FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1926, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

• - —•— EXCELSIORS v." IvANIERI. The weather and ground conditions were bad on Saturday, Cass Square being a sea of mud and an open game was out of the question. ‘The ball soon beacnie a slippery, elusive oval, and tho play suffered as a result. The game went up and down the field, with many misses and bad handling, and was not of a very high quality. Excelsiors scored in the first half from a forward rush by means of Qalin, while in the second half Whiley scored for Kanieri, after tho best and only properly completed , passing run of the afternoon. The result a draw, three points each, fairly indicated the play throughout. Air C. Gaylor was referee. • ! I HOKITIKA SCHOOL v. REEFTON ! SCHOOL. j This game, played on No. 2 ground, j also resulted in a draw, there being no score. The visiting team, who were much heavier had easily the best of the first half. Their passing runs opened out the play, and they had one or two close misses from scoring. The greasy ball and heavy ground affected both teams, and when half-time came it looked odds' on the lighter homo team being run over in the second half. The opposite, however, happened and the home forwards began to get the hall regularly and fairly held their weightier opponents. The backs also handled in an improved manner and as the game wore on they gained tho upper hand, and several times they carried the hall to the goal line, only to lose it. Reeftou rallied on several occasions and took the ball to tlie other end. but time came with the ball in mid-field and the game scoreless. Tho result was a fair criterion of'the play. Given a fine day and firm ground, the play should have been a treat, as both sides wer trying to open out the play all the time. There was one incident that was unfortunate. A Hokitika player illegally tackled an opponent, when he did not have tho ball, and the visitor retaliated by striking him. The referee saw the incident, ordering the visitor off the field and penalising Hokitika with a free kick. AVc think, that under the circumstances a warning would easily have met the case, as the game otherwise was played in the best sporting spirit. Air Sumner was referee. SEDDON SHIELD. [BY TET.EOTtAPH —PUB PUiCBS ASSOCIATION. 1 MOTTTEKA, Aug. 22. After a keen game, Nelson defeated the Bays Union for the Scddon Shield by seventeen points to fourteen. The losers had much tho best of the first half, alLhough Nelson led by nine to eight. For the winners, Read scored a penalty goal, Snodgrass scored a try and a penalty goal, while two tries were got by McGregor, and one converted. For the losers Bryne converted a try got by Foskett Bryne kicked a penally, and Foskett got a try and Clarice a try. HIGH SCHOOLS MATCH. NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 22. A sterling Rugby struggle between representatives of Auckland Grammar and New Plymouth Boys’ High Schools to-day before five thousand spectators resulted in a meritorious win for New Plymouth by 22 to d. HAWKE’S BAY AGAIN. NAPIER. Aug. 22. Auckland’s third attempt to lift the Ranfurly Shield from Hawke’s Bay was staved off at McLean Park yesterday, when the holders dec-isvelv proclaimed their right to hold supremacy by 41 points toll.

The weather was ideal in every way, and tho attendance reached 9.000. Tho ground was in perfect playing condition, and there was a total absence of wind or sun. Auckland won the toss, and five minutes from the kick off, drew first blood, when Freeman landed a goal from a mark, hut Nepia equalised shortly after with a penalty goal.

A little Inter Freeman kicked another penalty. Cooke then scored for the defenders, and Nepia converted,, while later C. Brownlie registered an unconverted try. Nepia then converted a try bv Blake.

Following this. McWilliams converted a trv bv Ifwerson for Auckland, making the half time score 19—11 in Hawke’s Bay’s favour. In the second half, the .defenders wore their opponents down, and tries were scored by M. Brownlie, Cooke. Blake (2), Mahoney, and Swain, while GTccnsidc converted two tries. IVIN FOR. WAIKATO. HAMILTON, Aug. 22. Waikato defeated North Auckland by 20 to 13 in a splendid game. MATCH AT FIJI. SUVA, Aug. 21. The Varsity versus Fiji first test match resulted in a draw, eight, all. I or Varsity Stewart Scored an unconverted try, and Dunn’s try, which N. Jenkins converted. For Suva. M. Liav scored two tries, one being converted by Freeman. The first half, was men. Play in the second half was in fat our oT Fiji. The Governor and a big crowd were present. All the team are well.