FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5361, 22 August 1904, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. CANTERBURY v. AVELLINGTON. A AVXN FOE THE LOCAL T'EAAI. At, tho Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon the annual game between representatives of the Canterbury and Wellington Rugby Unions was played. There was a muster of about two thousand spectators. Tho teams were as follows: — C A NT F.KBTI! V AVELLINGTON (lied and Black) (Black) FULL-UACK. A. S. Lovo G. Spencer THREE-QUARTERS. P. Menzics A. C. Alclntyrc .1. Laverv D. S. Gray K. Ollivier D. McGregor FIVE-EIGHTHS. K, G. Deans AV. J. Wallace J. Byrne J. Barber HALVES. P. Burns F. Roberta FORWARDS. L. Corbett A. Griffitha (wing) AV. Shannon L- R- B(K J,. P. Vincent L. L. Watkins F. Newton J. Calnan G. Pearce H. V right K. Rich H B. Best ■ C. Denham J. Sweeney Roddick (wing) T. Cross Referee: Air Norris.

Tho goal-posts were placed north and south and from the northward half a gale of wind blew. AVh«n Wellington' won tho toss they practically won the game, for tho Canterbury forwards, after forty-five mijiutes or hfird bullocking against tho wind, were so lagged that in tho second spell they failed to play with Iho dash that marked them in the earlier stages. In tho first set-to tho Wellington backs shaped poorly, hut Canterbniy rearguard, notwithstanding the uind, did very well. The second spell saw two reversals of form: Cantorhuiy backs failing to repeat their first spell effectiveness, and AVellington rearguard doing hotter work, though still blemished by inexcusable errors. All three scores were gained in the first spell; tho second spell was mainly a succession _,ot scrums, lino-work, futile passing, and not very effective kicking. A noticeable feature was the prevalone© in tJio play of methods shown by the British team. Wellington’s second try was directly duo to the adoption ot tho centring system, and frequently each side managed to make tho hall rebound from the legs of tho forwards without properly entering the scrum. This was done when tho referee was on tho opposite side, and thus penalties were dodged. Roddick distinguished himself at kick-off by smothering the AA’ellington return. A few kicks with tho wind, however, gave AVellington a big advantage. Thereafter Canterbury were hemmed in their own ground for the greater part of the first half, but their forwards defended splendidly, while AA'ellington hacks were tied in knots ” through their own bungling. After twenty minutes had been spent in defence, Canterbury forwards shifted play to midfield, and from there a long kick to the full-back (Love) onabkd that player to make a fine run from near his own goal to the half-way flag. There he passed to Alenzies, but that player failed to take the ball, and as it lay cn tho ground McGregor grabbed it up, and made a fast run down the touchlinc. Near tho goalline ho was tackled by one of tho Canterbury men, so ho transferred neatly to Wallace, who dropped over tho whitewash with two men hanging on to him, and scored a try. Ho made a fine attempt to convert it, but the wind carried tho ball off: 3 —o.

Play was soon in Canterbury quarters again, and tho Wellington forwards wero getting tho ball from most of the scrums, but this advantage was spoilt by the Wellington backs, who wero handicapped through the field being no more than regulation width! Several times the ball passed through five pairs of Wellington handstand the full width of the field was covered, without more than three yards being gained. Tho second try for Wellington was largely due to McGregor’s work. Ho got the leather when he seemed to have a fair chance to streak past his opponents and over the line himself, but he punted to midfield. The wind carried the ball across the line, and there Lovo, of Cantoitonry, and Wright and Wallace, of Wellington, dived for it, Wallace gaining a try. Ho again made a goods but unsuccessful attempt to convert: 6—o.

Just as half-time approached, Davery, Rich, and Shannon led a rush to Wellington twenty-fives that was one of the best bits of play in the first half. There followed a line-out, and then a scrum,after which Byrne and Deans, by a clever passing dash, beat all the Wellington defence line save Spencer. Then followed s, scrum on Wellington goal-line, from which P. Burns dived smartly round when the ball came clear, and notched a try for Canterbury that was not bettered : 3—C.

Roberts, Mclntyre, Gray, and Barber were associated in two good runs just before half-time, but Barber failed to pass at. the right moment, and two good scoring chances were thus lost. Barber’s play, however, had good points in it as well as bad —he was the only back on Wellington side who t: cnt in” occasionally, instead of running into touch. Tho second spell was spent almpsi wholly in lino-work and scrumming. Cross, Griffiths, and Chinan were conspicuous in -some occasional good sprints for Wellington, while Shannon, Roddick, and Newton worked hardest in a strong sot of Canterbury forwards. Tho Southern backs lost odd chances to score through wild passing. Lavery did som© occasional good defence-kicking that broke up Wellington attacks. Twice Canterbury had marks within easy rang© of goal, and twice' it seemed that Wellington would lose tho match by a margin of one point; but on ©aoh occasion the ball missed tho uprights by a small distance. Tho last ten minutes of the game were put in on the western touchline, where much uninteresting bullocking work by the forwards took place. Canterbury were taking scrums in preference to line-work, a procedure that favoured Wellington. Just before time was called Calnan and Cross rushed the ball to Canterbury quarters, and it was in touch near tho twenty-five-lin© when tho no-si do whistle was blown.

Tlie game, as a whole, was disappointing. There have been at leash two games played in this year's local championship contest which were marked by better football than Saturday’s representative game. The Wellington repre-

scntativei should tako a course of cold A. and wet bandages, r-reparatory to studying out a plan of campaign for the in a tell against Otago next month. They cannot reasonably expect to ivin two matches on luck !

xetc south wales defeats QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, August 20. (Received August 2i, 0.43 a.m.)^ The inter-Scate football match New South Wales v. Queensland, Was played here yesterday, and was_ won by tne visitors by 10 points to (3. DULLER v. NELSON. I’HESS ASSOCIATION. NELSON, August 20. Tha football match Duller v. Nelson resulted in r. draw, each side scoring a penalty mail. Smith scored for Nelson, and Denuahy tor Duller. Tho visitors’ forwards proved superior to the local men, particularly in scrum work, but the. Nelson backs showed excellent defence, and were much hotter than the Duller backs. MAXAAVATU v. nOROWHEXUA. SIMiCIAI, TO TITE “ TIJIES.” PALMERSTON, August 21. At Levin yesterday Manawatu defeated Horowhenua by six points to four, after a somewhat colourless game. A. McMinn and Scott scored for tho visiting team, and Winiata potted a goal for Horowhenua. Manawatu were weakened by the absence of several of their best players. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. Tho high wind blowing on Saturday seriously affected all attempts at good play; in fact, it was almost impossible to kick against tho wind at Miramar. Diamonds, by their win over St. John’s, hayo virtually secured the senior league shield, an they have a lead of -1 points from St. John’s. DIAMONDS r. ST. JOHN’S. Diamonds won tho toss, and assisted by the wind, scored two goals, obtained by Hathaway and Cunningham. St. John's attacked all the second spell, but the defensive tactics adopted by the winners proved successful in keeping the yellows out. SWIFTS v. PETONE.

Swifts defeated Pet one by 2 goals to one. Duff and P. Pye-Smith scored for tho winners, and Renai for the losers. Swifts put the ball through on two other occasions, but were given off-sido. ROVERS v. PEARLS. This game was drawn, each side scoring one goal. Rovers were thro© men short. QUEEN’S PARK v. Y.AI.C.A. Queen’s Park defeated Y.M.O.A. by 3 goals to 1. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. After Saturday's trial game, which resulted in a goalless draw, the following ware chosen to play against Nelson, at Nelson, next Saturday:—Goal, Mackay ; backs, Elson and Thawley; halves, Barnett, Pye-Smith. and Staples; forwards, Wills, Lowe, Hedges, Bennett, and Robinson. Tho team leaves by tho Rotoiti on Thursday ©veiling. BOYS’ LEAGUE. Wanderers defeated Marist Bros, by one goal to nil. Sfwifto'won from Ramblers by default. A Ruahine Association has been formed, consisting of ' clubs at Woodvillo, Dannevirke, Palmerston, and Feilding, the headquarter being at Woodvillo. On the 31st inst, a local representative team will journey to Palmerston to play a team selected from these clubs. . THE AUSTRALIAN GAME. CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON. A very interesting match of the Australian game took place on the Newtown Park on Saturday, when a Canterbury team (captained by Gogiel) met a Wellington team (captained by J. Hayes) picked from five clubs playing the Australian game here. Tho visitors were defeated by 7 goals G behinds, 48 points, to 3 goals 6 behinds, 24 points. A largo number of people watched the game, and appeared highly pleased at tho display. The Canterbury team wero entertained at dinner after the match at the Trocadero, and left at; 9 o’clock for home. For . Wellington Hayes, Cromie,. Jacobs, Greigg, Leighton (who kicked 4 goals), Creed, and Hall played well, and showed great combination, whilst for Christchurch Jacobstm, Gpgiel. McDonald, and Morrison tried hard to avert defeat.