FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 11024, 15 September 1897, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Hawk«» Bay and Wellington repi. meet on Saturday next, the former Union having picked their team. What about the Taranaki-Hawke's Bay fixture ? Otago and Canterbury also meet naxfc Saturday.

A correspondent writes : — Although ifc was reported that the team which, basjust beaten Canterbury, Southland, and> Otago in succession was the weakest ih/il eter le,ft Wellington, it has proved itselt one of 'the strongest, if not th« Btrongt- 1-*.1 -*. To beat the full strength of these three Unions is art achievement that the Wellington team trust be proud of. With auch men as Roberto, Pauling (now in. Sydney), CalDau, and Young out of th& team, it could hardly be called a representative one ; in fact there was a great deal of trouble in getting a good team away. At the last minute it was found! that Tripe, Speedy, Pender, and Byant could not get the necesiary leave, so if> must be admitted that the team was weak ; but in spite of this the* team met and defeated the pick of Canterbury, Southland, and Otago — the three strongest teams in tb6 South Island—thus showiug that the North Island players are stronger than the South Island players. Ten matches, have no ,v been played between CanterI bury and Wellington, Df which the latter have won six and the former tour. Honors' ' are even between Otago and Wellington, I each team having won three games, while 1 two have been drawn. It is worthy of note tbat the first win against Otago was partly throna;u the good play of G. Bayly, of Taranaki r who scored the only try in the match. Riddiford, also of Taranaki, who was a splendid forward, got his collarbone broken in a practice matoh on the Basin Reserve, and was unable to accompany the team scntb, and his loss was severely felt. This was in 1879. Wellington have won both matcbea they have played against Southland.

The Tukapa Seniors will leave on Tuesday night nexfc for Auckland, aod will treat Ponaonby on tha following Saturday.