FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1928, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

HOKITIKA V. GREY. The combined seniors game, Hokitika v. Grcymouth, took place on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon under unpleasant conditions, the ground being wet and very greasy following heavy rain, though it held fine during the play. The game resulted in an easy win for Hokitika, who ran up eight tries (24 points), none being converted, to nil. The game in spite of tho one-sided score was interesting to witness owing to the very clean handling of the backs on both sides, especially noticeable as the hall was wet and greasy, and the play was fairly fast and interesting. In tlie first half the game was just a little in favour of Hokitika, who scored two tries, one by E. Pfahlert, after a nice passing run, and the second by Maxwell, as the result of a forward rush to the full-back, who being bustled miskicked across tlio field under the goal posts where four opponents were in close proximity to score an easy try, just on half time. In the second spell the visitors’ defence broke down under the weight of tho forwards and the home hacks gave a dean exhibition of handling against weak opposition. Tries came regularly hut tho goal-kicking was exceedingly poor and most of tho attempts to convert were miserable efforts. The scorers in the second half were—A. King (2), R. King (2), MeCleary and Mclntosh. Mr McManaway was referee. THIRD GRADE. Tlie Third Grade match between School and Araliura. was played at Arahura and resulted in a win for School by 13 points to 6. JUNIOR REP MATCH. Tho junior rep match between Grey and Westland, played at Victoria Park on Saturday, resulted in a win for tho homo team by 26 points to 3. The heavy rainfall during the previous night and intermittent showers throughout tho day, made the ground very greasy, and conditions generally were not conducive to good football. SOUTH ISLAND WIN. AN EXCITING GAME. CHRISTCHURCH, August 18. Tlie South Island beat the North island in tho annual match to-day. Tho weather was fresh, while the ground was in good order, though it was a trifle heavy. Before the game, tho North Island

were favourites, the general opinion being that their forwards would prove too good for tho Southerners. However, as was tho case last year, the South Island forwards held their own. Neither set of hacks combined well on attack, the North Islanders, in particular, being disapointing. The North Island saw more of the hall from the scrums and line-outs than the South (lid, hut they generally failed to make good use of their opportunities. NOTES ON THE NORTH PLAYERS. Bramwell, tho North half, and Lnnglands, the first five-eighth, were both weak on attack, with tho result that Cooke’s play suffered. Nevertheless the Wairnrapa crack was responsible for many pieces of brilliant play. The North Island three-quarter line were not impressive, though, of course, owing to the failure of the inside backs, they did not see a great deal of the ball. Carlson, tlie winger, failed to live up to his reputation. His handling was weak. Roach played a fair game at full-back for the North, hut it was not equal to tho display that he gave for Wairarnpa against Canterbury. Of the North Island forwards, the three Aucklanders, Finlnyson, Knight, and Ratty were always to the fore. Knight was one of tlie best forwards on the ground. Porter playing a dcsliing game at wing-forward, but he was frequently offside. HOW THE SOUTH ISLANDERS WENT. Holden went quite well behind the South Island scrum, hut Brandanovitch at first five-eighth, was erratic on attack, and he frequently held on too long. Brandanovitch defended soundly, as also did Hay, who played a good all round game. Oliver was very uncertain in his handling, and ho spoilt several promising movements by dropping passes;

The best wing on tlie field was Snodgress, and it was unfortunate that he had to retire injured. He scored a great try in the first spell. McClvmont, on the other wing, made some good runs, but did not seem to know when to inpass the hall, and he was often collared in possession. Stevenson was disappointing at full-back and was not up to tlie inter-island standard. FREITAS TO THE FORE. Freitas and Marslin were tlie two outstanding forwards for the South, and Clark, Jackson and Bird were also good. Robinson, the wing-forward, played with splendid dash,-especially in the second spell. The teams were:— North Island : Full-back, Roach (AVairarapa); three-quarters, Carlson (Wanganui), Kent (Waikato';, N. Anderson (Waikato); five-eighths, Cooke (Wairarapa), Landlands (Poverty Bay); halfback, Bramwell (Poverty Bay) ; wingforward, Porter (AA’ellington) ; forwards Knight (Auckland), S. AVilloughby (AVairarapa), N. Willoughby (AVairarapa), Steere (Hawke’s Bay), Batty (Auckland), Palmer (Auckland), Finlayson (Auckland). South Island: Full-back: Stevenson (Otago) ; three-quarters, McCl.vmont (Otago), Oliver (Canterbury), Snodgrass (Nelson); five-eighths. Brandanovitch (Otago), Hay (Canterbury); half-back, Holden (Otago); wing-forward, Toby Robinson (Canterbury) ; forwards, Freitas (West Coast), Marslin (Otago), Jackson (Canterbury), Batcholoi (Southland), Bird (Southland), Howden (Southland), Clark (Canterbury). THE PLAY. South Island won tlie toss, nad played with a light wind behind them. After a good deal of scrambling play, when passes went astray, and promising looking attacks broke down on both sides, it was when an incipient South passing rush broke down at the inside backs that Carlson secured, and ran in-field, passing to Kent, who sent to Anderson, who sprinted for the corner. He evaded Stevenson’s tackle, and scored a good try. Roach’s kick was iust not good enough. NORTH 3: SOUTH 0.

South threw away a chance of equalising the scores soon after, when Brandanovitch set Hay going, and the hall went to Oliver, to McClymont. The winger broke through well, hut Oliver ‘was off his balance when be was given a pass with a clear field ahead. South kept up the pressure. A rush broke down, but Snodgrass snapped up, and in fifty yards out-paced Anderson and Porter, burst through Roach’s hard tackle, and scored brilliantly in the corner; He failed with n hard kick, - '■•••

NORTH 3: SOUTH 3. South Island continued to press, and North were forced. Then, from a scrum, the North backs set off, with Porter and other forwards backing up. I he rush went half tho length of the field, before a forward pass from Carlson to Porter stopped it. The South Island counter-attacked in a rush in which Toby Robinson and Oliver figured until at the North 25, Brandanovitch secured and he dropped a pretty goal. SOUTH 7: NORTH 3. It was only a few minutes before Roach tried a drop at goal, but tlio ball fell short. At this stage, Snodgrass retired with an injured eye, to appear later with his head bandaged. For a moment the North looked dangerous, when Cooke broke away and passed to Carlson. Snodgrass intercepted, a good kick following. A forward rush by the South saw Freitas, Marslin, and Robinson with the ball in turn, and Robinson scored near tlie posts. SOUTH 12: NORTH 3. The final score of’the spell was the result of Cooke’s speed and opportunism. Bramwell sent his backs away, and Cooke came round, took a pass outside Anderson, and, cracking on tue pace, he side-stepped two men and sent to Steere. Stevenson bad three men to stop, and Carlson came up, and tool; a pass well, to score a brilliant try. which Roach failed to convert. SOUTH 12: NORTH 6. South Island scored again not long after the second spell opened. Toby Robinson made a break of fifteen yards or so from a scrum, and passed to Freitas. The pass went astray, hut Holden took the hall on. He failed, however, to pick it up, but Freitas did so, and he scored wide out. Stevenson missed the kick. SOUTH 15: NORTH 6. The North Island attacked at once, first with a back movement, and then with a forward rush, headed by Finlayson, which broke past Stevenson, and Finlayson scored a great try between the posts. Langlands goaled. SOUTH 15: NORTH 11. North were defending ! for longish *

| intervals alter the kick-off. Snodgrass | was again hurt, after meeting a sure tackle by Roach. This time his leg was injured, and he was carried off the field. Chesley replaced him. The North Island pressed for a space, but Holden cleared with a long kick to half way. From a ruck in mid-field there was a succession of North Island forward moves, and presently the North backs broke away. Cooke short-kicked ami Stevenson went for a mark, hut he mulled the ball badly, and Cooke dashed ii)) to score. Lniiglnnds missed an easy kick. SOUTH 15: NORTH 14. The failure of that kick proved to mean tlie loss of the match. Cooke was nearly over again from a pass given him well by Porter. Another move by the North backs, ended in Cooke cutting in, and bis- sprint ended inches from the line. There was no 'further score, and the game ended: — SOUTH 15: NORTH 14. The referee was Air E. A. Simpson. j N.Z. TEAM TO PLAY N.S.AY. FREITAS INCLUDED. CHRISTCHURCH. August 19. The following team has been selected to represent New Zealand in tlie first test match against New South AAhiles at AA’ellington on September 5: Full-back: Butler (Auckland). Three-quarters: Minns (Auckland!, L. Hooks (Auckland). Sondgrnss (Nelson). Five-eighths: Cooke (AVairarapa). Brandanovitch (Otago). Half-back: Holden (Otago). 'Wing-forward: Porter (AA’ellington). Forwards: Palmer (Auckland). Clark (Canterbury), Freitas -AA’est Coast), Steere (Hawke’s Bay). Willoughby (Wairarapa), Knight (Auckland), and Batty (Auckland). Emergencies: Backs, McClymont (Otago), Oliver (Canterbury); forwards, Toby Robinson (Canterbury), and Towden (Southland). N.S.W. TOUR. OF N.Z. SYDNEY, August 19. ' The New South Wales’ Rugby Union

J team to tour the Dominion is aboard tlie Ulimaroa. It contains several last minute substitutes, who have replaced those unable to make the trip. Nevertheless, it is a good representative ' side. RANFURLY SHIELD. MAR LBOR OU GII 0 U TCLA.SS ED. CARTERTON, Aug. 18. After a poor exposition of the Rugby code, AA’airarapa to-day easily defeated Marlborough in the Ranfurly Shield match. The challengers never looked liked winners, though on occasional flashes they drove AA’airarapa back. ’Flie weather was perfect, though the sun was in the faces ot the visitors in the second spell. The attendance was about three thousand. The gain© ended, AA’airarapa 26, Marlborough 8. Air H. J. AUKenzie was referee. NELSON BEAT SOUTHLAND. NELSON, Aug. 18. The Southland Combined Sub Unions’ team was defeated by Nelson by 13 to 8 this afternoon in a match characterised by a hard forward struggle in the first half, and a bright open game in the second spell. INTER-COLLEGE TOURNAMENT NELSON, Aug. 18. The inter-collegiate tournament commenced to-dav in fine weather, and will he continued on Afonday. Christ’s College had an easy win over AA’angami i by 24 to 11. OTAGO Ah NORTH OTAGO. O AMARU, Aug. 18. The Otago touring team defeated North Otago this afternoon in a game played in ideal weather on a greasy ground, by 7 to 0. Jackman, a visiting player, was taken to tho hospital with a fracture of the left leg.

TARANAKI Y. AYANGANUI. NEAV PLYMOUTH, Aug. 18. The Taranaki reps defeated AA’angamii by 20 points to 11, before a I crowd of eight thousand to-day. Tho Taranaki team’s display was much better than that of a week ago, when ■ they were lucky to beat Hawke’s Bay. THE AIAORI COAIPETTTION. \ GISBORNE, Aug. IS. A trial challenge match for the ‘Prince c-i AVales Cup, for Alaori Rugby football throughout New Zealand was hold to-day, before an attendance estimated at four thousand, when Tolierua, comprising the Maori players from North Cape to Rotorua and Opotiki boat Tairawhiti, whose district extends from East Cape to Dannevirke, by 15 points to 8. SOUTHLAND Ah AIANAAA’HENUA. IN V ERCARGILL, Aug. IS. After a poor exhibition of Rugby. Southland beat Alanawhenua this afternoon by 12 points to 4. FIJI BEAT AUCKLAND VARSITY. SUA’A, Aug. 18. The Fiji Rugby rep fifteen defeated the Auckland University at Albert Park by 12 to 3. Tho local players were superior in all departments. AUCKLAND B REPS AY IN. AUCKLAND, Aug. 19. Auckland Rugby B team defeated Bay of Plenty by 19 to 14. SECOND LEAGUE TEST. ANOTHER ROUGH GAME. DUNEDIN. Aug. 18. The League test match. England versus New Zealand, was played here to-day in perfect weather before a crowd of 10.000 spectators. The exhibition was not up to the expectations of the crowd, though the Englishmen proved very clever. There was a good deal of rough play in the first spell, which roused the crowd. Prentice and Bowen were warned.