FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 13

FOOTBALL.

The Wellington and Athletic first fifteen met on Saturday to play their heat for the championship, the game resulting in a victory for the Athletics by three points to one. The play as a whole was pretty even, the Blues having slightly the best of the forward play, while the Yellow backs were superior to their opponents. In the first spell Reader obtained a try for the Yellows, which Fairbrother failed to convert into a g r 'al. This I score seemed to work the Blues up, and they shortly worked the ball up in close proximity to the Wellington line, and it was kept inside the twenty-fives for, fully a quarter of au hour, when Murphy, taking the ball quickly from the scrum, passed neatly to Fraser, who smartly potted* a goal. 1 The seqoud spell was of a give-and-take mature, neither (fide beingableito increase their- score.: .For.othe winners King, H rsohberg, Murphy, Fraser, Waieg, JJtyWe,’ ‘JVloore, SeVerne, and Maloolin were the most conspicuous ; while Smith,"Duncan, 1 Fall-brother, Stock,? ffajffi, and Reader played Avell. '? * "■ ' T ho Roneke-Melroae heat for the Champidnship was played at Newtown 1 Park on Saturday, the former winning by four points .to nil. 'in the first rmeHthere was no Score, the Pouelies having had slightly the best of tho play. Soon after beginning the second spell. Muir secured a try by smart play the Ponekes. Later on the’same player secured another try, from which lie kicked a goal. The ponekes also had the best of the play in this spoil. jStopcy, Muir, Astill, Rejch/ and Bfidson we,rc $0 best of the yyinuen?’ forwards, who played 0n QXQe 1 (201 gamp throughout. A m Q u g at tfi o backs Sim? Moorhouso and' M.pore played well, the former especially. Johnson, Duff, White (forwards), and Roberts, Burke, Hoar and Pullford (backs) were the most successful ou the Melrose side. The Union first did not turn up at Island Bay on Saturday last to play their match for the championship with the Rivals. The latter team, however, were on the ground, and went through the formality of scoring a try. The Rivals, of course, will claim the match,

The St Patrick’s College played their heat for the Junior Cup with the Rival second at NeWtown on Saturday last, the formet winning by 24 points to nil. Tries were scored by McMahon (4), Burke, O’Shea (2 each), and Gaffney, W. lioldsworth, Roche, and Burns (1 each), aud Skeedy potted a goal. Four of the tries were converted into goals. The Union second met and defeated the Athletic second by one point to nil in their Junior Cup match on Saturday. The Athletics had the best of the first spell. Shortly after the start of the second spell the Unions'got a try from what was apparently off-side play, and after. this had the best of the play, as the Athletics seemed to lose heart. For the winners McCleary, Edwards, Lawson, and King played well, while Sullivan, Inglis, Palethorpe, and Allen were most conspicuous for the Athletics.

The following fixtures have been settled for next Saturday, the ISth inst : Championship Matches No. 1 ground, Poneke v Athletic ; No. 2 ground, Union v Wellington. Junior Cup No. 1 ground, Rivals v Melroso second ; No. 2 ground, St Patrick’s College v Union second ; Wellington College v Wellington second, at College ground.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

THE MAORI TEAM IN AUSTRALIA.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Melbourne, August 11. Warbrick’s Native football tearp played a matoh this afternoon against a Melbourne fifteen under Rugby Union rules. The weather was fine, and it is estimated that fully 10,800 spectators were present- In the first spell the Native team had the best of the play, and had the looal team penned in their twenty-five most of the time. There was no score in this spell, but the Natives were forced down ou one occasion. In the second spell the visitors played with great dash, and P. Keogh, “ Smiler,” and H. Lee each obtained a try, none of which were, however, converted, and the game resulted in a win for the Native team by three tries to nil. Melbourne, August 15. -

The football match to-day between the New Zealand Native team and Melbourne resulted in a draw, each side scoring a goal.

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL TE -\M. Sydney, August 32. The English football team played a match against the Sydney University yesterday, and won by 8 points to 4. Newcastle, August 1. The English football team played a match against Maitland to-day under the Australians rules, the latter winning by nine'gohls to'four. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Masterton, August'll. The football match' between a mixed team of the Masterton Club and the Te Qre Ore first was played to-day. The ground was very slippery and consequently there whs yery little back play. Both sides made some good rushes; which kept the ball swaying from gide to sjde'throughout. Just before hglf-time 'Smit)i madb a splendid rqn and touched down behind the posts, converting the tfy into a goal/ jp the second spell Ranganui got a try, which Mare into g goal. H. Perry got a try near the end of the game, from which C. Perry kicked a goal. The hfaoris jyere thps beatefj' by a goal. “* \ Tho R,e4 Star fteat jbe Gj’eytoiyn speond by a gpal to loye. .

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATICJN. ) , Auckland, August IJ. A football match between tfie Apckjapd representatives and the representative team from the Thames was played to-day at the Tramway Company’s Grounds, Epsom, and resulted in a win for Auckland by 15 points to 3.