FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2251, 24 July 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THURSDAY COMPETITION.

AVINS FOR STAR AND CITY

Tho Thursday games woro continued yesterday afternoon on No. Z oround at the Domnin. Thoro was n Fair attendance of spectators, and some good football wa® witnessed, oxcitoinent running high at tunes, lho ground was in capital order, and both games were fast. CITY 13 v. ALHAMBRA 0.

Some time after tho advertised t’uno for starting, these teams lined out, both having strong fifteens in tho field. Alhambra pressed at tho commencement, and looked like scoring, but the ball went into touch-in-goal. JjOoso play in midfield followed tho kick-out, aiul Bright found tho lino at Alhambra’s twenty-five with a nice kick. Lowe and Brady here broke away, and carried tlio hall to the City twenty-five, whore Bright obtained' a clever, mark. City now took- up tlio attack, and Puflott lost a great chance of scoring through selfishness. Somervell returned, and Grinliuton mulling badly, Bright was prominent with a high kick and fol-low-up, very nearly scoring. Somervell mulled tlio ball, and a scfamblo on tho line resulted in AtePherson scoring near tho corner. Puflott failed at goal. From the kick-out the Alhambra forwards rushed tho ball to the City line, Brady and Charters in the van'. A tree kick to City brought relief, and play was transferred to midfield. From a line-out here, J. Roderick came through with the ball at his toes, and after a clever dribbling run, scored behind the posts. Puflott added the extra, points. Alhambra now strove to register a score, but the City defence was too solid,' and Bright was instrumental in transferring play to midfield with a nice kick. City were penalised in their own twenty-five, and Tate had , a fruitless attempt at goal. Halftime was called with the scores—City 8, Alhambra nil. . • After the interval Alhambra again forced the play, and Tate was nearly over * after a nice passing run of tho backs. Keeping up the pressure, Alhambra had all the best of the play for a time, but Sharp saved well and kicked into touch near half-way. City now took a hand, and their backs had a nice passing run. A wild pass bv Grinliuton lost a really good chance of scoring, and play settled in midfield. Brady was putting in some fine work, and gained a lot of ground for bis side with a dribbling run, but Bright saved Well. Neither side could claim any advantage for some time, play chiefly centreing in midfield. City gradually worked their way to the Alhambra twenty-five, where the ball went out. From the throw-in. Bright kicked over the line and O’Neill followed up, scoring an easy try, with all the opposing team standing looking on. They apparently thought that the line umpire’s flag was up, but there was no whistle and the score was allowed. Puflett easily sent the ball over the bar.-The whistle sounded soon afterwards with the scores—City 13, Alhambra nil. For the winners Hustoip Cramp, and Sharp, in tho backs, and Bright, AleFherson and Roderick, in. the forwards, played well, and for the losers Tate, Johnston and Cantell, in the back division, and Brady, Lowe, and Charters in the forwards, were the best. Mr. J. J. Alartin controlled the game.

STAR 7,.r. GISBORNE 6,

At the conclusion of the first game these teams came on, and the spectators were treated to an interesting game. Kaipara won tho toss front Thompson, and Star attacked the eastern goal. Gisborne made the pace hot right from the start, and Star were compelled to force twice in the first minute. Play continued ill Star’s territory, Scott and Delaney showing up wall, but Alakaore relieved with a good kick. Star gradually forced the Blues back to their own twenty-five, where Nicolas looked dangerous, but Thompson picked up and sent into touch. Returning to the attack, the Star backs were nearly in, but a difficult pass from Clark to Alakaore spoiled- their chances. A free kick to the Blues brought welcome relief, but a few moments later Carroll •scored after a good forward rush from the twenty-five. Burke, made a good attempt at goall from a difficult angle. The spelLwas called shortly afterwards, with the scores: Star 3, Gisborne nil. ;

After the interval, as at the start of the game, Gisborne had the best of the play, which was fast and furious, but Star soon transferred operations to the Blues twentv-fiv.e, where .T. Gibson and Roderick broke away, and running well up nearly scored, Makaore again saving. The Blues forwards charged down 'a kick l'rpm Burke, and the Star line was in Bangor. Kaipara got in a dodgy run, and kicking well up the field, started an attacking movement. Strenuous play ensued on the Blues’ line, and a forward kicked the ball right across the goal. Burke secured, and with a clean field in front of him, dropped a nice goal, giving Star a lead of seven points. After the kick-off, Gisborne pressed hard and penned Star in their own quarters. The latter were penalised outside the twenty-live, and Thompson landed a good goal from a rather difficult angle. Making desperate endeavors to get on level terms, Gisborne were nearly in on several occasions, and H. Gibson -and Scott both were unfortunate in not scoring. Star were penalised right oh their line -under the goal, and Thompson had no trouble in again sending the bafl over. Excitement was how intense, -and with oiily one point difference in the scores, the Blues were making superhuman efforts to obtain the lead.'..Theiv could not, however, penetrate the Star defence, and time was called, leaving Star victorious. Star 7 points, Gisborne 6 points. Kaipara, Makaore, -and Burke were the best of the Star’s backs; while Wilkinson, Miller, and Nicolas worked hard in the forward ranks. Nono of the -loser’s backs played up to form. Austen, Henderson, and H. Gibson being about the best. Brown, Dolanev, and Scott were most prominent in the forward division. Mr. A, Pritchard refereed. SATURDAY GAMES. JUNIOR MATCH, Kaiti-City juniors to-morrow will be represented as follows: E. Luttrell, Bright, Fitgerald, Grcnfel, : Witty, Baird, A. Luttrell, Mcßae, Bristow, Bragge, Coleman, Moore, Nicolas, Hickey and McGregor (wing); emergencies, Paterson and Jeffries. SCHOOLS MATCH. To-morrow afternoon, at 1.40 p.m., the second fifteen of the Napier High School will try conclusions with the Gisborne High School first fifteen. The local team lias been in regular training for some time, and a. hard struggle for supremacy is expected. A good exhibition, of football is anticipated, as the Napier second fifteen is noted for its dashing play, niul the Gisborne senior school team has remained this season as yet unvanquished. On their arrival on Saturday morning, the visitors will be entertained by the Gisborneites at their private homes, the dinner, at which both teams will assemble, being wisely postponed to the, evening. The Napier team is: Stedman, Smith, Lawry, Harston, Humphries, J. Bailey, A. Bailey, Hall, Dean, English, Neal, McCutcheoii, Hardy, Knight, Mangin, Seed. . The Gisborne fifteen are: Full-back. A. Paku; three-quarters, East, Mill, Porter; five-eighths. D. McLeod and Butler; half, J. Clirisp; forwards, Dunlop, Monro, Redpafch, Te Kani. Fyson. Brown, Redstone, Muir (wing); emergencies. J. Bremner (forward), Sweet (back). repres'entative games. TARANAKI BEATS MANAWATU. [Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, July 23. The Taranaki Rugby representatives defeated Manawatu to-day by 20 points to nil. Neither side was fully represented 1 . Hunter, Cameron, and Coleman being notable absentees from Taranaki on account of the Now Zealand match on Saturday, Tfiq weather'watj cold and tfirsatep*

ing, and tho ground a trillo soft. Tlio local team confined play principally to tlio forwards, rarely calling tho backs into sorvico. Tho Mamiwntu forwards, An somo respects, wore quito equal to tlioir opponents, bu their backs were lamentably weak in rush-stopping .and lino kicking, and consequently ran their forwards off tlioir. feet. Tho local vanguard l , on tho contrary, woro capitally nursed bv the backs, whose lino-kicking was a' feature of .the game. During the first spell tries were scored by O’Sullivan and Crowley, the kicks at goal failing. In the second half, Rothory and AlcNott scored, O’Sullivan and Hnrdgroaves respectively converting, and Hnrdgroaves potted a sensational ('oal from tlio centre lino. Tlio visitors had a- couple of good openings during tho spell, but the backs movomonts woro too slow and erratic to take advantage. On the whole, Alannwatu were fortunate that the ground was somewhat heavy, as the visiting backs would liavo boon Quito unable to stand up to the Taranaki backs’ game.

SOUTH CANTERBURY DEFEATS AY A I R ABABA.

[Press Association.]

TIAIARU, July 23.

Tho representative match AVairarnpa v. iSontli Canterbury was play-,-ed to-day at Tomuka, and resulted in a win for. South Canterbury by 11 to (i. Early in the first spell O’Leary (AYairarapa) placed l a goal from a mark, which was almost immediately followed bv Carlton for South Canterbury doing the same. From a loose rush AtcKonziq failed to stop Car - ton, who scored under thc posts, .ypillaue easily converted.' The visitors then pressed lim'd, Adams, Russell, and O’Leary passing well,.and the latter got across, lie just failed to convert. Tho second spell was stubbornly contested, and. there was no further kcoro till just foil time, ''hen Rolierston charged down a kick by AlcKenzio and crossed the line near the corner. Carlton made a poor attempt at goal. Tho game was a particularly pleasant one. THE BRITISH TOUR. THIRD TEST MATCH. [Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 23. Deans, the Canterbury three-quar-ter, arrived this morning. All the men chosen for the third test are now in Auckland. They had a useful practice this morning, coached by Gallaher and Tyler. , Tho members of the British lootlmll tenm returned from Rotorua today. They speak highly of the ; attractions of tho New Zealand At underlain!. The manager of the team (Air. G. Harnett) said they hoped to put a strong side in the field against New ■Zealand for the third test match on Saturday. . , The Now Zealand team including the local members, are putting in useful practices every-day. Special attention has been paid to scrum work.