FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1925, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SENrOKS. I'nited 10— Excelsiors 3. .II'NLOES. Excelsiors o—Ross (i. Kutnara o—Arahura 0. Kanieri 23—Kokntahi (i. THIRD GRADE Excelsiors ‘23—Kiwis 3.

The state of the weather on Saturday was nb ulutelv had. 3he teams took the field shortly after three o’clock in the teeming rain, which inntinued right through the tirst spell: hut in the second spell the players were more tort unate. them being only a couple of light showers of short duration. The attendance "I spectators was meagre, but there were more there than one would expect, on such, a dav. they evidently being drawn out by visions'll!' the laughable situations that, would he created by a .scramble in the mud. but no doubt some of the players would have rather had the comedy cut out, and the appearance of some of the outside lawks, gave one the impression that they Would have sold out. for sixpence, as the saying it. Roth games on the (square were fought out in tine spirit, although conditions were such as to ntfl'lo the tempers of most, hut the motto seemed to lie “Smile Loys. ,Stnile.” The Held on which me junior game was played was practically a slkhm. of water and there were .~:hm\ei> of sprav falling wherever there wore feet nr'the hall, the poor referee being under a ee.iitinual shower ol wntoi (leaving the rain out ol consideration) whilst his uetiwr garments wore transformed by splashes of mud. Some of the players were never deceived so much before In their lives, for some would kick the hall migotily. but the distance it would travel in “oinparisou to the energy expended was not great, then it would hit the water plonk, when there would he a rush ol feet that were as heavy as lend, and hold ha."!; with a glm-ltkq action, hands going out as if groping ill the dark for the tiling that was as greasy as an eel. and as elusive as the wasp, it sometimes being limilly kicked .o the accompaniment ol a grunt. Ihe \v | placing iield on which the minor game was staged, was a regular quagmire. and it revived '‘pleasant’ memories of “Codford on the Mud, hut ,m Saturday it was “Mudlord on .he Square.” Tin- majority of the spectators had their hit of fun when a player landed or was dumped all square in the mud. he then getting up and looking a pitiful sight, although (akin,r it all good naturally. Some oi the mud-bespattered nhivers looked when tlu-v aroso from tlio noa <>l niuu. lilvc njinri-rs ill fhol’ts \\!lO bill! just *OOll i\ ghost. Several of the players had to lease operations while they scraped the mud from their faces and dug the earth from I heir eyes, whilst Rolercc Melvor had to stop the game and lead one I'nited warrior who had been blinded with mud. gently by the hand olf the held, where lie sueeesslujly performed the opera lion of removing Ihe mud and letting the player see the light of day. and so the battle ill the mud was continued. I'nited by their win on Saturday have now drawn level with the Stars, and (he two Grey teams will now have to play oil' to decide the senior competition.

EXCELSIORS V. I'NITED. The senior game. Excelsior v. I oiled was played on a lield of mud with rain during the lirsl spell, and a couple of light showers in tlie second. Ihe game was a hard one throughout hut the pace was kept tip right up to lime. The Excelsior forwards dominated the game at llm commencement cf the first s*:e!l, and allerwards had a slight advantage over the I idled lot - wards, who were about the heaviest set .seen in action here. Ihe first score came for Excelsiors wln-u Thompson nicely dribbled the hall through and capped a nice piece ol work. Ileuders'.tn failed with the kill;. Shortly alter I oiieil carried play down the held, end while two Excelsior players were making up their minds what to dn. Hi- perhaps depending one on t”o lit her to do it. M. Jamieson kicked away and went over to score aim Marne-, converted. Alter some good forward ru-lies by hoth sets ot lorwnrils. i iit»'i sjktsim 1 wit Ji snnir defensive work by several backs on hath sides the first spell ended with the scores I'nited o. Excelsiors 3. It looked as though il I uited did „,,t will.-., up the home leant would V.iu. fill in the second spell their forwards worked better, and the serummages in the majority ol eases were in tflue and white's favour. whilst some good d"dgy inns h.v two Grey plovers were witnessed, hut good pin; was :i!m> given by the red and Macks. The only score ol the second spell was registered when McDonald secured the hall in mid-iield an I alter heating set erai opponents, passed, hut Lamherton smartly intern pled and vl out Iroiu (|i,-. t way ting for Hie goal line, outpacing In-, opponents and scoring between the posts, Walton adding: the maior points. The red and Macks tried t,. even tilings up- a hit. hill of to no avail, although they pros-iod l idled hiird ill times, they could not lorce home their advantage and the pann-

ended I'nited BL Excelsiors 3. Megan gave a good display and tut several occasions went across the tiehi (o stop I'nited rushes, which he uid successfully. Henderson also gave Ids usual good de-play ami the mad did not prevent him going down to stop the tight forward rushes, whilst he also put in several good runs. Ihompsou aGo did well, his anticipation and tackling being especially good, while McMintt was very aggressive at limes and was a constant thorn in Ins op-

ponents’ side. The red and Mark pack led h.v Bannister, played their usual game, hut tlie weight ol the I n I i “i 1 p.aek began to tell ils tale in the sprout! spell. M. .Jamieson being the otilslutiding player, whilst Howard. M’altnu and Mantes, stood out prominently in individual ell’orLs on numerous occasions. | .Mr Mdvor manipulated Ihe whistle. ■ ROSE V. EX(TILSIT)ILS. ! The R iss-Kxeelsior game was play--1 ed on No !! playing held at 3 o'clock | and allor a very hard game the resit!l i was. a draw. The lield wa- practically a | sheet of water, and the rain which was falling at the c-onunem -cutout <•'< 11 11 lilt c ■! right throughout Ihe spell, -lopping for the .second spell with the onceplion of tt couple of light showers ol short duration. Both teams set In work with a will and ahum two minutes after the start a forward rush by Ross allowed Ahlesou to follow over and score in the corner, the kick fnili " ’ ’

ing. Some minutes saw play going up and down the field until Stevenson had a shot, from a. penalty which missed, hut soon after the Excelsiors were awarded another penalty near the. same spot and this time Stevenson was successful. making the score three all, at which it remained till the end of the spell. In the second spell there were more handling and punting whilst some very good forward rushes were witnessed, each side having the other in dilheulties on numerous occasions. AI other times in midfield when (he hall was kicked and plonked in the water, coming to ;i dead stop, a race generally ensuing to get their first, but some mighty swipes missed at times. From a .scramble near the red and Mack line Green got over to score for Ross in the corner, the kick naturally failing. Shortly after Ross drove the Excelsiors out of their territory and carried play up io the half-way flag where a Ross player kicked away, and another score nearly resulted through Nightingale hesitating what to do. whether to go up anil meet the hall or go hack, he eventually going hack and then tip. hut luckily a scramble ensued. .Shortly after the Excelsiors carried play right down to the Ross goal lino, where, from a .scramble a Ross player attempted to pass hack, lull I’. Ross smartly intercepted and went down with the hall. Stevenson's kick from a difficult angle was a very good attempt. not missing by much. Ihe closing stages of the game saw some strenuous rushes and some good defensive work liv some individual players of both sides, whilst there was also some very unnecessary long punting, which was all very well for the hacks, but very inconvenient for the iurwards. when the return kick was placed in an awkward position. Montague who always plays a bar. and honest game was seen at his best on Saturday, his aggressiveness, following tip and tackling being good. R. Ross, who has shone out in the loose in nearly every game this season was always with, the hall on Saturday and the thicker the thud was the hat'd or he plugged away. Stevenson, who tins improved wonderfully this season. was also with the leather and worked hard, whilst Kelly. Harris and Preston nil did uselul work. Of the hacks Pimp Rutland was the best, his display on stub a. day as it was being especially good, and he went down to the Ross rushes successfully, time and again. The rest of the hacks shone out more or less at times, although some ol them did not show that anticipation and judgment which can he shown on a wet day. The Ross pack as a whole worked very hard, several players being very prominent in the loose rushes, whilst a lew of them tackled very well. AMeson gave a good display as also did several ol the other hacks, but some of them made some very silly blunders at times, one .of which cost, them a try. Mr E. Median was the referee and bv the time the game finished lie had a,' great deal of mud adhering to lt.is nether garments, he perhaps faring worse than any of the players as lar as mud was concerned.

TNANt i AII FA (TO v. STARS CD. The Gre vniou th Star Club sent a team yesterday lo play the luangalma reps, who proved victorious hv LI points to 3. At half time the home team, who are a strong lilteen, led by II t,, ],i|. tries being scored h.v Dick Powley. Davis and Nicholson. Powle.v converting his try. In the second half Mosley gill a try for Stars, and Hie home team added another try. I lie 'Roe ft oil team had the bet lor ol lue game and proved themselves tt good all-round combination. Henderson and Freitas (forwards’) and the Browns and Chow Fong did well among the hacks. NEW .MAN SHIELD. WESTPORT, Aug. 1. The Newman Shield Rugby match was played on Victoria Square to-day in wo I weather on a greasy field, between teams represelil ing the Reel'luu District High School (holders) mid the West pol l Technical High School (challengers). The game was w n bv Roelton by 12 to nil. CANTER HER V v, SOI'TIILAND. (TIRISTCII FIiCH. Aug. 2. In the Rugby rep. match lo dav. Canterbury heal Southland by 3 to 11 was a lasi and open game. The visitors had advantage territorially, hut their hacks, with the exception of Kilby, lacked finish. M (lASCA I! CEP. NAPIER. Aug. 2. 'fe Ante College (holders) defeated Wanganui Technical School in the Mon scar Cup match ai Waipiiwu yesterday h.v 31 points jo 3.

M AIROA v. POVERTY BAY. M'AIKOA, Aug. I. The M'airoa Rugby SuM'iiion successfully defended the Barry Cup here to-day against Poverty Rav union, winning by twelve to eight, alter a fine spectacular game. GORE BEAT NORTH OTAGO. OAM ARP, Aug. 2. Before a large crowd the Eastern Districts ((tori’) defeated North Otago hv 10- 11. M'Al BAR APA v. "WAIKATO. .MASTER-TON. Atm. 2. The Waikato Rugby touring learn were defeated by M'airnrapa yesterday by JO points to !) points. I hough tlie honors of the game rested -with the visitors, the game produced good forward play, and though the backs on both ■•ides threw the hall about considerably. tlie play lacked finish. (,)!' EF.XSLANI) DEFEATS N.Z. f Australia A N.Z, Cable Association.] BRISBANE. August 2. At the Exhibition Oval on Saturday the (,)iieen>la:nl team scored a runaway \ ietory by forty-three points to nineteen over the New Zealand team. The visitors failed completely to impress the onlookers. Their movements were maned by faulty handling. Gregory. M'i!sun-I lull and Mealhorall were the out slit tiding New Zealand players. The crowd was one ol Iwc-nty-eighi thousand who --aw ilm match nuclei perfect eondii ion.-. (Queensland won the toss. Weatherall captained the New Zealanders.

.ilmires scored first for Queensland aiic! Spencer scored soon alter this. Following on trickiness on tlie pari of Dune an-Thompsoii. Paten scored. Then Spencer ran the length ol tin field and scored. Queensland had averaged one point per minute alter eighteen minutes play. At this stage. Ellis replaced O’Brien and then Steinliart scored. Dilfty goalee! from a penalty following which Dunean-Thompson again scored and converted the try. Unity now went up to threo-qmilder in place of Parlies, who had to go ofT. Gregorv went to lull-hack and he played a brilliant game. Carroll then scored for New Zealand, from tt ruck on the home line, 'the kick at goal failed. Dufty being inaccurate. The half-time scores were (Queensland 28, Now Zealand 5. New Zealand commenced the second half well. Getting a pass from W'ilsoullall, -Sanders scored, and Delgross converted. Brilliant tackling on the part of New Zealand averted danger, but (Queensland pushed on to scoring point. Gorman went over as the outcome of a piece of brilliant individual play. Then Moitatt intercepting went ovci to score. Delgrosso goalc-d. New Zealand showed their true form when M'ilson-Hall started a fine movement, ending in a score by Sanders. Then Spencer again scored. There was a final spurt by New Zealand. when M'ilson-Hall set bis threequarters in motion, and Mentherall scored.

The match was hardly of an international standard. The Queensland men were too last. Tlie visitors best point was their defence, although they were outclassed in every department. They were visibly tired after the match.