FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 10394, 16 August 1897, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. TRIAL MATCH. The second O.R.F.U. trial match was played at Carisbrook on Saturday before a fair crowd of enthusiasts. The ground was Blippy after the heavy shower of rain which fell about noon, nevertheless a capital exposition of the game was witnessed. A few alterations were made in the teams. On the Blues' side the places of M'Kenzie, Duncan, Harris, and Smith were filled by Pimm, Burgess, Rogerson, and Caradus, while Ross, Stewart, and Spenco donned the colors in place of Cunningham, Stewart, and Caradus. In the second spell Duncan, whom the players greeted with three hearty cheers, joined in on the Blues' side, and Burgess was transferred to the Colors, Mathieson then playing forward in the latter team, which consisted in this spell of sixteen men. Ronald and Munro (Blues) and Farquharson and Hobson (Colors) changed sides after the first spell. For some reason or other only one or two of the emergency players put in an appearance, and the services of Spence, a Caversham man, who happened to be on the ground, were secured to fill a gap. The game resulted in a win for the Colors by 14 points to 9. Soon after the start Spence secured the ball from a scrambling rush and scored, but the kick at goal was a failure. From a passing rush shortly afterwards Fell equalised matters by scoring near the corner, no goal being kicked. Immediately afterwards ; the same player again crossed the colors' line, but was thrown into touch in goal before he could ground the leather. Taking a j pass from Ross, Stephenson got over near the corner, but the kick at goal was again re- j sultless. In the second spell Hobson scored under the posts, but Priest failed to register the major points. Some faßt work ensued, and eventually Stephenson again succeeded j in scoring another try, but nothing came of the kick. Stewart was the next to cross the Blues' line, and Mathieson with a good kick brought the Colors' score up to 14 points, i Towards the close of the game M'Ara passed to J. G. Macdoaajd, who scored an easy try, which, however, was not converted.

On the Colors' Bide Lawry at full-back kicked well. Stephenson was in his best form, while Ross astonished everybody by his cleverness at centre three - quarter. Armit played up to his usual mark. Burgess was very smari behind the scrum. J. B. Macdonald gave a creditable exposition of the live-eighth game in the second spell. Mason played about hia best game this season, passing well every time. The forwards were a very even lot. Pimm (Blues) was safe at full-back. J. G. Macdonald did a considerable amount of saving work. Wood made no mistakes. Fell had little to do, but made the best of his opportunities. Sinclair and M'Ara both played a serviceable game, while Duncan was as good as ever. The forwards all did their share of the work. Mr J. Croxford acted as referee. OTUER MATCHES. A team from the 'Daily Times' Office visited Outram by drag oa Siturday to play the local club. Rain and hail showers were encountered on the journey, but after arrival at their destination the afternoon turned out fine. The local club put the heavier team in the field, but nevertheless the visitors managed to get the ball from the Bcrum almost every time, and thus played to their backs, who, however, failed to make the most of their opportunities. In the first spell play was for the most part in the home team's half, and Barr lost a chance of scoring from a line-out near the home team's goil - line through dropping the ball. In the second spell the game continued to be fast and open. Andrews got clear away from his own twenty-five with the ball at his toe, and, after travelling quickly up the touchline, scored. The kick at goil was a falure. From a line-out near the ' Times'a' twenty-five the ball was passed to J. Smeaton, who potted a goal. After an unsuccessful shot at goal from a free kick Harris got possession from a scrum and forced his way over the line. Minn made a good, though unsuccessful, attempt to kick a goal. Outram thus won by 7 points to 3. Mr J. Beck was referee. The visitors were afterwards entertained at dinner at the Outram Hotel.

High School defeated Pirates Second by 5 points to nil. —Union Second defeated Alhambra Second by a penalty goal to nil. — Star defeated Port Chalmers by a potted goal to nil.— All Saints defeated "North-east Valley by 19 points to nil. Fernhill defeated Willows by 14 points to 3. United Second defeated Valley Second by 6 points to nil. ASSOCIATION. The match Roslyn v. Combined Team was played on the Asylum Ground on Saturday. Owing to the heavy rain which fell in the morning the ground waß in bad order. The Combined Team played a man short, and also one or two substitutes ; while the Roslyn were without the services of P. M'Millan. SJigo set the ball in motion, and put the Roslyn at once on the defensive. The backs, hower, cleared in fine Btyle. Some give-and-take play ensued until A. Dobson and Arlidge each scored a goal in quick succession. In the second spsll Arlidge scored his second goal. Towards the close of the game the Combined Team obtained a goal, the game resulting in a win for Roslyn by three goals to one. Mr Nicolson acted as referee.

At a welcome extended to the Taranaki members of the New Zealand team, the mayor presiding, Mr A. Humphries, in responding to the toat of the members, said that should another team be sent away it was hoped that different arrangements would be made as to the number of matches played, and that more players be sent. In the present cases the players were all severely knocked about; and in the second test match were more fit to go into the hospital than play a game of football. _ The final heat for the senior football championship at Wellington was played on Saturday between the Melrose (last year's winners) and Petone, the former winning by G points to nothing. Wellington will be represented against Auckland next Saturday as follows :—Full-, back, Baumber : three-quarter-backs—Mat-son, Wallace, Laws ; half-backs—H. Kelly, Woods; wing forwards Hardcastfe, M'Kenzie; forwards Spencer, King, Young, Gallagher, Campbell, August, Speedy. The match between New South Wales and Queensland, playsd at Brisbane on Saturday, resulted in the former winning by SG points to 8.

At Wednesday's meeting of the N.Z.K.U. Committee it was decided to inform the Canterbury Union that although the Selec-. tion Committee were not consulted with" reference to sending Roberts to Sydney the action was taken on receipt of a cable message from the manager of the team, who sent it at the unanimous wish of the Committee of the team—The Canterbury Union also wrote complaining that the Manawatu Union had acted in an unsportsmanlike manner in not keeping to. a promise to return the vißit which Canterbury had paid last seaßon. They suggested that Manawatu should be disqualified until such time as

that Union fulfilled their guarantee. It was decided to inform Canterbury that a copy of the letter would ba sent to Manawatu, with a request that they should, if possible, visit Chriatchutch ; also that the New Zealand Union were powerless to carry out the suggestion that Manawatu should lie punished.