union perhaps you t wouldn't mind telling us country people what we have done that we should be prevented from seeing the match tomorrow against Wairarapa. I have been looking in the papers every day for some announcement of train arrangements, but up to the present have found no mention of the same. Isn't the match considered good enough for Taranaki residents outside New Plymouth to look at? Let us hope that when the gate receipts of this match are quoted in future no invidious comparisons will be made with the takings at the gates for matches played in Hawera, or elsewhere, where sufficient interest is displayed in making arrangements with the Railway Department to run trains to suit the public. I think, from my experience of many years' attendance at representative matches in Taranaki, that we folks in the country can claim to have loyally supported the union in the past by our 1 patronage, although it may cost many of us as much to see one match as 'the residents of your town could see half-a-dozen for, and to expect a country resident to pay board and lodging in xSew Plymouth till the day following this match seems like taxing his enthusiasm —I am, etc., RUSTIC. August 21, 1912.