HOLIDAY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 2, 27 September 1921, Page 7

HOLIDAY FOOTBALL

GAMES AT ATHLETIC PARK PUBLIC SERVICE SEMI-FINAL 'Three Rugby football matches wore played on Athletic Park yesterday. The weather was glorious, and the matches attracted a fair • number of spectators. Great interest was taken in the semifinal of tho Public Service tournament. Head Office of Iho G.P.O. met a Telegraph team, and were defeated by 17 points to 6. The final will ho played between the Telegraph team, and the Pastimes team, at a date to be announced later. '■ THE BANKS’ MATCH. . The first match played was between teams representative of the combined banks of Christchurch and Wellington. Both teams, were fairly fit, and some good play was witnessed. Wellington had flip best of the first spell, although good forward work was done by both sides, Tilyard and Purvey (Wellington) each scored unconverteu tries in the first spell. The homo team very nearly scored again early in the second half; but off-side play nullified their efforts. Canterbury worked hard in this spell, and from a scramble near the line, Alurray got across. Humo added to the tally soon after, and with scores equal there was some hard work dono by both sides. Parson scored next for AVellington, and just on the call of time Al’Rae (Christchurch) got across. The try was not converted. The game ended:— IVellington' 9 Christchurch 9 Mr. ‘J. Afoffitt was referee.

THE TOURNEY SEMI-FINAL. For the first spall, play in the Service match was very fast, and the teams ..showed themselves to be in remarkably 'good training. Tho first try was scored for Post Office, by Hodgo, who secured from a scrum, and got across in good style. Telegraph made sflme great efforts after that, and bore down to tho Head Office line, but could not break through the defence. However, their chance came with j a free-kick, which Armstrong (improved on. W'ith tho tally equal, both teams tried hard, and Telegraph began to show that they were tho better team. Their forwards were going great work at this stage. From a near the G.P.O. line, Armstrong again essayed a kick'at goal, but it failed. Play continued round the G.P.O. lino, scrums being frequent, until Little, breaking out of the ruck, got across. Armstrong coifVerted with a good kick. Play was willing at this stage, and the next few minutes saw several players temporarily disabled—none seriously. Play during the' next few minutes was decidedly in favour of* the Telegraph men. and Armstrong, getting a free-kick, landed a beautiful goal, practically from mid-field. With Telegraph 8 points in the lead,) G.P.O. rallied, and kept their opponents very busy for a while. The forwards worked very hard indeed. Arrj). ptrong essayed anqther long kick, but failed. Despite the Head Office’s efforts Telegraph again attacked, and Sutton, After ■ a good run, in which he beat 'several opponents, scored a try. Ho failed to convert it, and Jialf-tire came shortly (afterwards with the scores:— Telegraph, 14; G.P.0., 3. \ ( The second half, taken generally, was not interesting. The forward division appeared to tire, and the work was not so nippy as in the first spell. After resuming, tho first score went to Hoad Office, Holland beating nil opposition, Scadden had a fair chance to convert, but he' missed. Play hung at mid-field for a while, and then Telegraph attacked again, and got fairly near their opponents’ line, wh«re Eastgate, took a not. Tho distance was not very great, but tftp effort did not bear fruit. Sweeney looked like scoring shortly afterwards, but he did not succeed. The last try of the day. just as the whistle blew, was made by Sutton, and was not converted The game ended: — Telegraph 17 G.P.O 8 Air. G. Bradley was referee. LAW V. INSURANCE. ’There was nothing much to report in tho Law v. Insurance match. The first spell was in favour of the Insurance people, for whom Christopherson scored an unconverted try. Tn the second half Law rallied and gained superiority, both Lewis and Thomas scoring. The game ended 6 to 3 in favour of the legal tpam.