FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1921, Page 4

FOOTBALL

EXCELSIORS V. KOKATAHI

This game was played oil Saturday afternoon on Cass Square before a fair attendance of spectators and resulted in a win for Excelsiors by 8 points (a try secured by Heenan and goaled by Ross, who also kicked a penalty goal) to 6 points (a try secured by Moynihan and a penalty g-oal kicked by M. WaJace) The ground was greasy, light showers during the game ig>t improving the conditions. Tn the early stages Excelsiors scored a try that Ross converted and for some time they had the better of the game. Then the visiting forwards showed to advantage and took play to the other end, where a score came as the result of offside' play, M. Wallace kicking a good goal. The play for some time was fairly even though Excelsiors had somewhat the better of the play and after two shots within range, one by Wogan failing, Ross kicked a penalty goal with a nice Icicle. Then Kokatahi came with some open forward play and from a loose scramble Moynihan with a smart dash scored. Up to half time the advantage lay with the visitors : hough the play generally was very ragged. From the start of the second half Kokatahi attacked and with the Rail on the Excelsior line the ball .ante out to the Backs time after time in striking distance, but the hacks failed badly to make use of their excellent advantage. After a quarter.of an hour in which several fine openings ! were lost right on the line, Excelsiors tacks cleared the play to half way wlieiit continued about the centre for most ~f the rest of the game, with Excelsiors making some efforts to break through. With time almost up Kokatahi made a good rally and took the hall 10 the red line where for a few moments Excelsiors were fighting hard to stave off defeat the ringing of the hell causing them to breathe with relief.

The game was a very even one, hut

Excelsiors hardly deserved a win and were lucky to escape defeat. With any enterprise shown by the Kokatahi out

ide hacks the second half should have given them a substantial reward. M. Wallace and Moynihan were the only two to show to any advantage. Tinforwards generally played well together in the open, hut were beaten in the scrums. Tito Excelsiors played a very ragged game, the hacks did not get going at all well and though there was a bit of passing a-t times it never went well in spite of weak opposition, except for the spoiling tactics of the two opposing five eighths. There was hardily a. back that played up to decent form, while some failed badly. The forwards lie,ld the best of the i-erums, but there was a great ineliua.tion to get offside and wait for something to turn up, with the result that the referees whistle was continually sounding for penalties. Mr D. R. Dowell was referee. DIGGERS V. KUMAR A. The Diggers travelled to Tvunmrn on Saturday, a draw resulting (i points ,-ac!i. The game was n close and exciting one. Mr M. Houston was referee. The score consisted of two tries for Diggers (Muir and Michel scoring) to a try and a penalty goal.

Ross seniors forfeited to Riinu. Kiwi juniors travelled to Kokatahi and won by (> points to five. Excelsior juniors travelled to Ross and proved successful hv 13 points, ! tries by Gibbons and Thompson, and penalty and potted goals by Aitken) to ') points, (tries by Ableson (2) and Muir). WEST COAST REPS. The following team lias been selected to represent the West Coast in their match against Buller at Westport on ’illunlay next: —Bowman, Rutherford, Hall, Mouatt, O’Rcgan, King, Hagar, Mclntosh, Walton, Ryan, Nelson, Steele, Rowley, O’Callaghan, Osborne, Emergencies, forwards: Dawson, McEnnney; hacks, Guthrie, Nightingale. The team leaves for Westport by ear at 1 p.tn. on Friday next. MARLBOROUGH DEFEAT NELSON. liy TELEGRAPH —PRESH ASSN., COPYRIGHT. BLENHEIM, July 9 A Rugby rep. match between Marl- ! oi'ougli it ml Nelson, arranged to assist in the selection of a combined team to meet the South Africans, was played here to-day. The game resulted in a win for Marlborough by 2-1 to 0. No score was obtained in the first half, Nelson having slightly the better of tlie game. Marlborough rapidly rattled up eight points in the second spell, and thereafter dominated the play. The scores ((insisted of tries by Wilson, Gleeson, 11. O’Brien, Byrne, and Fitzgerald, the last-named converting one and kicking a penalty goal. Byrne also potted a goal.