FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1922, Page 4

FOOTBALL

UNITED ‘V. koEatahi. There was rm extra large gathering on'Oass 'Square* bn 'Saturday afternoon to witness' the senior football match between United and Kokatahi, which resulted in a win for United by 6points (a- converted try) to 3- points (a try. The ground was in capital' order and there was an absence of wind. The game was a.somewhat disappointing one to watch. There was an absence of combined play, both sides 'Handling bifdfy at times, fine opdnitigs ‘being spoilt time after time,' both sides being at fault.

The 'opening of the 'first spell 'Saw Kokatrfhi get the whole of the play for the first quarter of an hour. The* forwards gdt the hall in the scrum every tim e 'apd heeldd out cleanly,*! the half got "fife ball aiva'y, add then" time after time the backs failed -to field cleanly, and chance aftfr ' chaiide went astray Moymliau bciing the one most tit fault. After losing these early opportunities the play went tu the centre, where Kokatahi again .got the “ball and O’Brien took the play to near tb 0 corner. Hagar stopped the rush, but after clearing knocked on. Baird shone in an open rush, but Gifford stopped finely, and United attacked for the first time. A free for obstruction near the efsStre caused the referee to give a warning to players which had the desired e’ffct't. Then' United started a rush hut Cutbush failed to handle. and Kokatahi came away with a loose ms'll. There Was' soma sharp tackling at the quarter flag and then Kokatahi went forward with a passing run that Was spoilt by Woolhouso missing. The ball went on again after a short kick by Wallace* and Woolhouse following' up in a loose rush beat Wright for the ball and scored in a handy position. Wallace failed “with "a "fairly -easy -kick. B—o. Kokatahi continued to attack and 1 ; Moynihau took a leading share in'

carrying the ball to the line, where J. Cutbush and Hagar relieved. Ha•gar ipoilt a black rush, and kicked too hard, and the hall went over the line, a force resulting. From the kick out, hard kicking again spoilt a chance and Kokatahi forced. l’lay was at mid-field when Nedson was penalised for offside. From a line-out. Hardy Fleming broke away nicely, but was well tackled by McMannaway, and from a loose scramble a force resulted. O’Brien with a nice kick gained ground from the kick out, hut Duncan marked and Gifford took the piny on. Then several rushes took play up; and down tlk« ‘field till from near the.

centre the United pack heeled out smartly, 'and the hall went out across the field to Wells who gathered well and went for the'line with a fine dash ' leaving several opponents standing. Chitting in. he badly heat the fullback and went on round to the posts to score a fine, try, easily the best individual piece of play of the game. McMannaway converted—5 —3. Kokntnhi attacked from the kick-off, but lineal’’ broke away with a fine loose rush that was stopped by-Dowell speculating successfully. Wells got another . opportunity, hut failed to gather cleanly, hut Gifford carried on the -play, till ‘Dowell stopped him and found tile line with a nice kick halftime then being called.

The second spell opened with tne hall going to United quarters. Ivortegnst nnd’J. Cutbush stopping nicely, hut'DilnVati let them hack again, and Moynihau tool: the play back, n free kick to Kokatahi within range being poorly made use of. A black rush to the line saw a Serum almost at the corner. Kokatahi got possession and ‘O’Brien passed out smartly, hut Wallace missed badly and a fine opening was lost the hall going down field till •Dowell saved. -Then McMannaway broke away, *hut was taken by Xcilson. Play went to the other side and 'Wells failed to 'field cleanly O’Brien stopping him. Bad passing by Kokatahi ‘backs have* fHftgar 'and Bannister an 6peY»n;g. and then Morel was penalised for offside. Kicks'by Wills and

Wallace ‘proved to 'thy advantage of 1 Uni fed, -and n rush to the “Kokatahi' line -was Only relieved by a fine kick lby Dowell from a penalty. United forwards were now showing to great advantage and they forced the play to the Kokatahi line. A mark by O’Brien relieved, hut Gifford carried the piny back till CUtb'nshrivn.s {Serialised for offside Cutbush, Gifford and Wells took play into Kokatahi quarter -where Diedrich got offside. The play came hack hut United's fumbling’badly lost several fine openings when right on the line • jthWe following'a 'series of)* tight sc rums, over ■ eagerness' and bad handling allowing Kokatahi to gct'thcv play towards the centre. Then 'Kokatahi forwards broke away doWn the field and from a serum near the limited 25 flag, the hall eame ofit. O'Brien Wallace and Moynihau >ma'de a mice Opening and Wool house gdt •.posstsfbon a few yards from the line, r but failed

to make liis dash for an almost certain try and passed wildly inwards, and a great opening was lost, the hall going down the field again This ‘was Kokntnhi’s last flutter the play going to their half of the field for {lie remaining ten minutes, a series of loose scrambles with both sides tiring being‘the • last episodes of the 'game, tho whistle sounding time with TTrtiteds the winners by s'to 3.

'Features of the game were the’bad; handling on occasions by * both teams: Kokatahi -had a number of splendid openings in the early stages of the garfie tliat weVo 'absolutely lost by failure -to take the Bad, and in the second spell lost two scoring opportunities right on the line from the same cause. In the second half the United backs also*failed badly, having a dozen opportunities when near the line in the series of tight serum work when they were attacking strongly. s the for-: wards at this stage going right over the black forwards. The place kicking was also very - poor. With a * per-; feet clay for place-kicking • there were quite a large number of shots k within easy range, yet only one goal was kicked, and that from a try between the posts. The field punting was also very weak and a kick by Dowell that gained under 40 yards was easily the most'notable one of the clay, a ciitei-* ion■ of the poorness of the display. Mr D Dowell was referee and he Controlled .the game in good style.

WELLINGTON BEAT "BULLER. : •WESTPORT, August 27. The match ' yesterday between the reps of BulleFand the 'Wellington touring team proved 'a 1 very hard-fought contest, Wellington winning by 11 to 6. Svenson (Buller) 'playe'd a great game, as also did Griffiths. 'Mhfp'hy, the Wellington full back, dropped a wonderful penalty goal, practically - from the -centre of the- field. The score was 3 all at half time. \S V fill son scofdd in the first half, hut the try was not converted. Buller bail the best of it in the first spell. In the second half the honours leaned slightly towards the visitors. Friend, the Buller threequartcr, scored a remarkable try, taking the'hall from midfield, amici .great applause. Wellington, in the latter half of the second spell, scored after a hard battle, the trv being converted. ■THE TEAMS.

-Buller: —Davies, Friend, Svenson, Corby, Palmer, Griffiths, Phibbs, C. -McLean, ij. ’Ryivfi, ‘feofidnll, Stuart, ’McNauglit, ‘PeiSrsfm, Ttfnnicliffe, and Longstaff. * , _ 'Wellington .Murphy, Tancard, It. Gibson, "CtiVmody, Murray, McCabe, M oOlea ry, Sullivnn, Peacock, Matthews, Wliiterod, King, Osborne, Wylie, and Burns.

THE GAME. •The game between Buller and M elliugfcin whs interesting throughout and was clrai'actdrised by frequent periods of bright ami incidental play. Al-. though the Wellington team was some-what"lighter-than the home fifteen—particularly in the forwards—-there was. very little'cliffei'etiee in their comparative capacities. From the initial kick "Buller became aggressive 'and to the surprise of a large and enthusiastic crowd, Wellington were forced to adopt defensive tactics, Murphy coming to the rescue 1 time after time and clearing awkward situations in the face ol formidable Buller forward rushes. McC'leary, at half, was ever ready and instituted frequent counter-attacks to Buller’s soil. Incidental to an exciting forward scramble near Mellinglon line, Svenson picked up and dashed over the line, the effort to convert failing. Recovering from the unexpected reverse, Wellington assumed the., offensive and a passing "bout removed the axis of play to neutral territory. For a breach Wellington received a penalty and Murphy gained the plaudits of Hucrowd for a brilliant drop, the hall passing over the bar—a truly wonderful kick. At half time the score war three all, Bailor having slightly the bettor of the spell. Karlv in the second spell Wellingtonhacks assorted themselves and their, condition held them in good stead. Murray Captain) set his; back division moving, and, hv a series, of organised bouts, had Buller in. trouble. Tunnielifle, Goodall and McNauglit stood out in Buller forwards- 1 and checked many formidable advances. Buller almost invariably got the hall from the scrum and were generally superior in ’the forwards. The _ Wellington team, however, excelled in the backs and Murnhv and McCleary shouldered'J great, deal of the responsibility. Pljibbs at half for Build, was at his host and acted as an in--sfninTciU to transfer the fruits of his, hookers’ Efforts to the hack division. Griffiths Mood alone in regard to spectacular play and was .-continually distinguishing himself, ’friend’;- try was the outcome of a brilliant piece of individual play. McCabe let the hall to. Gibson, who was transferring to Carrnodv when Friend dashed in, intercepting the iiass and making a dash; from half 'way to the opposite goal line. Breathless excitement prevailed; as Murphy streaked across the field in a desperate endeavour to catch the fleet; Buller wing. He arrived a second tool late, Friend grounding the hull over at the corner as ho went down to Murphy’s tackle. For Ids’ effort Friend received Tin ovation. Wellington forwards appeared more prominent in the, loose pla.v, Wylie and Osborne being the outstanding features. The visitors had the better of the,second half, two tries; being registered for them and one he ) ing converted, whilst many Buller attempts were unsuccessful. Wellington hacks were light mid fast and were .i constant source of danger to Duller. The game On the whole was worth watching, Wellington being in attack at the filial whistle. Tl-.e filial score was: Wellington 11, Duller (5. .Mr J. Cargill refereed.

PETONE WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. WELLINGTON, Aug. 2/ Tn the Rugby senior final yesterday Petene defeated Pouekc by 10 points to o, and thus won the championship. There wore 18,000 spectators.

NEW ZEALAND BEAT SYDNEY. ’AUCKLAND, Aug. 27 The University football match New Zealand v. Sydney, was played at Eden Park on Saturday before a large attendance. -The weather was fine. The local team dominated in the early stages and scored freely. The visitors rallied in the second spell, and piled up a good score. New Zealand just won, seenring-ffS points to Sydney’s 22.

SOUTHLAND V. TARANAKT. ‘INVERCARGILL, Aug. 20 Southland beat Taranaki by six points to three this afternoon, before a crowd estimated at 6000. There was sunny weather, with a light breeze and the ground was in good order. It was a forward gdmV.

AVAIRARAPA REPS WIN. .. MASTER TON, Aug. 27. Tn fine weather, before an attendance of 1500, Wairarnpa senior reps defeated the Bush reps by 25 points to 3. The visitors were outclassed in nR departments, 'especially in the second spell, when 22 of'the victors’ 'points were'put on. CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 20 Canterbury heat Auckland by 31 points (six tries, five converted, and a penaltv goal) to 15 (two penalty goals; aiid tliree tries). 'The home side 'had the better of the game all through.

GOLDEN BAY DEFEATED. NAPIER, Aug. 26. Tn the Rugby rep match to-day, Hawke’s Bay beat the Golden BayMotueka team by 28. points to three. The visitors were quite outclassed.