FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1925, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SENIORS. •Stars 12, .Excelsiors 0. Iviwis 8. United 0. JUNIORS. Excelsiors 10. Kanieti 8. 'Ross Kiwis 0. Harihari Tl, Ktimara H. Arahiirn won bv default. THIRD GRADE. School TO. Kiwis 3.

ST ARS A’ EXCELSIORS. The Stars met Excelsiors on No l playing ground at IT.JO p.m.. the day being ideal for football, with the attendance fair. Just alter the start Steel had a shot at goal from just outside the half way line by a drop kick from a difficult angle. The fall nii-.s-ed the goal posts, hut it was a pretty attempt nevertheless. There, was not much between the two teams in the iirst spell, although the Kxeesiors got the ball from the .serum the olTetier. Then,? were not many passing bouts by either sii!«• and the oiks that did take place were either mishandled or the players were caught with the ball. From a kick and a fast follow up by Stars Chefwyud saved with a pretty mark. (Shortly after Steel got tlm hall over the half way mark and after heating several red and blacks, set out. and went like a tlash of lightning lor the line, outpacing the opposition badly, and registering the only try of the spell, his kick at the goal being a beauty. The red and black full back had to put in a great deal of work-, but lie cleared nicely each time, while his following up was a treat to watch, lie turning defence into attack on numerous occasions. Wogan, Henderson and Gibbous also got in some guild defensive work. Steel did not get much of the hall, hut Reynolds made a few dashes and was invariably floored each time: Nelson tried some solo work, hut the tackling of the red and blacks was solid, atlioiigh some of them wore inclined to go high too mtliTi. The spell ended Stars o. Excelsiors tl.

The second spell opened with the Excelsiors assuming the oll'eiisive. their forwards without exception working splendidly under the leadership of Raunister. whose serum work was of the best. the red and blacks geliiiig the hall on nearly every occasion or 'breaking through. Just alter Ihe start Steel got. tho ball about the half way mark and went through like a Hash. Gibbons just catching him near the line, Steel falling over ihe line. Hi- kick missed. The Exeelinr hack- and forwards were imw playing with more eonliJem e and were getting their men with greater pl’e-

ci-iou which was licgjiining to have its effect. Rig nulds set a movement going a fain t the halfway when AYogan cul in and intercepted hut failed to hold, hut Raunister being close lumdv passed to Heiider-im who kicked. Ha n ui-l e !', Henderson. I hum p-nn . He-!, rushed the lull "Vi . i’re-lon being the -coi'er, and tints culminated a fine piece of work. Bannister's kick failed. Tiie Stars worked ihe red and blacks down into home territory, hut good work by I lemler-on. Gibl.-ms. AYogan and Wright -aved the situation time and again for some minutes whilst liannisler and Best also showed Ihe advantage. A! lor play being neutral for some minutes the hall went to ■Steel, and a favourable opportunity oll'eiing lie dropped a heautj fill goul which in,- the daddy M the day. the epee I.a 101-. reeogn i-i u'o this by their aedantat hoi. I li-’ rex' seen came ter the red ami blacks whim Thompson broke a ".ay ' harp!;, ami Ikiuiiister, Rest, I’reston. Eraser, and .Morrison earned on, I'nimh-tor scoring. Wright's kick failed, from now on to the end ol tlm game the Excel,- in r- forward- got all over the Stars, the amber and black- delem-

being hard put. but with an 'Toieen! ' of luck I Imir defence held, although il was only a matter of iie-hes at ' lime.-. The luller -ta:-- of the genii' 1 nil- played in liie. dark and H bare ry dilfioiilt to see what was taking place, hut ii"v, i t !i.■!<•-- it wa- cue ni the 1110-t exciting 11111-1)1'.- willlessi'd for a. long time, ain I 11: u - elide, I a -pel! u Inch wa- lull of ml ere-l V, till Ihe -rnl',"- Slai'.- Ik. I'lxcel-iers li. ’ [ The red and black forwards worked = -|.1,-ll,ldly ii, the M'l -I 'i'll :l 11 * I il is (piite on ! lie card.- that the next time they in: I Si ill's the scores will he l evel cd. I!a 1111 i :-t el' played one ol hi- best gaums while Ill's I has iniju'oviei I wonderfully. Pre-ion and Thomii- | sun never let up during the whole game and it was a treat to see the hitler breaking nutty, whilst his laekjlilig was also good. tiuguTt, Morrison ! (irieves and Lfil-cr tigered well. The best of the Star forward-; were Sher-

lock, Drown and Piliig. Steel did not get nun'll of the hull during the first spell, hut more in the sceoud spell, and the oeeasions on which lie got going executing the try, he was gra---ed l,y Dos-. Wright. Wogan and Hugieli. Hoodall was cailghi several times with the hall and the Excelsiors gave him a busy time in the second spell. None of the other hacks got many opportunities to shine owing to the line spoiling tactics of the red and I,lacks. Wright for the Kxeelsiors played a splendid game, as also did

1 Wogan, (,'ibbons and Henderson, whilst, C'hclwviid and Ab'ken also did I useful work, hut Doss did not do too i well owing to suffering from a disablement. Steel gave a good exhibit ; ion of line kicking, while some of Bunni-ster's kicks in the second spell were also good. Air Meh a r had control of the game. KIWIS BEAT EXITED. The Kiwi I’uited match on Victoria Dark. HreymotiUi on Saturday, was one of the finest games .seen on this ground for many years. Tim weather was fine though dull and notwithstanding a few j drops i f rain which fell earlier in the | afternoon, the conditions were dry. The (I public patronage was again large. The Hokitika hoys had a victory against I nited, ami they Well deserved it. as they played a brilliant game and were undoubtedly the better team on the day's play. The applause which greeted the victory testified to the popularity of the win. I luted won the toss and Kiwis kinked olf against a slight breeze. Lnited at on,o set no a strong attack. From a s ram Walton passed smartly to p. •Lmiie-en. v, ho passed to Warnes. the las! named sent the ball on lo "Pip' Jamieson, who returned infield to \\arno-. that player scoring a sje--taeular try. The attempt at goal was uiistiece-sfnl. Lnited 3- Kiwi 0. Hokitika then made tilings willing and had Lnited -defending. Doth teams wore showing line play. Mi Cleary. Si-evens, and White were well on their I game, but Jamieson and Co., were equal to the occasion. United were I hard put to it to save their line, and while play '-'a- in their twenty-five | Met leary gave a beautiful dummy to Walt ,n ami McManus. MiCTearv .scor-

ing a haril fought for try. White failed to e.utvert.' The spectators were now treated t> some line football. Ualkor. the Kiwi full hack, was playing mcgnil'ucui, saving his side on numerous oeea-.ions, Pip Jamie-on and Warnes were a tower of strength to their side <ni more than ~iu- occasion.

From a scrum in midfield Knifed obtained possession and a fine passing bout on the part ot' their baths made a .score seem imminent, but Warnes knocked on and spoiled a certain score, "hen there "as only the full-hack te pass. -Vic Cleary obtained pusse-.sion in the ensuing scrum and punted to infield. A lot of give and take piny followed. in which Devaney and White sin me brill in n t ly. Shortly bcl'ore halttime sounded White scored a fry from a pass from Devaney. ti;e vcorer converting. At. half time the sotvs were : Kiwi- 8. Fnited

in the second spell. Kiwis made things more than willing. (Irifiin, Shantimi and Devaney being ] rotninent in the forward rushes. From midhold (Iriffin ami Shannon broke away "itji the I,all at their toe. but a cer-

t< n try was bet through Shannon mistakingly kicking the hall from (Iriifili’s hands, .lainiesun forced. Fuiied then a-sorted themselves. lm: Kiwis n,-v to the occasion, the defence of their ha l;> being a feature of the game. A player worth mentioning at this stage i. Duneraft. who was ]. laying solidly, ii. Steel was also well upholding the family name. Fnited’s second trv was

.-cored by l.amberton, through the insl niim-ulality of Wanes and Walton, the game ending in a. victory for Kiwis by S points to 0. .Mr (liicrin was refere. KXCKLSIOIIS V KA'NIKIIi. Tin l Kxeeslior Kanieri game was jtlaveil on No I field at. ld'!l p.nt. am! for about fifteen minutes ti c gone was fairly even. Just after the commencement Ailkon mis.-ed a penally. From a line on! flic ball went ; cro-c the field and Ait ken secured, passed to Bill land, to Freitas, who crossed hut Aliken’s kick missed. Ahmi' half way I hrough the spell Aitkeli kicked a penalty, the spell ending Kxceisiors fl. Kanieri 0. great deal of desultory plav imt:l Kanieri woke up and from some snta.rt forward play from a scrum liuvd lollowed over and sen red Free emnoding. Shortly after (here "'.is another try by Kanieri. ibis time lioyd again scoring, hut Free’s kick missed, 'i be Kxceisiors now pul more dsi-h into their game, but Kanieri held them, honors being even. Slight on time the red and blacks carried Ibe ball through and nlsiii! the 'Jo mark Staines s.'cured and drepned a. teal which pulled I lie game out ol the lire for tint Kxceisiors. tile final scorebeing Kxceisiors 10. Kanieri 8. Air lleeiinn maniptlhiteil the whistle.