FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1920, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

The weather turned out wet and stonily uu Saturday afternoon for the football matches and the ground* being wet and slippery the play was generally of a poor nature. The results were as follows : ■> SENIOR CUP. MxceLsiors 3 v. Kokatahi 0. Kiwis 6 v. Kunvara 3. Boss 12 v Diggers 3. JUNIOR CUP. State School 26 v. Excelsiors 0. EXCELSIORS Y. KOKATAHI. This game played on Cass Square under adverse weather conditions proved an oven one, the ball travelling up and down the field rapidly, but the backs were unable to handle the greasy hall in a satisfactory manner. Aitken scored a try for Excelsiors, which was not converted. This was the only score and they won by 3 to 0. Mr Conning was referee. KIWIS V. KUMAR A. ' The above game took place at Kama ra on Saturday and resulted .n a win for Kiwis by 6 to 3. The Kiwis won the toss and played in (be first half with a wind behind them, and had the local team hard pressed all through. Late in the fiist half. Duncraft getting the ball from a kick, with a nice dodgy run went over the line near the posts, hut owing to the greasy nature ol the ball the try was not converted. Soon afterwards from a forward rush P. Cutbush scored. This try also was unconverted. Half-time was then called. When play was resumed Kumara took the offensive, and from a loose rush Johnson scored, the try being unconverted. After tliis the Kiwi forwards supported by a good set of hacks soon had the home team hard pressed, some good rushes by Jones only being stopped by the Kumara full back’s safe tackling. From then until time was called the Kiwis had Kumara in their own twenty-five playing a good defensive game until time was called, the scores being unchanged. Mr Iff. Hnrker made an efficient referee. ROSS v. DIGGERS. (Our Own Correspondent.) The football match played at Ross on Saturday between the Diggers and the local team resulted in an easy win for Ross, the scores being 12 points to 3. Ross scored two tries in each half, the scorers being Cherrie, Cunningham, Crolt and O. Hahn, while Owens secured a try for the Diggers, within a few moments of the end of the game.

All attempts to convert the tries failed probably owing to the wet state of the ground which soon made the ball heavy and greasy and difficult to handle.

Ross no doubt had the better team in the field and had the best of the game all through. This team has improved considerably during the last few weeks and if the improvement continues they should soon be in the lead for cup honours. Mr Downey made a very efficient referee both teams being perfectly satisfied with his decisions. The Diggers wore entertained by the local footballers at a dance in the evening and left for home per motor cars before midnight. JUNIOR CUP. The opening game for the junior cup competition was played on Saturday afternoon before the senior game. The teams were State School and Excelsiors, the former having a runaway victory and running up the large score. ,of 26 to 0. Tries were scored by R. Nightingale (3), Aitken, Montague (2), Breeze and Kelly. Aitken converted one try. Mr Houston was referee.

(Per Preas Association.) NORTH ISLAND V. SOUTH ISLAND WELLINGTON June 26tli. The annua] Rugby festival between teams representative of the North Island and South Island was played at Wellington to-day in the presence of about 7000 spectators. Heavy rain during the week spoiled the ground considerably, and it was very heavy indeed. Notwithstanding this fact, the game was a good exhibition of the Rugby code and was full of interest from beginning t® end. The victory went to the North Island by 12 to 3, but the score did not indicate that there was this margin of difference between the opposing teams. If anything, the South Island gave a better display than the northerners. They seemed to play with more combination and they handled the ball a little more cleanly than the North Island team. Both sides were fairly evenly matched, and the tussle between the two forward divisions was splendid. The game was mostly of a forward character and the crack backs of both sides were not seen to best advantage. Especially was this the case with icspcct to J. Steel, the well-known West Coast player, who established his reputation in 'the Inter-Island match last year in that he scored two brilliant tries. To-day the bail seldom came his way and consequently the spectators were disappointed at not seeing him in action to the fullest extent. ' On the other hand, P. W. Storey, (South Canterbury), who came to light with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Rugby team, was in excellent form and was prominent throughout the. game. He was in everything that was going, and gave a line individual display. D. McK Sandman, the Southern ball, did well and had little difficulty in countering the efforts of C. Brown, the North Island half back. Of the Southern forwards, E. Hassell and H- Harty were the most conspicuous, and they did some excellent work. The host forward on the ground was undoubtedly Donald of Wairarapa, the North Island wing, who played a great game. He created some splendid openings and was ever in the thick of the fray. When he retired hurt towards the closing stages of tho match he was warmly applauded. J. T. Tolyard and C. E. Badelcy, the Northern five eighths, both acquitted themselves excellently. Tolyard’s work being brilliant at tijnes, especially on tho defensive. N. A. Barker, M. Algar and Y. W. Wilson, the North Island threequarters, all played soundly. Barker by reason of his speed, especially justi.

tying his inclusion in the team. Wilson 1 played a valiant game and was unfortunate in not being able to carry some of his work to a definite issue. J. G. O’Brien, the great Auckland fuil-badk, was as safe as one could wish, and could In: relied on whenever there was trouble brewing.

WELLINGTON V. W.URARAPA. MASTEItTOX, June 20. There was a very large attendance at- the Wellington and Waifrarapa match played on the Masterton i’ark Oval on Saturday niternoou. The ground was vary heavy after the recent rains, hut nevertheless a good exhibition of the game was witnessed.

Wellington proved superior m every respect and defeated their opponents by 21 to 3. Ltyaji, Aitken and Shearer secured Wellington’s points, and Carson scored for Wafrarnpa.

ENG CAN I) V. ' AUSTRALIA. BRISBANE, June 27. 'the lir.st League football test mala.ii was idayed before a record crowd of 30,000. The weather was dull but wanii. England attacked at the outset and almost got over, but Bacon was forced out. Horder (Australia) broke away twice without result. England was awarded a free kick and Gronow from near the centre obtained a good goal. England continued to have the best of the play, though the Australian defence was too strong. Gronow again got a goal from a penalty. Australia forced and then took play to tlie other end of the field, and made several determined attacks in which Broadfoot and Yost and Holder were prominent. Burge (Autralia), twice failed at goal from free kicks. The game developed into a rough and scrappy character, both teams playing offside. The referee warned Hilton (England), and Pearce (Australia), for indulging in fisticuffs. During the rest of tlie first half tlie Australians were Til charge, Eraser picking up in the loose, scored a try, which was not converted. Half time scores were England 4, Australia 3.

On resumption, play went up and down the field, Broadfoot made a brilliant dash on tlie wing, hut Thomas and Rogers tackled ancl hustled him into touch near the corner. Australia were penalised for illegal tackling, but Gronow failed with the kick at goal. Play became rough, and excitement reached a high pitch. Broadfoot (Australia) were awarded a free kick, hut Erner failed in the attempt at goal. After scrappy play, Horder kicked up to the left wing near the line, and Burge made a flying leap and dived over. Horder converted. Australia were thus four points ahead. There was terrific excitement when Horder again broke away and almost sewed. AiisLrali* were penalised near the centre, hut Gronow’s. kick failed __ . • The final scores were. Australia 8, England 4.