FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1923, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

WESTLAND COMPETITIONS. The . AVostlnnd Sub-L'iiion competitions in three grades, were continued on Saturday afternoon under vciy favorable conditions, with the exception of a strong easterly wind that to seme extent affected play. The gores were generally well contested. At Hokitika there was a third grade game, a junior game and two s'-" cs in which senior teams took |.ait, stre'y a record pragranime in local Club mutches, 120 players taking part, while altogether there were 210 players participating in play under the Union throughout the district, during the afternoon. SENIORS. KIWIS V. KUMARA. The Kiwi v. Kumara match look place on the new playing ground on Cass Sqtinio on Saturday alternoon.. the teams taking the field itU 3 o'clock. Kiel, kicked off and rushed the I'd! into Ktimaia territcry, and Kiwis kick ing too hard Kumnra forced down From the 2j kick give and take phiv took place, resulting in a iine o it aid scrum. Kumnra secured the 1 ■-<II Mid kicked. Steel marking, h it hi- shot at goal was obstructed. Shortly aft'iwanls the Kiwis got ihe hu.ii from a

scrum and set a passing rush going, but owing to had handling a serum resulted near Kumai-a’s line, and the ball then went ot. T'rom the thrown in Walker secured and got over. Steel's kick failed. Kiwis ,T, Kumnra 0.

I'Yoni the kick off phv ecu tied about neutral territory. Kuniara now seemed to be putting more pel into their play and Kiwis were not getting all their owoi way. From a line out, scrum and free kick for Kiwis which they followed up fast, the Kuniara ini! hack saved by kicking out. Give and take punting icsulted in the In'll going out and from the throw >n the Kiwis set the hall Hying hut the good work was stopped by UuneralL being heavily floored, and from the mix-up a serum was given, and then a free kick to Kiwis which they followed up last, one of the Kuniara hacks speculating managed to get the ball out. A serum iv-illed and ball went out

again, mulling being gained. Kuniara secured the hall hut had it by kicking too hard, the Kiwis then took il across the field and kicked out A fiee kick was given Kumar,i. Kiwis kicking same out about centre. Walker so aired and let out to the hacks hut had taking resulted in a serum. Kiwis kicked, the ball nil the centre. Kumaia full back kicking cut, from which the Kiwis got the ball and let out to their hacks, but the rush was broken up. The Kiwi forward- were now pressing hard within tic Kuniara 2a. hut Kuniara saved hy kicking out. The home hacks again got: going hut the ball was thrown forward within an ace of a try. Dunoraft secured from the scrum and whipped over. Steele'- kick failed (!, Kumara 0.

Play was centred about, the halfway mark for a while, a good deal of .speculating by both sides going on. For a time there was a succession of

line outs and .scrums, with one or two free kicks, the ball being taken from one 2o mark to the ether, until at the half wav mark the Kumnra hacks got going hut tiled down owing to had handling of the ball, the Kiwi forwards taking the ball at their lots, until Kuniara secured and kicked nut. gaining a good length of ground. Then < a 'in. a -crumble, serum, and a lice I kick f ir Kiwis, w hick Kuniara returned, the ball going out. Kumara was now - (in’T.itig in the Kiwi- 2d. and ihe r forward'- broke through, but Stool sav. i cd by kicking out. '.there was in.w a | number of mtuhis, free kicks for !r th ; ides, a tew passing rushes indulged in [ by the Kiwis which, always en.iuo to an end after the hall had pa-sed flu.nigh ahotii inn men’.- hands. Tee play was taken into neutral teniiur.v again, and i from a free kick awarded to Kiwis, the ball was badly missed by Kumara but recovered and kicked out at the half way mark. From a- scrum the Kiwi hacks again got going twice hut each time were tleored owing to keeping the ball too long, although at each attempt they gained some ground. The Kiwis now had Kumara in their own 2d. Another bit of passing by Kiwis resulted in a scramble, a free kick being given to Kumara. Kiwis returned the hall and Keanis following up last neai ly got over, but the Kumara full hack sj o ulaled and he followed the same up, the Kiwis kicking out. At halt time the scores were Kiwis 0. Kumnra 0. From tlie kick off after the interval there followed a succession of line cuts, serums and high punting by both sides near Kumara’s 2d line. From a line out the Kiwi hacks get the ball, and .started a passing rush, which we.- badly handled, but the lm!l was 'illicitly iccovcred and Ist. on to Steel who Hew me. the line near the goal pests. Steel a!-e lonvcrLod. Kiwis 11, Kumara 0. Dribbling. characterised hy hard kicking hy In;tii sales, was ihiw indulge.! in intermingled with line outs.

cnims nlid free i:i.-ks. at i;no part i.l

which Su’d took ;i good mark from a s] eeulati/ig kick. The Kiwis ve:e now pressing K’umara. and Dim’, rnlt

nas putting in some good. work, hut was indue!-.v enough to get denied midi time. .V flee kick by Kiwis was returned by Kumnra and marked by l’erliam in front of the goal posts but In’s kick failed.

Perk,-tin's chance came again nearly immediately afterwards, when, from a scrum lie forced his way over at the corner, but Steele’s kick failed. Kiwis M. Kuninra 0.

More give and take play in 'which Walker took n good mark. From a

mix-up Kearns passed out to Rum-raft hut owing to the pass being low Dtin-

'.-:sifl .missed and; !\ i i-ii'am lorwe.rds carried the ball to tlie half-way peg when it was kicked out. Kiwis worked their way back to Kumars, territory again, but through, haul kicking, the bill was forced down. Shortly'afterwards the Kiwis were awarded a free kick, but shot at. goal failed and Kumars forced down, after which there was another line out, scrum, free kick and force down. Kiwis were given a free kick in front of the posts Imt Ross’s kick missed and Kuninra forced.

From the 25 kick Kiwis were pressing and from a line out the ball was let out and after passing through all the back’s hands to Steel, who passed to Duncraft, who had raced round, scored. Steele’s kick wont wide and short. Kiwis 17, Kutunra nil. Kiwis were again pressing hard in Kuninra territory \vl*?n Kuninra secured a mark and time sounding the hall was put out of play, the game ending Kiwis 17. Kumnra nil. Mr Wilson had charge of the whistle. UNITED V. II AIR I HART. This senior game took place at Hari Ilari, and resulted in a win for Hari Hari by 12 points (4 tries) to nil. The game was a hard one, mostly confined to the forwards who wore fairly evenly matched, but the Hari Hari backs had a decided advantage over the visiting backs who failed somewhat bndlv at times.

KOKATAHI 6. v. EXCELSIORS 3. The above match took place on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon. From the kick-off Kokntahi forwards proved superior to their lighter opponents in scrum work, but in the loose rushes

Excelsior forwards held . their own. From a lino-out near Excelsior line Cunningham obtained the ball and scored a try which was not converted — Kokatahi 3. Excelsiors 0. The play was then up and down the field with no advantage to either side until Cunningham again obtained the ball near the line and was missed by high-collaring, scoring his second try which was unconverted—Kokatahi 6, Excelsiors 0. Half-time was called shortly after. When play was resumed Kokatahi commenced to press and for a while kept the henie team on-the defensive, but a mark relieved the position. From then on play hovered in Kokatahi’s twentyfive hard luck preventing the Excelsiors from getting over. From a penalty kick AVognn landed a. nice goal—Kokatahi 6, Excelsiors 3. With about 15 minutes to go the homo team made a big effort for victory, but strong defensive play prevented them scoring. Several shots at goal failed, a brilliant pot by Bannister just missing. Excelsiors continued to press but the visiting pack were too strong on defence. Time was then called with play in Kokatahi’s territory. Air B. Dowell was referee.

.1 UNIOB-S. KIWIS V. KOKATAHI. The above match was played on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon at 1.30. Some good work was carried out by both sides, but the Kiwis being a younger and better trained team gave a more interesting display than Kokatahi, though the Kiwi hacks instead of taking the ball on the full, invariably waited for the bounce and some times badly missed. In their passing rushes they seemed tn he too eager and overran the man with the ball, resulting in either a miss or forward ball, but ns the season advances they should overcome most of the above, and when they are able to take a ball running at full speed, without stopping to take the. same they will give a good display of football. But the Kiwis will have to practice passing rushes and taking the hall on the full, and not go in for so much shed work. Some of the very young players of the Kokatahi team done very well and gave a more interesting display than some of their elders, hut the Kiwis form told against Kokatahi. The scores at the end of the game were Kiwis 11. Kokatahi nil. Tries were scored hy White, Fleming’ and Mount, one being converted. Breeze Bios, put in some good work, as also did J-fnttss-iiiiimi, who on two or three occasions tiling on to the ball a little too long, while Hahn also did some good tigering. Air Cutbiish eon trolled the game. EXCELSIORS V. BOSS. The Excelsior .1 unions journeyed to floss on Saturday for their match with Boss, and after an even game', proved the victors, heating the home team hy 3 points to nil. Shaw crossing the line for the Kxeelsiors. THIRD GRADE. In the Thud Grade match on Cass Square on Snturdnv afternoon between tie Stale School and Kiwis, the School, after an interesting and willing game came out victorious hy nine points to nil. Air Neil Wogan was the referee for the. match AT OKEYAIOCTH. In the senior game Stars defeated Marists hy 10 to 10-