FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8517, 23 August 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

. AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI. By Telegraph—Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 22. The representative Rugby match, Auckland v. Taranaki, was played here to-day. The weather was dull, rain falling during the second spell, making the baU difficult to handle. The game was a hard-fought and exciting one, but except for occasional flashes did not reach a very high standard. The game resolved itself into a contest between the fine pack of Auckland forwards and the Taranaki backs, and the latter lasted the longest, the visiting forwards being run practically off their legs in the finish by the haart-breaking linekicking of the . ."-al backs, particularly Hargreaves, whose all round exhibition a3 full-back has never been excelled locally. In the first spell Cameron scored for Taranaki after running right thi'ough his opponents, Hargreaves converting. McCormack scored for Auckland mid-way through the second spell, after a good run by Murray. The game ended Taranaki five points, Auckland three. Both teams leave on their Southern tours to-morrow. NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL TEAM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Received August 22. 10.29 p.m. SYDNEY, August 22. The New Zealand professional team have been advised by cable that their headquarters have been fixed for the Grand Central Hotel, Leeds. The following are the fixtures in the representative matches December 18th, Yorkshire; January Ist, Wales, January Bth, Cumberland; January 11th, England; January 18th, Lancashire; January 25th, Northern Union. The following- team will represent NZealand against New South Wales on Saturday Fullback, Turtill (Canterbury); threequarters, Smith (Auckland), Rowe (Auckland, Laverv (Canterbury): five eighths, Wrigley (Masterton), Wynyard (Auckland); halves, Kelly (Weliingtan), Tyler (Auckland); forwards, Watkins (Wellington), Mackrell (Auckland), Cross (Wellington), Jc.hrston (Otago), Wright (Wellington), Trevarthan (Auckland), Byrne (Wellington). A match was played yesterday afternoon between teams representing the Butchers and Bakers, of Masterton, in aid of the Woodward Family. The players, in various fancy costumes, headed by the Masterton Municipal Brass Band marched to the Showgrounds, where the match was played. Some of the costumes had a touch of originality about them, and in addition there were numerous banners with various inscriptions concerning the occupations of the opposing teams. Arriving on the field the players discarded their costumes and played in ordinary football attire. The gr.:re

was a rather interesting one, and the players entered into it enthusiastially. The Butchers gained a decisive victory by 14 points to nil. Tries were scored by W. Jones, R. Morris, C. Morris and O'Brien, one of which was converted by Hilton. Mr J. O'Leary was referee. After the match the players were photographed. The members of both teams, as well as'a number of the members of the Masterton Municipal Bras? Band, held a social in the Foresters' Hall in the evening. Mr J. Wickens occupied the chair. The evening was spent in a convivial manner, and an enjoyable time was spent. The following were the, toasts honoured: —" The King," proposed by the Chairman; "The Winners," proposed by the Chairman and responded to by Mr P. Lee; "The Losers," Mr P. Lee—Mr W. Morris; "The Referee," the Chairman—Mr J. O'Leary; "The Ladies," Mr H. Elkins—Mr W. Hunter; "Masterton Municipal Brass Band," Mr W. Morris—Mr ;F. W. G. McLeod; "Master Butchers and Bakers," Mr P. Lee—Messrs E. Pelling and J. Ogilvy; "The Chairman," Mr W. Morris; "The Press," Mr H. Elkins. Musical items were contributed by Messrs R. Russell, G. Bubbers, E. Pelling, W. Morris, J. Mcintosh, F. Lockwood, A. Dawes, Stacy, G. Blocklev, J. Elder, O'Brien, H. Hilton, "W. Fisher and Collins. At an interval in the proceedings the silver cup, presented by the Master Butchers and Bakers, for competition, was presented to the winning team by Mr E. Pelling. The following will represent the Masterton Juniors against Red Star Juniors, on the Showgrounds, tomorrow Phillips, Sowman, Baker, Prow, Jackson, Hanley (2), Hounslow, MacMahon, Tanner, McHattie, Kingdon, King, Selby. Says the Dunedin Star:—The Walthain team, winners of the primary schools junior competition, secured a .total for the season of 292 points tor eight matches, while not a solitary point was recorded against them. A. Ramsden, the young half-back who played for Petone last year, and is now in England, has signed on for next season with the Hunslet Football Club as centre threequarter. Ramsden went to one of the big mills in the North of England to learn his trade and is under the eye of his uncle who is an expert in the woollen manufacturing line. Force of circumstances seems to have compelled the young New Zealander to become 'a professional, as only professional football is played where he is. The club's offer is said to have been a very enticing one, and the return will assist him considerably for the four or five years that he is at Home. Ramsden scored the winning try for the Wellington provincial team that beat the famous "All Blacks" before they left for England.