FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 809, 7 September 1905, Page 13

FOOTBALL.

Despite the fact, of the New Zealand team being one of the weakest which has ever represented the colony, the members of it were quite equal to defeating the Australian team at Dunedin on Saturday. The weather proved ver- wet, and the ground was so bad at the Caledonian Ground that the match had Perforce to be played at Tahuna Park. All through the match the home team were on the attack, and but for neglected opportunities should have made a bigger score. Wrigley was the first to cros's the line, but McMinn was unequal to converting the try. The Australians rallied, ana McLean scored at the corner, but the angle was too difficult for Wickham to put the ball over. The locals attacked strongly, and Cross got over, but was recalled. Then Turtill had a shot at goal, but failed. then another rush took the ball over the visitors’ line, but it was recalled. On changing ends the Australians were immediately called upon to defend, and a good dribble by McMinn ended in a try, but Purdue’s kick failed. Then the Australians got out of a tight corner by forcing. After a period of even play, McMinn scored again near the corner, but Spencer’s kick failed. The final score came at the hands of Cross, and this was easily converted by Francis, and the game thus resulted in a win for New Zealand by 14 points to 3.

Football of all sorts was in full swing at the Kingsland ground on Saturday, and nobody could accuse the management of the carnival of not providing plenty of variety, for there was a match under Association rules, anothei undei Rugby, and a third in which the Australian game was played. Also, there was a ladies’ hockey match, and one for men. Unfortunately heavy rain had rendered the ground almost unfit to play on, pools of water being visible here and there, and this factor had a bad effort on the attendance, which would undoubtedly have been very large if the ground had been drier. The Association match, which opened proceedings, resulted in a draw between the representative team and a combined team, in which, however, the latter had a good deal the best of the play, although the actual scores were a goal each.

The Rugby game was between the Auckland reps. ond the Secondary Schools’ Old Boys’ Union. The latter was much the lighter team, and the heavy state of the ground was against them. Moreover, they had to face the wind and sun for much the longer spell, and under the circumstances they did surprisingly well to be only beaten by 9 to 0. In the open and in kicking they were better than their opponents, but the heavy Auckland forwards were too many for them. For the winners McKenzie dropped a fine goal from the field, and Dunning got a try as the result of a loose scramble, and this was converted by Eaton.

The Australian game was played between the Australs and Imperials, and was the final of the Australian Association’s premiership. Considering the wet state of the ground, the match was very fast and keenly contested. It resulted in a win for the Australs by the narrow margin of 15 points to 13.

Canterbury defeated Wellington at Christchurch on Saturday by 6 points to 3. The weather was very bad and the giound muddy, and consequently the attendance was almost nil.

Our Taranaki correspondent writes (September 2): —The following players have been selected to play against the Australians at Hawera on Saturday, September 9:—Fullback, Colman (Taranaki); three-quarters, E. Eurke, Hardgreaves (Taranaki); McDonald (Wanganui); five-eighth, Thomas (Taranaki); wing-forwards, Guy, Rothery (Taranaki); forwards, Thompson, Murray, Guscott (Wanganui); Young, McKay, Ryan, Hamerton (Taranaki). The following team, subject to alteration, has been selected to represent Taranaki on tour. The team will leave on the morning of the 12th inst., and play their first match at Palmerston against Manawatu on the 13th, Wellington 16th, Wairarapa at Masterton 20th, and Wanganui 23rd: — Colman, E. Burke, C. Burke, Hardgreaves, Greville, A. Hunter, Forsyth, Guy, Rothery, Osborne, Cooper, Young, McKay, Ryan, Whittington, Crowley, Hamerton, Masters.

The Ponsonby Football Club had a “ smoker” on Saturday evening to celebrate the close of the season. A good programme was gone through, and the club was presented with a silver football, won by them during the season.

The B team of the Auckland Public Schools’ Union defeated the A team on Saturday by a try to nothing.

At Paeroa the West team have won the junior championship, defeating the Suburbs team in the final by 24. to nil This is the third season in which they have secured the coveted honour.

A curiosity of the football field is to be recorded in connection with the University Oval matches on Saturday last (says the Sydney “ Referee.”) The grass within the touch-lines has been allowed to grow uncut this winter, and a bird—said to be a ground lark—built its nest in the grass in front of goal at the 25 It was discovered just before the finish of the first grade match University v. Western Suburbs. The nest contained one egg, and was unbroken. It is extraordinary that the egg was still intact, seeing that two matches were played on the ground during the afternoon.

The “ Referee” draws attention to the fact that the Australian team in New Zealand includes only one member of the South Sydney Club, and only two of the Glebe Club. These clubs are leading for the premiership, are the most consistently sound teams of the year, and one of them—probably South Sydney—is sure to win the premiership. A match between the champion club of Auckland and South Sydney, on a Sydney ground. Would be a great attraction to the Rugger community.