FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1920, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

DIGGERS V. EXCELSIORS. The above match was played on Gass Square on Saturday afternoon and despite the rain a very, fair exhibition of football was given by the teams. The game was very even all through, and the result a win for the Excelsiors, by one point showed how close the play was. The Diggers were handicapped by the absence of Dowell, Oweng, Tainni, and Keogan, and though three substitutes were found, their absence made a big difference. The, Excelsiors were strengthened materially hy the inclusion of A. Wogan, who just arrived from Wellington, where lie was a member ol the Selwyn Club. The game was started by the Diggers kicking off and the play soon was taken to their end. Hie Excelsiors were getting,the ball from the scrum and some good passing was indulged ill. The Diggers shifted play to their opponents 25 Cnd from a free kick Galley notched a good goal—3 to nil. This Score against them livened up the Excelsiors and from a. • scrum near the centre, Betliune .obtained the hall and quickly sent it on to A. Wogan, who in turn gave it to L. Ross and the latter put in a good run and secret!. A Wogan failed to convert —3 all. Tim game continued up and down the field and from a 1 rush Inglis, for , the Diggers scored a clever try by fast following up. A misunderstanding between the Excelsior centre and fullback in forcing was the cause of this, try to Inglis. Nancekivell converted with a good kick. —8 to 3. Shortly after Betliune got the hall from the' scruip and passed to A. Wogan and lie cut in and.then ran right through;the Diggers and scored a nice try. He failed add to the points-8 to 6. The hell then sounded half-time.

On resuming the play continued up and down the field and good passing rushes by the Excelsiors was only stopped in time by the Diggers. The hall was now very heavy and greasy and very hard to handle. From a kick over the line E. Heenan scored near the posts, hut the kick at goal failed-9 to 8. The Diggers tried hard to score, hut hard'kicking allowed a force down n s the result of their efforts. The light was failing fast and though the Excelsiors continued passing the handling was uncertain and there was no further score. 'Mr M. Houston had charge of the whistle. KIWIS Y. KOKATAHL The above match took place at Kokatahi ou Saturday and resulted in a win for the local team by 3 points to nil, the score hems’ made by O’Connor. The game throughout was very oven and showed an absence of passing rushes owing to the ball being greasy. It was a hard fought game throughout but the Kokatiihi team liad a very heavy set of forward who kept the Kiwi hacks going all i the time. Mr Conning had charge of the game.

A practice of the Kiwi Football Club takes place to-night in the Supreme Hall at 7 p.m. sharp. All members are requested to he present^