FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1920, Page 4

FOOTBALL

SENIOR (JQP, The weather on Saturday afternoon was perfect for the football games. On Cass Square there was a fairly strong north-easterly breeze blowing which gave an advantage to the defenders of the northern goal. The result of the day’s play was as follows: 9, Ross 3. Kiwis H, Kumara, 5. Excelsors 5, Kokatalii 0.

DIGGERS v. ROSS. This gamp attracted considerable interest, Ross players and Supporters coming down at mid-day by special train. Diggers won the toss and defend ed the northern goal, having* a good breeze on their left rear which was of decided advantage. The game throughout was of a very disappointing nature. Neither side showed much combination, - and individually there was so much bad handling of the dry ball that the play came down to a very low level. The play was of an up and down nature, but the wind gave Diggers a substantial advantage in the first half. About half way through the spell Wells got possession outside the Ross 25, and ran right across the field in a foolish endeavour to beat his opponents. On the other side he was tackled and lost the hall, but Michel was handy and kicking over the line dropped on tho ball and scored an extremely lucky try. Carley failed with the kick at goal. A couple of minutes afterwards, following the kick out and some return kicks, the ball’ went, across in front of the goal, where Wells made a brilliant pick-up and with a fine dash was over the line, and scored, before his - opponents seemed aware of it. This was tlm best individual item of the game. Nancekivell made a good though unsuccessful attempt to convert. Flay for the rest of the spell was of a poor nature and the teams changed over with the score Diggers 6 to 0. With tho wind at their backs it was thought that Ross would put up a good showing, but they failed to make as much use of the breeze as they should have, and by continually kicking out lost ground as a result. The play in this spell showed no improvement, though the ball. travelled well up and down the field A Ross rush saw Henderson get the ball, but he, hung on to it till downed and spoilt what was a perfect opening. Shortly afterwards a loose rush by Ross saw the Diggers badly beaten, and Henderson touched down, near the side line, the kick at goal failing. 3—B. Then Ross made their most determined and continued attack of the game, a series of loose scrums near the Diggers’ goal line spelling danger, which the defenders were unable to stop, and it was only faulty handling, and some selfish play among the attackers that lost them the score on several occasions. There, were one or two close chances, Cherrie on one occasion being just beaten, while on another a forward dropped on the ball, only to find he was some two yards inside play, and luckily lie got off witli 7 out penalty. After nearly a. quarter of an hour of attack, the Ross players' gave way, and a Digger rush took the play to the other end, where from a forward scramble, Cutbush went over and scored. The goal kicking was again a failure. Time now was getting close and Ross made an attempt to retrieve the position. A forward rush took the ball over the line at the corner, where the ball, which otherwise probably would have gone into touch in goal, struck the referee and hounded hack several feet, a Ross man falling on it. The decision of a serum five yards out caused some dissension aiming some of the spectators. The game ended shortly afterwards, Diggers being victorious by 9 to 3.

Mr H. Harker was referee, and though his decisions were sound lie did not have that control of the players necessary to ensure a satisfactory result. There was an inclination of the players to argue, which affected the piny considerably. The game itself was a very poor exhibition no feature of it being of a senior cup standard of play.

KIWIS V. ROSS. This game followed as soon as the players in the previous match had left the field. Kiwis won the toss and defended the northern goal, the breeze still being substantially strong at their backs. The play was very ragged in the opening minutes, and a full quarter of an hour had gone before the Kiwi backs had an attempt at passing, which bad handling spoilt. Kumara, as in previous games showed to distinct advantage in the loose, and much of the ground gained came by this means, their loose rushes having a demoralising effect on their opponents. One of the opening items of the play was an attempt to pot by Williams which went wide. Then Irving got his backs going, and a number of nice passing runs wer e made, spoilt always by bad handling on the part of one or another. A forward rush saw the play taken to the line, Haile being blocked by an opponent on each side and a goal post in front oi him. He dropped the ball and Walker being handy he only had to pick up and drop over the line under the posts. Hannah converted s—o. . The play, went up and down the field, long kicking returns and loose rushes predominating. A passing rush by the Kiwis saw a pass missed but from loose play that followed R. Ross snapped up the leather, and with a smart dash scored. Hannah failed with the kick. Kuiunia then took play to the other end with one of their loose rushes, but the spell ended without further score.

In the second half Kumara had,somewhat the best of tlie play, but they showed an absence of back play, though there were a number of good individual efforts. In their loose ruslies they gain ed much ground, following up well, hut the handling on both sides was very poor. From a capital rush that took the ball half the length of the field, tlm ball went into touch in goal. Almost immediately following the kick,out the reds came ' back and from a great scramble in which the Kiwi backs were badly beaten in two attacks, Murtha scored under the posts. McCarthy converted an easy shot, s—B. Play livened somewhat and the ball went to the other end and 'from a mark bv Powley Hannah kicked a good goal 11—o. With time approaching Kumara used ha judgment and continually, used the touch line, in spite of having a good breezo behind them. There was a ragged display in the last ten minutes, the only bright feature being a fine break through by Fitzgerald who got possession on his own side of half-way and

came, straight pp the field. Tlie full back got in his way, but a side-step took him paat, but the slackening up for this purpose allowed another Kiwi back to get up and bring the Kumara man down a yard from the line, after a very fine effort This was the last episode of a poor game in which . the handling was very poor and would be a disgrace to school boys. The play ended with a free-kick to Kumara finding the lino at the corner flag, anothei grave error in tactics that was a noticeable feature during the second half when the scores were against them and tiie breeze in their favour. The game ended Kiwis 11, Kumara 5 ; but there was hardly that difference between tho teams. Mr. L. Hills was referee and he had. the teams, as usual, capitally under control, giving his decisions very promptly.

EXCELSIORS v. KOKATALII. Tli e Excelsior team travelled to Ko, katalii op Saturday afternoon and proved victorious by five points (a converted try) to nil. Tlie game was a hard close one throughout, the play being very even. McDonald scored the try, which Ross converted. Mr J. Downey was referee. POSITION OF TEAMS. The position of tho teams in the competition now is:— Diggers 11 points. Ross 9 points. Excelsiors 8 points. Kiwis 8 points. Kumara 7 points. Kokatalii 3 points. Excelsiors and Kumara have to play off a game.

All members of the Excelsior Football Club are requested to attend practice at the Harbour Board Shed this evt,. ing at 7 o’clock sharp.

A practice of the Kiwi Football Club takes place in the .Supreme Hall to-mor-row evening at 7 o’clock sharp. All members are requested to be present.

i AUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL. SYDNEY, August 15, At Soccer, New South Wales defeated Queensland by 3-0, At Rugby League New South Wales defeated Queensland 40 to 18. WAIRARAPA V. TARANAKI CARTERTON, August 14. Wairarapa and Taranaki met at Carterton to-day. The ground was fairly soft after the fheavy rain, but was dry. The game ended Wairarapa 9; Taranaki 3, Anderson of Taranaki re tired hurt, but not seriously.

SEDDON SHIELD

WON BY MARLBOROUGH

WESTPORT, August 14. The Seddon Sheld match was played at Westport to-day between Bullcr, (holders), and Marlborough (challengers), and was won by Marlborough, after a strenuous game, by 21 points to 13. The Marlborough pack was rather better than Buller’s, hut otherwise there was not a great deal to pick and choose between the teams For Marlborough Phillips and Gleeson (2) scored tries, King converting one and kicking a, penalty goal. (?) For Bullcr, Friend, O’Neill and Paine scored tries, Casey converting two. Mr Watson, of Christchurch, officiated as referee