FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2108, 17 June 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S PLAY

Tho first match of tho socond round for tho championship was played at Victoria Domain on Saturday, when West End woro defeated by Kaiti City by 9 points to 3. Tho game was wol’l contested throughout, and proved vorv interesting lor tho spectators. The woather vvas of a very dismal character, a drizzling rain falling most of tlio time. Notwithstanding, there was a fairly good attendance, and both sides had a good following of “barrackors.” WEST END v. KAITI CITY.

Kaiti City won tho toss, and elected to defend tho western goal. A good broozo was blowing straight across tho held of play, neither team gaining any material advantage. r rom the kick-oif tho onlookers woro treated to a line exhibition of Rugby, tho Kaiti City backs showing hue combination, their passing rushes being a foaturo of tho game. Their torwards also showed markou improvement on tlioir previous elforts, and had slightly .tho best ol tho game ail through. Kobiusou took tho bail well from the kick-oif and sent it out at contro. The blues (City) were awarded, a free kick tor oil-side play, and Puilott with a fine kick found t|io

line. From the line-out Lowe came 1 through, and putting tho ball at Ins toes dribbled well up tho fiold, whore Forbes cleverly saved. City attacked, I and Henderson by a brilliant picco ol work clearod his line. Hay sent the oval out well up tho line. Grinlinton I secured from tlio ruck, and sent a good pass to Robinson; who in turn I transferred to 'Wilkinson, who was I grassed by Roderick in good style. I Broughton took a high luck by I Brown, and kicked out at centic. j Uowo socurcd tho. leather from a I scrum, and shot it out to Grinlinton, I who kicked high,.and Alutu marked. Brown centred with a fine kick, and I tho West End vanguard thundered down on the opposing backs, but Robinson saved by marking. Lowe was doing groat work on • the lino-out, I breaking through time after tune. From a scriim Wi Fridny secured, I and sent the sphere out to Brown, to Houdorson, who sent u fine pass to Wilkinson, who was thrown into touch. City retaliated by a fine toot rush, headed by Nicolas, Grant, and Lowe, which carried play into A\ est End territory. Not to be outdone, AVest End initiated a fine dribbling rush, Alutu and Pine showing up prominently, and transferred . the scene of operations to the City crnarters, where a fierce battlo raged. Wilkinson brought relief by a fine kick. Miltu came through from a lino-out in great style, and passed to Riwae, who sent the oval on to Brown, who kicked high. Rowe marked and sent the leather well "up the field with a good kick. Brown snapped the ball up from a loose rush and centred it, and T’orbes and Puflett raced for possession. Puflett, cleverly beating bis man, secured tho oval .and kicked high. Brown marked and found the line at tho corner with a great kick. West End came with a fine foot rush,

which Rowe stopped by cleverly marking off their toes. Brown got possession and made a great run, dodging in fine style. Ho sent a .good pass to Ellison, who was.- following up well, and Ellison in turn transferred to Riwae, who kicked out. Grinlinton next showed up, and coining through the forwards with at his toes he succeeded in taking play well up the field. From a. scrum City got the ball, and Howe sent a nice pass to Robinson, who transferred to Wilkinson, who was tackled in good st-le by “Weka” Roderick. City was awarded a free_kiek for off-side play, and Puflett landed a beautiful ''oal. Kaiti City 3 points, West End nil. Lowe made a fine run, and was grassed by Brown. From a scrum the loatlier was shot, out to Brown, who centred with a high kick, but Broughton was coual to the occasion, and coolly marked. Henderson next secured the sphere and made a fine run up the field, but met his Waterloo in Robinson, who was tackling in liis best style. The City rearguard at this point commenced to throw the oall about, and somo splendid passing rushes resulted. From a scrum Rowe shot tlio ball out to Grinlinton, who „ent it on to Robinson, to Hay, to Puflett, who was thrown into touch at the corner. Pine brought relief by breaking away from the lino, and Brown, with a .fine line-kick, gained a Jot of ground for his side. Robinson, with a fine dodging run, worked his way to the West End line, where fie passed to Wilkinson, who, making a great dash at the line, was pushed out of touch at the corner flag. The West End vanguard by a great rush transferred the play to the other end of the field, where Mutu, Pine, and Wi Friday rushed the ball over the lino, and Wi -Friday falling on the ball scored a fina_try. Brown made a fine attempt with the kick at goal, the ball just falling uuder the bar. Kaiti City 3 points, West End 3. Half-time was shortly afterwards sounded. Upon resuming City attacked hotly, and West End were kept at work busily defending Their base. Rowe secured from a scrum and shot the ball out to Grinlinton, to Robinson, to Hay, to Wilkinson, who made a fine run, and was cleverly brought down by “Weka” Roderick a few yards from the line. West End were forced through City kicking too hard. West End initiated a-fine dribbling rush, Stuart, Riwae, and Ellison showing out in front, and carried play into neutral territory. A fine passing rush by the blues’ rearguard, in which five of the backs took part, was frustrated by • the splendid tackling of the West End backs. Rowe made a dash for tlio line and scored a I nice try. . Puflett was entrusted with the kick at goal, and made a good attempt. ICaiti City 6 points, West End 3. The West End vanguard came through with the hall at their toes and menaced their opponents’ stronghold. A free kick.to the blues brought relief, and West End with a great | foot rush brought play back again in front of City’s goal. Broughton, with a fine line-kick, saved the situation. The City forwards took the ball into their opponents’ 25, where Nicolas secured, and dribbling in great style crossed the coveted line and scored a brilliant try amTclst great applause. Puflett failed with the kick at goal. Kaiti City 9 points, West End 3. City repeatedly had West End’s goal in danger, throwing the ball about in a lively manner, although somo good chances were spoilt by inaccurate Puflett had a shot at goal from the field, the ball refusing to rise, Tlie_jvllistle sounded noside, with City attacking fiercely, and West End as fiercely defending. For tlio victors, Broughton at fullback played a fine game, doing his share of tlio work with great dash. Wilkinson (wing-three-quarter) is a new player to Gisborne. Ho acciuit-

. n l/v lOUilu* LU ted himself very creditably, and .with a few more games should prove a valuable acquisition to the Kaiti City backs. Hay at centre played weli, his taking and kicking being of -reat service to liis sklo. Ruflett on the other wnig was out of his ■ element. Tliis player should be closer to the scrum, as lie is speedy, and liis linekicking is of a very high standard. Grinlinton and Robinson (five-eighths) and Rowe (half) played brilliantly, and were in'a great measure responsible for City’s victory. Their tackling was very sure and sudden, and each took his mail'with'deadly accuracy. Wilkinson (wing-forward) played with great dash. Of the forwards Hanslej", a now man, grafted hard, and Lowe, Nicolas, and Hansen also shone out in the loose. For the losers, Tate (full-back) played his usual safe game. Forbes (wing-three-quarter) played a fine game, proving ' himself a defensive

player of no mean order. Henderson (centre) improves upon acquaintance. His tackling, kicking, passing, and running Tfi Saturday's match would bo hard to improveupon. . f/Weka” Roderick on the other wing played well up to his usual form, bis defensive play being very good.- Brown played brilliantly, his kicking being a feature of the game. He was watched very closely on Saturday, and never got a chance to getaway. Stuart; the other five-eighth, was out of his place,' Fut did a lot of useful work. Wi Friday (half) appealed to have a difficulty inj taking the greasy ball, but bis defensive play more than made up for his deficiency in that respect. Turner (wing) put in a lot of useful work, and* was' a continual source of annoyance to the opposing half. Of the pack all toiled hard, Pine "and Mutu being the most prominent.

Mr. W. Howard controlled the game in an efficient manner, while Messrs. J. Martin and M. Osborne held the line flags. JUNIOR MATCH.

The Junior match on No. 2 ground was between Takitimu and West End, and resulted in a very even game, West End proving victorious by 3 points (a trv) to nil. • Takitimu won the spin of the coin, and played with the sun at thenbacks in the first spell. The reds (Takitimu) attacked hotly, and a score was imminent, but a foolish hard kick forced the blacks (West End). The country team continued to attack all through the ' spell, hut appeared to have no scoring men, and their efforts were of no avail. In the second'"'half -West End had slightly the best of the play,-and a fine rush from their own line to that of fhoir opponents allowed J. Third tp score a fine try, The attempt at- goal prov-.

od fruitless. No further scoring resulted. ! For West End, Olson and McTnchlnn, of the backs, and Somerville and Paterson, of tjio forwards, wore tko pick. (•' , tT For Takitiniu Callaghan and Homi Kara, of the backs, and J. Roderick and Campbell, of tho forwards, played well. . , , ... Mr. 11. Carr carried out the duties of referee in an impartial manner; while Messrs. Thompson and Smith wore tho lino umpiros.