FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 4 June 1908, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

THE TOUR OF THE BRITISH TEAM. THE! MATCH AGAINST SOUTHLANDVISITORS WIN BY « TO 8. 'A GOOD FORWARD GAME. . (BY TELEGItAPH.—PRESS ASSOOUSIOH.).-' , ■'!vinvercarglll, Juno 3. In view of the Britishers' double defeat in tho north; Southland's hopes for to-day s match wero not unreasonable. Tho Southland team was. as good as any combination for the last thro© years, and the prospccts looked :rosy.: . ; The local men started out with tho'idea of attacking tho' Britishers on what, is, undoubtedly, their weakest point—Woso forward play. Out of this idea came the two. Southland, scores, which were obtained very early ill tho first spell. It then looked as if ■ the Britishers wero going. to, pieces, though all the time; they wore asserting 'heir superiority in tho scrum, from which Southland got the ball only three times all day. However, tho British backs becamo more and more assertive as the game went on, and the tide/of, ascendency.flowed steadily. At the end of tho first spell the game was anybody's, but. Jackett's .potted goal, was a paralyser. liarly in the, second, half, it became obvious that both sets of forwards were done; in,.fact,, this was the most remark- . able feature of the match. ' , ' " ? ' """■ - 1 THE TEAMS, i - ... , BRITISHERS. ;Fall-back: ,E. J.- Jackoti_ . • Three-quarters: Jno. L. Williams, J. Tuan Jones, J. Ponty-Jones, P. I<\ M'Evedy ■ (fcap'laHaives: G. L. Williams, W. Morgan. ' Forwards: R. l Dibble, J.. V. Kyrke, H. Archer, L. S/Thomas,. T. Smith, P. Dowan, 1 F. Jackson,; and G. R. Hind. SOUTHLAND. ' ■ Full-back :• A. .M'Neeco.' ■ ■. Three-quarters :"H. Hill, H.. Walker, W. R.; Pyloj-W. Stead (captain). , .Half: B. Stead. ■ lFdrwards: ;D. Robinson; E. Hughes, W. > Fraser, W." Ridland, J; .Jenkins, I. Clark, ' J. .M'Neece, and D. Hamilton (wing). FIRST' SPELL.

M'Evedy- won the toss/ and Hamilton ticked off for Southland'from the southern ;nd "facing' the suni'" 'M'Evedy returned to Hill;, who sent'the, tail out past tho half iray; Archer broke away from tho line/but eras not backed up, and Southland came back to half* way, whero' B.' Stead picked up nicely and'got away.with.-tho forwards, but A.rchor and'Xyrke brought the ball y back. j rhe 'Southland 'forwards then .broke away, and W. Stead, picking up in loose play; sent out: the" ball,' which went" eventually to tho wing': Broad,' Who. '.put'' in a nice dash boforo Thomas brought him'down. A dashing forward rush put Southland in the .ascendant, and a series of passing attacks were indulged in. Fast following -by ;Byle enabled, him to get to tho. ball on the'liner, but'Jackett pulled him' down". < Then- Gla-rk 1 picked up in the loose, and passed'to- tho ccntro Walker, who gave: Hill a pass with-. a' clear run: in, but Hill dropped the.ball, which 1 went into touch;. The Southland forwards went along tho touch in good style' to the goal line, where Jackett carried tho ball out.' Here in a: scrum a free kick was awarded-'Southland for lifting, and Hamilton placed a fine goal. Southland ... . 3 Britain, .... 0

From 'tiie drojrimt play went to the Southland '26,' but a smart, forward rush took 'the ball to "half-wayj where a free kick for off-sido sent them back. Hamilton the winger broko from tho" linej and AV. Stead put in a jerkyi ruii-that'was' spoilt by-Walker taking the pass off-sido. -Another free kick-against Southland 'and good lino play cleared for the Britishors,: who put in their first passing bout, initiated from a long line, but it_went straight 'across 'the aground, where Broad brought- Williams (the Cardiff flyer) down solidly: From a free luck to the visitors Hamilton returned to J.' L. Williams, . jho marked well outside Southland's twenty-five, and Jerry Williams dropped at goal without result. -' From half ' way Hamilton suddenly broke away, andlaftor dribbling on picked up, ' and out-raced the inside-backs. • He punted 'over Jackett's head, and, getting again to the ball at tho same time as Jackett, beat him,, and liaased 'out on tho line along the ground to*-Clark, who 'picked up smartly and scored in a- good : position. ■ Hamilton kicked: an easy goal. ' ■ Southland ... ... ••• ••• jj i Britain 0

The Britishers woke up considerably now, and Thomas aud Morgan (with a good lino kick)' assisted thorn 'past tho' half A forward rush by the homo team - gamed • pround, till .Morgan started the visitors away in. a fine passing bout,:in winch Tuan Jones and "Ponty" .Tones woro prominent. A nice pass from the line by Dibble went to "Tuan" Jones, who found touch within ten yards of Southland's line.ln c earing the homo team infringed the ofi-3ide rule, and Jackson' had a fruitless shot at goal, lrom loose play: W. .Morgan started tho Bntish backs off, and " Ponty 'Jones beat „wo men boforo ' sending to M Evedy (the who was. stopped, right on the Southland line bv A. M'Neecc, who robbed lum of tho ball and''found' touch', near tho 25. From a freo kick Kyrko had a shot, which fell shorthand Southland cleared gradually. Tho local team worked to attack again, aided by .a penalty off Jackott for his hanging on to the ball. A knock on" by Bill, however, let tho Britishers back, again. From loose play, Williams sent "Ponty" Jones away.. Ho affected a swinging cut in beforo passing to Williams, who dashed for the lino, biju A. M'Neeco'proved ' equal to tho occasion, ana threw Williams out at the corner flag. Hero the visitors indulged in tine of their long throw-outs, and the ball went loose. luan Jones fiolded in great'style, ran to tho line, and sent on to M'Evedy, who scored a pretty ■try. Jackson landed a lovely goal.

, southland ... - . Britair. ... •••• ■■•••, ••• 5 ■■ , •From tho kick out play centred, and a ; terrific : struggle amongst the forwards ensued at mid-fiold. 'Tho Southland pack gradually wore down thoir .opponents, and put m two or threo breaks, but they wero uuablo to mako further headway. Eventually a hard kick was fumbled, by Jackott., but ho recovored pluckily,. and put in a brilliant run across and down the field. When blocked by Broad, ho passed to J. L! Williams, who was thrown out "at "the.'halfway flag, and tho spell ended. SECOND SPELL. I The second half opened smartly. Britain's kick off was a 'short ofta, and was taken by Ridland, who was pushed into touch. A good run by J. P. "Williams, who mado a bright smart break away frpm a scrum, placed Southland on tho defensive at onco, and a froo kick givon against thom mado matters worso: Jackson had a shot at goal) but failed. Tho kick out was returned to Broad who kickcd down the centro of tho field to "Ponty" Jones. This playor mado no mistake about his return, which found touch about halfway botween tho goal and tho 25 lines. The local tcani wero onco moro defending but tho forwards managed to get awav with the ball at their toe when one of them kicked too hard, and the ball went out to. Jackott in a clear field. Ho beat] Hughes cleverly, and then dropped a very protty goal. Britain ••• - ® , Southland ... •» ° Tho gamo was soon going again, but very quickly settled down to/.scrumming work I'ho scrums took plaoo about halfway but tho heavy British forwards had all tho best of thom, aid gradually wore the Southlanders'; back. More scrums about tho quarter line' and thon. Hamilton made a break which , removed play ; to half : way Thcro a scrum . was formed, from which Morgan flicked M ball out to "Ponty" Jones, from whm >■ went to "Tnan" Jones and M Evedy m

turn. Tli.o latter mado a very fino run, and looked like scoring, being stopped about ten yards from tho lino b,v Ridland. Southland rallied momentarily, and clearod their line, but tho Britishers returned to tho atthek on tho other sido of tho field, where J. L. Williams mado a very fino rim, but was tackled and lost tho ball closo on tho lino. Broad snapped it up, but was surrounded by opposing forwards, and seemed bewildered. At any rate, ho ran to his own goal, and then kicked tho ball very weakly over to the undefended wing, and a score against his side was a certainty. "Tuan" Jones was tho first to get hold of tho ball. Ho passed to Smith, who simply had to fall down to score. ■Jackson took the kick, and added tho maximum points— Britain ...14 Southland ' ••• 8 When tho gamo was resumed Southland had rather tho best of things for a minute or two. A free kick was given them within long range. J. M'Neece had a shot, but missed. Jackett's return was a particularly strong one, and tho ball went into touch at half-way. Much scrum and line-out play followed, until at "length Jackson started a passing rush, and tho backs wero set going. Tho ball went along .tho three-quarter lino to " Ponty" Jones, who was tackled about the quarter line. Southland recovered this ground, and then Morgan started a-dribbling rush, which was initiated from a long lino. He sent tho ball out sharply to Jorry Williams, who gave it to M'Evedy, and an almost certain try was lost through tho latter knocking on. Southland forwards, mostly by close dribbling play, carried the ball to half-way, and thore Jackson' started another passing rush, from which tho visitors gained much ground. This rush culminated in M'Evedy n'aking another of his characteristic hard dashes for tho line, but ho was tackled a few yards in field. At this stage the game had noticeably degenerated. Both packs of .forwards, more especially tho local men, wore taking things very quietly, showing a disposition to shirk following up, and generally lagging behind the play. Tho lino kicking of tho homo team also was very weak, and the only shining pieco of attacking play by Southland was tho result of an opening made by W. Stead, hut Pylo, who was next in order, gave his pass badly, and the chance —a rcmoto one at tho best—was gone. Free kicks wcre givon to Southland fairly frequently, and Walker had one, i and Hamilton threo unsuccessful shots at goal. For the greater part of tho remainder of the spell play was on tho Southland side of half-way, and of a rathor uninteresting nature. Tho game ended without further scoro, tho final result being;— Britain ••• 14 Southland ... ••• 8 , GQMN3ENTS ON THE PLAY. (by TEljEGJlAPH.—special correspondent).

The match 'against Southland to-day was one of those swift and brilliant expositions of spectacular ltugby which tho public find so delightfully refreshing. Those. thrilling runs and swift, short passes which make for the .best and most attractive side of the game were in evidence throughout to-day's line struggle. Nothing better thati the passing, running, swift and accurato handling of the British backs has been seen in Southland for'a decade. Southland swept on to tho attack from the outsot, -and thero' were tlioso staunch supporters .of the Southern Province round the ring side in thousands who were not without hope that tho British colours trailed in tho. mud on the historic fields of Athletic Park, Wellington,' and Carisbrook, Dunedin, would bo lowered on .tho East End turf, at Invercargill "to-day.. The. British rear division gavo such an exhibition of passing, kicking, and running as is good to sec. Southland were tho first to catch the eye, and were much in ovidonco throughout the first spell, of which they had tho better. Their line free-foot work in loose and dashing following up for a time quite demoralised the British defence. Tlioro were times when, in the desperate attacks on tho British lino, tho chosen of Southland all but penetratod the final lino of-defence.'

"'■ Southland did not' lot Britain get very far with thoir attacking movements. Tho tackling was certain and deadly, and every man was brought down without apologies. Tho game indeed did not call for any " Beg pardons." Truth to toll, thero was no quarter given, nor Was any asked for. Britishers profiting by lessons already taught them on tour had got into something like that condition which will ! prove to bo a primo factor in winning other matches on the New Zealand tour. . Tho pace Southland set was a "cracker," every man going at top speed, and doing his best for his sido. Britain, too, exhibited better form in tho vanguard than thoy have previously shown, and it was at once apparent that mistakes made at Wellington and Dunedin were not to bo repeated against Southland. . _ , . Southland's. display in: tho first half was indeed creditable to tho southern province, but it was generally believed by tho experts round tho ring side that, although trained to the hour, thoy could not sustain such pace throughout a desperate gamo. This proved a sound forecast of what was to happen, for in' the second half, when tho Britishers were going " great guns," and sweeping aisdo tho chosen of tho southern' province, Southland was "lotting down" badly, and tho Britishers pierced tho defenco right through its final line.

Tho Southland forwards, tall," raking fellows 011 tlio line, and experts with, feet in tho loose, wero important factors in to-day's struggle,' but the British backs were clcarly tho stars of what proved to bo a brilliant game. Thero was no greasy ball or aggressive cross wind to hamper tho flying backs of tho British- side, and they wero enabled with swift passes' from'-tho scrum to set tho machinery in motion, and what crisp passing it was' straight and true. Rarefy a man fumbled, and nover a Britisher let down. Tho Southland backs, on tho other hand, could novor get going in passing movements, and tho rearguard was frequently demoralised by tho quick swoop of the British five-, oighth and three-quarter line. In the first spell Southland, securing tho ball from a scrum, had many l splendid opportunities of attack with tho backs, but wild and erratic passing and consequent fumbling lost many chances, which in more resourceful divisions than Southland would liave rosulted in "at least three tries being soorod to tho oredit of tho Southern province. Tho line kicking,'as a contrast to that in tho match against Otago, was of a high standard, and tho Britishers camo out on top in this, and showed marked superiority as they. did in most other departments of tho gamo. i Southland's line finding was painfully in-, accurate, frequently tho ball . sailed high ovor the heads of tho rival forwards to tno British full-back Jackett, whoso return was a beautiful line-kick.

Jackott was tho idol of to-day's crowd, as h c will be throughout, and was daring in every movement. Of his actual defence tnero was no opportunity of judging, as the Southland attack only on raro occasions got up to tho last lino. His " pottod " goal was a fino offort. Fron tho Southland twenty-fivo lie doublod-back on tho field, and took a flying shot, the ball sailing straight and true high over tho crossbar. - AVhat has been said of Jackett as a full back mnst.be said of tho British _ throequarter lino in their respectivo positions. M'Evedy mado a fino showing. Ho fielded tho ball at timos with wonderful accuracy, taking the crisp pass in a flying stride, dashing straight and truo for tho lino. Williams, tho Welsh international (who was playing on the left wing of three-quarter line), was always certain, and swift on tho attack. " Ponty" Jones, too, was much in public' vision. The Wolsli international reserve in this match got in somo of his best work on tho tour. Ho was always in passing movements, taking the ball with wonderful accuracy, and running with dolightful strength. His' brother Tuun' "/an scarcely Icsu gucccssfill: and hwdo a wck-.oino firct appoarance tr.'t, Now iwland football fiold.

What has been said of the three-quarter : lino must also bo said of the British fiveeighths division, who wero in- to-days i struggle, Williams (of Lancashire) and Mor- 1 gan (of Wales). ' In tho second half tho British front-rankers j reversed the positions oil Southland, and beat their expert hookers at both ends and tho middlo for tho ball; This was Morgan s opportunity, and ho mado tho utmost poss- ; iblo uso of it. i Jorry Williams (of Lancashire), fly-half, was an oxcellent partner for tho littlo Welshman. Ho took his passes beautifully. Tho British forwards woro out to win, and gave a fino display of clever foot work 111 tho sccond half, when they wero so ably supported by their brilliant backs. In tho first spell Britain was not too successful in securing tho ball, but in the, sccond half tho ball camo out on tho British sido from almost overy scrum. A fine j>ack of .forwards all played so well that it would be hard to particularise, but Jackson (who mot with an injury to his shoulder), Dibble, Kyrke, Archer, and Thomas wero most frequently in the public vision. ' . Having said that Southland held the upper hand in the first spell, setting tho paco such a "cracker" that they could not last, one can only deplore how sadly they fell away when it came to the business end of the game. M'Nce (tho Southland full-back) was only prominent on rare occasions. Tho Southland three-quarter line was not successful on attack, and contrasted very unfavourably with tho brilliant backs of Britain. Broad was the pick of the Southland three-quarter line, and frequently came into view for dashing .runs and powerful kicks. Of tho forwards on the Southland sido, Hamilton stood out head and shoulders above his follows, and was probably tho best forward on tho ground. ' What are tho chances now of the Britishers defeating combined New Zealand in the first tost match? On to-day's game the Britishers' prospects havo gone up very docidedly, and it is probable they will go reasonably closo to defeating tho flower of. Now Zealand on Saturday next. On tho authority ofj the captain of the British team I' have, it that to-day's ■ sido was the lightest and. weakest set placed on the field, and! if this is so it is going to ho a very strsjig side which will do battle for Britain in the first tost match. On to-day's ; showing, given a dry ball and a ground fast as a cinder track, I like Britain's chances.'

THE PRICE OF ADMISSION. (BY TKI.EGItAPJI. —FRES3 ASSOCIATION.) Wanganui, Juno 3. At a meeting of tlio AYanganui Rugby Union held to-day, the following motion was passed:— "That the Management Committee of the Wanganui Rugby Union entirely endorses the action of the New Zealand Union in remaining firm oil tho arranged gate 1 entrance for the first test . match to be played in Otago; tho entranco fee being considered reasonable . for such'an important match."

WELLINGTON V. WANGANUI. THE VISITORS DEFEATED. The slopes of Nowtbwn Park, which ground has- not been tho sccno of a representative Rugby match for many years past, must liayp . accommodated close on 10,000 spectators yesterday afternoon, when tho AYellingtonVYangauui match was played.. The Rupjby Union had no nower, to charge for admission to the game, hut a . largo number of people paid their' way, officers of the. Union and others soiling tickets at tho gate and on tho approach to the Park. The takings at tho gate amounted to ,about £120.Taking the game from end to end, Wellington had'tho best of the play, plugging along in the accustomcd stylo, and Joaving a solid' pack to do its utmost, and then letting tho ball. out to tho backs. The forwards did their part well, and in the heavy work were too good for their _ opponents, whilst the hacks also shaped fairly .well, lint :still missed Wallaec; Roberts, and Thomjison. Wellington generally had tho best of tho scrums. Wanganui often hooked the ball, but SYellington pushed them over it 1 time and again. Tho Wanganui men tried to make the gamo open from first .to last, and at times threw the ball about in a manner that resembled the present Anglo-AVelsh team's stylo of play. Every line-out saw thom throw the bail in deop, but the long throw-in, .although it led to more than one brilliant dash, was generally spoiled by a knock-on. Tho visitors appeared to' have an implicit trust in their rearguard, adopting tho dangerous practico of passing iii x thoir own twenty-five on several occasions. Tho first half of tho gamo was in favour of Wellington, but in the second term'Wanganui improved a great deal, and put in some brilliant passing, which completely beat tho Wellington men, and should have been rcwardod \ with more than ono try. Tho kicking and tackling of tho visitors was excellent.

PLAN OF THE FIELD. j WANGANUI GOAL. s R. Burns. ; i H. Abbot't. L. Southcombe. L. Mculi. 1 Seeling. 11. Bell. i Dansoy. ' P. Murray. C. Stratford. A. Guscott. J. Milne. J. Hogan. i W. Dustin. H. Leahy. T. Souter (wing forward). W. Readv. G. Hamilton. D. Rush. A. C. Wilson. G. M'Kellar. i H. Dewar. W. Alexander. i W. Hardham (wing forward). G. Green. J. Ryan, J. Magee. A. Evenson. L. Hitchings. M. Matheson. ; M. Ryan. WELLINGTON GOAL. Rush captained the local team, and Abbott was skipper of the visiting team. DETAILS OF THE PLAY. FIRST SPELL. Wanganui won tho toss and played with the. slight breeze in their favour and the i sun behind them. Play settled about mmfield, and from a throw-in tho Wanganui backs got under way, but Wellington broke up tho attack and rushed the ball_ into Wanganui's twenty-five, where M'Kellar opened a passing rush from the ruck. Ho gave the ball to J. Ryan, who put in a short run and passed to Hitchings, who scored under the posts after a nice dash. M. Ryan converted. Wellington •.. 8 Wanganui ... ... D Oil resuming Wanganui camo away with a good rush, which was checked by Matheson, but tho visitors went on again, a hard kick over the line allowing Wellington to force. Even play was followed by a passing run by the Wellington backs, but Magco was slow with his pass, and. Southcombe intercepted and saved. Another passing run by Wellington was spoiled, and Wanganui took a turn at attacking. . They . smothered Hitchings, but Magco camo to the rescue. _ J. Mimo led tho Wanganui forwards on again, and tho ball was sent out to the backs, but faulty passing lost tho advantage. An ovor hard kick spoiled another Wanganui rush, and J. Rvan stalled off another ono, and then tho Wellington scrummors, who were having tho best of the tight work, drove their oppononts back to tho line, where a free kick relieved tho prossuro. Wellington kept hard at it for a and Green lost a ehanco from a scrum near the line through giving Hitchings a had pass. Short dashes by the visitors relieved their line several times,- but Wellington generally camo back, but at last Milne, Hogan, and Leahy led a fino looso rush to the local men's twenty-five. \\cl--1 lington relieved, but Wanganui returned to the attack through a mull by Matheson, and ' a spell of hard forward play sot in and ended in favour of AVollington, whoso backs •J gavo a hand. Green, Hardham, Ready, i Dcwar, and Rush were the principals in a i scries of promising , dashes . by Wellington, • and Southcombe was responsible for a good - dash for Wanganui, which was saved by M. . Ryan. Wanganui put in two fine efforts, - and beat M. Ryan badly on one occasion, but e oi£-side play spoiled tho opening. Play was i becoming fast arid interesting at this stage,

J a pretty dash by Abbott was followed by Ryan nicking tho ball up from the ruck jut midfiold. Ho darted up tho centre of 3 ground, and passed to Mageo, wno msferrcd to Evenson, who scored at the rner. M. Ryan converted with a good ik. Wellington ... ... 10 Wanganui ... 0 om tho kick out tho Wellington pack, ' aded by. Hardham and Rush, rushed tho I anganui lino, again, but without success. ] llf-timo sounded with Wellington attackbut without any addition to tho score. ; SECOND SPELL. 1 On resuming, Dewar and Rush headed a cllington forward assault, but Seeling ; ved, Joyoo performing a similar sorvico couplo of minutes later. Wanganui took a rn at attacking, but Wellington wore them >wn and sot up an attack on tho line, :iero Green got tho ball from a serum and isscd to Mathoson on the blind side, allowg the three-quarter to score an easy try. . Ryan mado a good but unsuccessful atimpt to conyert. Wellington ... ... 13 t Wanganui ... ■...' ... ;o M. Ryan bad another shot at goal soon iter play started again, Rush securing a ;ark in tho twenty-five. Tho kick went ose to but not over tho bar. At this stage 'ustin retired on account of a severe kick, is place being taken by Raton. A spell of lgged play was brightened by a nice dash y Abbott, who fended M. Ryan off nicely, nd passed in field. The pass, however, was ot taken. Wanganui with two lore passing bouts close to tho Wellington no, but on eaoh occasion an almost certain 3oro was lost by a knock-on. The visitors ept up a strong attack near tho Wellingon lino, and when the local forwards broko lirough at last an over hard kick allowed louthcombo to mark straight in front of tho iosts. Southcombo took the kick himself, but ailed to convert. On resuming, the Wanganui ion got to work again, and, throwing tho iall about brilliantly, carried play from midiekl to tho Wellignton lino with ono'sweepng passing rush out to tho wing, and then n field again, with tho result that Abbott cored in tho opposite comer to that from rhioh tho last dash of tho rush was started, iouthcombo failed to convert. Wellington ... ... ... 13 \Wanganui ... 3 Hitchings was knocked out in going down ;o'a rush at this stage, but returned to the leld after a few minutes' spell. Joyce put ■n a fino run for Wanganui beating tho whole tho Wellington backs badly. Ho was ;>nly overtaken within a foot of the line. Wellington retaliated with a sweeping forward rush, but a hard kick allowed Wanganui to force. Play continued in favour af Wanganui, who mado repeated efforts to score, but without success, although some of their work was capital. Towards the close of tho game, Mculi retired with an, injured ankle, and Kilpatrick took his place.' Tho last few minutes' play was lively, but spectators could not distinguish the'players flitting about in tho semi-darkness. _ No further score was recorded' before time was called, leaving tho scores: — Wellington ••• 13 Wanganui , ... 3 Mr. P. Mackio was reforoo. Burns, Southcombe, Seeling, and Dansey wore,.tho pick'of tho visitors' backs, and Milne, Hog ; an, Leahy, and Souter wero the most prominent forwards. Green, Hutchings,' and J. Ryan were th( best of tho Wellington rearguard, and Rush Ready, and Hamilton wero about the pick o: tho'forwards.

SELWYN V. MASTERTON ALBION. A team composed of members of tho fourth and fifth fifteens of tho Selwyn Club mot the Masterton Albion juniors at Miramar yesterday morning. Tho visitors ivero superior in tho forward division, but tho home backs displayed groater skill than their opponents. In the first half Albions scored 6 points (penalty goal by-Elles', and try by Paul)' and Sehvyn gained. 3 points (try by Harris). -. There was no score during tho second half, which was fairly , even. Tho visitors thus won by. :; 6 points to 3. Mr. .P. Smith was'referee'.'; : ' y CUSTOMS V. GOVERNMENT INSURANCE. Customs defeated Government Insurance and Trust Office by six' points to nil at Miramar yesterday after an interesting contost. Tho scorers wore Aborcrombia and Gray. PALMERSTON MATCHES. (BY ITXEGBAPn. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Palmerston North, June 3. There was a general holiday here to-day, favoured with splendid weather. The principal attraction was the Manowatu Rugby Union's soven-a-side. tourment on the showgrounds. Kia Toa won tho senior competition for tho third timo in succession, tho junior' competition being won by Palmerston A.'

, The senior first round resulted:—Kin To a, t 11, v. Foildingi 0; Old Boys, 8, v. Palmer- < ston, 5. Final: Kia Toa; 6, v. Old Boys, 0. 1 Diamonds, sent up a team to: play the • recently-formed Palmerston Association Football Club.- After a capital gams Diamonds won by 2 goals to 1. i RANCITIKEI V. WANGANUI. ] <BT TEUiGItArU.— PUESS ASSOCIATION.) , Wanganui, Juno 3. , A match was played at Wanganui to-day between Rangitikei and Wanganui, in the presence of about 1000 people. The conditions of the weather, wero all that could be desired. .The first spell, was, of a very interesting nature, tho visitors having all the best of it, but- tho scores were equal— 3pts. all. In the second spell, Rangitikei fell to picces, and Wanganui were able to pilo : up 12 points. The final score was Wanganui_ ... . ... 15 . Rangitikei ... . ... ... ...' 3 . MASTERTON MATCHES. |BT TELF-GItAPU. —ritESS ASSOCIATION.) Masterton, Juno '3 V , Tho Wellington Swifts boat Masterton at Association to-day by four goals to two. Wellington Juniors beat Masterton Juniors at Rugby by 20 points, to 8. AUCKLAND RUGBY UNION. Ibt lEi.nariiru—rnES3 association ) , . Auckland, June 3. At a meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union, held to-night, tho question of a date for a Ranfurly Shiold match with Marlborough was deferred. The Union decided, in' response to a circular received from the 'New Zealand Reforoes' Association, not to countenance the 10s. a day out-of-pocket expenses asked for by referees appointed to outsido representative matches. It was also decided to write to all other Unions in Now Zealand suggesting that no outside referees be appointed. DUNEDIN PIRATES v. CMRISTCHUROH. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.*) Christohurch, Juno 3. The football match, Dunedin Pirates v. Christohurch, took place at Lancastor Park this afternoon, when, after, a fast and open game, Christchurch won by 22 points to nil.