FOOTBALL.

Mataura Ensign, 19 July 1906, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

LASTKRX DISTRICT TRIAL MATCH

A trial mulch for the purpose of selecting an Eastern District team to meet an Invercargill fifteen representing the I'irales, Britannia ami Wnikiwi clubs at Gore on Wednesday next, was played at tin; Caledonian ground yesterday. Then! were many absentees, and their places having to be lilled by emergencies and others robbed the game of much of its interest. However, the contest, proved fairly fast and open, the bucks gelling plenty of work to do. The ground was rather treacherous, being frozen hard in some parts, while'others wen' slippery and ornamented with waterholes. The players on either side Inched cohesion and unity of purpose, as was to be expected seeing they 'were 'drawn from live clubs and were brought together for the first time. After a fairly even contest the IV team (captained by Murphy) won by 11 points to nil. Air Ingram acted as referee.

In the evening the .Selection Committee (Messrs E. Wallis. T. Lock and CI. Whittingham) met and chose the following team to play on Wednesday next :--

Pull-back: A. Blackwood (Pioneer). Three-quarters : •!. Baldwin (Pioneer), JI. Murphy (Wyndham, eapt.), J. Martin (AlljioJi). Five-eights: I'. Mills (Excelsior). 1. Blackwood (I'uDiocr). Half: .1. Dclurgey (Waikaiul.

Forwards: S. Moilitt (WaiUaial. Hunter (Wvudhnml, MeMurlrie (Excelsior), J. Hoffman (Albion), McDonald (Excelsior), Dickson (lixcelsior), Bain (Wyndhami. Edwards (Albion) whig. Emergencies : Forwards CTancey. Kobson, Sherborne : backs—Lester, Ucwcustlc and Durie.

COMMENTS! I'.Y ••SPECTATOK." A. Dlaekwood.-Fields and kicks equal to a Wallace; fair tackier, weak at stopping rushes. The team may have (.'very conscience in his abilities for the position. . -I. Baldwin.— Solid rather than bril- : Hunt. A perfect tackier, capital rush- ' stopper', and on his dav out good on ' the attack. .11. Murphy.--The. v star" of the backs : an old ex-rep. and South ls--1 land player. Knows the game from jA-to Z. The best man in the team •■ tor captain.

I. Mart in. -A most promising player, who js fair all-round, but inclined to be rather slow in his actions. Kntlicr a lone-hand player than one good in combination.

P. Mills.-Xot. playing ~,> i„ form this season, but may be depended on ■for his share in defence. Splendid Held ami kick, but inclined to stick to thi! ball when on attack. I. Blackwood.--A handy player who knows every point in the game. Splendid kick and held, weak in defenee, brilliant in attack. A likelv player to score.

•). Dclurgey.--A regular Trojan in defence, gels down to rushes in the most, approved style, and fair tackier. Weak in attack, and inclined to talk too much.

S. MouiH.-A capital forward, who uses his weight to advantage, and is always on (he ball.

Hunter.—Not very weighty but u liltie nugget, who "grafts" hard and to admirable purpose, from start to finish.

MeMurlrie.—An ideal forward, who is good both in the light and loose, and plays with his head : a likelv

j •/'. Hoffman.-One „f the best allI round forwards in the team. Puis even- pound into the serum, and < splendid on (he. line-out. McDonald.- A heavy and fast for- < ward, who is improving with every | game. \ on( , better in the district.

Dickson.—A capital player in the loose. \ot 100 fond of serum work, but on the line-out has no equal ill this district. Another likely scorer.

Bain.—A (all and powerful forward, rather „n (he slow side. A pusher in the serums and great ladder : good on the line.

Edwards (w'msr).—A very line u\» n player, hut rather inclined to get otVside. Should keep (he opposing bucks in order, und will lose n i chance of scorinsr. 'M'ull-back" writes: On (he season's play I should have picked the follow • in«' lenni :—Hacks.. -A. IJlackwood, .1. Kaldwin, Murphy, Durie, Mills. U-ster. T. Illnckwood : forwards—MeMiirtric, Hoffman. McDonald. ]liiii(.-r, Sherborne, Kdwards, M. MoHitt, und Dickson ; reserves—(backs) Martin, Stead, Gordon, Delnrycy ; (forwards) C'laneey, Hobson, McCarthy and McNnucht.

At Inwmirgill yesterday the Pirates (fl) beat llrilnmvia W and so won the cliampionaship. I.F.C. mid Waikiwi jilayed a draw, neither side seorinu'. 'The combined Star and Athletic team which played n Western District team at Rivcrton, won bv sis points to •three. AUCKLAND v. SOUTH SYDNEY. 15y Kleetrie 'iVlourai'h-Cojiyvi K ht. Per United Press Association. SYDNEY, July l*. The above match resulted: Auckland eight. Sydney South six. The local men pressed from the start. Ciinn, fendimr oil several opponents, crossed, but Ihuleiyh failed ai (joal. A lonir sjicll of dreary play followed till the Auckland forwards came throu»h with a line dribbling nisi). Burleigh pre vented what looked like a certain score The Sydney team rallied with a combined attack, and the ball went out close to Auckland's line. McCabc came through the scniin and yot the ball as it was returned from one of the backs. Hi., raced ia ami passed to Rurlciuh, who scored. Hawthorne missed at coal. The locals continued to have the best of it. and compelled the Aucklaiulers to force. Smith made several splendid runs, but could not beat (lie local backs. One of tinlocal men were penalised for an illegal tackle, and Mugee kicked a tronl. At half-time the score was: Sydney six. Auckland three. In the second hall. Smith, from the half-way, drop-kicked at coal, the ball only falling a few yards short, the locals forcing. The Ancklaiulet's determinedly stormed tinlocal twenty live, but the latter's defence was excellent. Their forwards were fasU-r in breaking up the serums. Time was drawing near when the Aucklandeis opem-d the pome up, and Ihii best play of the, match was then witnessed. Voting sent the ball out to 00. Smith, who streaked as straight as a dart from the half-way ■for the local line. lie was collared at the twenty-live, but he passed to (Heddine, who ran round and scored behind the posts. Mnireo added the major points. The home team made desperate efforts, but unnvailintdy, to retrieve the position. Itoilifh and tumble play ensued on (lie Auckland line, and a five kick resulted (o tinlocals riobl in front of the coal, but Mediation's kick struck the post. Time was called with Am-kluncl eit-ht. Sydney six. The Manuka sailed at ti.IW) with the footballers as passengers. Queensland bent the Metropolis by three points to nil.