FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1923, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Cass Square was the scene of three football matches oil Saturday alterlinoii. but a heavy southerly wind that blow spoilt most of the play, the vagaries of the breeze making the hall jump about in a. very disconcerting way tor the players if they failed to take it on the full, a. fault many of the hacks indulged in Ui their disadvantage. The listing Rivals team from Westport played two games, a third-grade nod a- senior game*, and suflered defeat m each game, though they put up a good light in each instance, especially as they were only a club team playing against a combination oi three local Clubs.

iIARJfIAIU SKC Lit MS lilt MEM M SHIELD. II Alt I HAH I o. EXCELSIORS 5. The game for the Breeze Shield took place- on Cass Square on Saturday nl'lci'iiooii at I ..‘!0 o’clock, the contending parties being Harihari (the ■ hallo nge its), and Excelsiors (the holders). The ground was heavy and muddy after the recent heavy rains and there was a stiff southerly blowing, which all united against a spectacular display of Itugby. Harihari took the field deteimined to carry off the Shield but -lie Excelsiors had to put in a number of junior players to make up their team. Harihari lost ono of their men, through being injured shortly after the start and a younger and lighter player took lus plate. Excelsiors played with the wind during the first spell and Horn the kick off the game was fairly fast considering the state of conditions, Goth packs carrying the ball up and down the field, and at times some good work in the loose was witnessed. Each team had one another in difficulties oil different occasions, but good te-leii-sive work with ail element of luck saved the situation each time. About half way through the spell from a loose rush by Excelsiors the ball was carried from a little way past Harihnri’s 25 and Shaw witn the bait at nis feet when a. little distance trom goal, gave it a final kick past, three or four backs and racing alter it in fine style scored under the bar. X. Wogan convei'ted. Excelsior 5, Harihari 0. for the remainder of the spell -lie 1 lay was fairly fast and even hut both sides missed opportunities to score through had luck, especially Excelsiors who had two splendid chances to increase tlmir score, but owing to the greasy state of the hall, muddy field, and over-eagerness, could not gain possession. .Tust on half-time Harihari secured and a line rush up the field saw the ball go to Robertson who scored at the corner. The kick was a poor one. 3-5. Early in the second spell after some even [lay. as a result cl' some good kicking, llaiiliari had Excelsiors lit difficulties and from a scramble near the line i'orson. carried the hall' over ami scored Hariliari’s second try hut their kick again missed, being on a difficult angle. llaiiliari 0, Excelsiors •>. Tlio Excelsiors now tried to even tilings up. hilt the defence of tile Harihaii hacks was too strong, .McKay saving the situation time out of number. For the remainder of the spell there was only an exhibition of loose rushes anti scrumbles, although tlie Excelsiors had llaiiliari in difficulties on two occasions h.it could not pick it]) the hall cleanly to let it out, the mud being too much for some of the Excelsiors. The Excelsiors were pressing hard when time sounded and Harihari ecuring the ball, kicked out, being now tie v.iimeis of Hie competition */:« tile Breeze Shield.

The second spell was not by any means as good as the first as both teams were tiring, some of the players at times, not seeming: to care whether they were alter the ball or not, and when .McKay and Rainier did set their respective hacks going they raced across the field, gaining very little ground at each attempt and the same Ladies v.'cfe aduptod in the ttrfct speli, nil hough at times they did much belter •

.McKay gave the best display of tint hacks, his defensive "oik saving Harikari time and again. His work in (fie tight was also good io watch and fitrecoveries fiom had passes were -x- ---< client a- was also his interception of passps on several occasions. Palmer made the Lest of his opportunities ind lie also saved Ids side on several cetisions, sometimes being asked to do more than he should have. He also took several good marks Tit critical stages, ff conditions had been favourable N. Wogan would have, in all probability. given the brilliant display that was witnessed last Saturday, hut the ball was too greasy for such another exhibition.

Both sets of forwards put their lie i into the game, some good work being witnessed at times, more especially in the first spell, although the scrum work could have been a lot better. Shaw, although only a junior player, was always where the hall was in the forward work, mid some of his dribbling was better than is usually seen here. Bannister was a tower of strength to his pack although he didn’t gel as many 'opportunities as lie should have done. G. Aitkeii also did well, some of his work being very solid 'ind fast.

Some of the players still persisted in giving an exhibition of scragging hut the, instances were not so glaring or as frequent a,s on another occasion. Mr A. Ciithusli controlled the game admirably.

In the match for the Breeze Shield between Excelsiors (holders) and Hari I lari (challengers) there was a close finish. Harihari being successful by G points to five, and they were lucky to win. though they deserved their success. The Excelsiors played with the half gale behind them in the first half, which should have counted a 15 points advantage, hut when the spell had ended they only had an advantage of 5 to 3, and the odds were greatly in favor of the southern team. Unexpectedly, however, the Excelsiors held their own till half-way through the second spoil when Harihari scored a second try. Then Excelsiors shook themselves, and in spite of the breeze had the better of the remaining play and right oil time had a fine chance to score that was lost, ihe win gives Harihari the shield for the year, subject to the right of Kokatnhi Club to challenge. The Harihari team are to he complimented on their success, especially as they were, beaten by the Excelsiors the previous Saturday in the club championship fixtures, and they have the double honor now of being winners of the senior championship and shield holders. Naturally their win was received by their supporters with jubilation and' it should help to further the interests of the game in the south by the success achieved.

RIVALS V. HOKITIKA

This senior game was played at 3.15 p .m. The local combination was a fairly strong one. The game was played in four spells of 20 minutes, to enable the vagaries of the breeze to be more evenly distributed. In the first spell, playing against the wind. Pci'fiam scored for Hokitika from a forward rush and Bannister converted. The local team had somewhat the liest of the play. In the, second spell, with the wind the Hokitika hacks opened out te play, and the Imll was thrown about very freely. There was one remarkable dash by Moynihan, who went up the field and badly heat half-a-dozen opponents and scored, Bannister converting and bringing the score to 10-0. Before the spel'l ended .Cunningham scored from a forward rush, and as Bannister again converted with a welljudged kick, the score was 15 to 0. When the teams changed over after half time Rivals showed to better advantage, the Kicks handling better, , and their forwards getting better into 1

their, stride. This, spell was in favor of the visitor*; who stored both tries, one under the goal posts, which was converted by Schadick, and the other near,tho corner, the kick at goal failing, making the score 15 to 8. With the next change of ends it was thought the game was a foregone conclusion, but the visitors continued to press, and the home team tiring, the Rivals pressed many occasions, but they failed to make the desired advantage and the game ended without further score, Hokitika being returned tho winners by 15 points to 8 points. Mr E. W. HeenPii was referee.

RIVALS 111 v. HOKITIKA. This tjiird-grado game took place on So 2 ground, and there was a fairly fast game, tin* team having the wind at its hack having a great advantage tiiionghout. though the play went up and down the field remarkably often. The game ended in a win for Hokitika by 8 points (tries scored by Taiimi and liaussman, one being converted by Breeze) to 6 points. Air 0. Atalkcr was referee.

WESTLAN I) RED. TEAAI Tho following players have been selected to represent Westland in their match with 'Westport at Mestpoit. Full-back. C. Stevens. Three-quarters, Al. Aloynilian, I'll oss, N. Wogan. , , r _ Five-eighths, I). Rainier, L. AlcKat. Half, Goughian. . Forwards: Willoughby, Cunningham, Scott, Baird, Bannister, Devaney, Kearns and Hagar. Emerg. hacks: Dunoraft, Obrien. Forwards: Fleming, Leslie. [kv tf.legkapii—rEß tress association.] THE SECOND TEST. ALL BLACKS 34; N.S.W. R. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. L The second test match between New South Wales and New Zealand was played at Lancaster Park to-day in ideal weather and before an attendance of about 1-1,000 spectators. The game was rather one-sided ill the lust half and was not productive of good .football, hut in. the second spell it was fast and open with the New Zealanders always dominating the play. The visitors never Inst - heart, but pegged away in a manner which gain id the admiration of the crowd. There were frequent stoppages owing to mjuries and New Zealand lost the services of Ford, Peterson and Beilis atvarious stages of the game. The first two wore replaced by J’otaka and Brownlie, hut Beilis was not injured 'till near the end and the New Zealanders continued without calling on a reserve, cutting out the wing forward.

The game opened brightly and it was not long before New Zealand opened their scoring account. Peterson [licked up and passed to Beilis who transferred to Bell who scored for Sinclair to convert. N.Z. 5. N.S.W. 0. Play 1; a veiled tip and dawn, and from a loose- rush Pringle, dashed over, Sinclair again converting. X'.Z. 10, N.S. W. 0. Sinclair landed a penalty and tho score at half-time was N.Z. 13, N.S.W. 0.

Tho flay was fast and open in the second spell. Erasmus scored for N. S.AV. after a brilliant dash, but no goal resulted. X.Z. 13, N.S.W. 3. I‘o taka did likewise for New Zealand, and Sinclair landed a penally goal. Marriott scored an unconverted try for N.S.W., bringing the scores to: X Z. 11), N.S.W. G. Thereafter Now Zealand Imd matters much ilieir own wav, but on occasions the visitors were dangerous. Richardson, Brownlie, and Lucas seoi'ed in, qiiecession, Sinclair converting all three and the game ended : N.Z. 3-1, N.S.W. 6. Air J. F’. Peake was referee.

i The visitois secured the hull ofteuer from tile scrums than the New Zealanders. Hie comment of the Welshmen’s manger after the game was;: “Wu were well stuuoheil j The referee's opinion was" that the game was not tip to international standard ■ DISAPPOINTED WITH VISITORS’ PLAY. ( HRISTCHUIUTI, Sojit. 2. Ai I lie- dinner lo the test teams ■ tst night, .Mr S. F. Wilson, President or liie New Zealand Rugby Union .-aid he was disappointed with the New South Wales team. He felt they had not given as good, a, showing as they could have at- the top of their form. Mr Bosward, manager of the Welshmen, said : ‘We have no squeal coming; we. were beaten on our merits.” He remarked that so long as the Now Zealanders were led by men like Richardson and Beilis, the good reeling which existed between the New ,South Wales and New Zealand players would continue. (Applause).

Mr J. F. l’cake, the Jefetce, in an interview said lie did not think mil,lt of the match judging it from the All Black standard. It was the hardest game to control he had ever experienced; the scrums were frequently bully formed and there'was a good deal of offside play on the line-out. There was

also too much inclination to appeal, and his decisions were frequently taken hadlv.

THE THIRD TEST. AN .ENTIRELY NEW TEAM. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 2. The twenty players from whom tho New Zealand team for the third ‘est match is to he selected was rumoured last night by Mr S'. S. Dean of the New Zealand Rugby Union. He 'xplained that the selection of ail entirely now leant was not due to dissatisfaction with the second tost team, but because the selectors desire to obtain the best team available in New Zealand for the English tour next year. Tho 20 are. as follows: • Backs: McLean (Bay of Plenty), Fairbrother (South Canterbury), Morgan (Otago). Griffith (Auckland), Stewart (Otago), Doe. Nicholls (Wellington), l’oiwai ((Hawlkos IB.ty), H. L Nicholls (Wellington!. -St. George (Ashburton). and Cooke (Auckland). Forwaids: Porter and Swain (Wellington). Trvine (Hawires Bay), Tunliid iffe (Boiler). Cupples (Bay oi .Plenty), 1L Masters and Parker (Canterbury). U. Stewart (South Canterbury). Ormond (ITawkes Bay), and Wlivte (Southland).

OTAGO 34 v. WAIRARAPA 11. DUNEDIN, September 1. Otago defeated tho Wairarapa touring team at Carishroolc to-day by 31 j points to 11. j SOUTHLAND BEAT MANAWATU. I INVERCARGILL, Sept. 1. i ()n a sodden ground and with a high | wind Moiwng, Southland 1G (four tries, two of which were converted} beat Manawatu eleven (three tries, one converted). WELLINGTON MATCHES. POXEKE BEAT FETOXE. WELLINGTON, August 2. The old rivals Petone (this year's champion team) and Poneke met at the Athletic Park on Saturday, where four thousand spectators witnessed a disappointing exhibition. Poneke won ■by 11 to 3, inflicting the only defeat Petone have suffered this season. For Coughs and Colds, never fails. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.

AUCKLAND (16) BEAT OTAGO T) AUCKLAND, Sept- 1. At Rugby to-day, Auckland defeated Otago by 10 points to 5 after a good open game in ideal weather. The attendance was tlio largest this season. In the first- spell the hacks were evenly matched, though tho Otago forwards were, if anything, slightly superior.