EXCELSIORS V. ROSS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1920, Page 4

EXCELSIORS V. ROSS

Tho above match took place at Ross on Saturday, and after a hard fight the visiting team were defeated hy 8 points to (3. Shortly after the kick-off from a loose rush Maunders obtained the hall and with a nice dodgy run scored under the posts. Wogan failed with the kick. Ross immediately attacked hard and a good run by A\ r . Henderson took the play into the Excelsior’s twenty-five hut was nicely stopped by L. Ross. From a line out the tho Excelsior backs secured the ball, a nice kick by the full-back relieving the position. Play then continued up and down the field without much advantage to either side and there was no further score until half-time was called. When play commenced the Ross forwards put in some go"#d work and again looked very dangerous, hut a hard kick enabled th e Excelsior fullback to force. The Excelsior forwards with a good dribbling rush brought play back into tho Ross twenty-five, ending in Chetwynd getting over. Wogan failed to convert. Play now commenced to get very scraggy and some good work on tho part of Cherrie, (Ross), ended in W. Henderson scoring under the posts, being converted by Cherrie. Ex_ eelsiors 6 Ross 5. After tho kick off aga in, the Ross backs with a good passing rush enabled R. Henderson to score just as time was called. Cherrie failed with the kick.—Excelsiors 6, Ross 8. The play throughout was very rough, two Excelsior players having to retire necessitating medical attention. Mr H. Hnrker had control of the game. KUMAR A V. KOK ATARI. This game was played at Knmara on Saturday afternoon and resulted in a win for Knmara by 3 points, a try, to nil. Mr Steele was referee. ENGLAND V. AUSTRALIA. WIN FOR VISITORS. AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ABSOCIA'VaON'] SYDNEY, July 11. The third League football test match (England v. Australia) attracted 40,000. The “ Ashes ” being already won and lost, both teams threw caution to the winds and indulged in enterprising play, sometimes bordering on recklessness. The Englishmen appeared to great advantage. Their combined movements and short, sharp, swift passing bouts were a treat to witness, being in marked contrast with the slower transfers of the New South Wales’ backs. Horder retired early in the game with an injured aflfn, being grassed heavily after a fine sprint down the wing. Stone played a dazzling game for England, scoring two fine tides, one being the result of a race from the centre. The half time scores were: Australia eight points (Thompson and Garmvorth tries, Burge a goal) ; England, six points and Hilton tries). The second spell was one of exciting tit-bits, with many thrilling moments. Burge got a goal from a penalty, then Hilton scored again, Rogers converting,, and England was leading by 11 points to 10. Stone increased the lead with a splendid try, Rogers adding the extra points. Burge then broke away, and after racing fifty yards, crossed the line, bringing the scores to 10—13. It was still anybody’s game, with the Englishmen ever threatening. Bacon registerihl a further try for tho visitors, Rogers converting. The latter later added a further goal, making the final scores, England 23; Australia, 13. The English footballers sail for New Zealand on Thursday. They play a match against. Newcastle when they return.

NEW ZEALAND V. AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, July 10,

The New Zealand Rugby team, which is to tour Australia, played Auckland today in the presence of about 8,000 spectators. The ground was heavy after the recent rain. Contrary to expectations, the game ended in a draw—eleven points all.

Tho New Zealand backs were superior to the local backs, hut the Auckland forwards, particularly in the second spell, out-classed their opponents. The first spell ended eleven points to thseo in New Zealand’s favour, tries being scored by McLean, Tilyard and Algar, one of which O’Brien converted. Hayward scored for Auckland. In the second spell Auckland forwards ran all over the New Zealand pack. Lomas scored a try, which V. Radeley converted, and Badeley also converted a penalty.

WANGANUI V. TARANAKI. HAWERA, Jiuly 10. The football match, Wanganui v. Taranaki, was played in wet weather, and resulted in a win for the latter by 6 points to nil. The state" of the ground and ball prevented anything like a good display. Taranaki’s score was from two penalty goals by George. In a curtain-raiser, Wanganui High School beat New! Plymouth by 11 points to 3. It was a very fine game under the circumstances, the boys handling the greasy ball particularly well.