FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1928, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS.

INTERNATIONAL. All Blacks 31, Natal 3. SENIORS. Excelsiors 6, Kiwis 0. Uniteds 12, Stars 9. JUNIORS. lioss 21, Kiwis 0. Rimu 12, Aralmra 9/ THIRD GRADE. Excelsiors 12, School 6. BANTAMS. State v. Convent, a draw, no score

EXCELSIORS V. KIWIS

With the conditions perfect for football, this match was played and resulted in a win for Excelsiors by 6 points (a penalty goal and a try) to nil. Tit was a hard fought out game, forward play predominating and there >yere not a dozen flashes of combined passing runs during the afternoon. The Excelsiors had the better of the first half during which J. King kicked a nice penalty goal. The forwards had the better of the scrums, but when Kiwis did get possession and AlcCleary tried to set his backs going the handling was atrocious. The Excelsior backs did not do much better, the forwards reaching thefn in time to pet'vent danger. The first spell ended tamely, and the second half was not much better for the first twenty minutes, Excelsiors having the better of it. Then Kiwi forwards broke away and with a. couple of loose rushes fairly demoralised the Red defence and the. play went to Excelsior quarters. In the last quarter of an hour Kiwis had several good chances to score, two in particular. On one occasion Pfahlert was held up just in time near the line and AlcCleary also was almost over. Then from a scrum McCleary let his backs away and McGill appeared to have a try in his hands a few f.eet froni the line, when he passed to Steel who lost possession and the great opportunity was gone. Tlie Excelsiors rushed the play to the other end and it was there when the bell went for time but before tho ball went out, the Red forwards went through and in a loose melee Maxwell went over the line to score a neat try. No side was then sounded with Excelsiors victorious by 6 to .0, after a game that was disappointing from the failure of most of the players to handle, cleanly, and the numerous occasions when defending players plainly funked going down to the opposing forwards. Neither side played up to form, except the forwards who- battled along fiercely, many hard knocks being given that at times were hardly necessary or warranted. Mr E. TV. Heenan was jeferco.

The result of the above game places the senior championship in the hands of the Excelsiors who cannot be displaced. They have gone through the competition without having been beaten, one draw being played against them. Their play if not brilliant has been fairly consistent, and tlie team lias not suffered ninny alterations to break their combination.

UNITED BEAT STARS. After a very evenly fought game, Stars met defeat at the hands of United by 12 points to 9. The match which was played at Victoria Park, attracted a goodly number of spectators. For United tries were scored by Griffiths. Jamieson and Jenkins and the latter kicked a penalty goal. For Stars, Clarke, King and Fong scored tries.

THE BANTAMS. The two four minutes spoils between the State and Convent bantam teams ended in a pointless draw. The game was interesting hut uiother side I showed as good football as the previous week, there being a lack of j team play, with several flashes of sel- | fish play which somewhat spoilt the j game. Mr Cutbwsh was referee.

U.CGS II V. KIWI IT., i j This game played on Cass Square • j resulted in an easy win for Ross by I s 21 points (fivo tries, three being con- ■ j verted) to nil. Tlie game only went i j the first half in which Kiwis who ; j started with 14 men, lost three owing • j to injuries, and they threw in the i j sponge at half-time. Air J. Conning . t was referee. I I

j EXCELSIOR. 11l V. SCHOOL. ; This ganic played before the senior | match resulted in a win for Excelsiors Iby 12 points (three trj.es l>y Heinz and a penalty by Hughes) tp six points (two penalty gpqls by Stapleton.) The .winners were considerably heavier than the School team and to this alone they were able to succeed, their weight having a telling effect in the elfising stages of the play. Tlie- gamp was a bright one and pleasing to watch, a very good exhibition being given by both teams. Mr Cutbusli was referee.

WEST COAST REP TEAM. TWELVE HOKITIKA MEN. The West Coast Rugby Union selectors, Messrs A. Adams and.D. Dowell, on Saturday night selected thq West Coast representative team to play Duller next Saturday at Greymouth. Of tiie nineteen chosen, including four reserves, fourteen are Hokitika and five are Greyiiibutli players. The team is as follows: Full-back—Nicholson (Stars). Three- qua rters—Rfahlert (Kiwis!, Tnimii (Kiwis), R. King (Excelsiors). Five-eigliths—J. King (Excelsiors) and M. Houston (Excelsiors). Half-back—AJcCleary (Kiwis), capt. AVipg forward —Maxwell (Excelsiors.) Forwards—Afoynihan (Kiwis), Bell (Uniteds), Freitas (Excelsiors), Bannister (Excelsiors), Caultbii (Stars), Dougherty (Excelsiors), Mclntosh (Kiwis). Emergency hacks—Jenkins (United.?), .Fong (Stars); emergency for-ward‘d-Robinson (Stars), Baron (Excelsiors) . / It is understppd M. JppiipSpri was not available.

LEAGUE TEST.

(Australian Pres? Association.) Ij|ilsßAN]!h June 24. A record crowd saw" the first Rugby League test match here yesterday. . Hi? ptptch ■ was up to international standard, pip] England won a deserved victory. Their team have improved wonderfully since their match against Queensland. They dazzled the spectators \yith t]iejr work, and also their dribbling, intercepting. and Jnjstling fppwprd play. It had been expected that the speed of the Australians would tell 'in the second half, but in the gruelling latter part of the game the visitors retained their form and speed, finishing strongly. lingand built up a substantial lead in the first half, and, in spite of a determined final effort on the part of Australia to snatch a victory, England successfully held them in check.

Faulty kicking on the part of Australia lost points. The scorers for England were:— Fairciough; Horton, Ellaby and Sullivan. . • Eot Australia the scorers , were:— Crnjg; pYeestonc and Aynsley. v '. ■' ■ - . - The final wtstg' : y-"(v f Australia ••• •»« m *•*