FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 286, 27 August 1908, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. WELLINCTON V. SOUTHLAND. ' Tho annual representative match between Wellington and Southland was played at tho Athletic Park yesterday afternoon before an attendance of about 1500 people. Tho ground was heavy, but the teams were well matched, and a- fairly interesting struggle was the result. Tho visitors' forwards were a solid, hard-working combination, and had a good leader in the veteran Jenkins, but the backs, although, with tho exception of tho full-back, good individually, were not as clevor as tho Wellington rearguard.' Tho teams were as follow:—Southland: ' Fullback, W. Baird; three-quarters, W. Broad, A. M'Neece, 11. Pylo j five-eighths, .J. M'Neece, H. Irwin; half, L. Foster; wing forward, I. Jenkins; forwards, J. Ridland, C. Miles, W. Egan, M. ltyan, 1). Knight, G. Coster, D. Small. Wellington: Full-back, J. Ryan; three-quarters, M.' Matheson, J. Flanagan, A. Evenson: five-eighths, J. Magee, H. M'Leod; half, Greeks | wing forward, F. Gardner; forwards, Hamilton, Sullivan, Wilson, Perry, O'Brien, Cameron, M'Kellar.

First SpelL Play opened uninterestingly, but ■Wellington eventually worked down to their oppon-. ents' line. Tliey were driven o.ut a couple of times, but returned to. the charge, and at length compelled the visitors to force. The Wellington forwards came on again,, and another force-down extricated Southland from a tight corner. A rally by Southland ended in a further attack by Wellington, but a hard kick over the line enabled the visitors to force once more. A fine line' kick by Magee saw the ball go out> at the corner, and still another force-down resulted from tho ensuing -line-out. Smart work by, the visitors' backs, led by Irwin, removed play to Wellington side of half-way, but the local men rushed the leather back, and Flanagan crossed the lino, but was called back, and a' scrum ordered. Southland made - another dash into Wellington territory, Irwin again, being prominent, bub J. Ryan, although beaten in tho first dash, ran round and saved. A pretty run up tho contro of tho field by A. M'Neece, supported by Jenkins, saw Wellington in difficulties, but just when matters were looking serious M'Leod nipped in and saved. Tho visitors' forwards made another assault, and this time J. Ryan saved. Southland came on again, Ryan and Coster coming through to J.'Ryan, who saved beautifully. The Southland forwards were going strong at this stage, and, carrying the ball on again, compelled Flanagan to kick the ball dead to save. A passing dash between Evenson and Flanagan saw Wellington in a good position, and a little later M'Kellar was almost over. An over-hard kick by. Flanagan soon afterwards enabled tho visitors to force down. A good run by Matheson followed., the wing threequarter being grassed within a few yards of tho lino.. The visitors replied with a vigorous forward rush, arid kept up the pressure witbin a few yards of tho line until M'Leod relieved. Tho same player dived over the lino a couple of minutes later,' but >waf knocked into touch in goal. Half-time wa called almost immediately, neither side hav ing scored.

Second Spell. Tha second spell opened with Borne brisk even play. J. M'Ncece -burst through the Wellington'rants, from his own side of halfway; and the forwards, carrying the ball on, smothered J. Ryan, the result being a struggle under the posts, where a free kick against Southland gave Wellington relief. A spell of fast even play ended in the survival of Wellington, Evenson being within an aee of scoring after a sharp attack. .Tho local forwards kept at it, a hard struggle ensuing on tho lino. Wellington were driven out, but came on again, but with no more success than before. A lengthy spell of hard even play gave way to a loose Wellington rush, which beat the Southland backs and ended in Gardner taking the ball out of Baird's hands under the posts and scoring. J. Ryan converted.' The visitors livened up after this rorerse, and kept Wellington busily defending, in their own twenty-five. Jenkins _ narrowly 'missed a • score on one occasion, the ball going into touch in goal when ho was about to fall on it. Tho Southlanders wore setting a merry pace at this stage; and crowded on the Wellington line, returning with undiminished vigour each time they were, driven out. A series of scrums and line-outs on tho. corner ended in Pyle securing a mark, but A. M'Neece was not equal to tho task of improving. Wellington took another turn at attacking after this, the outcome being a try by Evenson, who got over at 'the corner from a, scramble. Evenson made a good attempt to convert, the ball falling short. From the kick-out Jenkins, who Had played an excellent game throughout, led a rush'to the Wellington line, in tho vicinity of which play remained until time was called, with the score —

, Wellington . 8 Southland ... ... " 0 Mr. Griffiths, : of New Plymouth, was referee. Previous Games. ' The results of the-games played between the Southland and Wellington teams to dato aro as under:— , 1896—At "Wellington—Wellington won by 11 points to nil. IS97—At Invorcargill—Wellington. won by 3 points to nil. 1900—At Wellington—Drawn, 3 points each. \ 1901—At luvercargill—Southland won by 8 points to 3. 1902—At, Wellington—Drawn, 6 ' points each. , 1903 —At Invorcargill—Wellington won by 8 points to 6. 1904 —At Wellington—Wellington won by 14 points to 31905—At luvercargill—Drawn, 6 points each. . 1906—At Wellington—Wellington won by 22 points to 3. 1907—At Invercargill—Wellington won by 16 points to 3. 1908—At Wellington—Wellington won by ■8 points to nil. WELLINCTON By. BUSH UNION. Tho annual match between tho Wellington B representatives and tho Bush Union was played previous to tho big match. The game was dull and uninteresting for tho most part, and resolved itself int-o a scramble, in which Wellington wero favoured with moro luck than their opponents. The visitors improved a good deal in tho seoond spoil, and gave Wellington some solid defensive work to do, but they lacked tho finish which leads to scores. t

The. Wellington men set, to the attack from the kick-off, but there was no sting in their movements. At length Wighton shot out from .a ruck in ,tho twenty-five, kicked tho ball over the line, and scored. Church failed with the kick, tho ball falling short; On resuming the Bush forwards got to work, and removed play to Wellington's twenty-fivo. After a short attack, during which the visitors ondeavoured to open, up tho play, Poolo forced. A break away from the line by Bell set Wellington atacking again, but tho Bush forwards relioved. The local men evened up with a couple of neat passing runs, in which Ferguson and Church took a prominent part. Play of a moro or less ragged and disjointed character followed, mostly in favour of Wellington, who compelled tho visitors to force 011 two occasions. After a long attack by Wellington, the Bush forwards put in two strong forward rushes, which found_ the Wellington rearguard wanting. Tho visitors' forwards wero improving as tho game progressed, and towards the end of tho. spell kept Wellington almost continuously on the defence. [Half-time sounded with tha scoro: — Wellington ... ... ... 3 Bush Union ' ... 0 , On resuming, the Bush forwards attacked with some determination, a mark by Wighton under tho posts staving off immediate danger. The Bush men .came again, a freekick on the line giving relief to Wellington. Boavis was instrumental in removing play to tho other end of tho field, where Wighton was almost over from a forward rusn. A spell of ragged moro or less even play was succeeded by another attack by tho visitors, who almost scored on two occasions. On occasion they had a shot at goal

from a free-kick for olf-sido play by Murphy, tho ball striking the bar and rebounding into tho field of play. The Bush men kept at it, but at length Poole broke away from midfield and, streaking'up tlioi ,ccntro of tho field and outpacing tho opposition, scored under the posts. Varcoe failed to convert. Timo was called a couplo.of minutes later, with tho score:—• Wellington - ... ••• 6 Bush Union ••• 0 Mr. J. Condor was refcrco. ■ WELLINGTON FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. •The usual weekly meeting of the Wellington Football Association was held last evening, Mr. H. M'Keowen presiding. There wero also present:—Messrs. H. Waters, A. G. Barnett, H. L. Godber, J. Davidson, B. L. Salmon, L. Whito, and A. Williams (secretary). Tho selector was appointed manager of the representative team for Dunedin. Tho appointment of two delegates for the conferonce of associations in Dunedin' was held over. The Y.M.C.A. Club wrote asking that tho Petone Junior League second division team should come into town to finish its matches. The request was refused. Mr. 11. Dalzell wrote accepting a position on the Senior League Second Division Selection Committee.

The Masterton Club asked that the representative leam sho'uld play in Masterton *on a Thursday. It was decided that, owing to the Hawke's Bay match in. Napier being played on a Wednesday, it would be impossible to play on a Thursday. It was resolved that tho team for Dunedin should leavo on Monday, September 7. A request by the Kaiwarra Club that its match with Petone Club should be replayed at Miramar was .granted. The Auckland Football Association, wrote askng what arrangements could bo made for a representative match with a Wellington team in Wellington. ,It was decided to offer the northern association'fifty per cent, of tho net proceeds of a match in Wellington, provided tho use oi; the Basin Reserve can be obtained. Tho secretary reported that a Petone player had been ordered off the field during the progress of the Petono v. Swifts match at Petono, last Saturday, but that no report had been received from the referee. _ It was resolved that the referee and player in question bo asked to attend the nest meeting of tho Management Committee. The meeting decided that new reprcsenta--1 tivo jersey shirts are to be obtained. FIXTURES FOR SATtfRDAY. Tho following fixtures were arranged for Saturday's matchesSenior League—First Division. Diamonds v. 'Y.M.C.A., at Basin Reserve (H. Waters); Rovers V. Ramblers, at Newtown Park (H. G. Mayer). Senior Second Division Challenge Cup. St. John's v. Y.M.C.A., No. 3 South Miramar (H. L. Godber); Rovers v. Diamonds, No. 4 South JJiramar (O. \Y. Kain); Ramblers v. Swifts, No. 6 South Miramar (A. Newson); Wanderers v. Porirua, Porirua (E. Windley).

Junior League—First Division.. ' . Kaiwarra B v. Petone, No 5 South Mirainar, 3 p.m. (W. Auld). Junior League—Second Division. Petone v. Y.M.C.A. B, at Petone, 3 p.m. (W. A. Cates); Swifts v. Y.M.C.A. C,. at No, -1 South Miramar (W. S. Press); Y.M.C.A. A, a bye. , ■' ■ Junior League—Third Division. * Swifts v. Ramblers, Nairn Street, 2 p.m. (J. Ferguson); Marist B v. : Brooklyn B, Nairn Street, . 3 p.m. (J. Ferguson); Y.M.C.A. A v.\ Y.M.C.A. C, No. 6 South Miramar, 2 p.m. (A. Newsou); Institute v. Rangers B, No. 7 South Miramar,2 p.m. (S.- M'LeanT';"Marist,'.A'.v.-, "Newtown' Congregational, Basin, Reserve, 1.45 p.m. (H. Waters); Kaiwarra v. Technical, No. > 5 South Miramar, 2 p.m.' (R. F. M'Lean); South Wellington v. Y.M.C.A. B, Newtown Park. 1.45 p.m. (H. G. Mayer); Rangers A v. Diamonds, No. 4 South Miramar, 2 p.m. (B. L. Salmon); St. Paul's and Brooklyn A, byea. t > ". TARANAKI V. AUCKLAND. (BT TELEGRAPH—PRESS . ASSOCIATION.). v New Plymouth, August 26. ' Tho Taranaki representative football team left to-night for Auckland, and will put in two days' training - there, prior to meeting Auckland in the Ranfurly / Shield match. The feeling is fairly confident in Taranaki that •it will bo a good match. BRITAIN DEFEATS QUEENSLAND. (BT TELEGRAPH —PIIESS ASSOCIATION—COPTHIGHT.J (Roc. August 26, 11.20 p.m.) . Brisbane, August 26. , The British footballers defeated Queensland by 20 points to 3. It was.a good game in the first half, which ended: Britain, 6; Queensland, 3. In tho second half the visitors over-ran the local men. AUSTRALIAN GARNIVAL, NEW. ZEALAND'S SECOND DEFEAT. (Rec. August 27, 1.12 a.m.) . Molbuurne, August 26. , At the Football Carnival (Australian game) Tasmania defeated New Zealand by 11 goals and 2 behinds" to 1 goal and 12 behinds. No details of tho play are to hand. '

IMPROVING THE RUGBY GAME. (nr ' TiSLEGSAm —ritEss association.) Auckland, August 26. ■ At a meeting of- the Auckland Rugby Union -this evening,.tho question 'of; improving'tho Rugby gamo was discussed at length. Members present were unanimously of tho opinion that the rules should ,bo modified, and it was thought tho matter should be discussed at an early date. It was realised that tho colonial bodies' could not tope for much improvement from the English Union; and as tne recommendations from tho Now Zealand Rugby Union were being conveyed in an unofficial manner by Mr. Harnett, it was thought much delay might occur. The union, therefore, decided to intimate to tho Otago Rugby Union that it is prepared to join forces with it for tho purpose of securing a ■ special mooting of tho Now Zealand Union to discuss tho matter, and to that end tho following resolution was carried" That this Union intimate to the' Otago. Rugby Union that it is willing to co-operate with Otago and any other affiliated union in ,a request to tho New Zealand Rugby Union to call a general meeting of the delegates for the purpose of considering a modification of the Rugby Union laws of tho game." Tho Auckland Rugby Referees' Association also held a meeting this evening, and. discussed tho question, the following resolution■ being carried:—"ln tho opinion of this association tho time has arrived when the laws, of tho gamo requiro revision in tho manner indicated by tho suggestions already put forward by this association, principally in tho direction of the line-out, unrestricted free-kicks, .no •player being allowed past a lino drawn through the back of a scrum, thereby deleting tho wing forward, all goals to count two points, except potted goals (threo points)."