FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1926, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S GAMES.

The games set down for to-morrow are as follow: THIRD GRADE. School v. Rimu, at Ilimu, 1.30 p.m. Excelsiors v. Kiwi, at Hokitika, 1.30 p.m. JUNIORS. Excelsiors v. Kanieri at 3 p.m. SENIORS. Hokitika v. Stars, at Hokitika, at 3 p.m.

The main attraction promises to lie the contest between Kanieri and Excelsior juniors, and a close contest is promised. The senior game will suffer as a result of several junior players engaged in the above game not being available, for this game.

Excelsiors v. Kanieri at 3 p.m: Eager, Best, Gugich, Preston. King Barron, Montagu, McMinn, Butland. Hoy, King, Staines, Dale, Dennison. Nightingale. Reserves Palmer, Glover.

Excelsior Thirds v. Kiwis at 1.3.' p.m McFarlane, Herring, Hutchison, Hughes (2). Jones, Connor, Simpson, Schroder, Larcomhe. 1 Shearer. Dowling, Sumner, George, Nightingale. Reserves: Morgan, Tveogan, Tainui.

The following will represent the Kiwi Third Grade team in their match with Excelsiors on Cass Square at 1.30 p.m. to-morrow:—Davidson. Nestor, Taylor, White. Warren, Henderson, Ffeenan. Webb. Chisholm, Ridland. Reid, O’Brien, Kelly, Brown, Warren. Finer: Lock.

A LUCKY WTN. FOR ALL BLACKS. [Australian A N.Z. Cable Association A SYDNEY, July 29. New South Wales played Now Zealand to-day. Tn the New South Wales team, McLaren and George replaced Bowers and Sheehan. Tlio attendance was two thousand. The weather was sultry. Tn the AH Blacks team Lomas Veplaccd Trvino. The Blues won the toss, hut they gained little advantage. There was eden play in the centre for five minutes. Then, following misfielding by a Blue bafck, Cooke kicked and followed through' quickly to score, Nicholls converting. N.Z. S—N.S.W. 0. The Blacks again attacked. AYallace intercepted a pass, and broke right through, but his pass was mulled, and a certain score was lost. Tlio Blacks initiated many passing rushes from the line-outs, as the result of the knockhack. but the Blues’ defence whs sound, .After twenty minutes give-and-take phv, a beautiful passing rush between Crossman, Wallace and Towers resulted in the last-named scoring. Grossman’s kick was unsuccessful. N.Z. S—N.S.W. 3.

Tho Blues came again dangerously. Svenson, saved but Stewart was caught offside, and CrossmAn kicked a. good goal. N.S.W. 6—N.Z. .5. Good work by Cooke and Finlavson followed, the latter nearly crossing, hut a knock-on saved N.S. Wales. At this stage Maekav. had to retire, and Ivins replaced Lim. Another infringement* pave Crossmnn an opportunity to register *i g*>a.l just un lialf time. N.S.AV. 9—N.Z. k

A clashing individual run enabled Wallace to score in a good position, hut Grossman's kick went wide. The spell ended: —

New South Wales 12 New Zealand 5 Cooke retired, shortly before half time, and Blake came on. Rylance icplacotl Crossman in the second spell.

Tho Blacks on the resumption were immediately offside, and Towers kicked a goal." N.S.AY. 15.—N.Z. 5. Then Robilliard smartly fielded a rebound, and crossing in the corner. Nicholls converting well. N.S.AV. 15— N.Z. 10.

. Nicholls made a good opening, and Alley crossed, but in endeavouring to improvfo the position, ho was forced over the dead ball line. Play now intensified. The Blacks were penalised in front of • their goal, find Towers kicked 'an easy goal, making the score 18 to 10 in favour of New South Wales.

After a hard spell, from a scrum, on the Blues’ lino, Mill dodged round the blind side, and scored. Nicholls converting. N.S.W. 18—N.Z. 15. A dangerous Dine rush saw Rylance, out on the lino.

, Then Blake, securing the hall behind his own line, made the run of the match, and then ho transferred to Robilliard in the Blues’ twenty-five, the latter scoring. Nicholls added the major points, placing New Zealand ahead by 20 to 18.

The Blacks were again penalised in front of the costs, and Towers placed another goal. N.S.W. 21-N.Z. 20. Mill, however, then repeated his previous performance from a scrum on the Blues’ lino and scored. Nicholls failed to convert. N.Z. 23—-N.S.W. 21. Just on time. Sheen gathered up the ball and made a good opening, and Robillfard scored in the corner. Nicholls converted. The final score was: Now Zealand 28 New South Wales . 21 Tho game, in most of "its features, resembled the first test. The Blacks sluggishness, due to the influence of the climate, lasted for tho entire first spell. Only in the final stages of the game did they show their best form. They wero penalised freely for illegalities, and offside and obstruction nullified much of their work. Their win was considered lucky.

' The Bines dominated the first -spell land much of the second, and they displayed improved tackling and enterprise. Possession from the scrum was equal. The Blacks had the better of the lineouts. Many Black attacks failed owing to erratic passing and insufficient hacking up. _ . Despite the frequency of the injuries tile game was contested in a fine spiiit. Bkike’s run was the feature of the

game, which, in the latter stages, was most exciting, the scores vacillating. The defensive measures of both sides were somewhat relaxed. Tt was the Blacks’ poorest display of the tour.