FOOTBALL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 July 1901, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Hokitika v Greymouth.

The second match of tho season botwoon these clubs was played on Saturday at Hokitika ia tho presence of about 800 spectators, many having journeyed down from Gccymouth per special train, and after a fast and interesting game resul ed in a draw. The game w»3 played in a very friendly manner, and tho spectators deserve a word of praue for their orderly conduct, for not onco during the game was a sign of unseemliness, and whenever warranted tho applauso was given impartially: I« requires but a few of such matches to pi tee the guno of footba'l uoon a much higher lovol upon the West' Coast. Hokitiki kicked off. O'Donncli muliiag tho return, and afser u series of scrums and line out wo;k, Butland obtained possession of tho ball and i-treikod for the line, but was nicely tackled by Kettlety. The Grey team at this period appeared to be all astray and made but feeble attempts to check the onslaughts of the Hokitika backs. A nice passing rush was here commenced by M'Donald, the ball going to Butland, Lynch, Macfarlane, Bonar and back to Macfarlane in quick succession who dashed across the line amidst cheers from the crowd. The try at goal was a failure. Grey team now livened up a little and under the able captaincy of Gregg played with much more determination and combination, and for the rest of the spell it was a hard and fast game between the Grey forwards and Hokitika backs. Upon changing ends, Grey forwards immediately rushed the ball to their opponents' line, where a series of scrums took place. From a niceheel out Dan<=cy picked up the ball and dashed across. A very feeble attempt at goal failed to add the major points. From this to the finish the game continued to be good but had tho Grey backs taken the opportunities afforded them, at least two tries would have been scored.

The back play of the Grey team would not have reflected credit upon a school fifteen excepting Dansey who played a sterling game throughout, O'Donnel. making numerous mistakes, and moreover spoiling, what appeared to be two certain scores by the forwards. Everyone ol the Grey forwards played a magnificent game, Gregg, Bourke, and R. Power especially so. I even venture to say that a finer lot of forwards never played together on the Coast. For Hokitlka all the backs played well, more especially Butland and Macfarlanc. Amongst the forwards " Sammy " Davidson was a hosi in himself, time after time breaking through the scrum with the ball at hi> toe but with no one else near enough to be of any use. The others worked hard but were not of the same class as the Grey pack. Mr Benjamin officiated a> referee, but lacked firmness, otherwisi he acted in a masterly manner, In the evening the Grey team and Rugby Union officials were the guests of the Hokitika Club at a dinner at the Red Lion Hotel where all present enjoyed themselves for an hour or so.