FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

JUNIOR KNOCK-OUT. WON BY EXCELSIOR A. The final of the ' junior knock-out competition and right to hold the Breeze Shield for the year was played on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon. and resulted in a last minute victory for Excelsiors l>y 6 points to 3 points scored by Kokatahi. [Tic ground and weather conditions ncio perfect, hut the ploy was of a very ragged nature. In the first spell though Excelsiors attacked more often, Kokatahi were the first to score. H. Fleming touching down after a good forward rush that took play over more than half the length of the field. -Kokatahi were having somewhat the better of the scrums, and the loose rushes hut the play of the outside hacks was poor in the extreme, and continually cost ground and openings. Towards the end of the spell, alter several shots had been missed. Stevenson kicked a nice penalty goal lor Excelsiors. The second hall was another very coed exhibition and it was anybody's game till the last quarter of an hour when Kokatahi forwards who |, a ,l played well together fired badly ..ml Excelsiors attacked strongly. They were held out until just on the call'of time when from a passing run Stevenson went over at the corner to score a winning try. which was not converted. Time was then called with Excelsiors the victors. The winners were lucky to wm. n the play until the last ten ...mutes they would have been lucky not to lose, but the game itself as a wh<-e uas an extremely poor one. the handling and passing not being up to the standard of school hoys, m most instances Mr Jleelian was reicree.

In view of the shield final match with Kunieri on Saturday next members of the Excelsiors seniors are requested to attend practice on lass Square every evening. INANGAHUA v. W'KSTLAND. Inangahua defeated Westland lor the Pittman Shield at Reefton on Saturday by 19—12. . , ~ In the first spell lor Westland, MeCleary, Bannister and Caldwell scored tries.’ while for Inangahua. .McDonald and Kelly scored tries, Kelly converting one and Fuller kicked a peualc goTil, the scores being Inangahua 11, W'cstland 9. In the second half McClcnry scored his second try for Westland, iiliite foi Inangaliua Rimmer scored, Kelly converting anil also kicking a penalty ■>oal. the final scores reading Inangalma 19. Westland 12. The game as mainly 'fought out among the forwards, with occasional (Kissing runs. Mr T. Irving was referee. WESTPORT, Oet. 1. Playing for Stars against Charleston in the Albion Cup senior fixture today. Arthur Stevens, full hack for Stars, sustained a broken leg.

INTER-ISLAND RUGBY. WIN FOR THE SOUTH. BY TEr,ECU.*I'Il —CRESS ASSN., COI'YHIQHt WELLINGTON, Oet. I. In tlu> Rugby match between the North and the South Island, the South heat the North Island on Saturday, in the presence of about 23,090 spectators, by 31 points to 30. The game was played under ideal conditions, and it proved a remarkably last and spectacular game. In the Sooth Island team Carleton replaced Lindsay, and Snodgrass played in place of Steel. At half-time the. scores were 1” to II in favour of the North Island. The South Island forwards, for what they lacked in the individual lirillianc.v ol Maurice Brownlie. Cyril Brownlie. I'Tnlaysoii. Harvey. and Swain, more than made up in their eomhiiicd play. They hooked the hall from the strum more often than the North forwards, while the South hall. Dailey, played a great game, availing to set the South Island’s brilliant hacks going. Dailey was also great in defence. Rohilliard and Snodgrass, the South wingers, made some great dashes down the line. Carleton was sound on defence. Mctiregor displayed considerable skill in opening the play. Dailey showed cleverness in working the 'blind side, and in dummying. Maurice Brownlie was the best forward on the field. 11 e was closely followed by his brother Cyril, Harvey, Einlavson and Swain.

Kilby was not the equal oi Dailey at half, Imt his forwards broke up too quickly, and let the South Island pack get on to him. Neverthless lie played a fine, heady game, and he was sound in defence.

Johnson played a dashing fiveeighths game. Grenside made several strong rims down the line and lie tackled grimly.

Mark Nicholls was far from a success at full back, he by no means relishing the hard work, whilst Lilburno, the South full-back, though not up to international standard, was very safe. Most of the tries were spectacular ones, and had the North Island persevered with Mark Nicholls as a goal kick, instead of with Berridge, the North Island would'hare won.

There were no “ Beg pardons” about the play. Every man caught with the ball was dumped good and hard. Brilliant passing characterised the South Island hacks, and the way they eluded tackles was fine to see. The pace was a cracker from start to finish. A rush by the Brownlie brothers enabled Swain to score, after the South Island had attacked strongly. A South Island passing rush ended with Kohillinrd gaining possession and making a brilliant dash down the line to score, ■ making 3 all. Maurice Brownlie then made another breakaway, and he passed to Swain, who scored.

Nice- in and lout passing by the North Island saw Kilby dive [last Dailey to score, and Nicholls converted the try with a great kick. NORTH 11:‘SOUTH 3. ( ailetpn next heat the North hacks with a brilliant run and scored. Strang made a great kick, which struck the post. Nicholls then raised North’s total to 1-1 with a penalty. Rerridge next passed to Hook, who ran magnificently, hut stumbled when close to Lilliurne, and then passed to Swain, who scored his third try. Soon alter-this- Dailey secured the ball from a scrum, dummied past Keene, and passed to Carleton. who sent on to Bobilliard. who ran round under the posts. Strang converted. NORTH 17: SOUTH 11.

In the second spell, North Island moiled badly, and Snow fell on the hall over tile line to score. Then seventeen all came when Snodgrass kicked a great penalty from beyond half wav.

South Island took the lead when, after two attempts, Carleton kicked a penalty goal. Tlie North Island regained the lead when Finlayson made a long run and passed to Johnson when near the line, enabling him to swerve through the

opposition to score, and Nicholls to convert. North 22: South 20.

Snodgrass made a brilliant opening and passed to Rohilliard, wlio. when dose to tlie line, sent the ball to Scrimslunv, who scored, and Strang goaled. SOUTH 25: NORTH 22. Good work by Nicholls and Grenside saw Harvey get the ball and butt his way over to score. Uerridge missed an easy kick. 25 all. Maurice Brownlie broke away and passed to Grenside, who, after a luilliant run. passed to Kilby, who transferred to Johnson, who scored. Nicholls converted. NORTH 30: SOUTH 23. fsnodgrass then goaled for the South from a penalty nearly half way.

Scrimshaw next made great run. and sent the ball to Lilburne, who passed to Snodgrass, who scored a wonderful unconverted try, to give the South Island the victory by 31 points to 30.

ALL BLACK CERTAINTIES. WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. The All Blac r certainties selected on Saturday after the North v. South match are as follows: —A. C . Rohilliard (Canterbury). 11. Grenside (H.TL). D. Lindsay (Otago). N. P. McGregor (Canterbury). W. Dailey (Canterbury'). J. i\ Swain 111.11.). J. I lore (Otago). M. Brownlie (11.11.). .1. Finlaysan (North Auckland), W. Hazloti (Southland). R. Slew art (S. Canterbury). C. Brownlie (H. 8.). J. Harvey (Wairnrapa). It will be noted that there is not an Auckland or a Wellington player amongst them. A. E. Cooke has notified the selectors that he is now available. The following teams have boon .selected for the Poisibles v. Probables match on Wednesday.

Possibles: Butler (Auckland), Hook (Auckland), Stringfel'.ow (Wairnrapa), Lucas (Auckland). Cooke (Wairnrapa), Johnson (Wellington), McManus (Auckland). Scrimshaw (Canterbury). C mlston (Wanganui). Burrows (Canterbury). Aliev (Canterbury), Godfrey (Cantcrburv), Freitas (West Coast). McWilliams (Auckland), Bird (Southland).

Probables team: Reazelwood (Otago). Rushbrook (Wellington), Brown (Tainnaki). Stewart (Otago). Berridge (Auckland). Nicholls (Wellington). Holden (Otago). Porter (Wellington). Hadley (Auckland). Young (Nelson), Conrad (Hawke's Bay). Knight (Auckland). Ward (Taranaki), Marslin (Otago), Snow (Nelson). Emerg: Kilhv (Wellington), South (Wellington), Hove (Ota;:” Pringle (Wellington). Although among the certainties More has been added to the emergencies for convenience’s sake.

AUCKLAND CHARITY MATCH. AUCKLAND. Oct. 1. In a charity match for the widow of the ex-All Black, W. Cunningham, and the Unemployed Fund, the Poll souhy Rugby team beat the Grammar Old Boys 11 to 3.

FASTER RUGBY ! LONDON, Sept. 30. Speaking at the Jubilee dinner of the Olney Club, Mr Minnhan. a member of the Rugby Union Committee, said there were frequent requests to speed ui) the Rugby game. 3 lie Rugby Union was not considering the spectators in this matter, but were considering the players. The Union believed the game fast enough, therefore the proposals of the New Zealanders and others about kicking into touch and reducing teams to thirteen were not regarded with much favour.