FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7693, 19 July 1886, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE INTERPROVINCIAL MATCH.— PROBABLES V. POSSIBLES. The second of the practice matches for the interprovincial match with Wellington was played on Dilworth's ground, Newmarket, on Saturday, when a team of probable representatives met eighteen seleoted, and were defeated by ten points (two goals from the field and a try) to nil. The "reps." were much weakened in backs by the absence of J. Poland, W. Warbrick, and Wooler in the forwards. There was an attendance of about 800 spectators. The ground was heavy going on account of recent rains, and consequently the ball was greasy. After over half an hour's delay, during which no arrangements seemed to be made for the play, the teams filed out, the Probables (blues) being led by J. Arneil and the Possibles (colours) by T. Henderson. The former winning the toss, elected to play with the wind, and what fall there is in the ground in his favour during the first forty* five minutes. Jordan and Stephenson (Waitemata) played as half-backs for the blues, and Bruce and Otway (Waitemata) were put forward in the vacancies, while the colours were reinforced by Newman and Stewart. On operations commencing it was soon apparent that the blues would have to exert their utmost to prevent the colours from scoring; and as the game proceeded this conjecture was amply demonstrated by the colours winning by ten points to nothing. The features of the game were the splendid back play of Ryan, for his runs, tackling, and kicking, Jordan for his grand runs, and Cooper for his splendid kicking and stopping rushes, Reed for his passing and pot-shots at the bar, from one of which he landed a goal, and W. Meldrum for his passing and fine work on the edge of the scrummage. Moginie shone for the colours' forwards. On Newman kicking off play centred close to the " reps." 25, and the first bit of play of note was a mark by Reed within range of the blues' goal. The place-kick was unsuccessful, and a fine dodgy run by Jordan, in the centre of the ground, relieved the blues. Whiteside got away, although he was closely shepherded, andalmoßt got round with one of his fast runs, but was stopped by L. Meldrum. Ryan, amid applause, made the cleanest run of the game from the middle flag. The colours, by a fine rush among their forwards, in which Clayton was prominent, took the ball up the field, Newman, soon after, crossed the line, after a short run, and drew first blood for the colours. The place-kick was a poor attempt, ant of practice in this department being apparent. When goals were changed, the Possibles had the advantage by a try (two points) to nothing. Arneil sent off the ball just over the forwards' heads on resuming, but the colours' superior weight and numbers

in the scrummages soon told, and the blues were again on the defensive. Brown got possession of the ball in the middle of a loose scrum, and by a splendid screw kick drove it over the bar, amid applause. Again the " reps." were pressed, and the leather being passed to W. Meldrum, who sent, it on to Reed, the latter had a clear ran in, but the referee ordered the ball back. • However, hardly had play been resumed, when Meldrum again passed to Reed, and the Gordon three-quarter back sent it over the bar, amid an ovation. Good defensive play was shown by the blues' forwards for the remaining few minutes, and the whistle was blown with the play about the "reps " 25. Mr. W. E. Barton filled the position of referee, giving satisfaction to all. A match was played at Devonport on Saturday afternoon between teams representing the warehouses of Messrs. Owen and Graham and Messrs. Macky, Logan, Steen and Co,, and the game resulted in a victory for the latter by six points (three tries) to love. The feature of the play, although there were numerous mistakes, was the running and taokling of Farquhar for the winners, JUNIOR MATCHES. The match between Britannia and Oxford was won by the former by 11 points to nil. Tries were scored by Ward and Davidson, while Masefield converted one into a goal, and also potted a goal from the field. Victoria defeated Excelsior by two points to nil, on the Surrey Hills ground, on Saturday. The try was scoured by W. Cleaver. The match between the second fifteens of the Britannia and Montrose F.Ci's resulted in a victory for the former by »try, aeoured by Sanderson, to nil. • White Rose won their match with Rovers Second Fifteen by six points to nil. The winners also claimed two tries, which were disputed. Beresford had a victory over Union by five points, a goal kioked by Duffin from * try secured by Riordan. The return matoh between the Second Fifteen of Auckland and Athletic was played on the Metropolitan Ground on Saturday, and resulted, after a hard fought battle, in a win for Auckland by a try to nil. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Cambridge, Saturday. The return matoh between Kihikihi and Cambridge came off in the Government paddook here to-day, and resulted in a win for Cambridge by 14 points to nil. The game was played in four spells of twenty minutes eaoh. In the first spell Pilling obtained a try, which Moon failed to convert into a goal. In the second spell Souter, after a good run, scored the second try for Cambridge. Wood shortly after this made the run of the day, und secured a try right behind the goal posts, bat again no goal resulted. Wood also obtained another try in this spell, and Parry in the last twenty secured a try, and Wood kicked a goal from the field, thus bringing the scere up to fourteen. From the commencement of the game it could be seen the visitors were overmatched, but they played a plucky and good-tempered game throughout. Mr. G. Allright acted as umpire tor Cambridge, and Mr. W. Higginson for Kihikihi. Mr. Cameron acted as referee. [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, Saturday. The football mated between East Christchurch and Sydenham was played at Lancaster Park to-day, in presence of one thousand spectators. The matoh ended in a draw in favour of East Christchurch, who in the second spell held their opponents on the defensive nearly the whole tune, but could not score, although near it several times. It was the most stubborn matoh of the season. East Christchurch is leading for the championship, having one more matoh to play. North Canterbury beat Merivale by eleven points to nil.