FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

NORTH ISLAND TEAM. SELECTED ON SATURDAT. Messrs. .T. Ljuskey (Wellington), G. Nicholson (Auckland), and D. J. Malone (Tnraunki), selectors of the North Island team-were present In Now Plymouth on Saturday for the purpose of selecting the North Island football team, which Is to do battle against the South Island team at Wellington in a fortnight's time. The team was selected on Saturday evening, and has been forwarded to the New Zealand Rugby Union for confirmation. It will probably be published about Wednesday. , Mr. Nicholson, who is a well-known original All Black, arrived by the ■ Itarawa on Saturday morning, and returned by the steamer the same evening. Mr. .T. Lynskey, who is a hrother of Mr. M. J. Lynskey, of Itaweni, itturned to Hawera in the evening. Both Messrs. Nicholson and Lynskey were present at the Stratford-Clifton match in the afternoon.

RANFURLY SHIHELD MATCH. WELLINGTON DEFEATS CANTERBURY. By Teleeraph.—Press Association. ' Wellington, Saturday. Tho first Ranfurly challenge shield match since 1915 was.played to-day, when Wellington (holders) defeated Canterbury by 21 points to 8. Thero were 10,000 spectators, Including the Governor-General and Lord Jelllcoe. The match was fast and spectacular. Both sides Were fairly matched In the forwards, but the Wellington backs did better than their opponents, who, however, had not many opportunities. Tho tackling on both sides was pretty sound, but the game was really a contest between the forwards. With the exception of Wellington's final try, all the scoring was done In the first spell, which ended with Wellington in'tho lead by 10 points. Both spells were hard fought, but toward the close of - the game Canterbury forwards began to < tire.

THE SEDDON SHIELD. BULLER DEFEATS WEST COAST. Westport, BatUrday. To-day, the Buller rugby team shalled off the second attempt to take the geddon shield by defeating West Coast, by 14 points to 6. Throughout the match the Buller forwards were masters of the situation, and never let the speedy Coast backs got properly away. For Buller, Colvin and Young scored, Scl.adlck converting one try, and kicking two goals from the field. Steele kicked a beautiful goal from tho flold for the Coast, and also scored, and from another kick by the same player the ball hit the cross-bar and rebounded Into play.

MARLBOROUGH V. WELLINGTON, MARLBOROUGH WINS BY 18 TO 15. Blenheim, Saturday. The Rugby game, Marlborough v. Wellington, was- played In fine weather. The ground was greasy after the heavy rain. Marlborough won by 18 points to 15, after a strenuous game. In the first half Wellington played with the sun In tholr favor, but showed no outstanding superiority, local bocks having the best of tho exchanges Marlborough scored the whole of their points In the first half, Wellington scoring two tries. In the second spell, Wellington played with better dash, and tho backs combined effectively. Tho forwards were superior In the loose and tight They added three more tries, unconverted. In the final stages tho visitors made energetic efforts to equalise the score. Poor placo-kieklng resulted hi their failure to turn tho game in their favor.

N.S. WALES DEFEATS QUENSLAND. ' By Telegraph—Press Assn.--Copyright. Received Aug. 31, 5.5 p.m. Brisbane, Aug. 31. At Rugby football Now South Wales beat Queensland by IT points to 8.

THE LEAGUE GAME. ' , NEW ZEALAND. DEFEAT AUSTRALIA. Chrlstchurch, Saturday., Tho Rugby League test match, Australia V. New Zealand, was played in dull weather. There was an-attendance of 0000 spectators The gam,Q all through favored the New Hollanders, whose tackling was particularly ■effeitlvo. The Australians Initiated many fine pasaing. rushes, but they Invariably broke down through faulty handling or sound defence. New Zealand wrta by 20 points (three trios by Walters, one each by Williams, lies, and Avery. Ifvrerson converted one, and kicked two penalty goals, and Dufty cne) to 10 (two tries and U'o goals by Border).

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. WELLINGTON v. WARSHIP TEAM. Wellington, Saturday. The Association match between a team from the warship New Zealand and Wellington represcntlve eleven was won by the former by 0 goals to 5.

ASSOCIATION' PROSPECTS IN BRITAIN. By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Aug. 31, 5.5 p.m. London, Aim. 29. Tho Association football season begins today. The experiment of starting In August, and ondlng tho first Saturday In May has been necessitated owing to the League now embracing forty-four clubs. The Southern League is having twenty-two first divisions. The outlook is speculative owing to the war-time break. There is no guide regarding form. Undoubtedly tho influence of army training has stamped nil tho matches. Opportune .rains have softened the grounds.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NORTHERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STRATFORD DEFEAT CLIFTON. Tho play-off between Stratford and Clifton, winners of the Northern Divisions Thursday and Saturday competition respectively, for the honor of contesting with Hawer.t tin championship of Tarannki, tool; place on Saturday, and wits keenly contested, though tho state of the ground, due to the i!act that heavy rain fell for a Quarter of an hour beforo the match, and also during the latter half of the second spell, somewhat militated against good Rugby. Nevertheless, play was decidedly interesting, and was fast throughout. There were some good cxhlbltons of passing, particularly during the first spell by the Stratford backs, who handled tho greasy boll well. Clifton forwards Bhowed better footwork than their opponents, and though no doubt on the day the better team won, the Issue was In doubt well Into the second spell, and thorc Is no question that Clifton had hard luck in not scoring on one or two occasions. Neither team was represented by its full strength. Clifton kicked off, and on Interchange of kicks ousued Stratford forwards gradually worked play down the field, and their backs also gave a fine display of passing, which carried the play dangerously close to Clifton's line, where Goodwin smartly saved by lining. The Clifton pack then took a hand, and White, Soffe, Fuller, and Taylor, assisted by Tate, carried play right to the other end of the Held, where Fenwlck went, down gamely nnd saved Stratford forwards headed by Carlson, Masters, McCulloirgh, and Hampson then set up a grent tiub. tout »»w iht ball over CUfts&'i tami*

Goodwin and Rogora in full chase, the Clifton flier getting there in time to boost to the dead ball line. After free kicks to e'thor side, good work by Taylor saw Clifton Inmde Stratford's twenty-five, but good follow ng up by McCullough smothered George. pla>' being in neutral territory. Clifton forwards now took a hand, Solfe, Fuller, White, and Taylor In the van kept Stratford busy defending. Carlson and Co. however broko away, but were gamely checked by Tate. Stratford, both forwards and backs, were now pressing hard, Coutts making some great openings and setting his met. moving on cither side, but Goodwin, Tate, Copestake, and George proved solid dofence. No score resulted, and Soffe, breaking through, turned the tables and carried play to mldfleld, where Fenwtck gamely checked him. A moment later, Goodwin clever fooled a coupled of opponents, lined at the twenty-flve. Soffo was responsible for Clifton getting into a good attacking position, where Goodwin essayed to pick up, but could not receive the areasy ball and a chance went, the ball going cut at the corner. Clifton pressed hotly, Stratford being forced three times in as many minutes, Taylor having bard luck in missing a score. A lengthy interchange of kicks ensued, Stratford gaining the advantage, and George falling to field a high ball in the face of the charging Stratford pack, matters looked awkward, but the Clifton forwards cleared. However, a moment later ( -r.ie mulled the ball on the ground, and Hainpson, following up fast, ran over. Coutts made a fine attempt. Stratford asaln attacked but Tate and Goodwin drove them back with high kicks. A nice bout of passing in which Berg, Klvell (2), Couttß, and Cameron took part, ended in the latter being smothered by Stewart. Clifton forwards pressed for a few moments, but in ;he closing stages Stratford were again pressing, and as time was called Stratford wero forced. The epell ended:— Stratford 3, Clifton 0. In the Interval, K. George, Clifton, who had injured an arm, was replaced by Baddeley, who played wing three-quarter, Copestake going to five-eighths. Earlier in the game, Fry-day, Stratford, had been replaced by Carrt 11. Early In the spell the Stratford backs essayed a passing bout, the ball coming to Cameron, who streaked tipfield, with Rogers alongside. Attempting to beat two men he was smothered. Tate, Copestake, and Co. carried play to mldfleld, where Berg lined at the twenty-five, but from a free kick, Goodwin lined at mldfleld. Clifton forwards were here nromlntrt, but N. Klvell marked. Stratford forwards, with Carlson, Masters, and McCullough in the van then got busy. N. Klvell picking up, the ball travelled smartly along via Coutts and Cameron to the twenty-flve, where Rjgera failed to secure, and Tate was able to line at midway. After a brief spell owing to Spurdle being temporarily injured, Betts led Clifton to the attack. A lengqthy interchange of kicks saw little change in the positions, until Goodwin, by clover, footwork, checked a Stratford.i movement and put Clifton In a good position, but Pei wick saved by lining. Clifton backs here opened out,-and Goodwin essayed a dive for the line, hut was well collared. After a ■ strenuous period of defence, Stratford ultimately cleared their line, but George marksd, and with a high kick, centred, but Coutts was there and saved. Heavy rain now came on and continued, Ihe gamo developing into a fas' struggle between the forwards. Clifton toft Up the pressure but Rogers cleared with a high kick. Copestake next made u dash for the line but hung on too long, and Stratford wero able to find safety In the line. The effort npperred to wear Clifton out, us Stratford now assumed the upper hand, and Baddeley, being smothered, before he could get rid of the ball, Stratford forwards swarmed down and Hampson scored a second try In the corner, which Coutts failed to goal Almost from tho kick off, Stratford forwards repeated the dose and J. Carlson scored In the opposite corner, Coutts again falling to goal The concluding stages saw a strenuous forward struggle, but no further score, the game ending Stratford 9. Clifton 0. Mr. J. Johnson was referee.