FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1925, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

SENIORS. l.'nited (Grey) “I, Kiwis 12. Stars (Grey) 21. Fx(visions I t. .i FXIORS. Kanieri 3, Ross 0. Ifarihari LI. Kokutalii 3. .Excelsiors Id. Kumara 3. Hie football season proper was ushered in on Saturday with a fine sunny day. 'mt with a cold ,south-westerly blowing which may have militated against a greater crowd attending, but nevertheless there was a very fair attendance considering the games were first of season matches. The opening game between Kiwis and Arahura Juniors which was to have taken place at 1 ..*}(> did not eventuate owing to A re. burn forfeitin'; at the last minute. The Kiwis were there to time and presented a nice spectacle in their blue jerseys, nearly every j layer having a new one. The blues indulged in a practice game till the senior match took pin re. KIWIS v. IN IT'KI) (Grey). The Kiu i-l nitod (Grey ) game was flayed oil the main playing field at 3 o’clock and United played with the wind. The game started off fairly fast lor a first of season match, and if was not long before United secured a mark in a first class position, hut the attempt at goal was a failure. Nevertheless United retrieved the position immediately afterwards when Jamieson set a movement going which culminated in Dodson crossing and Walton converting. The two teams had their ups and downs for a while, both sides indulging in a few passing bouts which never went any further after the bail had been handled twice, until when I.aniherton (TTiited) .secure.i and landed a nice try which "a. again converted by Walton. Kiwis were now getting in the ascendancy and had United defending their line hard when McLeary .secured and slipped through, his opponents being beaten badly. A fairly easy kick was missed. Shortly alter the Kiwis were again on the ollensivc and again near the United line McEenry picked up front the ruck and slipped through practically in the same manner as when he secured his first, try. but Steel’s kick again failed. The spell ended United Hh Kiwis (1.

After the resumption some of the Kiwis were getting winded and were not ; in l iog that ginger into it that ni.iv have pulled tlm game out "I the

fie. while some very laid breaks l>y s are players made matters worse. To •,l,e se: ood spell tries were scored for Foiled by Stevens (uncoil verted). Warm's (converted by him -• Ti . and Jamieson, whilst, when Kiwis had Unir,. 1 in their ’Jo Griffon secured and dived over, the next .-core coming when Ml bear; received frem Ihe scrum and went' round the Mind, dummying a couple of opponents very nattily, the }, ;l |l eventually going to Steel who raced from the 2d over the lino healing several opponents, the try being again unconverted. The game ended without further incident, with the scores, Tinted 21. Kiwis 12.

Mcl.e.'irv was the most outstanding j,layer of the day, and his display iu ali departments was very finished, his work behind the s'-rum in letting the ball out to the proper quarter, being unite a feature, whilst his ability in making and seizing openings was equally refreshing after .-mne of the displays nil m-..-I on the Square last .sea-on. When he gets a romMim t j,,n 11 : : 1 1 lie can work with there should be some thrilling : ames ahead. Grif- |. I -bo, made Smm very determils along I he-side line, hut his side hardly treated him fair hv crowding hint 100 mimli instead of Irving l" ,|, ;) w Tlmiv v, a- nothing very oiit.sianding in ih ■ United learn. - i m "I

passing bout- being mediocre to nude and del not have that m:i|i tint , haractcri vd the Kiwis; all ihe i-ame they jiisj plngeed away and "on. (mi-L . fn-.lier ihan. the KL is. Ml \. .'.skew , eli! I’. -I led the gallic. STARS V. FNCEINIoKS. A eapilal game tool: pLee al Grovmoulh in eeld "eiuher. ami r.-oiled ,n a v.in for Slur- le. 2 1 to 1 L I-lil-sj Im If. Sue playing "i’i. a slrmig wind ran on :’! point . la < ! md hall i< elsiois -.re I I I p"i"L and Stars For Stars trie- "ere scored l,v Si cel 111. Nelson am! Thomas. Sr -| ,uver!e<! one and N, Lon I wo. For Exc 'l-iors. i ireeves. Muitm.ii ami Timmii-on "'I 1 '' rl ”' 1 '(■••ting on • and ! ''king a goal from a nin:!,. .JFNIoRS. KANIERI V. I M'SS. The junior game bct.'ccn Ross and Kanieri nil Ca-» Square proved a dose one. victory resting "ith Kanieri by 3 points (a 1 1’.\ ' to nil. The play "vnt up and down the fmld ill constant uge. hut lhe game generally "'a -ol a ragged nature. Mr B. Dowell wax referee. KXGKLSfORS L. v. KI'M AR\ 3. Exc.j-ior Juniors l ravelled u> Kuiiiaiii oil .Saturday aiicrnoon and were successful iu defeating ihc home team by lo points (four tries and a penalty) a points (a try). The game ibroti.ghW ;:s of a. very into resi ing nature. From the kick-oil' Excelsior forwards hdd the upper ha,ml against Ihcir much heavier opponents, For the winners trie- were obtained by Stevenson. Tibbies. Freitas am! Gain-, while Sleven.soii kicked a penally. Tot the losers Alurtha was successful in crossing in the corner Irom a goou passing movement. -Mi’ A. Sumne. emit rolled the game.

vs. WALKS TEAM’S TOFR. ITINERAIIY ARRANGED. WELLINGTON. May 1. The itimrarv of the New Smith Wales team’s tour of New Zealand is as follows;—. August L-ih- Arrive Wellington. August 22nd —Tiny Wellington and Maiiawaui-liornwhcnua combined at Palmerston North. Augii't 2(Uh— l’lay West (Ld. I’mller and Grevmmitn. August 29th. Blav Otago aml >outh--I'nd at Dunedin. , "'S. j'.t.-mlo.i- 2ml -Bhiy Cantorhury aim Mnuh Canterbury at '('hri-tehurch. September sth Play Wanganui and Taranaki at Hawera. _

September oth—l’lay Wnirarapa and Rush Districts at Mastorton. September 12th—Play Poverty Bay ami Fast Coast and Gisborne. September lfith—Play King Country and ’Waikato in King Country. September ldtli—Play New Zealand (test) at Auckland. September 23rd—Play North Auckland at Whangarci. air S. S. Dean was re-elected chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union Executive. The New Zealand selectors appoint" are as follows Messrs K. McKenzie, X. McKenzie. A. Guy, 11. Davis, and A. Geddis. These live selectors were on the committee which chose the Ali Blacks hist year. Messrs 1.. Carmine i West Coast) and A. AVilson (Wellington’! were aUo on tlm committee last you r. NOTABLE FOOTBALLERS The Svdtiey “Evening News” of April loth, contains the following references, one of those mentioned being a native of Hokitika, and a. member “f a. well-known family here:— TWO STABS OUT. AYOGAX AND WALK Eli. The retirement o! "I aery’ \\ ngnn and “Wneka” Walker deprives the Rugby Union of perhaps its best two playem. Roth have been wondcrltd performers, whose records will compare favorably with any of ihoit famous predecessors. Tt is. ho"C\ei. lilting i hat they should retire simultaneously, as they both began thcii representative careers in the same season. 1912.

Wogan L a New Zealander, "ho first played senior football with the Poiieke Club. Thai was in 1907. and he was playing on tile wing for the .second team, but was promoted to Iho first team to take the place of “Rjllv” Wallace, one of New Zealand's most famous toofballors. "ho ".i----about lo visit Sydney with the tanious All Blacks. Coming to Sydney in lf>l2. he was selected lo play for X.S.W. against Queensland, and was chosen in the “Wariitidis,” an Australian combination which inured America in 1912, and ever since a N.S.W. team has not been complete without, him. He toured New Zealand on two occasions | OR! (Australian team) and 1921 (N.S.W. team)- -and created a record of playing in every match of both tours. Beautifully propnrl ioned. he wa- an ideal centre three-quarter, and besides being brilliant ill attack was magnificent defender. In the First ’lVst .Match against New Zealand hist season ids wonderful defence largely contributed to the All Blacks defeat. He has represented X.S.YY. on more than 70 occasions. WALKER'S CAREER.

Walker is a typical Australian and is a product of the now defunct. City and Suburban Union. At a very earl;, age he was chosen to four with the Warn!ahs in 1912 and displayed good i“Freddy” Wood's brilliancy IX-!ii11<I1X-!ii 11 <I Hie -iTiitu kept him out of leprosonf alive football for a. number of years, hut after returning from the front Walker has !>ccn selected in ever\ New South Males team since I<)Ri, and has captained Hip ride on almost cverv occasion he has plaxed. lie is ihe only captain to "in the “ashes” irom New Zealand, and in this respect he enjoys a unique record. a> lie has led N.S.W. to victory ill five (■allies out of seven in which he participated as leader. A fearless halfhack. he was an inspiration to an.' U.:IUI, and. as "ith Wogan. can safely be -aid ihat the Union game has sustained a very heavy loss. However, no mail call play Lr ever, and the\ at-,, wise in retiring before their iorm depreciates to any “real extent. ~(-: -a-iait (ii'ien provides tho player-, and L N.S.W. -an this seaf,.i,.;,>•! li titling sueieisor- to Wogan and Walker, everybody will be elated.