FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1920, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

NORTHERN v. SOUTHERN DIVISION. A large following journeyed to Greymonth on Saturday afternoon with the Southern Division representatives to witness the match with the Northern. The day was ideal for the game and the display was first class, or nearly so, by the Northern Division. Although the result was a very easy win for them, the game was not so one sided as the score, 35 to nil, indicated. The display by the winners was greatly marred by their bffsiido tactics, which the referee did not see; several tries were scored in this way. The losers hardly ever got the ball from the scrums and of course back play was out of the question. They sadly lacked the combination of the winners and their collaring at times was a disgrace to a senior team, collaring round the neck being the order of the day. Play, was started by Nancekivell kick. Tug off for the South and at once the game was taken to their twenty-five. In the scrums the North obtained the ball and shortly after the start the ball came to Walton and he smartly potted a nice goal—4 to nil. In the next scrum South got the ball and passing between Wallace, Irving and Duncraft shifted play to the other end and a dangerous rush was luckily stopped by Jamieson, (full back), speculating. The game was up and down and Nelson marked in a good position, but failed with the kick. Nancekivell, Scott and Duncraft by good work gave the North a lot of trouble and then Carley put in another rush. Offside by the North gave South a chance to score, but Carley failed. Another forward rush by the South saw the Northern backs fumble very bad and they did not like the attention of the South forwards, who raised flip hopes of their supporters. The effort was short lived. 'The North started passing and in a good finish O’Callaghan scored under the posts. He took the kick but failed—7 to nil. Passing rushes continued and Russell scored wide out, but lie also failed to convert —10 to nil. The South took a turn at passing and Duncraft, Wogan and Wells participated, and the latter put in a great run down the line and when trying to pass the full back was collared from behind by O’Callaghan. Obtaining the bail the North put in more passing, which the South could not stop and Mclntosh scored near the posts. Walton failed—l 3to nil. Half time was called shortly after.

On resuming Wogan returned the kick off and play went up and down and Jamieson saved a nice rush by the South with a good line kick.—Wogan had a shot from a free kick, but like the other kickers be also failed. North shifted play right back again by good work by Hall, (the best forward on the , ground), and Wallace made.a splendid attempt to save and when clear he attempted Jo kick but was collared by the feet and lost the ball and Chapman picked up and scored. Reynolds failed —l6 to nil. In a good passing bout Russell scored his second try bvit also failed to convert —19 to nil. The Sooth were now completely demoralised and the North could do what they liked with them. In a passing rush one of the North players was lamentably offside and the result was another try which was not converted—22 to nd. South made an effort to drive the /forth back and Duncraft intercepted and toou ploy to the centre but O’Cflliaglian goi the ball in the loose and putting in a nice dodgey run in -which the attempted collaring of a- few South backs, was awful, lie scored behind the posts, and this time Mundy raised a cheer by converting—27 to nil. Play went up and down again, but another off-side display gave the north to score—3o to nil. The South tried again to score and offside by the North gave them a. chance, but the kicking was off. Hore Nelson put in a splendid dodgy run and passing to Chap man he scored near the posts. Walton converted —35 to nil. Play went up and down again and the South got to the line again but though the effort was a good one they failed and the game ended in the North’s 25. Mr Anderson had charge of the whistle.

NEW ZEALAND v. N.S.W. SYDNEY, July 25. New Zealand beat N.S.W. by 26 to ]S. Beard, Bellis(2) Storey, Steele and Donald scored tries and Tilyard potted a goal for New Zealand. L. Wogan, (a Hokitika native), Lawton and Fox scored for N.S.W. .AUCKLAND V. ENGLAND. At League football at Auckland on Saturday, Auckland defeated England by 24 to 16.