FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13980, 16 August 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

AUSTRALIA BRAT MAORIS. Vm** Assooiation-By Telegraph-Copvrieljfc Lecejvod 5.5 p.m., August loth. BRISBANE, August 15. Australia heat the Maoris by 1G points to 13 points. The weather was fine, and 8000 persons were present. Play in the first half was even, ending Australia'll, Maoris 10. For the visitors Wharepapa and Puketoi secured tries, the former converting both. In the second spell the Maoris were th.> attackers, the Australians showing stubborn defence. The home team made the first score, Woodhcad getting n try and Brackonrigg converting. The Maoris made the pace terrific, making strenuous ifforts to got evpn. Tuki got over, but the shot at goal failed. The enthusiasm was intense as the fierce struggle continued to full time, but without either side increasing the score.

WELLINGTON BEAT TARANAKI. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 14. Tho annual representative match Taranaki v. Wellington, was played this afternoon.in the about 5500 spectators. The weather was threatening and the ground on the heavy side. Play as a whole was interesting, though there were some scrappy interludes, particularly in the closing stages. The high wind militated against a first-class exposition from the respective rearguards. Wellington won by 15 points to G. Playing with the wind behind them in the first spell the visitors registered two tries, Cameron who beat half a dozen men in a few yards and T. Sheeban being' the scorers. Green crossed the Taranaki line a few minutes after,' + he start of the game. In the succeeding half Wellington piled on. 12 points, R. Wilson and McKenzie being the try getters, Gardiner and Mitchiiison kicking penalty * goals. When facing the breeze the visitors kept the play tight and the ball away from the opposing backs. The. scrummaging brigades were evenly balanced, the visitors showing superiority in tho solid, while the home division excelled in the loose and line-out. The Taranaki backs engineered some fine passing rushes in the first spell, hut lack of finish lost them scoring opportunities. Tlie p-une was' devoid of roughness, being .played in the best of spirits. THE MOLLOY CUP. WESTPORT„ August 14. The West Coast v. Buller annual football match for the Molloy Cup was played at Cape Foul wind to-day and resulted in a. win for the West Coast bv 10 noiuts (a penalty goal, three tries, two converted.) to 8 points (two tries, one converted). FIRST GRADE MATCHES. CHRISTCHURCH, August 15. The results of the first grade football comoetitions are —Merivale (20) v. Sydenham (()'), Linwood (14) v. Albion (11); Canterbury College (9) v. Christclmrch (5\ Old Boys, a bye. Merivale wins the championship for the season. SCHOOLS REPRESENTATIVES.

The first representative game between the primary schools, of North and South Canterbury was played at the Athletic Grounds on .Saturday afternoon. A strong wind blew down the ground and interfered a good deal with the play, which was generally restricted to one side and one end of the field. North Canterbury lost the toss and had to open against wind and sun, and for the greater part of the first spell the visitors were confined to their 25, Many of the South Canterbury kicks were blown over the dead ball line, and most of the northern boys' attempts at long kicking were overcome by the nor'wester. The visiting pack secured possession from most of the scrums, but their backs were unable to make use of this advantage, the loose work and following of the home forwards upsetting attempts to get two or three fast boys under way. Une of the features of the spell was tlie safe fielding of Hamilton, the North Canterbury fullback. All the scoring in the first term was done by South Canterbury. Davie dodged and forced his way through a. number of opponents, and grounded the ball behind the line, and just on halftime O'Meeghan dashed away from a line-out and found a hole in the northerners' defence' At the interval the score stood South Canterbury 6, North Canterbury 0. With the wind and sun behind them the visitors- were expected to more than wipe out the advantage gained by South Canterbury, and their backs quickly gave promise of becoming dangerous. The promise was not fulfilled, and good following by the homo forwards and safe fielding by the backs enabled them to make a better fight against the elements than North Canterbury bad done in the first half. Towards the close the northern forwards began to assert themselves, and after two or three, unsuccessful attempts a sustained attack ended in Duggan getting over at the corner. .After another assault by the visitors, tho homo team cleared their line, and play was in neutral territory when time was called. South Canterbury (3, North Canterbury 3. Mr 11 assail was referee.