FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 11, 9 September 1908, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

Goldfields Beaten by Auckland. The return match, Auckland v. Goldfields, was played at Waihi on Saturday last, in the presence of about three thousand spectators. The game was not particularly attractive, loose forward play predominating. Auckland Book the field With grave misgivings, as the team on tour was by no means representative of metropolitan football. They played with five forwards in the pack and three rovers round the scrum. No attempt was made to hook the ball, which was kicked to the Goldfields’ hookers, and as Goldfields made the mistake of heeling, the Aucklanders were on to the bail directly Its reached the half-back’s hands. It was Goldfields’ game to hold the ball in the ecrum, and rush through the Auckland pack before the latter had time to consolidate. Three of the Goldfields’ best forwards stood out, which weakened their pack; but had they adopted the right tactics they would probably have more than held their own In this department. The Auckland backs were much superior to their opponents, but they •were given comparatively few opportunities. Renwick, w-ing three-quarter, and Gillett, nominally live-eighths, were as much half-back and wing forward. Morse and Magee plaved up to reputation, whilst Webb (half-back), Miller (fullback), and Hogan (wing three-quarter) gave creditable displays. Grafton Maguire was about the best of the forwards, being prominent throughout the match. Young, the Goldfields’ forward, played a capital game, and io undoubtedly in the first flight of the many fine forwards which the province has at its disposal. Hamilton and Barrett showed considerable promise, and Vincent (wing) played a good game up to the time of his disablement. Johnston was the mainstay of the backs, and Montgomery played better than ordinarily, being very elever in getting in his line kicks. The result of the match was a win for Auckland by ten points to three. Auckland’s score was a try by Renwick, converted by Gillett, and a try by Eaton, converted by himself. Johnson scored a try for Goldfields.

'Auckland B V. Wednesday Union.

At Alexandra Park last Saturday the principal match was that between tho representatives of the Auckland Wednesday Union and the Auckland Rugby Union’s B team. The proceeds of the match were utilised to reduce the vacant spaces in the coffers of the Wednesday Union. The teams entered the field as follows :— AUCKLAND B. Full-back: Lowrie. Three-quarters: Estall, Hall, Wolfgram Five-eighths: Bater aa>d Blakey. Half: rarrant. Forwards: Armstrong (wing), Todd and Griffen (front row), Rhodes (lock), Pople, Williams, Sellers, and Fraser. WEDNESDAY REPRESENTATIVES. Full-back: Littlejohn. Three-quarters: Hunt, Little, Greenwood. Five-eighths: McKenzie and Linton. Half: Burton. Forwards: Roscoe (wing), Cooper and Graham (front row), Parker (lock), Savoury, Harrison, Pearce, and Johnston. After an interesting game Auckland B won by 12 points to 3. It was a Rugby match chiefly in name; in reality, it was a farcical hour and flhalf’s sojourn on the field of a score and a-half of members of football clubs. The Wednesday Union’s representatives seemed not to realise that opportunity is irretrievable, for it was rare that one of them stretched forth a hand to grasp the skirts of happy chance. Condition was wanting in some of the thirty, who were human illustrations of the well-known words In song, “I was weary and ill at •use.” Savoury, Johnston, and Graham played well in the forward division of the losing team, and Burton in the hacks. Williams was the pick of the Auckland forwards, and Bater, Wolfgram, and Lowrie of tho backs.

Todd captained Auckland and McKenzie the Wednesday reps. Mr. R. McGregor refereed. Littlejohn retired hurt at the commencement of the game.

Thame* v. Waikato.

The representative match, Thames v. Waikato, was played at Qaudelands ou Saturday. Thames were without the services of Snowling, and Waikato had difficulty in raising a team. This caused some confusion in the team. Taken as a whole, the game was most uninteresting from a spectator's point of view. Play was confined to the forwards throughout, and the backs on either side got few chances. The Waikato forwards were superior. More especially was this apparent in open work, and on the lineout, but the line kicking of the visitors was more effective. During the first spell play was confined solely to the forwards, and, as Thames generally secured the ball in the scrums, and prevented the home team opening up the game, it ended without score on either side, Waikato, if anything, having a slight adavntage. As soon as the second half opened, the Waikato forwards commenced to press, and difficulty was experienced in preventing them crossing tho line. When five minutes had passed McCauley got over, the attempt at goal failing by a matter of inches. Ten minutes later McCallum, on the wing, was ordered off for handling a man roughly after he had marked the ball. The spill was a dangerous one, but it was generally conceded that the referee erred on the side of severity, and that a caution would have met the case. After even play, Winder marked in Hamilton quarter, and, taking the kick himself, landed a pretty goal, thus equalising matters. Ten minutes later an unfortunate contretemps occurred, which, besides winning the match for Thames, created ill-feeling on the part of the public. Thames invaded Waikato’s 25, and several throw-ins occurred. The line umpire’s flag was constantly in the air for some minutes. On one occasion he evidently forgot to pull it down until Hayward (Thames) was about to cross Waikato line, while the whole team practically stood and allow’ed him to run in. The umpire then declared that he had not hoisted the flag on this occasion, but that his flag refereed to something that happened just previously. It all occurred in a flash, and the referee awarded a try to Thames, but ordered tho line umpire, who unfortunately was a Thames man, to give up his flag. No goal resulted from the kick. The last twenty minutes’ play was entirely in favour of Waikato, No further score resulted, Thames winning by six points to three.

SOUTHERN' MATCHES.

Otago v. Canterbury. The weather and ground conditions were excellent fo» the match Canterbury v. Otago, which was played in the presence of a large gathering. Tre game ended in a draw, eight points all.

Wellington v. Manawatn.

The Wellington-Manawatu representative Rugby match was played in Wellington yesterday. Owing to the rain which fell in the morning the ground was slippery, but though threatening, the weather was fine for the match, which was witnessed by about 2000 persons. Tho game was too ridiculously one-sided to ••all for description, Wellington winning by 46 points to 6. Tries were obtained for Wellington by Rush (3), Evenson (2), Matheson, Shadbolt.. Roberts, Hamilton, “Ranji” Wilson, and McLeod, five being converted, while Roberts kicked « goal from a mark. Manawatu’s score consisted of a try obtained by McMinn, and converted by the same player.

Old Boys’ Match.

The match, Auckland Marist Brothers’ Old Boys v. Napier Old Boys qnded in a draw, Hix points each. It was a good oven game. Auckland had the advantage in the first spell, being three to nil.

New Zealanders In Australia.

The New Zealand footballers (Australian game), after an exciting struggle, beat Ballarat by a point on Saturday. The scores were: New Zealand, 3 goals, 0 behinds; Ballarat, 3 goals 8 behinds.

NORTHERN UNION FOOTBALL

A meeting of those favourable to the introduction of the Northern Union game of football was held at Dunedin on Wednesday of last week, when Mr C. E. Keaet presided, and about 80 people were present. After the position had been explained, practically all present signified their Intention of playing the new game. The first prncof playing the new game.

ASSOCIATION.

romonby Draws with Huntly. The final for the cup tics under the auspices of the Auckland Football Association was contested at Huntly on Saturday between the winners of the semi-finals played on the Auckland Domain, Ponsonby and Huntly. The match ended in a draw, neither side scoring, though all through the gamo the visitors had tho beet of the play, showing more combination and better passing. The Huntly backs played a first class game, saving their side over and over again, and for Ponsonby, Marshall, Pirrlt, and Taberner played a solid game, the last-named having hard luck in not scoring on two occasions. The visitors declined on account of the rough ground to play extra time. Mr. Scott, as referee, gave ample satisfaction.

Dunedin Championship,

The final match for tho Association senior championship was played at Dunedin on Saturday, and resulted: Northern 4 goals, Mornington A 1 goal.

AUSTRALIAN GAME.

New Zealanders In Australia. The New Zealand footballers who took part in the jubilee tournament of the Australian game, visited Adelaide and were defeated by South Australia by five goals eight behinds (33 points) to three goals 10 behinds (28 points). Tho mateh was played in the mud.