ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1202, 10 August 1911, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. NORTH ISLAND "COUNTRY." BADLY BEATEN BY WELLINGTON. The. North Island Country representative team was badly beaten by Wellingtou by 20 points to nil yesterday afternoon. Tho gamo was played in fine weather at. Athletic Park, in tha presence, of about 1500 spectators. The visitors had dashing forwards, but' both their forwards and backs were lacking in knowledge of tho finer points of tho game, aud in the second spell they were hopelessly outclassed by the local men. Tho Wellington team was subject, to further alteration in that W. Sullivan replaced Perry in tha forwards. Tho Country team was as published yesterday. The First Spell.

North Island won the toss, and Wellington kicked off from tho southern goal with tho sim against them. After an interchange of kicks, North Island worked down to the good side of half-way, where E. Roberts marked, but J. Ryan tailed to find the line, and M'Kenzie, taking advantage of tho mistake, sent the ball into touch at the Wellington twenty-five. Wellington forwards rallied after the throw-in, and by a concerted rush took plav right under- the Country goal, where Elliott had a great chance to score when he lost possession. O'Connor brought relief with a speculator, and Montgomery improved the advantage with a useful kick. Wellington wero now busv on the defence, and matters looked dangerous for them when Mexted found the lino below the but over-anxiety on the part of the North Island forwards allowed the local team to find relief per medium of a free-kick. For tho next ten minutes North Island forwards kept their opponents within their twenty-fives. . The visitors' attempts at passing were, however, very crude, and Wellington succeeded in keeping the line clear, though' on one occasion they were compelled to force. From the drop-out, the visitors returned to. the attack. A high kick by M'Fnrlane was marked by N. Winiata near half-way, and Darby had a pot at goal, the ball just falling short. Shortly after, Wellington again forced, but from the drop-out they commenced to attack, and neat passing between Roberts, Ryan, Bradley, Mitchinson,. and Daly resulted in the latter centring. M'i'arlane recovered possession, but was brought down on the line. The local team kept up the attack, and Moffitt, Cook, and Ryan were responsible for good work in turn, until the North Island forwards, led by Carroll, broke away into tho Wellington territory- Evenson took the ball at his own twenty-he and raced straight upfield beating all of his opponents but' the full-back. Here he was supported by Wilson, but passed over the latter s head to Moffitt, who ran up the lino and scored at'the corner. M'Farlano failed with the kick. Wellington 3 North Island 0

Almost.' immediately . after M'Farlano missed tho goal from a mark and later on M'Kenaio 'failed''to'turn a. inarkto advantage for tho visiting team. Wellington backs' llien got; going, again and a brilliant bout' of passing between .Roberts, Bradley, Mitchinson, and Cook resulted in the last-named being grassed about' ten yards from the line. Three minutes later Cook crossed the line, but was thrown into touch.- North Island should have scored before the end of. the spell, but' Smith kicked too far over the line, enabling Evenson to force. North Island were still attacking when a wild pass by Smith 'Was snapped up by Ryan and .sent on to. Daly, who lost possession but recovered and passed in-field to Mitchinson; The Kill then travelled on to Wilson and Bell, and the latter scored near the posts, but M'Farlane failed with tho kick and tho spell ended:

Wellington 6 North Island 0 And After Resuming. On resuming the visitors assumed the aggressivo until a passing rush by the local backs took piny down field and the visitors forced. From tho drop out, Cook received the ball and essayed a drop at goal, the ball striking tho post and falling outside. Wellington continued to press the attack and were within an ace of scoring on tlireo occasions, but eventually the visitors' forwards broke away, and Carroll securing at half-way passed to Morgan, who made a long run and transferred to O'Connor who was pushed into touch at the comer flag. Following the drop out the North Island forwards renewed tho attack and Bailey crossed the line, but was given off-side. Wellington then took charge of affairs and passing between Ryan. Bradley, and Mitchinson resulted in Mitchinson scoring at the posts after a fine run. Evenson converted. Wellington 11 North Island .' 0 A littlo later Daly marked in a good position and Evenson again goaled. Wellington U North Island , 0 From this stago of the game onwards, Wellington had ail the better of the came and kept a constant attack. • With ten minutes to go Roberts snapped up in a loose rush and scored at the corner. Evenson failed with the kick. Wellington 17 North Island o ' , Immediately after tho drop out, S'otheran essayed a speculator, and following np, fell over the line. Evenson's kick was again a failure. 'Wellington _.. 20 North Island '. "0 This was tho score when the whisllo sounded no-side. Mr. L. Simpson was referee. RUGBY UNION. FIXTURES AND CURTAIN-RAISERS. A meeting of the Management Committee- of Uio .Wellington Rugby Union was held last oveuing. There were presentMessrs. E. 0. Hales (in the chair), W. Hardham, J. Sweeney, W. Perry, A }i Wilson, J. bums, E. Little,-and W. E Hornig. It was decided that tho principal cup fixtures for August 19 be: St. James v Oriental, at Athletic Park; Petone v! Poneke, at Petone; Athletic v. Southern; Victoria. College v. Wellington, at Athletic Park; ami Old Boys v. Melrose.

In regard to the appointment of referees by mutual agreement, a letter was received from the secretary of tho Wellington Referees' Association statins that tho association still desired a conference as previously asked for.—lt was decided to request the association to answer the questions asked in the union's original letter of three weeks ago. An alteration in tho present system could only be effected by a general meeting of delegates. It was decided that the annual match Wellington College v. St. Patrick's Collego bo played on Saturday nest, August 12. The starting-time will bo fixed by the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Permission was granted to the Wellington Collego team lu journey to Christchurch this month to play Christ's College on August 2G and Wanganui College on August 30. Mr. .1. 11. Lynskey, of tho Petono District High School, wrote slating that ho intended this year to take a school team to Taranaki to play matches at Hawera, Eltham, and Stratford. The team will consist of 20 boys chosen from city and suburban schools. Jfo matches have been played between these provinces since the Taranaki boys visited Wellington in 1008. The letter stated that a donation of t £2D fiom the. union would be greatly appreciated—lt was decided to make that gran'. The secretary of the AVairarapa liuftby ITnion wrote asking if August 2(i would be a suitable date for playing the representative, match Wairarapa v. Wellington, at Wellington.—lt was decided to mention September 1G or September 23 as suitable dates.

The annual match, Junior representatives v. Wednesday representatives, was fixed for August 10. as a "curtain-raiser" to the Maori match. Messrs. J. O'Sullivau, W. F. Ilornig, and — Maiden were appointed selectors for the Wednesday team.

The match between Tlorowbcnua juniors and Wellington, juniors was fixed <o fake place as a "curtain-raiser" to the cup match on August 19 f

Auckland Grammar School havo been grunted permission to play Nelson College at Athletic I'ark on August 2(i, as a "curtain-raiser" to the \\'ellinglonTarnnaki match.

Air. j. Condor wrote reporting that he had ordered oil' King (St. .Tames) in the St. James-Old lio.vs senior match on Saturday last for disputing decisions. Both player and referee attended the meeting, ami. niter King had tendered his explanation, Mr. Hums moved that Xing ho cautioned. This was seconded. An amendment moved by Mr. Perry (That the plaver he suspended for one playing Sal unlay) was seconded by Mr. Hardham, and carried bv. a majority of three. This will mean that King will not be aide to play for his club on Saturday week.

HOUSE MATCH. The annual football match between the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, Ltd., and Messrs. Dalgety and Company took place at Miramar yesterday afternoon. After a hard-fought game the Loan and Mercantile representatives succeeded in winning by the narrow margin of two, points, viz., 8 to 0. W. Capper did all the scoring for the N.Z.L.M. Co., and Hackworth and Jamieson scored a try each (unconverted) for Dalgety and Co. Mr. A. Pratt acted as referee. SOUTH ISLAND COUNTRY TOUR. IBy Teleeraph—Press Association.! Invercargill, August 9. Tho touring team of South Island Country footballers played the third gamo of their tour against Southland at Invercargill, in threatening weather, today. Tho attendance was about 2500. Playing with a strong wind in their favour, Southland scored three points from a penalty in the first five minutes, Martin gealing. Fordo, the homo halfback, next scored cleverly from the South Island's hventy-fivo line, and Martin made an attempt to convert from a difficult angle. G-0. Tho visitors then settled down better to their work, their forwards playing well in the looso rushes, and they were finally rewarded by Todd scoring near the posts, Irving's kick failing. 6-3. Bad tackling on the part of the Southland backs let Sheridan over again within the next few minutes, but Irving once more failed with the kick. Tho scores at half-time were: South Island, 6 points; Southland, 6 points. Southland were soon in difficulties after tho opening of the second half, Trussing, .Manning, Rahuruhi, and Richards participating in a movement from _ which Richards scored. Tho home men, in loose rushes, then got down tho South Island line, and Stead scored from a scrum near the corner flag. Martin failed with the kick 9 all. An interesting struggle followed, tho pace being decidedly fast. Fordo, beating the opposition badly from a scrum in tho South Island territory, made a beautiful opening, and was supported by Stead and M'Neece, the la;tnamed scoring, and Martin goaled beaui.ifnllv. Southland, U points; South Island. 9 points. The visitors now strove 1' "<1 to penetrate Southland's defence, and, although just short of tho mark 1 on several occasions, the gamo ended without further' alteration.