FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue XII, 17 September 1904, Page 22

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. TARANAKI 8, MANAWATU 4. NEW PLYMOUTH, September 8. The match Taranaki v. Manawatu, played at Eitham to-day, resulted in a win for Taranaki by 8 points to 4. The ground was in fair order, though a slight drizzling rain fell occasionally, and the attendance was about 2090. The game was closely contested throughout, but uninteresting on the whole. The lirst blood was drawn by Manawatu, A. McMinn placing a fine goal from a difficult position as the result of a mark by Whisker. Taranaki then livened up, and shortly after the second spell opened Hunter by a clever run scored a try, which Frewin converted. J. Young then obtained a try, but Frewin did not succeed in converting). HAWKE'S BAY MATCHES. NAPIER, Monday. The match Cough Island v. Eastern Spit, played on the Recreation (’.round, resuited in a drawn game, each side scoring three points. A match was played at. the Stortford grounds. Hastings, between the senior representatives of the Dannevirke and Hastings sub-union. The Bush team proved the better-, winning by 10 points (two converted tries) to 6 (two unconverted tries). Mr D. Twohill, well known in football circles, has left for the Thames to take charge of Mr Bou Ikes’ milling interests. ROVERS V. CADETS. WANGANUI, Monday. The Cadets v. Rovers match ended in a win for the latter by 9 to 3. At the conclusion of the first spell each team had scored a try. The Rovers’ condition and. combination enabled them to score a couple of tries in the second spell. The Cadets are only the second team to cross the Rovers’ line during the whole season. FROM THE MANAWATU. PALMERSTON N., Monday. What was practically the'final match for the coach builders’ cup was played between Browning’s and A. Burge's teams. Though Browning's team won by 19 points to 9, their Opponents showed good uphill fighting qualities. By their- win Mr W. A. Browning's team secure the cup for the season. A seven-a-side tournament and fancy dress Rugby match are the attractions for next Saturday. A cyclist procession is to be a special feature, and handsome trophies will be allotted for the best decorated bicycles—two for ladies and two for gentlemen. MANAKAU V. SHANNON. MANAKAU, Monday. A team of Wanderers went on the warpath to Shannon to play the newly-formed club there. The game was a very close one. the visitors only u Inning by one point. For Shannan, Wallace scored a try, which Nelson converted, ami for Wanderers Barkers and J. Hannon registered tries. OTAGO V. WELLINGTON . (WELLINGTON 15 POINTS, OTAGO 13.) WELLINGT< rN. Saturday. The Wellington representatives met and defeated the Otago team on the Athletic Park ground this afternoon by 15 points to 13. The weather was bleak and cold, and a strong southerly wind blew down the ground, which was very sloppy after the recent heavy ruins. Only about 2000 were present. The general Impression was that the heavy ground would tend to make the game slow and uninteresting, but things turned cut to (he contrary. From the kick-<»ff it as as a fast nnd unusually interesting game. The visitors made full use of the advantage they derived from winning tho toss. and. playing with the wind In tho first spell, rattled on 13 points, while the home ti-mn failed to score. The Otago backs handled the heavy ball remarkably well, while the forwards, both In (he loose and open, showed to greater advantage than their As soon ns ends were changed the Wellington men began a vigorous attack which they kept up for the greater of tho spoil, nnd practically snatched the game out nf the fire by a margin of two points. Tn attain* Ing this result they bad n full share of tlm luck, for the goal which MeGrqgor- kicked from a mark was a performance which few plnycrn could hove achieved with a sodden bn 11 on n sloppy ground. The Otago men in the second spell gave n splendid exhibition of O'-tensive plsv against the wind, and. contbh ring the bard fight they put

up, it was rather hard lines for them to be beaten by so small a margin. By their win the Wellington team retain the Raufurly Shield, which they won from Auckland this year. The game was marred by a regrettable incident, which occurred just after the start of the second spell, W. Johnson, the Otago forward, being ordered off the ground for what the referee (Mr F. T. Evans) regarded as unduly rough play. For almost the whole of the second half Otago played a man short. For the visitors tries were scored by King, Munro, and Gilray, and Booth converted two of the tries. For Wellington, McGregor scored two tries, one of which he converted, and also kicked a goal from a mark, and another try was secured by Wallace. CANTERBURY BEATEN BY WANGANUI CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The weather was fine but the ground was very heavy for the Wanganui-Canterbury football match to-day. The Canterbury team did not play up to fonn. The visitors had a slight advantage in the weight among the forwards, and made the most of it, over-running the local men in the loose work. Play was chiefly confined to the forwards. though the Canterbury backs made occasional passing rushes. The visitors’ backs played splendidly on the defence. The only score was obtained just on half time, Guscott getting over the Canterbury line and Takarangi convening the try. The visitors thus won by 5 points to nil. NORTH ISLAND V. SOUTH. WELLINGTON, Monday. The following team has been selected to represent the South Island against the North Island at Dunedin on September 24 i— South Island: Fullback, Booth (Otago); threequarters, Gilray, Bennett (Otago), Blaek (Southland); fiveeighths, Deans (Canterbury), Stead' (Southland); half-backs, King (Otago); wing forward, Portequs (Otago); forwards, Spiers and Casey (Otago), Fanning, Brunsden, Roddick (Canterbury), Corbett, Learmont (West Coast). North Island Team: Fullback, Furrie (Manawatu); threequarters, Wallace (Wellington), Hunter (Taranaki), D. McGregor (Wellington); five-eighths, Wynott (Taranaki), Erekuna (Hawke’s Bay); half-back, Roberts (Wellington); wing forward. Guy (Taranaki); forwards, P. McMinn (Manawatu), Watkins (Wellington), Glasgow and Glen (Taranaki), Cross (Wellington), Seeling and Nicholson (Auckland).

ASSOCIATION.

WELLINGTON CHARITY CUP MATCHES. WELLINGTON, Monday. The semi-tlnal matches of the Charity Cup competition were played at Miramar. The form shown was decidedly good, eonsldetlng the heavy southerly wind which was blowing. With the wind in their favour Swifts made matters hot for St. John's In the first spell, but the latter's forwards retaliated, and on several occasions nearly scored. Well into the second spell Brodie notched the only goal of the match, and gave St. John's the victory by that bare margin. A hard fought contest took place between Diamonds and Queen's Park, victory finally resting with the former combination by 3 goals to 1. Taylor apd Reddy <2) were the scorers for Diamonds, and Naughton registered n goal for Queen's Patk. The winners of these matches meet in the final match next Saturday, when the season will probably be brought to a close as far as the cup matches are concerned. The final match for the Junior challenge cup between Swifts and Ramblers resulted In a pointless draw. In the Third League, Petone V. Kalwarra match, Petone won by a goal to

nil; and Marist Bros.’ School beat their Kaiwarra rivals by one goal to nil. A match between the newly-form edl Torirua team and St. John’s juniors resulted in a wiu for the town teani by three goals to one. Tho visiting team waa composed of Maoris, who only commenced the Association game this season.