FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 3 June 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S PLAY

The second gamo in tho Rugby Union’s senior competition, and the first gumo in the junior competition wore played at Victoria Domain on Saturday. Tlio woathor was a littlo on the cold side for tho comfort of tho spoctntoi’B, who had rolled up ill good force, but was ideal from tlio players’ standpoint.

THE SENIOR MATCH. Tho senior match was between Kaiti-City and Takitimu and proved a very interesting and oxciting “go.” Both toarns took the field short, Takitimu playing most of tho first spoil with 13 men and Kaiti-City with 14. Takitimu won the toss and played with tho wind. From tho kick-off play was fast. Kaipara and Robinson oxchanged kicks, and then To Reinga kicked high, and following up smartly, secured possession again and carried tho play into City’s quarters where Glennie initiated a dribbling rush and took tho oval on to City’s lino. To Reinga secured tho ball and passed to Kaipara who lost possession and Crinlinton relieved with a lino kick. From tho throwin, City attacked and Hemi Kara smartly rolioved. Ferguson--and To Hau wore the next to show up, coming through tlio ruck with the ball at their toes. Crinlinton saved prettily. Thompson broke away from lino and transferred to Delamere who found the lino with a serviceable kick. McKenzie and Thompson dribbled well down the field but Ruilctt snapped the leather and sent it out of touch with one of his long lino kicks. Tlie City rearguard wore getting plenty of work to do in defence of tlieir base, Robinson, Rowe and Puflett bearing the brunt ot the attack. From, a loose scrum in front of City’s goal, Glennie sent the oval out to Kaipara who, boating bis man, cleverly transferred to Miller who easily eludin gtwo of his opponents who attempted to stop his progress, scored a pretty try in a good position. Swann was entrusted with tho kick at goal but failed in tlio attempt, Takitimu 3 points, Kiati-City nil.

Upon resuming Takitimu .penned City on tlieir lino and Kaipara marked near the: boundary. Miller Jiad a shot at goal and succeeded in piloting tlie sphere fairly between the rip-rights—-Takitimu 6-points, Kaiti-City nil. Bright, Lorvo and Nicolas came through with tho ball at their toes and looked like scoring, but Glennie succeeded in stemming tlie torrent and, reversing the- order of things, headed a dribbling rush in City’s territory, whore Puflett saved with a good line kick. Delamere secured the leather and, making a good run, kicked out. From the throw-in Takitimu started a rush, but Rowe nip-

ped it in the bud by marking the ball off their toes. Kicking high City raced down on the ball, when a free-kick to Takitimu brought welcome relief. Shortly afterward Rowo

again marked and Puflett had a kick at goal, making a fine attempt, the ball falling short. Thompson and Swann were penalised for getting round the scrum too quickly, and Puflett again had a shot at goal, failing to add to the score. Hansen and Grant came through the ruck with the ball at their feet and assisted by Winter succeeded in racing the ball over Takitimu’s line, where Hemi Kara forced it. Te Reinga punted high and, following up quickly,'spoilt Hay’s return, the ball going out. at centre. Rowe marked and found tlie line with a fine kick gaining a lot of' ground for his side. From the line-out Te Reinga secured tlie ball and making a great run was grassed by Grinlintou right in front of City’s goal. SOlllO hard fighting was indulged in, Kaiti-City showing stubborn dofence. Tho ball was kicked into tlio open and Swann who was waiting in a good position snapped it up and racing round scored a try close to the goal. Miller failed with the kick at goal—Takitimu 9 points, Kaiti-City nil. Kaiti-City pulled 'themselves together at this* point and endeavored to ■ turn tlieir defence into attack. Rowe mado a dasli at the line with tlio ball in his possession but was tackled in good style by Te Reinga and a force resulted. The City backs initiated a passing rush, the hall passing from Grinlintou to Robbie Rowo to Puflett, who failed to hold" it. The tackling of tlie Takitimu rearguard was of such a sudden nature that it did not alloiv the City backs to pass with any degree of certainty, having to get rid of the ball at a moment’s notice. The City returned to the attack, Willock, Parsons, Bright and Grant dribbling

well down the field, Miller stopping

their career in good style. City were awarded, a free-kick for off-side piry and Puflett had another, try at goal, the ball falling short. The Takitimu vanguard noxt came into prominence. McKenzie, Ferguson and Thompson, with the hall at tlieir toes, came down tlie field with a great rush which • Grinlinton pluckily stopped by dropping on the ball. Rowe relieved the pressure by running out. Takitimu brought- the ball back again but a free-kick to City brought relief. City then shifted the scene of operations to Takitiniu’s line and some hot work ousued, Halbert putting in some good defensive work and clear T ing his line in fine style. Miller broke away with the ball but Puflett upended him in grand fashion. Rowe made a fine run and Kaipara brought him to oaf til in proper style. Kaipara gathered the ball in and made a nice run, going out at City’s 25. A free kick to City for off-side play enabled Puflett to take another shot at goal, and this time with a fine kick he succeeded ill finding the goalposts—Takitimu 9 points, Kaiti-City 3.

s. Miller and To Reinga got away with a dribbling rush and To Reinga, picking tlie ball up, was grassed by Grinlintou, who, although clearly out of his element at full-back, was playing a good gamo. Nicolas came away with tlio ball at his feet and carried it out at Takitimu’s 25 flag. Halftime was then sounded and the sides changed over.

Upon resuming City attacked, and some fine ruslies, ill which Lowe, Bright, Nicolas and Hansen were conspicuous, menaced the Takitimu stronghold. The fine defensive play of the country team’s back division held the City forwards in check. At this point Hay, who was playing half changed places with Grinlintori at fulL Glennie, half-back for Takitimu, was playing with something of his old dash—on tho ball from start to finish. Puflett kicked high and the City team charged down on the ball, but To Reinga coolly marked in their very midst. Rowe marked in fypnt of Takitimu’s goal and Puflett failed at goal. Miller made a fine jinky run and was pushed out. City worked the ball, back and Swann broke away again. A free-kick to City brought momentary relief, but Glennie brought the sphere back at his toes. Delamere found the line at the corner with a fine kick. Puflett and Robinson were instrumental in tak- ' ing the play on to Takitimu’s line, where, Kaipara saved with a strong run and good line kick. Bright took the bail well on, the line-out and 'transferred to Robinson who sent it to Mullock to Rowe to Puflett, who raced over the line and scored a fine try. He took the kick himself and failed to add to the score—Takitimu 9 points, Kaiti-City 6. Kaipara made a-fine run, hut finding a stumbling block in Rowe, he transferred to Swann, w-bo in turn sent it on to Halbert who had a clear run in and scored an easy try. Miller failed at goal.—Takitimu 12 points, Kaiti-City 6. Pufietfs line-kicking was a feature ■>. ■’

of tlio game. A passing rush iu which Robinson, Rowo and Olson took part was frustrated by tlio suddoh tackling of the Taldtimu backs. Toßeinga and Olonnio made a groat rush and cleared tlioir line of danger. Griiilinton saved woll and City attacked, Hoini Kara bringing relief with a good line kick. Pullett marked in good position and ,liis kick at goal failed. J. Roderick came through with tlio ball from the lino out. A passing rush by Grinlinton, Robinson, Rowo and Puflefct ended by Pullett being thrown into touch at the corner. Delamoro brought relief with a splendid lino kick. City initiated another passing rush, Robinson sending the oval to Rowe who sont a badly directed one to Pullett, who failed to liol (lit. Returning to the attack City pressed liarel and Swann brought relief -by kicking out. Glennie and To- Hau rushed the ball up the field, the ball going out at contro. Pullett failed with an attempt at goal from a free kick. A determined rush by City was stopped by ICaipara marking. Lowe and Bright started a foot rush and Kara fielded the ball well and kicked out. Free-kick City and Te Reinga returned. Te Reinga who was playing a great game at centre-three-quarter, got away but was neatly grassed by Olsen. A free kick to Takitimu . enabled Miller to have a shot at goal which did not succeed, and play was carried to iu front of City’s goal. Here a foolish kick across to the open side allowed Swann, who was loitering in a handy position, to cross tlieir line a second time and score a clever try. Miller again failed in. the attempt at goal. —Takitimu 15 points, Kaiti-City 6. Hay and Bright became associated in a dribbling rush which took play on to Takitimu’s line whero Miller relieved with a timely kick to touch. City attacked with great determination and kept Takitimu defending their goal-line. Swann, Glennie and To Reinga rushed tile ball to midfield where it went out and no-side was called, leaving Takitimu victorious by 15 points to 6.

For the winners Kara at full back played well, getting his side out of tight corners on many occasions. To ltoinga and Miller on the threequarter lino played splendidly, as did the two five-eighths, Delamere and Kaipara. In fact the win was chiefly due to the fine attacking and splendid defensive work of this quartette,' ably assisted by the half-back, Glennie. This player pThyed a great game following up and tackling in great form. He. gave the spectators a glimpse, of his old form, when lie represented. Poverty Bay a few years ago. Swann played his usual tricky game as wing-forward and his two tries were the outcome of clever play. Of the forwards, McKenzie, Thompson, and Ferguson played with , great dash and were well backed up by the rest of the pack. Although beaten in the scrum they had the best of it in the loose and in the line-out. For . the losers G rinlinton, at full back, played well, but it was clearly seen that he was out of his place and when he was sent up half he played a fine game. Hay also acquitted himself well in both positions and in tho late stages of the game he iilayed with great dash at full. Rowe and Puflett on the three-quarter line played good games, and Robinson and Willock at five-eighths also did well. Parson at wing forward did his share creditably. Of the forwards all played hard honest games and it would be hardly fair to single one out above his fellows.

Mr. R. G. Hallamore gave every satisfaction with the whistle and Sergeant-Major Burr, a member of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union and Mr. Jas. Stuart held the line flags.

JUNIOR MATCH.

The junior match played on No. 2 ground was between Kaiti-City and West End. This was the opening of the junior competition and proved a very good, even tussle. From the kick off, West End raced the ball on to City’s line and after some hard fighting, Witty, with a fine kick, brought relief. Coming again to the attack West End looked dangerous, but Dines by a clever mark succeeded in clearing his line. From, loose play in from off West End’s goal, Witty attempted to pot a goal, the ball refusing to rise. J. Graham secured from a scrum aud sent the leather »ut to Bright, who transferred to

Witty, who -was pushed out at the corner flag. After some hard play on West End’s line, Dines succeeded in crossing the coveted line and scored a try. S. Coleman proved equal to the occasion and kicked a. fine goal.—Kaiti-City 5 points, West End nil. \ A fine rush by West End was nip-

ped in tho bud, a free-kick bringing relief. A. Luttrell sent the oval out well up the line. Kaiti-City attacked strongly and a timely mark by S. McConnell stemmed the tide. Play centred and Bright sent the sphere out at the corner flag. “Pomp” Roderick cleared his line cleverly, taking the hall well down the field. A fine run by Wright was checked by Witty who tackled his man in good style. Eraser got in some good footwork for Kaiti-City, the ball going into touch. Half-time was then called. Upon resuming, West End renewed the attack and Gus. Peterson marked, sending the leather out at the corner. Even play followed. A fine run by Dines was stopped by Roderick. Bright and “Witty got in some fine defensive play, and another attack by West End was frustrated by E. Luttrell, who cleared liis line with a fine screw kick. . Uninteresting play followed and no further score resulted, Kaiti-City thus winning by 5 points to nil. For tho victors all tho backs played well, Witty playing a brilliant game. The forwards all grafted like Trojans. For the losers “Pomp” Roderick, S. McConnell and R. Somerville played good games and V. Somerville was the pick of a good pack. Mr. 11. Carr controlled the game in an efficient- manner and Messrs. P. Hickey and Thompson held the line-flags.