FOOTBALL

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8846, 24 June 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL

Trass Association. ' Auckland, Juno 22. The City Club has won the football i premiership with 7 wins and a draw out of 8 matches. The draw was played yes terday with Ponsonby, neither side scoring. Ponsonby is 2nd with 6 wins 1 loss and a draw. Wanganui College v. Te Aute. The match Wanganui College v. Te Auto resulted in a win for the latter by 10 points (two goals) to 6 points (one try - and one penalty goal). The Te Aute boys were the heavier team, but there was | very little to chose between the play of I tho teams. The visitors gained their Erst ; try within the first ten minutes, and during tho whole of tho first spell attacked strongly. Tho Wanganui de- ; fence was admirable, Hitchings being \ specially conspicuous. Somo fine rushes •j were made into tho Te Aute quarters, / during one of which a penalty was { awarded outside tho 25 yards line. Howh ever, Hitchings essayed the shot and j placed a beautiful goal. In fact the \ kicking throughout of all classes was very \ good indeed. Tho second spell was very '. interesting to watch, some fine passing J rushes being indulged in by both sides, and the game went very evenly till the \ last quarter of an- hour, when the WanI ganui boys made a determined and strong {* effort to pull off tho match, and on several I occasions looked like doing so. In fact i' ! was generally conceded that another ton - minut»3 and tho pojition would have | been reversed. Throughout tho game I was played in admirable spirit, and it was I a treat to onlookers to see football played L as a sport and in the spirit of true sport. \ without efforts at" pointing "or sneaking |" advantages behind the referee's back, or f retaliating on an opponent. It would be a great thing if these games could bo played in different centres each year, where they could be witnessed by many, who would find great pleasure and profit in seeing football played as it should be played.

Awarua Union.

Tha match Taihape juniors v. Huia was played ou tlio Thihapo Oval on Saturday afternoon. It was an ideal day for football. The" first spell had not long started when it was at ouco Been that it was Tailiape'n day out, which proved to be true. It was really the back play of the local team that won the game and though the passing was nearly in all cases erratic, It proved effective. About the aiiadle of the first spoil T. "White, who played well right through the game, got oyer near the lino on the right corner. Teddy Williams took the kick, bat though u,f«plendid£attempfc, it failed and no ftirthw mrcre

was made in the spall. The nes spell was very fast. The Htilo seemed determined to score, Rodger making a splendid run, Jumped righ over the three'quarter who tried t stop him, but the full hack, Tedd; Williams, was too good and brottgh him down. This was the only timi that Taihape was much in danger and just before the whistle biev Hasted, with a pretty rim, got ote: near the top corner. The try \vag ho converted the game ending Taihape 6. Hnias nil. Matuwatu v. Foxton UnionTeams representing the above unions mot at Foxton on Saturday afternoon under most favourable weather conditions. The Manawatu forwards were weakened by the absence of McNae whoso places was taken by Mr Frasor, the manager of the team, who played a good game considering that it is four years since he has donned a jersey. The Foxton team was the same as the one chosen with the exception of Bobinson whose place at half was taken by Obostone. The largo number of spectators were treated to a very interesting and closely contested game but the quality was a long way below the standard of representative form. Although Manawatu won by the good margin of 11 points their play was not nearly such a good exhibition of football as that given by the losers, who should have won had luck been with them. It is certainly bad luck to be beaten after being within an ace of scoring half a dozen times during the game, on the. other hand two out of tho three tries obtained by Manawatu were very lucky ones.. The visiting backs were rather disappointing, they may have individual merit but seem to have very little combination in attack. Nothing very great was expected from the liome backs, still they lost nothing in comparison with their opponents. Tho forward divisions were about equal in weight and Manawatu usually got the ball from the scrums, but they were badly beatc'n in the line-out and open play. In addition to other bad luck tho Sub-Union team was most unfortunate in losing their captain, Redgrave, who had to retire in the first spell, through an injury to his knee, and later on in tho second Hooker had to leave the field with an injury to his head. Mr E. Nash gave every satisfaction to the players in his decisions' as referee.

Foxton kicked off, and "the forwards made the game close for a while and kept tiieir opponents in check, till Carrol, the Greens' threequarter, got possession and made for the line, but was well grassed by George, at full. Off-side play by the Bine forwards gave Taylor an opportunity for a shot at goal, which missed, a force down resulting. From the kick out J. Richardson, wing forward, followed up fast and smothered the return, Redgrave and Hooker carrying the ball into Green territory, where Shadbolt got possession, and just missed scoring by ! being pushed into touch-in-goal. After this play became much faster, and a good passing rush by the Green backs brought play again to within a few yards of tho goal line, where a scrum took place, from which Ongley passed to Pirani, who dodged the opposition and scored a good try. Hughes failed with tho kick. Play was again taken to tho centre. Redgrave, Richardson and Bowe put in sonic line work here, T. Richardson taking a place at goal for a mark ; the effort was a weak one, the ball rebounding, and the Green forwards commenced a rush, headed by

Whisker, Taylor and Boon, George preventing a score by a timely kick into touch. At this stage play was stopped and the Sub-union captain nad to retire hurt. Redgrave's absence weakened the homo defence,

and play continued in the Blues' territory till one of their backs misfielded the tall, which enabled Pirani to take possession on the bounce and score an easy try near the corner. No goal resulted. From this to the end of the spoil the Greens had all

that they could do to keep their lino clear.

-In the second spell Robinson went on in place of Redgrave. The home forwards set up a determined attack, Shadbolt being again unfortunate in losing the ball as he crossed the line. The visiting forwards were now getting the ball clearly away from the scrums, which gave their backs many opportunities to institute passing rushes, -which were promptly stopped by good tackling. Time after time the ball was carried to within a few feet of the Greens' line, and it looked as though the six points' deficiency would soon bo reduced. Shadbolt in particular put in some good work and he was well supported by Richardson and Hooker. From a line-out in their 25's the Green forwards got away with a good rush, winch was stopped by Macroyal near the goal line, but he | was slow in getting his Icick in, and I the ball rebounding off Carroll gave i Ward an easy try, which Taylor converted. This was the only time that the Blues' line was in danger in

the second spell. On resuming Shadbolt got possession and made the run of the day, going straight down the field. He was only stopped a few yards from tho line, where he passed to Frankland, who crossed the iline, but he was off-side. The free ki ;k went to Mona, who ran well up and passed to Richardson, the latter being pushed into touch-in-goal.(Hooker"had to retire through an injury to his hand, and his place was taken by Wright. The attack was maintained until the whistle sounded, ana an interesting and gentlemanly game ended with the scores standing Manawatu 11, Foxton Sub-Union 0.

At the conclusion of the game both teams and the officials wore entertained by the Sub-Union to a dinner, after which the health of the victors and vanquished was drunk in bumpers.

Tho following will represent Marton I. against Bulls I. at Bulls on Wednesdav. The coach leaves Marton at I.3o:—Signal, Ross, Heppel, Henderson, McKeo, Ainsley, Podjursky, Moore, Jolly, Walker, Jensen, O'Driscoll, Ingle, Goodall, Hunt. A practice will be held at Mcludoo's stables to-night. The following team will meet Marton at Bulls on Wednesday next: Oapstick, Podjursky, Green (2), Tcnnent, Croucher, Carter, Swede, Hendreson, Joe, Webb, Rawlings, Ryan, Madden, A. Carter. Emergencyies: A. Nicholson, H. Green, O. Ewing, A. Whale. The following will represent Marton 111 at Huniervillc on Wednesday :—Low, Gibbons, A. Signal, Blair, Henderson, Cummins, Anderson, McChesney, Hargreavcs, Miles, McGregor, Mclndoe, Wysocki, B. j Signal, Lee. '