FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1924, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

[HY TELYGIt.U'H —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION. COAST Y. NELSON. AYELLINGTON, May 21. The game between AA'est Coast-Bul-ler and Xelson-Mhrlborotigh-Golden Bav-Alotueka teams was only a fair exhibition of football, although there "'ere Hashes of play by Infill backs and forwards. In the first half, the Coast side wore easily superior, and when the bell went the score stood 22-3 in their favour; but in the second half, the Nelson fifteen combined better, and had slightly the better of the game. Steel captained the AA’estl Coast side, and Reed, Nelson. Of the Coast forwards, Tminicliffe, Seliadick and Bannister stood out. Of the Nelson vanguard, Solly. Snow and l.angbeiii were the most conspicuous. Tunniclifi’e and Jamieson gave their bac.ts plenty of the ball in the first spell, but in the -second, the scrums were more e.ven. Bannister locked the scrum splendidly. In fact the work in the set scrums in this game was better than in the big match. All eyes were on Steel, but lie was well marked, and although, perhaps the best back on tlie ground, his play was it little disappointing. He was given plenty of the ball, but seemed to be inclined to kick. This lie certainly did with judgment. Afoynilian, on the other Coast wing, put plenty of dash into his work, and he scored two trios. These were both very fine efforts. He run with great determination.

Reynolds was a little slow in getting the hall away from the scrum. Both T. Davies and S- Davies were the best of the inside backs. Snodgrass, who marked Steel, was almost equal to his vis-a-vis, while Reed was easily the best of the Nelson inside backs. Jn the first half Steel scored two tries, kicked a penalty and converted j, try, while S. Davies. Griffiths and Bannister also scored tries and 1. Davies was successful ill converting one. Snodgrass kicked a penalty for Nelson, making the. score 22-3 at halt time. • In the second spell, Afoynilian scored two tries, and T. Davies one. while Griffiths was successful in adding the major points. For Nelson, Snodgrass and Solly were the scorers, whilo Snodgrass converted both tries, and kicked a penalty. The game thus ended: AA'est Coast 33, Nelson IG.

NORTH ISLAND TEST GAME. POSSIBLES AYIN BY TWO POINTS AYELLINGTON, Alay 21.

The soot) people who attended Athletic Bark to-day to see the Possibles and Probables of the North Island battling for places in the All Blacks, witnessed perhaps the finest game seen there since the war. There was not a great deal of combination, but the players made up for this by their fine individual efforts. The work in tho set scrums, especially hy the Possibles, was poor, and it might he put down to the fact that the players were too eager to catch the selector’s eye ill the loose. la the Possibles back line. AA alters took the place of .Sinclair, mid C. Baddoloy the place of Al. Nicholls. who is suffering from an injury. Porter, who is also on the injured list, tvas replaced by Beilis,, and Aloyniluni fill. i'd tho gap caused by the absence of Chippies. The score 23-21, was a fair indication of the relative merits of the teams. Of the full-backs, Xenia was the more confident, and gave the better display. His pot was a fine piece of work. Lucas and Hart, were the most impressive of the wings. Svcnson was not in the same class as Brown who opposed him. Paowai and Alill combined splendidly. Johnson was a lailitro. Cook and Baddoloy. who seemed to understand each other’s play, displayed speed, resource, and initiative. Cook also showed up well in defence. AAYight, like Alill. is an excellent passer from the scrum.

Of llje Possibles forwards. AA'est, Q. Donald, and Pringle stood out in tbo loose and worked hard throughout. Harvey, although good in the loose, did not held the scrum well in the tight. Beilis was oulshndowed by J. Donald, tin* opposite wing forward. C. Brownlie may not have been the best forward mi "the field, but there was certainly no one better, llis brother with Irvine. AfeXafi. and T.ows*.« worked hard from start to finish. In the first- spell, tries were scored fur the Possibles by Svcnson and Q. Donald, while AlcLean kicked two penalty goals. The Brownlie brothers each scored a try for the Probables, while Nepfn converted one, and kicked a penalty goal. At half time the score, were Possibles 12. Probables 11. In the second half. Quentin Donald and Lucas scored for the Possibles, while Alcf.ean converted one. and kicked a reualtv goal. Hart and J. Donald scored for tho Probables, and Nogin, potted a goal.

TO PLAY IN TRIAL AIATOII. AYELLINGTON, Alay 22. The selectors have chosen: - Steel, v* Davies. Tttitnieliffe and O Regan (Coast and Duller); Snodgrass Reed. Snow and Bowers (Nelson) to play in (lie Christchurch trial match. R AN FUR LY SHIELD. GISBORNE. Alay 20. An unusual point has flopped up

over the Ranfurly Shield match. At a meeting of the Poverty Ray Rugby Union a letter was read from the secretary of the Hawke’s Ray Rugby Union confirming the date for the match at Napier, and saying that it had been arranged that, the Poverty Bay Union should receive one-third of the net gate. Tho chairman (Air A. K. Billeliff) said that the Hawke’s Bay Union knew that the match must be played under the trophy conditions, which stated that the holder of the Shield had to bear the travelling expenses and board of the challenging team, and the 33.1 per cent net gate offered was unfair. He had requested the chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union to take the matter up. Air O’Neill said the Hawke’s Bay Union had done the same thing with the llav of Plenty, blit the New Zealand Union had stepped in. The chairman remarked that the same thing had been done with Canterbury. The Hawke’s Bay Union had been written to stating that the match was to he played under Shield conditions.

SOCCER DR AAA’. SYDNEY, May 22. The Canadian Soccer team played a scoreless draw with Cranvillc .