FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1921, Page 1

FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S GAMES. The competitions on Saturday resulted as follows: — SENIORS. Kiwis heat Pirates, 0 to 3. Kumara boat Kokatalii, 6 to 0. Excelsiors boat ltoss, 9 to 9. JUNIORS. Kokatalii heat Ross, 15 to (J. Kiwis beat Rirnu, 9 to 4.

KUMARA v. KOKATAHI

The Kokatalii team journeyed to Tvumara on Saturday last and were defeat, ed by six points to nil, tries for Kumara being scored by Messrs Johnstone and Cherry. The Kokatalii team took the field in something the nature of a forlorn hope, having only eleven men, three of which were substitutes. Hie ground was very heavy and the game was of a very ragged nature, tho blacks in spite of the disadvantage in numbers put up a very good fight against their hefty opponents and maintained their reputation of dying hard. The game was very clean. Air Steele controlling in a very satisfactory man-

KIWIS V. DIMLY The above match took place on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon, and proved a very interesting game, though scraggy at times. Riniu kicked off, and "soon the Kiwis had them on the defence, and from a. penalty soon after George kicked a. nice goal from midfield. This seemed to liven up the Pirates whose, forward pressed hard on the Blue lines, lmt Stopforth relieved with a nice kick. Play then when to the Pirates twenty-five where a nice passing rush, saw Hannah got

over the line. George was unsuccessful with the goal. Play continued up

and down field without further score until, half-time. On resuming the Blues kicked off, and Nancekivcll re turned the leather to Blues 2b. Play continued in this territory for about. 1.0 minutes after, when from a forward rush, Carson scored. Nancokivell was v unsuccessful with the kick. Tho kick off was returned to Kiwis territory but good work by Duncraft and Irving took play down the field and from a scrum the ball came out to Hannan, who transferred to George who had only one man to pass, he sent the ball out to Hannah who overran it. thus spoiling a sure try.

tho ball going out. From the lino out the ball went to half-way, and then to Blues twenty-five, but good defensive work by Hannan relieved them. The Kiwi forwards then livened up and took play into the Rirnu 2b, and from a scrum, a nice passing rush resulted in Rutherford scoring George’s kick at goal' just missing. Soon after time was called. Mr M. Houston had charge of the game.

EXCELSTORS v. ROSS. At Ross on Saturday, Excelsiors defeated tin 1 local team by 9 points to 3. The game throughout was of a very even nature and at times very fast and open. Shortly after the commencement Scott- from a good mark piloted the ball over the bar. Just on half-time the Rxelsior backs obtained the ball from alxmt mid-field which ended in L. Ross scoring. Tie failed to convert. Upon resuming the Ross forwards made tilings pretty merry for tho Excelsior pack, and looked very dangerous on two or three occasions. From a scrum Wognn on the blind side, hut owing to

the angle of tile field ran out a few yards of the goal line. From the lineout King obtained the ball and by a smart pass to lloss enabled the latter to score under tho posts. Wogan failed with the kick. From the lack off boss forwards once again got going, and a. mark by Aitlcen relieved the position. From a knock-on in Ross twenty-five Excelsior forwards obtained tho ball and passed to the backs, and after a good display of passing resulted in Wogan scoring in the corner. Ross failed with tho kick. There was no further score until time was sounded. The game throughout was of a v*ry clean and friendly nature. Mr A. Cutbnrrh had control of the whistle.

SPRINGBOKS DEFEAT WELLINGTON.

AFTER A MAGNIFICENT GAME.

WELLINGTON, July 23

Great interest was taken in the match between the Springboks and Wellington reps, which was played in the Athletic Park this afternoon, in the presence of no fewer than 30,000 people, including large contingents from various country districts. At 11 o’clock, three and a half hours before the game commenced, there were 7000 persons present on the ground. Prior to the match, the weather was fairly warm, hut during the progress of the game, a heavy shower fell. A cold southerly wind blew, with considerable force during the whole afternoon. The teams were as follows.—Springboks: Full-back, Do Yiliors; threequarters: Van Heerden, Meyer, Clarkson and Zeller; halves; P. J. Miehau, and Lindall; forwards: Kruger, Michau, Mellish. Morkell, Mostea, Cliol- {■/., Pienaar and Olliver.

Wellington—Full-back : Siddels; three quarters: Aitken, Markham and Ryan; five-eighths : M. Nicholls and Roberts ; half: H. Nicholls; forwards, King (wing), Hughes, Standen, Moffat, Bruce, Price, Parker and S. Shearer. Wellington won the toss, and took advantage of the wind. Wellington became aggressive, with their forwards doing well against their opponents. The Wellington backs opened up play. There was some beautiful passing between the Nicholls brothers, Roberts, Markham and Aitken. This roused the vast crowd to great enthusiasm. The last mentioned was finally thrown out, only at the corner flag. The Wellington forwards again became aggresive, and they took play to the visitors quarters. The visitors however, put up a splendid defence, their backs and forwards playing with great dash. J. Miehau set his backs going, but the passing at this stage was indifferent, little ground being gained. The Springboks then infringed rules, and M. Nicholls front a free kick, nearly put the ball over with the aid of the wind.

Wellington were now having the best of the play. H. Nicholls dashed round the serum, and side stepped Tindall, being only held up on the line by Zeller. Again the Wellington backs got going, but the tackling of the visitors, especially the hack division was deadly. Tindull, Meyer and Van Heerden put in some effective plav in the first spell, but Wellington managed to withstand their onslaught. J. Miehau once electrified the crowd by a sudden sprint. He then transferred to Van Heerden, the Springbok flier, who made a great break, and was nearly over, but Aitken brought him down. The visitors were now playing splendid football amongst their forwards, and their backs moved with machine like precision. IT. Morkel and Zeller were endeavouring, but just failing, to put the finishing touch to atractive play.

Then Zeller punted across the field and (larkson secured the ball. He passed to 11. Morkel, who kicked the hall made a dashing run and transferred over the line. There ensued a sensational race between M. Nicholls and Clarkson for the ball, which ended in the latter I.niching down, and scoring amidst cheers. Do Villiers failed with the kick. Springboks 3, Wellington nil. Wellington smiled at this reverse, by playing with renewed vigor. A splendid exposition or Rugby folowed, and the thousands of people voiced by hv roaring out their approval. Wellington was getting the ball ivom the scrum, but the Springboks defence was inpenotratable. Again they opened up piny, but overeagerness put them offside, frequently. From one penalty kick, King piloted the ball across the bar. Three all.

Both sidgs now threw the hall about and gave a splendid exhibition of spectacular football. The visitors showed perfect condition, a nd played with dash and determination. Wellington's display was also of a high order. The first spell ended 3 all. SECOND SPELL.

With the wind l>ehind them in the second half, Springboks after some uneventful play, suddenly altered theii style of play. They indulged in short snappy accurate passes in which both the forwards and the hacks participated, amidgst the encouraging cheers of an impartial crowd. The visitors vanguard wore now playing with great determination. 1 Gradually they transferred the play to the home teams | quarters. Recognising their danger, Wellington put up a stout defence and proved most effective. Cheers arose as Roberts darted in and kicked effectively, but De Villiers responded, and ho was smothered only just in time. The speedy winger Van Heerden, was tlie next to got a Hold, but the AAellington backs stopped his career. The local men were playing remarkably well against the wind. While they handled the ball somewhat inaccurately at times, in the first spell, the Springboks had failed in a similar manner in the second Zclfor saved splendidly and a high kick was mishandled b.v Siddels. Tho Springboks were attacking in a. moment, and had Wellington in grave difficulties. The visitors were now making strenuous efforts to secure a winning score. J. Miehau finally made a sensational run, but he struck the corner flag as he crossed the line. The same player however, soon after secured again, and he gave the •‘dummy” to Roberts, and scored behind the posts, amidst deafening cheers. De Villiers goaled, putting the visitors ill a winning position by S points to 3. The Springboks now showed to tho best advantage. Wellington gave several penalties. De Yiliors had several shots at goal, making splendid attempts. one .striking the crossbar. The game was a spectacular one to the finish, and it is admitted to have been a brilliant exposition. On the day’s play, the scores give a fairly accurate indication of the merits of the two teams. A BIG GR-OWD. WELLINGTON, This Day. The number who paid for admission t„ the Springboks match on Saturday was twenty-nine thousand four hundred ami fiftv but officials estimate the attendance at thirty-two thousand. I j Hagar of Rirnu, who has been ini c-luded in the Coast team for WednesI day went north to-day for a couple of ! davß training.