FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 858, 10 August 1888, Page 13

FOOTBALL.

The Rival and Melrose Clubs played their heat for the championship at Newtown Park on Saturday, the former proving victorious by £t try to nil, after a very hard fought and interesting contest. The Rivals had the advantage in the first spell, ' and W. Galloway scored a try about halfway through the spell. 'The kick at goal was a failure. In’ the second term the Metrose team' played very hard tb equalise matters, and they had very much the bfeat (if the play for th’e greater part of the spell. Burns ajid Robert* hid two hr'three pdv shots q£ goal] which went exceedingly close, neither of them being more iliau a lew feet out. They strove very hard to score, but the Rivals collared well, and they were prevented from getting over the line. Tho scene toward the finish of the match waa vary exciting, which was mainly caused by the frantic demonstrations of the supporters of the respective teams. For the winners Galloway, Roydhouse, Ross (backs), Galloway, Rose, Gindeia (forwards) were the most successful. For the Melrose all the backs played capitally, and White, Johnson, and Duff were the best of tho forwards. The Athletic first fifteen met and defeated the Union first on Saturday in their heat for the championship by 10 points to nil. The Unions played two men short, but notwithstanding this they had slightly the best of the first spell, which ended without any score being made, although the Athletics had

two or three good chances. In the second spell the superior weight and numbers of the Athletics told, and they, simply went through their opponents. Five minutes after the opening of the spell Fraser potted a goal very prettily, and shortly afterward F. Moore secured a try from a pretty piece of passing, but Wales failed to convert it. Later on, Rylance obtained two tries, both of which Wales sent over the bar. For the winners, Sullivan, F. Moore, Rylance, Malcolm, Severne, Fraser, and Murphy played •well; while Kilner, Hill, Ridlor, Gemiings, and Parsons were most conspicuous for the losors. . The Oriental first and Athletic second played their heat for the Junior Cup on Saturday, the game resulting in a draw, neither side being able to score. For the Athletics, Sullivan, Inglis, Gibbons, Cooper, and Redward were most conspicuous ; while Hemingway, Hill, SandersoD, Gormley, and Morpeth were the best of the Orientals. The Athletics played two men short, beside two substitutes. The Oriental second and Athletic third met at Karori on Saturday, the match being drawn, both sideß securing a try. The Junior Cud match, St Patrick’s College r. Melrose second, played on Saturday, resulted in an easy victory for the Collegians by 13 points to nil. Sheedy and Triogham each potted a goal, and tries were secured by Mahoney, Gaffney and Cooney, the first two being converted into goals by Tringham. The Epuni first defeated the Wellington second by one point to nil on Saturday last. The Poneke and Wellington first fifteens, assisted by some outsiders, played a scratch match at Pitone, which resulted in a win for the former by S points to nil. Roberts (2), Reich and Ano secured tries for the Ponekes. The Junior Cup match, Poneke second v. College, resulted in a win for the former by a goal to nil. E. Merlet secured a mark about the centre of the ground, which Robinson, by a magnificent kick, converted into a goal. The Ponekes started with 14men, but after 10 minutes’ play Mountier got hurt, and had to retire, and the team played two short The Epuni second and the Poneke third drew at the Hutt, each side securing a try. Jackson foi the former, and Hood for the latter secured tries.

The fixtures for next Saturday are : Senior Championship Wellington v. Athletic, at Park, on Ho. 1 ; Poneke y. Melrose, at Park, ou Ho. 2 ; Union v. Rival, at Island Bay. Junior Cup—St Patrick’s College first v. Rival second, at Park, on Ho. 1, at 2.15; Union secend v. Athletic second, at Park, on Ho. 2, at 2.10 ; and Wellington second v. Wellington College, at the College ground, at 3 p.m. A meeting of the Management Committee of the Rugbv Union was held at the Empire Hotel on Wednesday. A letter was received from the Hawkesßay Union asking when the Wellington representatives proposed to visit Hapier. It was decided to send a team to Hapier to play the annual match with Hawkes Bay on the loth September. A letter was received from the Wairarapa Union, asking when it was proposed to play the annual match between the two Unions. It wa3 decided to reply that the match could be played here on the Sth September. The secretary of the country Union also asked when the Representative Junior Match—Wellington v. Wairarapa—was to be played. Tne Committee decided to take no action in the matter. A protest was received from the Union Club against Kennedy, of the Athletic Club, playing for the second fifteen next Saturday, as he had played for the first last Saturday. The protest was disallowed. A further protest was received from the same Club, to the effect that they objected to go to Island Bay on Saturday next to play their heat of the championship with the Rivals. The protest was disallowed, and it was decided that the match should be played at Island Bay, as previously arranged. A communication was read from the Secretary of the St Patrick’s College Club with reference to playing Tringham, whom the Union had already decided should not play for them, as he had already played for the Wellington College and Rivals.' The Committee confirmed their former-decision, and decided that the player in question should not b 6 allowed to play for St Patrick's College. It was decided at a meeting of the Management Committee of the Rugby Union last evening to send a letter to the Secretary of the English Rugby Union, stating that Warbrick’s team was not to be regarded in any sense as a representative Hew Zealand team, as it was entirely a private speculation.

The conduct of one or two members of the Melrose team, who, it is alleged, struck several members of the Rival team during the championship match last Saturday, is to be fully inquired into by the Rugby Union. If the charges are proved the Union should take such action as will prevent the repetition of such blackguardly^conduct. The charge against one of the umpires who officiated in the Rival-Melrose championship match last Saturday, of being pecuniarily interested in the match, has, we understand, been laid before the Union by the Melrose Club, and will no doubt be thoroughly investigated. A match will be played on Hewto .rn Park on Saturday, the 18th instant, between the City Rifles and the Wellington Rifies. The City Rifles will be represented by : Atkinson (2). Baggett, Curry, Cowan, Duffy, Edwards. Fearn, Guise, McGifford, A. Moore, Maddely, Rankin (2), Toomar ; emergencies, the rest of the company. Play starts at 2 sharp. (PER FRE3S ASSOCIATION.) Sydney, August 4. - The return football match between the English team and a local fifteen was played this afternoon, the Englishmen winning by 16 points to 2. Christchurch, August 4. The football match between Otago University and Canterbury College toou place on Hagley Park to-day in the presence of 1000 spectators. In the first spell neither side scored. In the second spell two minutes after the kick off Cook secured the ball from a scrimmage and potted a goal for the University. Craddock gained a try for the College, and Hanst kicked a goal. There

was no score iu the remainder of the spell, which resulted in a draw, three points eaoh.

(FROM OUR OWN CORKESrONDENT.) Masteuton, August 4. The Red Star first fifteen, who won the Junior Football Cup, went to Greytowu today and played the Greytown first fifteen, A very hard game resulted in a draw, neithor side scoring. It is the intention of the Stars to play the first fifteen in the Carterton Rivals and Masterton Club a 3 well. Palmerston North, August 4. A football match was played here to-day between Palmerston and Foxton teams. The game was a lively one throughout, resulting in a win for Palmerston by 5 points (a goal and two tries) to nil. In the erst spell no score was made, although Palmerston was in close vicinity to Foxtons goalline for some time. In the second spell Manning secured a mark. The ball was placed for Jackson, who made a magnificent kick from a difficult angle, the ball passing right between the two posts. Through a pretty piece of passing by Manning, Luxford, Keys and Clark, the latter secured a try; a little later, Jackson made a good run, securing another try, no further score resulting. G. Robinson, of Foxton, was unfortunately disabled shortly after starting, but played during the second spell.