FOOTBALL

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 534, 23 August 1897, Page 2

FOOTBALL

Wellington v. Auckland. A Win for the Northerners. A Twenty Years’ Record Broken.

BV TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Weixomton, This Day.

Auckland beat Wellington by 11 to 4. This is the first time Wellington has been beaten on its own ground by an interprovincial team for twenty years. Till five minutes from tho end of the game the local men were ahead, but in that short space Smith, of tho New Zealand team, scored two fine tries, one of which was converted. The Wellington backs were very feeble, and the visitors very strong, but their forwards were not bo good as the local men.

Poverty Bay v. Hawke’s Bay.

Napier, This Day. Poverty Bay defeated Hawke's Bay by 1G to 4.

Mangatainoka v. Woodville.

(By “ Rugby.”)

The above match was played at Woodvtlle on Saturday last and resulted tuadraw—B points (one try) each—secured by Bernie for Mangatainoka. and Cato for Woodville. Mangatainoka took the field with the weakest team they have been represented by this season. The backdivision was terribly weak. Ted Pelling, their trusty five eighth was absent, as also was King, threequarter, Williams, half, Newtli, a sterling wing, and J. Piper, who next to Wilson, is the best forward the team can boast of. Greville, who lias played such capital games for his Club in the past was suffering fiotn an injured knee, and had to be content to play full-back. Under these circumstances the team did well to play a drawn game. Woodville, on the other hand, had with the exception of Wood, who refused to play for them), the strongest team the Club can place in the field. Thiß being so, combined with the fact that the team was playing on its own ground, should have resulted in a decided win for Woodville. The absence of Wood from the Wo-xlville ranks was apparent frequently throughout the game, and had he been playing, opposed as he would have been by an exceptionally weak set of backs, the result of the match could never have been in doubt. That the Woodville team did not place a decided win to its credit on credii on Saturday is a well-merited punishment for their disgraceful treatment of a player who it must be conceded is head and shoulders above any player who has even worn the Woodville jersey.

The positions of the three teams in the senior cup contest are as follow : Pahiatua, 8 points, with thro matches to play; Mangatainoka. 7 points, two games to play ; Woodville, 1 point, three games to play.

On Saturday next Pahiatua meet Mangatainoka on the latter’s ground. As both Clubs will make an effort to place their full strength in the field a good game should result.

Cato played the best game on the Woodville ground on Saturday. Scally also played well and his pass to Cato from which the latter scored was well-judged and clean.

Cato's kick at goal on Saturday from the try scored by himself was fecblo in the extreme. It resembled the attempt made by Wood on the Pahiatua ground on the Saturday previous. By the way, the same feeble kick hv Wood caused bis Club mates to suspect him of throwing the game away. No doubt Cato will be accused of the same thing, for the Woodville men are just, clever and far-seeing.

In connection with the charges recently made by Mr Saudel against the Diamoud Football Club, the Bush Rugby Union on Saturdaynight, after full investigation, decided that the Diamond Club shall be suspended until it tenders Mr Saudel a full apology for the bad conduct of its team and also pays the sum of 18s 6d still owing to that gentleman.

At the Union meeting on Saturdaynight the Woodville club entered a protest against the Pahiatua Club for playing Murphy in the recent cup match at Pahiatua, when Woodville was beaten by 20 points to 8. Mr Ilawkins complained of Woodville’s sharp practice in springing a protest at the last moment. He further placed documentary evidence before the Union showing that the Pahiatua club had noted in good faith in playing Murphy, iu that ho had boon refused a place in the team until he had procured a letter from his last employer. lie tMurphy) had then written to Mr J. Harrison, of Ekotahuna. and received a testimonial which showed ho had been long enough ill the district to qualify lnm for a place in the team. The matter was deferred for a fortnight, and m the meantime the secretary is to write to Mr Harrison on the subject.

It must he a source of pleasure to Wood to know that he has the hearty sympathy of all tho men in Woodville whose opinions aro worth having. With the exception of the members of the team who could not take a beating of 20 points to 8 like men, all aro unanimous iu the opinion that the action of the Wood villo club is most contemptt'de and would bo a disgrace to any club in the world.