FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9109, 8 June 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

BRITAIN BADLY BEATEN. NEW ZEALAND WINS FIRST TEST. VISITORS OUTCLASSED. NEW ZEALAND ... 32 BRITAIN ... 5 BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, June 6. The first test match between New Zealand and Britain was played today, in the presence of about 19,000 spectators. The weather turned out splendid, and the ground was in capital order. It was expected that the contest would result in a close finish, but before th.p game had been in progress long it became evident that the home team would win by a substantial margin.

The following were the teams:— BRITAIN. Full-back— Jackett. Three-quarters Gibbs, Vassall, Ponty Jones, and Johnny Williams. Halves—Laxton and Davey. Forwards— Harding, Dibble, Oldham, Ritson, Down, Archer, Jackson, and Kyrke. NEW ZEALAND. Full-back—Coleman. Three-quarters— Thompson, Mitchinson, and Cameron. Five-eighths—Hunter and Stead. Half-back—Roberts. Forwards—Casey, Hughes, Cunningham, Francis, Wilson, Seeling, M'Donald, and Gillett. The New Zealand team asserted its superiority at the outset, and the game had been in progress uiily about ten minutes when they registered their first score —a penalty goal kicked by Roberts. New Zealand ... 3 Britain ... 0 Thompson next augmented the score by making a dash down the line, and gettirg over at the corner, Roberts kicking a fine goal. New Zealand ... 8 Britain ... 0 A little later Mitchison dahhed over the British line, and the major points were added by Gillett. NewZjaland ... 12 Britain ... 0 New Zealand still maintained the upper hand, and from a passing bout Cameron scored at the corner, Gillett sending the ball over the bar from a very acute angle. New Zealand ... 18 Britain ... 0 Shortly before half time a scramble took place on the visitors' line, arid Roberts snapped the ball up and dived over. Gillett failed with the kick. New Zealand ... 21 Britain ... 0

When the teams crossed over New Zealand had a lead of 21 points. The seeor.d spell had not been in progress long Lefore Roberta got a *ay on the blind side of the scium, and eluding opposition scored at the corner. Gillett's kick at goal was a failure. New Zealand ... 24 Britain ... 0

The visitors then held their own better for some time, and after pressing the home team hard once or twice, their backs broke away from mulfield, and a passing bout by Davey, Williams, Ponty Jones, Vassall, and Gibbs ended in the lastnamed scoring what 1 was probably the best try of the day. Jackson added the major pointsNew. Zealand ... 24 Britain ... 5 In the closing stages of the game New Zealand returned to the attack, and a passing rush terminated in Hunter scoring boside the posts. Roberts' kick at goal missed the mark. New Zealand ... 27 Britain ... 5 Within a few minutes of time Vassall and Gibbs missed the ball near the line, and Mitchinson snapped the ball up and dived over, Francis converting the try with an excellent kick. New Zealand ... 32 Britain ... 5 The winning team held the advantage almost throughout, and r.ever after the game hud been in progress for half an hour did the visitors look likeigetting near their opponents' line.

The New Zealand team played splendidly, the fowards following up and tackling splendidly, and the backs passing and cutting in cleverly and using their speed to the best advantage. The home backs were very smart in getting away, and when once they got going they took a lot of stopping. The New Zealanders played with better combination 1 , and frequently gained large stretches of ground. Some of the visitors played well individually, and oW the whole they showed greater resource in footwork than New Zealand did, but there was a lack of combined effort, and generally when a man got away he lacked support, and of course the chance was lost. The line-kicking and fielding all round was of a high standard, and the place-kicking very good, some goals being registered from very acute angles. The New Zealanders were very quick at getting >on to the British halves, who had therefore considerable difficulty in getting the ball away to their backs. The visitors did not indulge as much in passing as then' opponents, and even when they made efforts in this direction they were often nullified by Ponty Jones failing to' take the ball.

The following are the remaining fixtures which the British' team have to play:— Wednesday,' June 10th—-South Canterbury Union, at Timaru. Saturday, June 13th Canterbury Union, at Christchurch. Wednesday, June 17th—West Coast and Buller Unons, at Greymouth. Saturday, June 20th—Nelson . and Marlborough Unions, at Nelson.Saturday, Juno 27th —New Zealand, at Wellington. Wednesday,-July Ist—Hawkc's Bay Union, at Napier.

Saturday, July 4th—Poverty Bay Union, at Gisborne. Wednesday, July Bth—Manawatu and Horowhenua Unions, at Palmerston North. Saturday, July 11th—Wanganui Union, at Wanganui. Wednesday, July 15th—Taranaki Union, at New Plymouth. Saturday, July 18 h Auckland Union, at Auckland. Saturday, July 25th—New Zealand, at Auckland.

THE "PRO-HLACKS." DEFEATED BY AUSTRALIA. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received June 7, 10.5 a.m. SYDNEY, June 6. The "All-Blacks" concluded their tour to-day with a match against Australia, in which the home team proved victors by 14 points to 9. 'I he: weather was fine and the attendance good. The teams were as follow: New Zealand—Full-back, Tynr ; three-quarters, Rovve, Barber, W. Wynyard and Tyler; halves, Wrigley and Wynyard; forwards, Lile, Crusi, Pearce, Johnston and Gilchrist Australia. Full-back — Hedley; three-quarters, Cheadle, Messenger, Anderson and Deveaux; halves, Rosenfield, and Holloway; forwards, Graves, Conn, Lutze, Jones and Hardcastle. Play, excepting towards the close of the second half, was mediocre. At the opening the home team pressed, but the tide wa3 soon turned, and the first score went to tho visitors. Holloway, picking up in the open, was penalised and Wrigley kicked a goal. Slow play followed, then the New Zealander, Pearce, marked at half-way. and Wrigley landed a goal. A third goal was added by Wrigley, as the result of a mark by Gilchrist. At half-time the score stood — New Zealand 6 Australia 0

In the second half Australia showed to much better advantage in the closing stages, and completely outplayed the All-Blacks. Tries were secured by Anderson, Graves, Jones and Messenge-, one of which Messenger converted. J. Wynyard secured a try for the All-Blacks. Wrigley failed at the kick at goal. The New Zealand team sailed by the Warrimoo to-night for Wellington. CANTERBURY v. BRITISH > TEAM. CHRISTCHURCH, June B. The following have been selected to play for Canterbury against the Anglo-Welsh team next Saturday : Full-back, A. E. Doell; three-quar-ters, F. C. Fryer, R. G. Deans, W. B. Fuller; five-eighths, E. B. McDonald and G. D. Gray; half, P. Burns; wing forward, D. McPhail; forwards, J. Mahony, T. Bond, w. Menzies, J. Baker, B. Hopkins, C. Evans, T. Bain. DY TBL3OSAPH—PREBS ASSOCUTrON. , WELLINGTON, June 6. Saturday's .senior matches resulted ds follows:—Pttor.e 3 drew with Mclrcsa 3, Oriental nil drew with Poneke nil, Victoria College 11 beat Wellington 6, St. James 5 beat Athletic nil, Old Boys 13 beat Southern 11. WAIR *RAPA RUGBY UNION. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. RED STAR v. MASTERTON. The Red Star and Masterton teams met on the Masterton Showgrounds, on Saturday, and after a hard fought game the Star team scored their first win of the season. In the first spell the game was slightly in favour of Masterton, acd a try was scored for them by Handley, the only score of the spell. '■ . In the second half of the game the Stars made the pace very willing. J. Duggan, from a penalty, kicked a nice goal. The same player also potted a goal. A try was also scored for the Stars by K. Welch, but was not converted, and the game ended Red Star 10, Masterton 3. Mr J. M. Nirholls was referee. CAR'IERTON v. GREYTOWN. This match was played at Carterton, and again the home team upheld their colours. There was nothing particularly brilliant about the play on either side, the match being a fairly easy-going one. Carterton's score at the conclusion was 12 points (four tries) to Greytown's nil. Mr E. McKenzie controlled the game.

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP,

RED STAR v. DALEFIELD. A match in which considerable in-, terest was taken was played at Dalefield on Satui'day between the Red Star and Dalefield teams. Neither team had been beaten this season, and a fast and keenly-con-tested game resulted. It was certainly the best exposition of junior football given this season. The Dalefield team were much heavier than their opponents, but the latter were smarter, and their forwards in particular played a fine game. The match resulted in a win for the Stars by 6 points (a try and a penalty goal) to 5 points (a coverted try). For the winners Williams kicked a fine jroal from nearly half-way, and Easthope ..scored a clever try after a fast follow up. Mr F. Roydhwse was referee. TE ORE ORE v. CARTERTON. Carterton defeated To Ore Ore, at Carterton, on Saturday, by 13 points to 3. MASTERTON v. GREYTOWN.

The Masterton Juniors were defeated at Greytown by the local juniors hy 9 points to nil. •THIRD - CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. RED STAR 111. v. DALEPIELD 11. On the Showgrounds, on Saturday, Red Star 111. defeated Daleiield 11, after a fast, open game, by 15 points (5 tries) to 3 (a try). For the win-

ners [Edwards, Gaily, Bilfingtotv Coylo and Harris scored. Mr W, Harding was referee.

POSITION OP TEAMS.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

A football match between the young men of Knox Bible Class and tne Methodist Bible Class, is to eventuate shortly, the losers to "treat" their victors to a dinner. BUSH RUGBY UNION. (By Telegraph—Special to Wairarapa Age.) PAHIATUA, June 6. The senior flag matches were continued to-day. Pahiatua met Konini, at Korini. The game was fast from the start. Both sides were evenly matched. Konini were first to score, but the try was not converted. Immediately after the kick out Pahiatua, by i a fine run, got over the line, but also failed to convert. No further score was made by either side, and the game resulted in a draw—three points each. Mangatainoka proved too strong for Nireaha, at Mangatainoka, winning comfortably by seventeen pointa to nil. In the junior competition, Mangatainoka easily beat Scarborough by fprty-eight to nil. Hamua and Alfred ton seniors played a draw at Hamua.

Points Points Won. Lost. For. Agnat. Carterton 5 — 76 14 Masterton 3 2 43 27 Red Star 1 4 21 81 Greytown 1 4 24 45 JUNTOR CHAMPIONSHIP. PtS Pt8 Won. Lost. Dr'n. For. Ag'st Rod Star 5 — — 57 20 Dalefield 4 1—53 22 Te Ore Ore 3 2 — 47 34 Carter tun 2 2 1 37 28 Martinboro*2 2 1 34 34 Greytown 1 4—15 54 MaEterton 0 6 ' — 11 67 THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. ' Points Points Won. Lost. For. Against Red Scar 1 — 15 3 Masterton 1 — • 9 0 Dalefield 0 2 3 24