FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9735, 25 May 1897, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

WfiLLINQTON v HAWKB'S BAYV

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) NAPIES,sMay 24. The annual football match between Hawke's Bay and Wellington took place on the reclamation ground this afternoon. The weather was beautifully fine. The Wellingtonians arrived here on Baturd»y evening, and were met by the Bugby Union delegates. Oa Sunday they were driven round the flooded districts. The attendance at the match must have numbered 2500 people. The Visitors were decided favourites. Mr F. Logan acted as referee. won the toss and elected to take the east end. Shortly after the start Hawke'H Bay secured a mark, which was followed up by_ a cu«h, which was cat'ried to the Wellington twenty-five flag, but a good bit of passing oy the Bl*ek for* wards got the leather to. the centre. After a few short exchanges and aeroros Napier was again in danger. Catuan got a rush on and secured a Laws failed to convert. After centre play Alderton, by a good' kick, got Napier down to the twenty-fiv? flag. Hawke's Bay here §ot a free kick, which Caldwell converted.' 'or the next five minutes Hawke's Bay had thebeatof the work, and from atbrowin near the corner J. O'Connell smartly got over the Wellington ling, but the kicfc by Cald well failed. Caldweli next badly missed a goal from a free kick when straight in front of Wellington's goal. After this Wellington began to play with raora dash, and combination, and from a splendid bit of passing play from the centre flag Roberta got over the Napie* line and Laws converted. The Napiei forwards worked the ball well down wt Wellington's flag, where O'Conneli looked like scoring; bub the (superior passing o! their opponents relieved the pressure. The second spell opened with a few , sharp raUiee and quick returns, and Hawke'e Bay assumed aggressive tactics, but MoKenaie, Laws and Roberts, with the assistance of J. Kelly, got into the Hawke'e Bay twenty-five, where Kelly mieeed a pot. Tankard end Speedy dribbled the ball on to Wellington territory, but it was brought back quickly and Kelly succeeded in placing another try for Wellington, which Laws failed to convert. A little later Roberts cleverly got over, bu* Oalnan failed with the place. The Welling, ton team now began to ran over the local and Laws added another fonj by a well directed goal from a mark, A few minutes later Hardcastle got the ball from a rush and scored a try at the carnef ( bat Roberta failed to convert. During the first half H*wke's Bay held their opponents' ground fully two-thirds of the time. In the second spell the Wellington men became thoroughly alive to their work while the Hawke's Bay men lagged considerably. (PBE33 ASSOCIATION TKLJWHIAM.) DUNEDIN, May 24. In the match Zingari-Bicbmond v Ath\ letics (Oamaru) Zingari won by 19 points (3 tries and a goal) to 3 points. The Pirates defeated Christchurch by 3 points (a try) to nil. Pacific defeated Excelsior (Oamaru) by 12 points (3 tries and a penalty goal) to 3 (a goal from a try). The Sumner Club played North Canter* bury at Rangiora yesterday, and won by 6 points to 3.