TRIAL MATCH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9818, 30 August 1897, Page 3

TRIAL MATCH.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TBLEGBAMS.)

The final trial match, before the picking of the Canterbury representative team, was played at Lancaster Park on Saturday, and after a very even struggle resulted in a win for the A team by 16 points to 10 points. The game was faster and more willing than at previous trials, though the A forwards were none too quick in getting on to the ball. Brooker and Kerr were absent from the A team, their places being filled by Revell and Evans. In the course of the afternoon Chambers, Glennie and Miidleton were all compelled to retire from play. In the first spell the Colours had considerably the best of the game. FitzgeraM kicked a penalty goal and a goal from a mark at halfway, and T. Phillips scored a try whicß~v#taf%ot"converted; - For the Reds Glennie scored a try, which was not converted, and Orchard obtained a try from which Johnstone kicked a goal. In the second spell the A team were the aggressors, and Orchard and Johnstone scored, the latter converting his own try.

The match Press v Whitcombe, Tombs and Co., played on the North Park on Saturday, resulted in a win for the former by 9 points (three tries) to 3 (one try). For the winners Eastwood, Blewett and Asquith scored tries and Maddren, Alexander, Taylor, Moyle and Hale were prominent. Ormandy scored the only try obtained by the losers, among whom Tason, Beattie, Griffin, Wilson and Harrow played well. Mr A. P. Izett was referee.

Matches were played at Kaiapoi on Saturday between Rangiora and Kaiapoi, which was won by the latter by 6 points to 3 points, and East Christchurch School v Kaiapoi School, the former winning by 15 points to nothing.

HAWERA, August 28. The Wanganui-Taranaki football match was played to-day, the scores in the first spell Tbeing Taranaki three tries, Wanganui nil. Just before the conclusion of the spell Tilly, one of the Wanganui team sustained a fracture of the arm. In the second spell Taranaki scored four tries, one of which was converted. The total scores were Taranaki 26, Wanganui 0. MASTERTON, August 29. The football match, Wellington v Wairarapa, resulted in a victory for the latter by three points to nothing. It was a determined struggle, and both sides fought hard. The ground was against good play, being very slippery, and the players could not hold the ball or keep a footing. Wairarapa had the best of the game, and had Wellington on the defensive the greater portion of the play. The only score was made shortly after the game began, Udy crossing the visitors' line. The Wairarapa line was never in real danger, though the Wellington forwards on two or three occasions got on good rushes. WELLINGTON, August 29. The following team has been selected to represent Wellington against Taranaki, Southland, Canterbury and Otago:— Baumber, Matson, Wallace, Tripe, Pritchard, Ktlly, Woods, McKenzie, Hardcastle, Young, King, Spencer, Adams, Pender, August, Speedy, Gallagher and Campbell. Against Taranaki Pritchard, Adams and Pender will stand out. The team will be the weakest which has ever left Wellington, though it is representative of the present players. DUNEDIN, August 29. The following players have been selected to play against Southland in the return football match:—Fall back, Ross; threequarters, Armit, Wood and McDonald; halves, Sinclair, Duncan (captain) and McAra; forwards, Ronald, Farquharson, Given, Hobaon, Priest, Burt, Stewart and Rogerson.