FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 21, 25 July 1898, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

+ SATURDAY'S MATCHES. "" THE TRIAL GAME. Owiug to the inability of several of the men who were matched against the representative team, and also of the representatives themselves, to put in an appearance, what should have been an interesting exhibition aud good practice for the travellers degenerated into farcical play. The players took matters very leisurely, and it was not an uncommon occurrence to see the teams by mutual consent suspeud operations when an exciting piece of play occurred in the College match. Only one spell o£4o minutes was played, and for half the time the players were watching the juuior match. Junior Shield. The meeting of the two Colleges on the Athletic Park on Saturday drew a big crowd, and an interesting game was the result. Victory rested with St. Pat.'s by 9 points (three tries) to nil. They were captained by Fitzgerald and the losers by Tolhurst. The first spell was remarkable for the good forward rushes indulged in b}' both teams. Wellington College was first to rush the ball over the line, only to see it kicked to the fence. This livened the St. Pat.'s up, and play was soon shifted to the other end. After several attempts M'Eved3 r , in possession, crossed the line, but, being collared outside, a scrum was ordered five yards out. Now and again the College boys relieved their line, and shifted the play towards the other end, but St. Patrick's always came back, and it Avas only' the fiile defen»ive play of the Wellington' backs' that prevented scoring. In the second spell St. Pat.'s, favoured slightly by the wind, soon menaced their opponents' line, but the defence was sound for about half the spell. At last Eccleton, picking up from a loose rush, dashed across the line, aud an undoubted try was scored. A little later, M'Evedy intercepted a pass from Logan, and beating the opposing full back rather easily scored in a good position. Another forward rush across the line ended in Dennehy having possession, and scoring the third try for his team. Neither of the tries was converted. The Wellington College was much the lighter team, and did well considering the weight of fts opponents. Its backs (Hales, Whitteker, Logan, and M'Kenzie especially) played a good defensive game, and saved their side repeatedly. The winners should have scored oftener than they did, their half being lamentably weak. Fitzgerald played well among the backs, and Pare and Eccleton were the best of a good pack. A Samoan (whose name we missed) played a good game on the live-out. Mr. G. N. Goldie had charge of the whistle. Another match which created great interest was the meeting on the Wellington College ground of the Athletic and Melrose teams, neither of which had yet tasted defeat. The result of the content was to put Melroie one point ahead of Athletic for the premiership. .Playing with the wiud Athletic registered a try in the first half, and Melrose did the same in the second. There was no further scoring, and the game wag thus drawn. It is worthy of note that during the past four seasons the Athletic juniors have lost only one match, while three matches have been drawn. They won the Junior Championship for three consecutive years, but Melrose promises to rob them of the honour for this season. Poneke, playing with 14 men (including several substitutes) was beaten by Petone by 3 points to nil. Kia Ora beat Oriental, the countrymen making 6 points to their opponents' nil. Thikd-class. Mcl rose and Athletic won by default from Old Boys and Kia Ora respectively. The match Wellington College and Wellington was not played, owing it is said to a mutual agreement to postpone it in order to witness the St. Patricks-W ellington College match. It is to be hoped the Rugby Union will take stern measures to prevent a similar interference with arrangements on tin) part of other teams. The Union ihould follow out the correct principle by declaring a loss to both teams. Fourth-class* Championship. Melrose beat Athletic by 10 points to nil, and Poneke gained a victory over Wellington by 11 points to nil. IN OTHER PEOVINCES. Our special correspondent wires the results of Otago Union's senior matches played on Saturday as follows : — Zingari aud Union, a draw, each scoring 6 points ; Alh.ambra beat Dunedin by 5 points to nil; and Pirates defeated Caversham by 12 points to nil. [PHESS ASSOCIATION.] Sydney. 23rd July. New South Wales defeated Queensland by 13 points to 5. Wanganui, 23rd July. A match Tarauaki v. Wanganui was played to-day and was witnessed by between 1000 and 1200 peopk. A well-contested game, of which the local team had the best, ended in a win for Wanganui by 4 points to 3. There was no score in the first ipell, but in the second Sym.es, for Wauganui, potted a goal, while for Taranaki Jacobs crossed the line.