FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 June 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

EXCELSIOR, v. KANIERI. A DRAWN GAME. The quidnuncs who spoke in favor of a hard close game were right in their prediction on Saturday, when the Excelsior and Knnieri senior teams clashed on Lass Square with absolutely i>er-fcc-t conditions of ground and weather. The game was a hard fought one to the end, and resulted in a draw (three points, a penalty goal each). The game was noticeable for several features. Firstly the collaring generally was very solid. It was only the inside backs that appeared to get away at times ns a result of high tackling, and it was noticeable that AlcCleary particularly was able to break away on quite a number of occasions, as a result ! of high tackling by his opponents. The [ second feature was that Kanieri centre hacks on occasions spoilt their backplay by continually hanging on and trying to bent the world, when brother backs were in attendance and in good position, while the same positions on the opposite side saw the had 'direction kicking on many occasions that let their opponents away badly into very dangerous positions oil quite a number of times. The two -full-backs gave a very sound exhibition. Thomas heat his vis-a-vis in the earlier stages, and at times was really brilliant, but in the latter half he made several mistakes that were a decided blemish on the general display. Nightingale on the other hand, was a bit overstrung at the start and hardly did himself justice. but lie soon pulled together and throughout the game played solidly. His kicking was always good and at times it was brilliantly successful. The most unfavourable feature of tbe game was the large number of jietuiltios given round the scrum. Putting in the ball unfairly, lifting too early in the serum, and getting otT-side were had blemishes that caused many penalties in some instances repeated moment after moment. Thomas kicked a good goal from, well out. but later though lie had two or three easier kicks, lie failed to reach the coveted posts. Just on half-time King had a shot at goal from well out near the line and just managed to equalise the scores. There was no score in the second half. It is hard to say that one man lost the game, but Kanieri should have had the pleasure of success, oil the afternoon’s play. In the first half especially, the Kanieri machine worked well. Tainui was easily the most noticeable of the scoring hacks, doing some very fine opening up. AlcCleary also played one of his hast games and opened up the plav ill good style. A pass out that he gave in the closing .stages of the game ongliL to have been a winner, but though it wont straight into Pfahlert’s arms, with practically only one man to heal, the bull b : uncoil out again, with disastrous effect, as Tainui overrunning got offside and lliis relieved the pressure. It was an extremely had miss at a critical point of the game. In the latter stages he also failed to handle as well as he did in the earlier stages, but a clinging tendency all through was a had blemish. The Kanieri forwards were a heavy lot and worked well. .McKenzie had a tendency lo get offside, .while Preston, on the opposing side also caught the referee's eye too often. Devancy. who made a first appearance for the season gave many penalties lor lilting in the scrum. King, the Excelsior liveeight. proved very safe, but it was noticeable that some of his kicks went in the wrong direction, and on several occasions lie gave the other side fine openings as a result. While the forwards generally worked hard there was not that cleanness of footwork and handling that there should have been, and on the whole the game was a disappointing one. Kanieri had somewhat the best of the game, and on the play should have scored a win by a small margin.

In the first, sjk‘ll Kanieri did most of the attacking, the play being on the Excelsior side of half-way most of the time, but the defence; was solid, and aided by mistakes the attackers were held out. About half-way through Thomas kicked a penalty goal for Kanieri and had two oilier shots within range which missed. Near the end of the spell Excelsiors attacked, and from a free kick for offside, King kicked a goal and ended the scoring for the game. The second half saw Excelsiors make a 1 letter showing and they attacked for the first half, one or two chances being missed. Then Kanieri levelled the play and took a hand in attacking. Excelsiors returned to the attack and the play went up and down in rapid succession. With ten minutes to go Kanieri attacked very strongly, hut some had handling lost very good winning chances, and the game ended with play in the Excelsior quarters, with the attack still going strong-, ATr AlcTntosli (Groymouth- .as referee, and lie held the play in capital control all through. He stated Hie game was very hard, and a fast one, hut the individual and concerted play was poor, while there were altogether too many infringements of the rules.