FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 12, 11 June 1926, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

POVERTY bay V. WANGANUI. A SLOW GAME. Fer Press Association. GISBORNE, June 10. Nearly 3000 spectators witnessed the first inter-provincial match, of the season to-day, when Poverty Bay defeated Wanganui bv 10 points to 6. The weather conditions and the ground were ideal. Except for intermittent periods of spectacular back and forward play, the game was inclined to be slow. Through over-weighting the home pack by over a stone, the visitors wer© held in th© (scrummages and line-outs throughout, the Poverty Ba v backs seeing plenty of til© ball, but in the loose the visitors’ dashing dribbling rushes and passing bouts gave the home backs, a hot time defending. Cox, Murio and Beilis were outstanding in the visitors’ pack, while Peina and Cameron played dashingly in the backs, Darby playing a great game at full-back. For Poverty Bay Langlands and Bennett played a brilliant, heady game in the backs, and M. Whaitiri, Woodward and Morrison were the best forwards. Both sides scored all their points in th© first spell. From a Poverty Bay passing rush Bennett stab punted, and Morrison following up, dived over. Caulton converted. Off-side play by Poverty Bay forwards enabled Cameron to kick a great goal for Wanganui, and then the Poverty Bay backs started a passing movement which ended in Caulton scoring under the posts, a try which he also converted. Cox scored for Wanganui from a dribbing rash. NORTH v. SOUTH MATCH. NEPIA UNABLE TO PLAY. WELLINGTON, JUNE 11. Word has boon received that Nepia who was selected as fulll-back for the North Island Rugby team is unable to play. J. A. Malcolm, of Wellington, will fill the vacancy.