Football.

Southland Times, Issue 19117, 6 August 1903, Page 2

Football.

x.z. ay ; Queensland o. Per United Press Association. \ (By Electric Telegrap^"— Copyright. BRISBANE,; AufiTThe match New Zealand versus Western Districts was played this afternoon in threatening weather- arid the ground was greasy in places. Tlur visitors com-•-pletely outclassed, the country men -.-'.: in . the first spell, their rear guard, once; in possession of th& ball running through their opponents, whose rush-stopping amTtacKHnjj were weak: The New Zealand pack, contented with a strong lead, took matters easy in the second ha.lt, and kept the ball to themselves, giving their backs little opportunity of troubling th© country men, whose scrumniers shaped creditably. "' • .-V Hew Zealandefs kicked off, and nuniedifttely afterwards Uuncari, .11. AicUregor, and Wallace- were conspicuous in a piis*ing rush, which ended in the latter scoring. He took the kick. 'ut goal, but failed to convert. This success roused the home team; who carried the gamo into New Zealand's quarters, and penned them there until Wallace was instrunien* tal in relieving the pressure. "The local full back shoryv after this was injured in stopping aTuvngerotis forward rush, and was compelled to, retire. N.Z. kopt up the attack on the Jocal citadel,- and a nice piece of pausing, in which "Wallace I). McGregor and Nicholson were engaged, enabled Nicholson to touch down, and Wallace converted. Xwo roinutas later Duncan passed cleverly to , K. McGregor, who transferred \o Wallace, then the ball was sent on to. Asher. who registered another try. which Wallace converted. C. Kedwood, with Qne play, put N.Z. ii) a tight corner, from which they lultimately sought relief by forcing, K. McUregor . saving just in -time to avert a score. The visitors retaliated by an * onslaught on their opponents' quarters, svherp i>, McGregor went^clean. through the local backs by a Ijodgyi feinting run, and scored; Wallace failitig: to improve- Still keeping^ up the attack, Duncan gave a well-timed pass to ft. McGregor, who made an opening* foi. Wallace, who raced over *Ko country chalk mark and added another goal ; Tho ball had not long been in • play again when Duncan, near midtield, gave It. McGregor a neat pass, and the latter transferred to Wallace who, tn turn, passed to D. McQregor, who scored an easy try, which Wallace converted. The first spell ended without i. further scors. The second half opened With. Duncan and Asher prominent in passing' rushes, and they were almost, on Queensland's line when Asher was bowled over. Thj© visiting scrummers swept the ball into their opponents' territory, and Gooko got over the line, but the score was disallowed on the ground that the ball was held. The N.Z. pack, bent on distinguishing themselves; : gave, no oppprtunities to their rearguard, consequently several good chances : of adding to the score were thrown away. = The Queensland forwards shaped determinedly and kept the visitors at bay, making occasional dashes into their qujir'.oi's. where, two excellent chances of registering scores were spoilt by itmccimite passing. Just on no^-.side- Humphries' worked his way round the scrum.- passed to D. McGregor, who transferred nt the right, moment to Asher, the latter racing down the field with two opponents and scored. Wallace failed at goal, and the game ended— Ne\y Zealand 39, Western Districts 0. ■ Wallace, R. McGregor, I>. McGregor and Duncan were tho most noticeable among the. visiting baclw : Given, Long, Cooke, Nicholson, and Spencer* were the pick of the' forwards- Mr Norris, manager for- the Npw Zoalandcrs, was roferee, P.. Redwood., wlip took jjjs brinl*

cr's place at full back, playe<Pa capital game for ' the Western rearguard. The attendance was about a thousand. - . The trial match on 1 the Union Ground yesterday afternoon attracted . a fair , number of enthusiasts, and the play was as good an exposition as could he expected in a game where each pJoyer ib bent on showing W9 individual, excel- * lence to 1 the Selection Committee. Throughout, the play was fast, and good passing rushes were at times seen, chiefly by the Miroons. whose opportunity in. tftis respect w«r? fFP" account of. a "badly packed acrom aUowine the Coloura, --who packed \*«ll, to Jujok the ball consistently. The back wvork of the colours was, however, patchy, and their opponents got- -their .. chances '.■.-: by taking advantage .of bad pissing. '•-.' By means of good forward .work" the ; . Reds got in tivo trjes, arid a rijce passing rush ended in a third $core,,',on& of which Reid converted (11 points). The. Colours' only score was a try by Black from a good passing rush (3_7j.oints). In the evening the Selection' 1 ohimittee Messrs T. Leiihie, A. {.eddes, and It. Galbraith, announced the following as. the toam picked to represent Southland against Wairarapa next waek -Manson. B. Bain, A. Reid, J. Oliristophers, P. Ward (capt.), G. Burgess, P: l<'rt.ser, A. McN'ie, D. Robinson. E. Purdue. C; Purdue, I. Jenkins, XV. Fraser, D. Ifaines and J, Taylor; emergency, J. J. I'ay--