FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

'.EAGCJE FOOTBALL. NEW ZEALAND DEFEATED. A CLOSE GAME. i By Telegraph.—Press Assn..-Copyr.'sUt. Received June 8, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, June 8. For the League football match between New Zealand and New South Wales the weather was fine and the ground in good condition. The attendance was 44,000. The game was fast throughout, though the blacks, particularly in the early part, showed the effects of their quarantine detention and want of practice, but in . the second half they greatly niproved, both in stamina and combination. Shortly after starting, Horder opened the JJew South Wales account by scoring a try, which Oxford converted. Mixed play followed, ending in Mitchell kicking a penalty goal. From that point to the end of the spell the Welshmen kept the visitors hard pressed. Their' forwards showed up better in the pack, 'but the blacks were outclassed. Cubitt and Horder eacli added a try, Horder converting the last. At half-time the icores were .

New South Wales 13 I New Zealand £ In the second tpell New Zealand forced the game, the ball being frequently in the home twenty-five. Before New Zealand rallied the home team, after a great passing rush, scored, Burge crossing the line and Horder converting. The visitors renewed the attack, and Ifwerson Icicked a penalty goal; then McGregor, securing from the kick-off, scored and Ifwerson converted, making the tcore New South Wales 18, New Zealand 9. A few minutes later Ifwerson kicked a penalty, and Davison, wha took the ball from Wilson, crossed the line, Ifwerson converting. Shortly after this, Holder again scored and converted for New South

Wales, and Ifwerson, kicking another penalty, made the final scores New 1 South Wales ........ 23 New Zealand is The Slip s.a.ys that neither team played at its best., To-morrow's match should be a, better test. The New Zealand captain is quite satisfied with the team a work. With another match or two their combination will ba all that can bo desired.

RUGBY. AUCKLAND DEFEAT MAORIS. By Telegraph,—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Auckland defeated tlie Maori Pioneer Rugby team by 22 points to 11. The game was.' exciting throughout, and Auckland scored eight points in tlie last quarter. For Auckland tries were scored by Nixon (2), Wilson, Fletcher, Ross, and Thomas, while Nixon and Pruasiiig converted one each. For the Maoris, Kingston, Wilkinson, and Jacobs; scored, Jacobs converting.

THE SENIOR COMPETITION. Saturday saAv the opening of the senior competition in the Northern Division, and also of the second junior Saturday competition. OKATO 6 v. EAHOTU NIL. The match between Okato and Raliotu, which was played at Okato on Saturday, proved very close and interesting, resulting in a win for Okato by ti points to nil. For the winner# 0. Eustace scored a try and kicked a goal from a penalty. Mr* L. H. Andrews was referee.

OLD BOYS v. CLIFTON SENIORS. {From Our Own Correspondent.. The match between New Plymouth Old Boys and Clifton Seniors was played at Waitara on Saturday. Tliere was no wind, but the sun was rather bad in the first half. At the out3et it looked as though New Plymouth would win, play being kept pretty well in Clifton territory, jSew Plymouth causing Clifton to force twice. From a penalty, School had a kick at goal, but the ball went wide. Clifton tlien began to make things , lively, and had two resultless shots at goal from a penalty and a mark. Give and take play followed, and at half time the ball was in the Old Boys' twenty-five.

After resuming the ball ranged up and down the field, but Clifton had tha better of the play, though in a good many instances their efforts were nullified by offside play, no less than 22 penalties being given against them and a considerable number against New Plymouth. Towards the end of the game Clifton were pressing Old Boys very hard, and tliey were rather unlucky in not scoring, bad passing; spoiling several attempts to get over. Just at the call of time Old Boys rallied and carried the play to Clifton's twenty-five, where it was when the whittle blew no'side. For Old Boys Little played well, as also did several of the others. For Clifton T. McKoy, J. Jones, and J. Taylor .of the backs, and Chapman and McKendricfc: of the forwards played ulaeful games. The feature of the match was the number of kicks at goal which all went wide. Some of the shots were from good positions, and there was no wind. S. George and T. McKoy kicked for Clifton.

SECOND JUNIOR COMPETITION.

HIGH SCHOOL A 22 v. CLIFTON 0.

The second juniors of the above clubs met at the racecourse on Saturday afternoon, when the visitors suffered defeat by 22 points to nil. There was a strong wind blowing, which undoubtedly gave the home team the advantage in the first half, when they played with it at their 1 backs. Soon after the commencement of the game C. Smart scored a try for School, and this put the Clifton playere on their mettle and they defended strongly. School were playing aggressively, and soon a further throe points '■were added by T. Foden kicking a goal from a penalty. Throughout the first half play was almost continuously in Clifton territory, and only once did the vistors reach the home team's ground, and tliMr line was never endangered. Hair, Kyndon, and Brown scored tries for the School in quick recession, two of which were converted by Foden, and another penalty goal made the soore 22 to nil, when half-time was called, It was expected that, with the wind in their favor, Clifton would, at