FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1928, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Oil Cass Square on Saturday afternoon, the only game played was the third grade match, Excelsiors v. School. Excelsiors had much the best of the first spell and ran up 15 points. In the second half school had the best of tho play and scored a try that Stapleton converted with a good kick, the game ending in a win for Excelsiors by 15 to 5. For Excelsiors tries were scored by Schroder (2), Bell (2), and Diedrichs, and for School Blank scored. Mr S. Moore was referee.

The senior game set down did not take place, Stars being unable to send down a team.

UNITED BEAT KIWIS. United met Kiwis at Victoria Park on Saturday, the game resulting in a win for United by 19—0. The ground was very heavy, as tho result of continuous wet weather. The match was played in drizzling rain and under conditions which made it impossible to give anything idee a fair exhibition of tho code. The early stage of the game provided a tolerable display, but it gradually degenerated, until in the second spell it was nothing more than a scramble, many of the players beinrr so coated with mud as to be unrecognisable. Both teams included a substantial proportion of juniors, but United, on the whole, were superior, especially in the hacks. Kiwis made a good showing is the early stages, however, and though their opponents scored 13 poins against them in the first spell, the visiting team made a much better display than the score would indicate.

NELSON v. BULLER. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. NELSON, Aug. 25. In ideal weather, before, an attondnsce of between 4000 and 5000, Nelson defeated Buller by 11 points to 6, in the Soddon Shield match this afternoon.

Nelson commenced well, gaining two unconverted tries in tlie first ten minutes, hut thereafter they did not score again until just on the call of time, when the score was srx all. The local team had much the better of the first spell and they led at ball time by 6—3 but in the second half Buller opened out the play, and just missed scoring on .several occasions.

Tries for the winners were scored by Schwnss, F. Fowler and Thompson, one being converted by Reed. For the losers, ail unconverted try was scored by Robinson, and a penalty goal was kicked by Graham.

CANTERBURY OUTCLASSED. DUNEDIN, Aug. 25. Otago completely outclassed Canterbury in tho inter-provincial game today, the game ending 31 to 9 In Otago’s favour. Tlie visitors were outclassed in every department of the game by a greatoly-im,proved Otago team. The result leaves even the most optimistic 'Hugo supporter gasping. The backs were perfect, and the forwards held the solid Canterbury pack well. For the home team, tries were scored fly MeClymont (2), Donnelly; Mnrslin, and Webb (2). Matliicson potted t goal, and Holden also got one over. Donnelly converted one try, Brnndnnovitcli one, and Nicholson one. For the visitors, the scorers were Lawson, Cheslcy and Grant.

SOUTHLAND MINOR REPS. BLENHEIM, Aug. 20. The Southland Sub-Union reps had tho grand finale of their tour when they defeated Marlborough, in fine weather by 26 points to 8. Tho first spell was greatly in favour of Marlborough, though tlie score was 9—5 against them, tho visitors scoring a field goal and a. converted try just before the interval.

WELLINGTON v. M'ANAWHENUA. LEVIN, Aug. 25. Wellington and Manawlionua senior Rugby teams met here to-day in beautifully fine weather. After a very c.ven game Wellington on by 28 to 23. The half time score was: Wellington 15, Mamnvhenun 11.

FIJI v. AUCKLAND VARSITY. SUVA, Aug. 25. The Auckland Varsity team drew with the Fiji fifteen to-dav, there lieing no score. N.S'.AV v. AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Aug. 25. The New South Wales Rugby team to-day defeated Auckland in the firstmatch of their tour by 19 points to 8. The game took id ace in fine weather and oil a dry ground, before an attendance of 30,000 people. A bright exhibition of Rugby was witnessed. Features of the game were good hard play on the part of the New .-outli AA'ales pack, and cleverness and speed on the part of their backs.

Auckland was not quite, up to form, hut throughout the game the home side was not out-generalled by Mnlcblin and Towers, the outstanding N.S.AV. hacks. The. visiting full-back, Westfield, played a great game. The New South Wales score was made up of four tries, one penalty goal and one field goal, to Auckland’s ono converted try and one unconverted try. For New South AYales, London, White Towers and Rosenblum scored tries. Towers kicked a penalty goal and Afalcolm potted a goal. For Auckland Jenkins and Stuart scored, Jenkins converting his own try. Considering that New South AYales have not had time to acquire combination, their form to-day showed great promise for tho tour. AVith the improvement that should result from , more matches played, they should he capable of extending New Zealand in tile tests.

LEAGUE TEST. ENGLAND WINS. ■ CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 25. The Rugby League test match, the final game of the “rubber” was played to-day at English Park, the soccer code ground, in the presence of a “capacity” crowd. England won by six | points to five. It is stated that tho attendance totalled twenty thousand people. The police stopped' the ticket sales, five minutes before tho game started, and consequently three thousand people liad to be refused admittance. It must l>e admitted, however, that tho score scarcely represents the margin of difference between the teams. The forwards were about evenly matched. The ‘Bngishmen handled the hall the better, and they opened the game up with their backs better than the All Blacks, but the New Zealander? were superior in the loose bustling rushes. The real superiority of the Englishmen was behind the scrum. Parkin and Rees were very much superior to the New Zealand insid.hacks, and the combination of the Englishmen on the few occasions when it was allowed to develop was definitely better than that of the New Zealanuers.

One outstanding feature of the match was the almost continuous line kicking duel between the opposing fullbacks, Duftv and Sullivan. Both gave -a remarkably fin© display and they finished the game with the honours easy.

In the first spell England- led ‘by .3 points (a try) to a penalty goal 2

points. In the second half eac-h side scored a try.