FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1929, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S GAMES. SENIORS. Kiwis 15. Brunner 3. Excelsiors 13, United 8. Stars 13, Magpies 6. JUNIORS. Ross 12, Arahura 3. Riniu 9, Excelsiors 3. Kiwis 13, Kokatahi 0. THIRD GRADE. Riant 45, Arahura 0. There was another perfect afternoon for the football competitions on Saturday and the fine week experienced had kept the various grounds in the best of order for play, while the absence of any wind also assisted to make -the conditions of the best. There was a fair attendance on Cass Square to view the senior and junior games that took place, and though the play was not of the highest class it was generally interesting and attractive.

KIWIS V. BRUNNER. The game on Cass Square resulted in a fairly .easy win for Kiwi over Brunner by 15 to 3. The Brunner ‘forwards played a good game, hut their hacks were hardly up to their standard and the Kiwi team playing fairly well together held their opponents in the scrum and had a decided advantage in the hack play. In the first half the Brunner forwards held an advantage for a while till Kiwi hacks opened out. McClear.v, who donned a jersey for the first time this season, opening out the plav. From passing runs, Stopforth and Pfalllert scored tries which were not improved and at half time the score was G to 0 in Kiwi favour.

In the second half the play was lively the Kiwis opening out play. A feature of this spell was that Fleming, a forward, scored three tries, a result of keeping up with the hack play and being there when wanted. None of the kicks at goal proved effective. Near the end of the game from a loose kicking rush the hall went over the line and in a race for it, Mclntosh scored for Brunner. The kick, an easy one, was also missed and time went with Kiwi winners by 15 to 3. Mr Best was referee.

EXCELSIORS V. UNITED. The game at Victoria. Park between the Excelsiors and United, which resulted in a win for Excelsiors by 13 to 8, provided fast clean football. Pla.i was not spectacular, hut the stienuous manner in which botli fifteens onteied into tlie game, the deadly tackling, anil the bright individual efforts were sufficient to hold the attention of the large crowd present. Excelsior won after tlie most stoutly contested game so far played this season. It was anybody’s match up to within a ifiinute of the call of time, when the red anil blacks placed the seal of victory on their effort by King scoring in the corner. Numerous slight- injuries were -received by players on both sides, due mainly to ..the hard tackling. Early in the first half Jamieson scored an easy try under the posts which Walton failed to imprp.ee. Then Excelsiors attacked and from a passing run, R King scored at the corner. Stevenson’s shot at goal landed on a goal post and went outside. In the second half United led the scoring, Walton scoring and Jenkins converting. Play went up and don n the field till Nicholson scored for Excelsiors, Stevenson failing to improve. The next score came to J. King, who successfully potted at goal, bringing the scoro to 10-8 in Excelsiors favour. The final score came just before time, J. King scoring a try, and Excelsiois were the winners by 13 to 8. Mr T. Mclntosh was referee. STARS V. MAGPIES. At Victoria Park on Saturday, Star and Magpie seniors tried conclusions, the result being a win for Stars by 13 points to G, after a strenuously contested match. Play was fairly even throughout, but lack of combination on both sides was evident. The Star score consisted of a try, two penalty goals and a penalty try, to Magpies two penalty goals. JUNIOR GAMES. On Cass Square, Riniu defeated Excelsiors by 9 points to 3, after an interesting game. At Ross, Ross defeated Arahura by 12 to 3. Rimu thirds defeated Arahura by 45 to 0. * OHRJSTCH URCH GAMES. CHRISTCHURCH. May 19. Yesterday’s Rugby football matches were plaveil in bright sunshine on fast grounds. Results: — Morivale 15, beat Lin wood 5. ’Varsity 36, beat Sydenham 9. Christchurch 27, heat West Christchurch OJd Boys G. Albion 16, heat Technical 6. In the championship. High School Old Boys, Christchurch and Merivale now lead with four points, hut Merivale lias played five matches, with one loss, and the others each four matches. ’Varsity and Albion are next with three points each. WANGANUI V. TA HTAPE. TAIHAPE, May 18. At Taihape this afternoon, Wanganui reps .heat Taihape by 37 to G in a trial game prior to the WanganuiTaranaki match on June 3rd. AT AUCKLAND. ’Varsity 11, Grammar 3.