FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7170, 4 October 1888, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

ENGLAND v WANGAXUI.

: [PBBSS ASSOCIATION- TKIiESBAM.] , . WAXGANUI, October 3. The England v Wanganui.. football match was played to-day ia the presence of over 2000 spectators. Stoddart won the toss, and elected to play with a strong wind in Lis favor from the south-west goaL Gray kicked off for Wanganui, and play soon centred in the visitors' twenty-five. Walker and Mason, for Wanganni, lollowed .up the ball and dropped across the line, but ""by" bad luck lost ir, and it wae touched down by one of the Englishmen. For the most part of the first spell the Englishmen had to play on the defensive. The good following up and collaring of the Waaxanui men spoilt the back play of the visitors, who were never allowed to get away. Leys made splendid play, and by good following up secured a try for Wanganui amidst great cheering. The kick at goal was undertaken by Towneend, bat failed, owing to want of allowance being made for the wind. In kicking off from their twenty-fife, the Englishmen rushed the play into the local quarters, where Stoddarc made a splendid pot at goal, but failed in the attempt, a poster being the result All attempts by Stoddart to get away vfere spoilt by the splendid tackling of the local men. The ball was in the Englishmen's quartet's when half time was called in the second spell. The visitors played against .the. wind,, and Paul's kick off was returned by Peake. Craig, following up well, .prevented the ball being returned, and ; a scrum- took place in the visitors' ground. Ail attempts by the Englishmen to screw the scrum were spoilt by the good play of the local wing men, Craig and Walker. The. latter part of the second spell was more or less even, the visitors having perhaps the best of it. Peake secured a mark iv the local twenty-live, but it was disallowed, and he was collared by Kent. From the scrum formed here, Mason got the, bull and attempted to force down, but did not succeed, and a scrum took place on the local line. Speakman getting the ball from here passed to Andertoa, -who got over aud scored by the corner. flag. The kick at goal by Paul was a failure, and on time being called immediately afterwards, the game resulted iv a draw, both sides having scored a try. Great excitement was manifested at the result Leys, Craig, Armstrong, and Gray distinguished themselves by their iirstclass play for Wanganui.- The English team did their level best in the second spell, and made desperate attempts to score. Bambv, Eagles, Andertou, and Mathers played excellently. The English team left this afternoon by the 5.30 train for Palmerston.and thence to .WellingDoii to-morrow. , ,

The return oiatch between, the ißakaia and Southbridge < lubs came off on the Southbridge Ground on Saturday last, and resulted in a -win for the h6me team by 8 points to 3.