FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13607, 29 May 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

I BRITISH TKAMS VISIT TO TIMARU. The British football team now <>n a tour of the Dominion passed through 'limuiu yesterday m ining on their way to Dune- ■ lixi and" at tli«- railway station were met by a few foi>tball < nthuoin->ts. including Messis. F. C Watson and I.'. S. Fra.-er. tin- president and ptust president of the South Canterbury Rugby Union. The visitors struck local footballers, who were on tlie station as being a wry doughty lot- and not at all the l>est kind of men to come into collision with on the field. lint two or three of thein showed signs of strenuous combat by walking lame and Jackett. who was injured at Wellington on Wednesday, had an ear bandaged up. Messrs. Watson and Hutdley took advantage of the opportunity to confer with the manager of tho British It-am and to arrange the programme for the team's visithere from June Bth.. to 11th. Ar> the outcome of the convolution the following l>rogramine was drawn up. The team will arrive from Dunedin at 1.30 p.m.. on Monday June Bth.. and will be welcomed at the railway station by the Mayor and officials of the Rugby Union: on Tuesday afternoon the party will be driven to Pareora and will be shown over the freezing works and in the evening will attend the monster social which is to beheld in their honour in the Drill Hall. The match Britain v. South Canterbury will he played on the Caledonian ground at 2.45 p"m. sharp, Wednesday June 10th., at, the conclusion of the combined schools' match. North Otago v. South Canterbury, which commences at 1.30 p.m. The'n in the evening the visitors* will be tendered a dinner by the Union officials and will take their departure at 1.30 p.m., on the following day. In order to meet the wishes of country residents who desire to witness the bjg • match. special train arrangements have been made: the morning trains will arrive in town as usual, but the Fairlie train will not depart till 5.30 p.m., the Aslilwrton one at 5.10 p.m.. and the Oamaru and Waimate train at 5 p.m. Special trains will run to the Caledonian grounds at 1.45 p.m., and 2.45 p.m. Excursion fares are to bo granted between Ashburton and Oamaru and for the branch lines on this section. ARRIVAL IN DUNEDIN. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, May 28. The English footbali team arrived in Dunedin to-night and were enthusiastically welcomed by large crowds on the platform, outside the station and along the streets. The footballers were met- at Cbristchurch. by Mr Geo. Thomson as representing the N.Z.F.U. and at Palmerston by Messrs J. Hutchinson, president of the 0.R.F.U., P. Priest, a vice-presi-dent, and J. Duncan of the committer. Tho visitors were met. at Dunedin station by drags and drove to their hotels amid cheers. This welcome was purely informal ; the official welcome takes place tomorrow. At present the- weather indications are favourable for Saturday's match. WELLINGTON, May 28. At a meeting of the management commute of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night the appointment of Dr Crawford, of Invercargill, as referee in the BritishOtago match,was agreed to. A suggestion from the Otago Union that a practice match between the New Zealand team and Otago be played on June 3rd was not acceded to, the committee considering that the element of risk to the players was too great. The match l>etween the Marist and Main Schools was played on the Athletic G rounds yesteruay afternoon and provided about- the most exciting struggle witnessed on the ground this season. Main School kicked off, and shortly after, some weak play by the Marist backs allowed Duncan to dribble over and score. The kick at goal failed. In the middle of the first spell Fitzgerald (Marist) secured the ball from, the line out, and from; the scramble on the line Main forced. The spell ended with Main in the lead by 3 to nil. On a couple of occasions during the second half Main School got within striking distance, but the defence was too solid, Allen. Clarke and Roper being mainly responsible for relieving the pressure. Fitzgerald gave a fine exhibition of footwork by dribbling from his own twenty-five to within a few yards of the Main School line where his opponents were penalised for hing on the ball. B. Collins took the kick and landed a fine goal. From this out Marists had- the best of the game and from a dribbling rush headed by Darcy, Wren scored on the corner. The tiy was not converted. Shortly after, time was called and amid deafening cheers the Marist boys left the field leaders in the first- round of the competition. Gibson, Duncan, MenceT and Fraser were the best of tJie Main School players and for fte victors every boy worked splendidly. Mr C. E. Hassel was referee. Tha competition points now are—Marist 6 points, Main 4. Waimataitai 2, South. 0.