FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9134, 6 July 1908, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

BRITAIN v. rOVERTY BAY. EASY WIN FOR VISITORS. BY TELEGEAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. GISBORNE, July 4. There was perfect weather for the British-Poverty Bay match, played ii) the /presence of about 3,500 people. There was no wind, but the atmosphere was rather warm for football. The Britishers, though not up to the form displayed elsewhere, ga/e a fine exhibition, while the local men made a creditable tluwing. The game was much better than the score indicated. Mr L. F. Regler (Hastings) was referee. Britain won the toss, and Poverty Bay kicked off against a strong sun. A passing rush by Britain placed tie local men on the defence, but a forward rush cleared the line and a long kick forced Britain. Give and take play followed, and a dangerous British rush was well stopped by VVi Repa. The Britishers secured the ball from a scrum near midway and a passing rush between Laxon, McEvedy and Davey enabled the last named to score. Harding just missed the goal. A dangerous rusn by the local men was stopped by Jones, but a passing rush placed Britain on the dsfeuce. Fine line-kicking • by Jackett relieved the pnssure. McEvedy gained n lot of ground by a pretty feinting run and later a passing rush participated in by McEvedy and Chapman resulted in the lastnamed scoring. Dyke's kick was resultless. The local team trail. - ferred play to British territory, where from a mark Wi Repa just failed at goal and Britain forced. The local men still attacked, and a passing lush was stopped by good tackling and another passing ru&h ended in Malloy being pushed out near near the corner. From the line out there was a desperate struggle in ■front of the goal, and the local men were nearly over, Britain eventually forcing. McEvedy was heavily tackled in a passing rush and bruised his snoulder severely, fie exchanged places with Chapman. At half time the scores were:— Britain I ... 6 Poverty Bay ( ... nil.

After the interval Dyke, who was playing a patchy game, exchanged places with Jackett. Fast play followed the opening of the second spell, neither sides having any particular advantage! The local wing forward was penalised for offside play, and Harding kicked a good goal. Shortly after Davey passed to Jones, who raced through and scored. Harding's kick fell under the goal. Britain were now wearing Poverty Bay down and a fine kick by Griffiths found the touch near the corner flag. From the line-out Davey seemed the ball and scored. Harding failed with the kick. From a scrum in the loceO players' twenty-five Britain secured the ball and from a, passing rush between Laxon, Davey, Jones, McEvedy and Chapman a score resulted. Jackett kicked a fine goal. From a loose scramble Dyke picked up and passed to Chapman, who streaked over between the posts. Jackett's kick never rose. Britain came away again, and a passing rush, in which all the backs participated, ended in Griffiths scoring near the corner. Dyke failed with the ki"k and the game shortly ended in Britain's favour by 26 points to nil.

BY TELEGRAPH —PEESS ASSOCIATION. Received July 5, 9.25 a.m. SYDNEY, July 4. Sydney Univeiv-ity played the NewZealand University team to-day in fine weather. The Sydney University had a very strong team. The visitors put up a good fight, but not having settled into their stride yet were overmatched. In the early stages of the game, playing against a stiff breeze, they held their own, securing first blood—a clever try by Goodbehere, which was not converted. Sydney then got to work, and in quick succession Matthews, Waddy and Cuddy scored tries, the first spell ending—Sydney, 9; New Zealand, 3. The second spell opened with the New Zealanders attacking strongly. From a fine run by Lomas, Nuku secured a try, which was not converted. Sydney again took charge and, ran the score to 12 before the New Zealanders had another look in, Goodbehere securing his second try. The shot at goal fail ad. From this out Sydney had all the best of the game. Tries were secured by Hughes (3), Matthews and Hammond, three of which were converted. The final scores were—Sydney University, 30; New Zealand, 9. HAWERA, July 5. Taranaki defeated Wanganui yesterday by 10 points to 3. WELLINGTON, July 5. The Senior Rugby games yesterday resulted as follows: —Athletic beat Petone by 19 to 9; Poneke beat Southern by 37 to 3; Oriental' beat Old Boy? by 12 to nil; St. James beat Victoria College by 29 to nil; Melrose beat Wellington by 24 to 5.