FOOTBALL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2138, 22 July 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. Tho third round of the competition under the auspices of the Rugby Union was brought to a close at Victoria Domain oil Saturday afternoon last, when Takitimu scored their first victory over West End by. the narrow margin of one point. This victory for tho country team brings tho three clubs oil a level for the championship and tho interest centred in the competition is now very considerable. From a spectacular standqoint„ the game was full of incident, and the cheers and counter cheers showed that both teams had a good following. In tho junior contest Kaiti-City met Takitimu. The City club have tho championship well in hand and as the Takitimu team could only muster 12 men they decided to forfeit, after playing the first spell. i'll tho third grade competition Kaiti-City defeated Takitimu by 6 points to nil. SENIOR.

The senior match was played on No. 1 ground, West End winning the toss. Hakowai set the hall in motion, and Callaghan returned to centre. Te Hau secured from a. West End footrush and sent the leather well up the line. Kelly took a high kick from To Reinga, and with a fine 'kick to touch gained a lot of ground for his side. The West End forwards had too much weight for their opponents in the scrum, hut in the loose the country team hold the advantage, giving the West End vanguard a busy time on defence. Mutu, Heke, and Fine were conspicuous in the open and carried tho hall dangerously near the Takitimu goal-line, whore Callaghan, who was promoted from the junior ranks to the responsible position of fullback for the reds, cleverly saved. Turner broke away with the leather and raced down the field. . He lost possession of the hall and in his endeavour to pick it up again ho knocked it on. Tho “All Blacks” were awarded a free kick for offside play on the part of Swann, and Brown centred the leather with a high punt, which B. Thompson marked. Delamere found tho lino with a powerful kick. At this point of tho game iovoral of the Takitimu men wore penalised for repeated infringements, their ignorance of disregard of the laws of the game losing for them a good (leal of territory and also the sympathy of their supporters. Graham, lialf-back for tho West End team, was tho next to como into prominence. Ho secured the oval from the scrum and made a fine run', hut was a little late in getting his pass out and the Takitimu rearguard swept the hall out of touch. A little later Graham again got tho leather and threading his way among the Reds lie transferred to Pine, who charged over tho lino and scored. Brown was entrusted with the kick at goal, and safely piloted the sphere between the uprights. West End 5 Takitimu - 0

Delamero kicked high and Parker Turei following up smartly spoilt Henderson’s return and carried the hall out at tho corner flag. Takitimu made strenuous efforts to force a passage through the West End’s defence hut without avail and Kelly relieved the situation with a fine kick to touch. Te Reinga marked a high kick, from Roderick, in a good position and Swann taking a shot at goal succeeded in funding the right spot amid applause.

West End 5 Takitimu 3 Half time was called without any further addition to the score.

Upon resuming the Takitimu vanguard pressed the West Enders and kept up a fiery attack on their goalline. A free kick to the reds gave Miller a chance at- the goal, the ball falling short. Delamere received the hall from Ivaipara and made a fine run, sending the oval on to Miller who made a dash at the line, Kelly throwing him out at the corner. A fine foot-rush by the reds carried the play to West End’s line, where B. Thompson snapped the sphere, up and grounded it over the line. Swann’s kick at goal was a failure. Takitimu 6 West End 5

Brown made a strong run and transferred to Roderick who in turn sent the ball on to Henderson who found the line at the corner. The Takitimu forwards, headed by Glennie cleared their line by a' determined rush and transferred play to the centre of the field where a succession of scrums occurred. Roderick dodged through and Kaipara stopped him neatly. Graham got away from a scrum and started a passing rush but a forward pass nullified the attempt. Te Hau was playing with great dash and made a fine effort to score being stopped in the nick of time by Henderson. After some exciting play on West! End’s line the whistle sounded. For the victors all played well up to inter-club form. Callaghan, fullback, gave a very good display, and given a few games in that position with the seniors lie should make a name for himself. The three-quarter line, To Hau, To Reinga and Miller put a lot of dash into their play and with Delamere and Ivaipara, fiveeighths, and Glennie, half, caused their opponents a good deal of anxiety. The forward division although not as weighty in the pack had the best of the bargain in the loose and for the- greater part of the game had their opponents on the defensive. For the losers, Graham, Brown, “Sailor” Roderick-and Kelly were the best of the backs, while Mutu, Pine, Heko and Turner showed up well in tho forward ranks.

Mr. J. O’Connell, one of Napier’s loading referees, had charge of the whistle and gave every satisfaction, while Messrs. Freer and Wi Friday hold tho lino pennons.

JUNIOR. This match, between Kaiti-City and Takitimu, was forfeited at half-time by the country team owing to the fact that they could only muster 12 men and the City team were making numerous scores with great ease. Mr. IV. Hay made an efficient referee. THIRD GRADE. The Takitimu and Kaiti-City third fifteens tried conclusions on No. 2 ground at 1.30 and tlic Cit.yites succeeded in gaining a victory by 6 points to nil. Mr. C. Somervell controlled the game in an able manner.

Should a player who has been ordered off the field by the referee for rough play, and who is summoned by the football authorities to give an explanation of his conduct, be allowed to call witnesses? was a question which came up for solution at a meeting .of the Canterbury Rugby Union Committee. The chairman remarked that it had been the policy of the Union for years not to allow witnesses to appear, as there were always some spectators of the game who sympathised with a man whose unsportsmanlike behaviour necessitated the referee taking stringent action. Oil the other hand, he said, tile referee hail no chance of calling witnesses to give evidence justifying his action, a» he was too strenuously engaged in liis duties to trouble about anyone who had seen foul play going on. After remarks by various speakers, it was decided not to allow the player concerned to call witnesses of the incident under discussion.