FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1928, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S GAAiES. SENIORS. Excelsiors 9, Kiwis G. Stars 9, Unitcds 3. JUNIORS. Rimu 8, Kokatahi 3. THIRD GRADE. School IG, Arahura 9. KIAVIS V. EXCELSIORS.

This return game took place on Saturday afternoon on Cass Square and resulted in a 1 win for Excelsiors hy 9 points (three penalty goals kicked hy J. King) to 6 points (tries by Hagar and AfcCleary). The game was an 'interesting one and free of the illegal play as prominent in the last contest between these two teams. On the play the Excelsiors were lucky to win, though both sides had many lost opportunities. In the first half Hagar opened the scoring with a try for Kiwis from a forward rush, and a quarter of an hour later J. King kicked a penalty goal, repeating the effort a few minutes later and giving Excelsiors a lead of G to 3 at half time. In the second half twenty minutes went without score and then for offside the Blues were penalised, and J. King kicked his third goal, while Kiwis were further handicapped hy Hagar being sent to the touchlino for disputing the decision of the referee. A few minutes later Kiwis attacked strongly and from a scrum inside the Red quarters AfcCleary got the hall and dummying several men hadlv went over to score ai try with the best individual effort of the. day. White made a poor kick from an easy position. There was no further score and the game ended in Excelsiors favour.

For the winners, the forwards generally failed to got the hall in the scrum and their play was ragged, till halfway through Hie second half, when they pulled together and controlled the play. The hacks did not show to advantage in the early part of the play, and hardly one came through with consistent play. O’Brien at half, and Houston showed to best advantage hut both made mistakes at times, while Lamiberton did not get much assistance,

For Kiwis, the forwards played with more dash in the first half, and Hagar was a continual thorn, following lip in his best style, thanks to some leniency, and showed better football than usual. AfcCleary at half was easily the best back of the day and lie opened out the play with fine passes, but Stevens and Tainui were, not as safe in handling ns usual and ono wing three-quarter was starved, wß.ile the other and the full lot the team down badly on numerous ocens-

In spite of the defects the game was very fast at" times, some beautiful openings being made only to go astray. AleCleary in the first half went through the Reds and when in front of the posts only a few yardsaway and a score apparently inevitable lie stopped, turned round and flung out a long pass that was badly mulled. Soon after Barron broke away at the other end and went to a few feet of the line with four nthtrs of his side in attendance and so muddled the opening and that two opponents heat them for the lmll.

It was a game of lost opportunities, which came to both sides at times, ainl they have themselves to thank for their failure to add to Ihc scores on the respective sides. Air Ciilbush controlled the game excellently.

At Greymouth the senior game, United v. Stars resulted in a win for Stars by 9 to 3 after a very disappointing game.

SCHOOL V. ARAHURA 111. This third grade game played on Saturday proved a very interesting display, School proving the victors by 1G points to 9 points. The lighter school team shewed considerably more combination, and this easily counteracted the added weight of their opponents. while the kicking of Stapleton was a noticeable factor.

GALA FOOTBALL. SEVEN-A-STI)E TOUIINAMENT. A SUCCESSFUL DAY. The Westland Sub-Union seven-a-side tournament on Cass Square yesterday was played under perfect, weather conditions, before a large and interested attendance, piny lasting from 9 o’clock until nearly five o’clock, with nil hour for lunch. There was hardly a dull moment and the games were played off promptly. Some good play was shown hut it was hardly up to the standard of last year. The various Sub-Union officials were all in attendance and the referees—Rev. Father McKay, Messrs Cutbush, Heonan, Williamson, Perry, J. Coulson, Freitas, Kearns, Nightingale, and D. Dowell kept tOio play moving very satisfactorily. There were hardly any stoppages and the best of good feeling prevailed. At the conclusion of the play Mr H. M. Coulson (President) thanked the large assemblage and congratulated the players on their fine display, then making presentations of the following trophies won during the day. Seniors.—Kiwi A. cup presented hy Toohey’s Motors Ltd. Juniors.—Kokatahi A, Hunter Rose Bowl, and being second time won in succession it becomes their property. Third Grade.-—Excelsior A, tho Devaney Cup. A silver watch, presented by Mt A. W. Yarrall for the best player of the team, went to IV. Hughes

Shrimps.—School A, Ivortegast Bros. Cup. Modal for best player, .T. Andrews, presented by Mr H. D. McMannaway. Bantams.—-School A, Coulson Cup. Mir IV. Havbittle’s medals for two best players went to M. Morgan (School) and Joe Atkinson (Convent A-).

The play of the bantams and shrimps yesterday was watched with much interest. These devotees played in their I bare feet and it was marvellous how P they managed to make the ball travel without the assistance of footwear. These coming All Blacks gave their elders some points and always were right out to win. Several of the players gave special displays, and the captains of the winners and runners-up, ; Masters It. Itolsorts and J. Atkinson in their several games showed much scoring ability. The third grade games were hardly up to the usual standard, but in the junior games there were far more interesting tussles. The two Kokatahi teams had a day out and went through unbeaten, to play the final between themselves. Their victory for the second year in succession gives them the Hunter Cup as their'own property. The other cups, presented to winners of the day have to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. There were only three games in the senior class, two in the first round, and. a final. The first round games were of interest, hut Kiwi A. showed much more convincing form. In the final between Excelsior A. and Kiwi A, the game was well fought out and the play was excellent. It was not till three minutes of the second spell had gone that Kiwis managed to secure a nice try that was converted, the only score of. the game. Excelsiors , attacked, and ; had a near I chance of scoring and Stevenson miss- I

ed an easy penalty, and then the play went to the other end and Kiwis wore attacking when the hell went-. The results of the several competitions wore as follows: BANTAAIS. FIRST ROUND. Convent A 24, Convent C 0. School .C 27, School EO. Convent D 3, Sclipol B 0. SECOND ROUND. Convent A G, Ross A 3. School C 6, Arahura 3. Kokatahi 21, RiimiiO. SEMI-FINAL. School A 0. Kokatahi 1 0. Convent A 12, School C O'. FINAL. School A G, beat Convent 0. SHRIMPS. FIRST ROUND. Rimu hy default from Convent. Excelsiors by default from School D. School A 21, Arahura 0. SECOND ROUND, Excelsiors G, School B 3. Ross 17, School C 0. School A heat Kokatahi. SEMI-FINAL. School A G, Rimu 3. Excelsiors 11. Ross 0. FINAL. School A 6, Excelsiors 0. THIRD GRADE. first. Round. Arahura 13, Excelsior B 0. School B G, Arahura B 0. SEMI-FINAL. School A G, A rah urn. 3. Excelsiors A 25, School B 0. FINAL. Excelsior A 10, School A 0. JUNIORS. FIRST ROUND. Kokatahi B 9. Kiwi B ft. Excelsior A 13, Arahura A 0. Boss B 8, Rimu 0. SECOND BOUND. Excelsior A 5, Boss H ft. Kokatahi A 11. Kiwi A 3. Boss A won by default. iro:n Archum. SEMI-FINAL. Kokatahi A 8, Ross A 0. Kokatahi II G, Excelsior A 0. FINAL. Kokatahi A 9. Kokatahi B 3 SENIOR. FIRST ROUND. Excelsior A 8, Kiwi B 0Kiwi A 18, Excelsior B 0. FINAL. Kivii A 5, Excelsior A 0 SPECIAL GAME. Carters 12, beat Railway 0. AT RUGBY LEAGUE. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, June 3. In the Rugby League Internationa! match, the New South Wales ropresen tatives defeated England by 20 points to 15, after a hardly-contested game. In the early stages the game was very fast, but the Englishman did not appear to he in the best form. Apparently they were still suffering from the effects of their voyage. At half-time New South Wales led by 15 points to 5. In the second half, England gave .- hotter display, but the local speed and combination proved to he too good.