FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14806, 9 October 1911, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. LAST KICK OF THE SEASON. NORTH BEATS SOUTH. [BT TRLrinxrH.—mEss association. Wellington, Saturday. The North v. South Island annual Rugby match took place thin afternoon in anything hut football conditions. Tho weather was hot. and the. playing field hard. The attendance « not, up to the standard for this fixture, the final of tho ladies golf champion and the opening of the. cricket season probably accounting for this fact. the game wag a very fast one throughout, though combination, especially in attack work, was conspicuous by its absence. Tho Northerners had the best of tlx) game right, through, the threequ&rter lino division standing out prominently. The forwards of both sides did excellent work, and it was impossible to individualise in this respect, in fact, it would be hard to single out any of the players as being particularly prominent. The teams were, as follow— NORTH ISLAND. Fullback: Kinvig (Wellington). Threequarters: Ryland (Poverty Bay), (Itaco (Wellington), Kawiri (llorowhcnua). Five-eighths: F. Roberts (Wellington) and Kaipara (Poverty* Bay). Halfback: Brown (Taranaki).

Wing-forward: Oolman (Taranaki). Forwards: Leahy (Wanganui), Elliot (Wellington), Downing (Hawke's Bay), Sullivan (Wellington), Young (Taranaki), Desmond (W airarupa), and Wilson (Wellington).

SOUTH ISLAND. Fullback: Scott (Otago). Threequarters: Guthrie (Canterbury), Lynch (South Canterbury), Burns (Canterbury; Five-eighths: Irving (West Coast) and Gray (Canterbury). Haifback: Green (Buljer). Wing-forward: Murray (Canterbury). Forwards: Hase.ll (Canterbury), Biggar (Southland), McDonald (Marlborough), Forbes (Marlborough), Patterson (Otago), Dalton (South Canterbury), and Best (Nelson). CLOSE SCORING. North Island kicked off fgainst a slight wind and with sun behind them. The Southerners rushed play down to their opponents' territory, but Rvland sent it back to half-way. Forbes secured, and after making some ground transferred to Bums, who was grassed near the line, ftouin was awarded a free kick here • for a breach of rules, and Scott landed a nico goal: South Island — •" 3 North Island u The kick-out was returned well down the field. Rawiri, in endeavouring to clear, slipped when on the line, and was compelled to force. South again took play to the blacks' line, and McDonald got over, but was colled back and a scrum was ordered. Brown cleared with a kick right up to half-war. Play went across the Held, and Wilson sent tlic ball out to Roberts, who sent on to Grace. The latter passed to Rawiri near the <X>, but the pass was not accepted, and Burns relieved. North forced twice in quick succession, the whites' hard kicking being respohsible. Both sides were endeavouring to open up the but faulty passing nullified most of the efforts in this direction. Eventually Roberts secured near the whites' 25 and sent on to Kaipara to Grate, who heat three of his opponents and KCi.red under the posts. Rawiri converted: North Island ... ? South Island ... — The Southerners took the play from the kickout right to the line, Rawiri clearing after a melee. Downing initiated what looked like a possible scoring chanoe, but failed topMsandwaa smothered. Rawiri picked up and sent . out to Wilson to Roberts to Ryland., The latter his man and scored near the corncr. Rawiri kick fell short:

North Island •-< ° • South Island ... •- The ■whites' attempts to utilise their J"®* chinery were spoilt, time and again by failure to accept passes. Lynch obtained possession near midfleld and worked his way through the oppojing backs. He beat Kinvisr, etftUed off tho at tack from Itland, and outpacing Rawiri, who had com® across the field, scored a beautiful trj, Scott missed at goal: • North. Island — *«* ••• ? South Island ... •- — — 0 Hasell headed a rush "from the kick-out, and there- appeared to bo » possibility of. thing happening - , but the ball went into touch-in-goal. Scott potted.from the dropout-, but the attempt just missed. Grace broke away in his own 25 and sent on to Ryland, who got half-way to his destination and was then grassed by Lynch. -The spell ended with the Northerners attacking, and the scores:

North Island. ;. ' •« ■—* — —j* South Island •«' . ••• "• NORTHERNERS FINISH WELL. A scramble took place in midfleld after the opening. Roberts picked up and sent to Kuipara, to Grace to Rawiri. The latter was collared, and Dolman took up the Tunning. He transferred to Wilson, who scrambled over near the posts. Rawiri converted: r ' North Island »•< ~* ••• South Inland — — '»• 0 Brown took a good mark right off the toes of the forwards, Kinvig finding the line well down the field with a good kick. The advantage was pursued, but Roberts spoilt a good.chance by hanging on too long. Guthrie eased matters by a short dash up thus line and then sent the ball into touch. A littte later he again eecured, and was lust getting dangerous when Rawin tackled him. Lvnch chased after a resulting pass, which waa'obviously forward, mid succeeded in running in unopposed. Scott failed with the kick. . North Island ... — South Island — — a A black forward rush, supported by Ryland and Grace, traversed three-parts of the field. Scott stemmed the tide for a moment, but the blacks were st it again, but a too hefty boot sent the ball over the line and Green forced. Gray, Lynch, Hasell, and Green pursued a passing rush initiated by the former, but Rawin intercepted and kicked into touch. Scott essayed another pot, |hut the direction was imperfect. The ball Just reached the line, and Scott ■ following up fast, caught Roberta fumbling. He made a. dive, but just missed, Roberta regaining possession and forcing. Burns and Lynch took the drop-out down to the corner flog, where the ball went out. Ryland saved with a long punt. Green an.l Burns were off again a moment later, the white forwards also taking a hand in the rush Irving and Guthrie chased the ball right across the field in the vicinity of the line. Rawiri chimed in, and but for a stumble a score for the Southerners seemed certain. Grace came from nowhere and succeeded in forcing. Fast open play followed, neither side gaining much, advantage. From a line-out on the 25 Wilson got the ball, and, bustling his wav through the opposition, struggled across the Tine with several whites hanging on. Cameron missed with the kick at goal:

North Island South Island a Roberts picked up the ball in the whites' 25 and transferred to Grace, wno w a tackled by Scott. Rawiri got the ball and dived for the.line He got over, hut a scrum was ordered. The ball came out to Roberts, and eventually got into the possession of Desmond, who touched down. Cameron's attempt at goal was a failure. The whistle sounded shortly after, with the scores. North Island ... •- ••• 19 * South Island 3 Mr. H. E. Card controlled the game. LAW WINS AN ARGUMENT.

The annual football match between the athletio members of the local law and insurance offices was held at. Alexandra Park on Saturday afternoon in cricket weather. The match always creates considerable interest among the relatives and friends of the - teams, and is incidentally made the occasion of a social gathering, at wnioh. the fair admirers of the warriors sip afternoon tea, wear the prettiest of frocks, and listen to the' strains of music from a string band. Saturday's match, which was strenuously contested, ; was pulled " out of the fire" by the lawyers, who scored the winning points just on time,' the game resulting in their favour by 11 points to 9. The players were appropriately dressed, the lawyers in* blue and insurance men in red—true symbol of fire. The makers of policies started off with a dash, and Gillies secured a three-point risk " Deed:?," not words, was written across the brow of each man. in blue as he lined out for the second quarter. They had agreed to leave all argument for a higher court. Sexton distressed the underwriters by going down near the lino and scoring three points. Needham secured full judgment, and Law was in the ascendant. Sexton was riven a strong brief, and before a halt was made for the witent fire-extinguisher he scored a try, and Law thus led at half-time ibv 8 points to 3. When the teams returned to the field the Insurance men were keen on new business and bonuses were offered to successful agents. Marks scored two tries, and thus made a name for him self in this line by exceeding all past records in a brilliant manner. His company's stock was at a premium, and Xnsuranoo led by 9 point* to 8, with only a few minutes to go. Campbell, however put forward such a convincing argument in the last couple of minutes that his side got the verdict, the final scores being: Law -* ... •« '■* •*« 154 Insurance .. •••- •<* ■ «•» 9 FIFTH GRADE WINNERS ENTERTAINED. The Parnell fifth grade team was entertained at a smoke concert at the Harbour View diningrooms on Thursday evening given by the club to commemorate their winning the fifth-grade championship. Mr. S. W. Somerfield presided over a good attendance of members. The following contributed items during the evening Messrs. Aylett, Armstrong, C'lievis, Eaglptan, .McComtu Twi-

name, Peters, Gilmour, and Armiger. R. MeClure (back) and L. Gedye (forward) were presented with trophies, which were, given by Messrs. Somerfield and Twiname for the best players in the team. WAIHI CHAMPIONSHIP. [by telegram.—owsr correspondent.] Waihi, Saturday. The final match for the championship under the auspices of the Waihi Rugby Football Union was played this afternoon, the competing teams being City and Waitete. A strenuous, though- not rough, game, in the course of which several player* were temporarily knocked out, was drawn, neither- side scoring. Tho teams will play off again. THE NORTHERN UNION GAME. SOWING THE SEED. EXHIBITION AT WAIHI. An exhibition match will be played between the Auckland representatives and "a combined team selected from country leagues at Waihi next Saturday. This match is being played in response to numerous requests to give the goldfields public an idea of the, new code. The following will represent Auckland: Fullback, H. Childs; threequarters, A. Asher, 11. Robinson, A. Keneally, S. Houghton; five-eighths, F. Morse; halfback, A. Jackson; forwards, W. Griffin, J. en £ r - tt ;' O. Dunning, J. Rukutai, R. Mitchell and "• Fncker; emergency, Waters. Any player unable to make the trip is requested to notify tho league secretary not later than fivo p.m. to-day.