FOOTBALL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 May 1901, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Red Roses y. Stars.

The above junior fixture which eventuated on Saturday afternoon on Victoria Park ended a draw, after one of the most hotly contested games that has been witnessed on the Coast for some years. Although the weather was everything but favorable, constant training and diligent attention to coaching put a very different aspect on the game to what the spectators expected. After winning the toss the Star skipper, contrary to general expectations, elected to play against a strong wind which a. few minutes later merged into a moderate gale, and then towards the end of the first spell gradually subsided to a dead calm. But, whatever McCarthy's judgment may have cost their team, lie himself atoned for it by playing a magnificent game, his tackling and running being of a high order, while he invariably found the touch-line on every occassion ho had to kick. The most pleasing feature of the game, and a lesson to our seniors, was the crisp clean maimer in which the ball was heeled out from the scrum by either side, and the rapid handling by the backs caused the leather to be rushed first from one end of the field to the other in rapid succession. For the Stars M'Carthy shone out like a comet, whilst M'Xechnie at half played brilliantly, slopping rushes and marking with great precision. M'Phersoii was not fed enough as should have been the case, but not a single mistake can be recorded against him. White, and also his two brothers, who were in the van, played up to expectations, and their play left nothing to be desired.

The Ecd Roses also had some fine individual playc.rs. Alexander, the fullback, got in some fine kicks, and is worth a place in any Coast senior team. Craig and P. M'Carthy were the pick of the three-quarter division, and on them fell the brunt of contending with some strong attacks, but both acquitted themselves with honour. West was a host in himself among the forwards, the rest of whom were a willing and even lot,

Mr J. M'Kay, who wielded the whistle for the first time, earned golden opinions from players and spectators alike, and demonstrated the act that he will stand no nonsense.

Brunner defeated Blackball at Brunner on Saturday by 12 to nil.