FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL

Excelsior seniors v. United on Cass Square on Saturday:—Ryan, Eager, Bannister, Freitas, Dougherty, Hughes Kelly, Alex King, Davidson, Houston, J. King, Jones, R. King, Stevenson, Nightingale. Emerg: A. King and McDonald. The following will represent Ross v. itimu at Ross on Saturday:—Houlahan (2), Green, Parker (2), J. Johnston, D. Head, E. Osmers, J. Mason. G. Inglis, F. Russell, A. Mason, E. Mitchell, J. Jones, K. Martin and N. Inglis. Reserves: J Inglis, J. Muir, R. Parker.

ALL BLACKS WIN. BY 22 TO 9. (Australian Press Association) SYDNEY, July 10. That interest has been stimulated in Rugby Union football in Sydney by tb All Blacks’ visit was evidenced by an attendance of fifteen thousand at tb Show Grounds this afternoon to watch' the return match against New South Wales. • The weather was springlike, and the ground was in splendid order. Leys played 'for New Zealand in the half-back position, replacing Tuck. Otherwise the New Zealand team was as cabled. For the local team, Louden and Thorpe replaced Towers and Palfreyman.

Mr R. Cooney acted as referee. The spectators’ anticipations of a great match were not realised by either the play or the scoring. The game throughout was much below standard, and was decidedly disappointing. New Zealand won in easy fashion through generally improved form. New South Wales failed to display their usual brilliancy, especially in the back division, where all but Ross missed numerous chances of scoring. A notable weakness was constant fumbling and the missing of passes. The only brilliant spots in the New South Wales play were Ford’s two tries, and Ross’s display as full-back, assisted by King and Lamport.

LILBURNE SCORES. The plnv commenced evenly in midfield, both Ross and Stringfellow twice finding tlie touchline. Sontagg and McWilliams then broke away down tlie centre, hut Ross repulsed them. Continuing the pressure, however, Leys and Oliver joined in working Lilburne into a'good position, and. outpacing the opposition, he scored close to the posts. Carletpn missed the kick at goal.

N.Z. 3: N.S.W; 0. Play then hung in New South Wales quarters, till the local side was penalised, when Carleton against missed his Shot at goal. The All Blacks backs kept up their pressure, but Boss saved brilliantly. New South Wales were penalised three times in succession, but the game then worked into midfield, till Stringjfellow, with a good run, transferred the ball to New South Wales territory. Another penalty enabled Lilburne to register a fine goal, seventeen minutes after the start.

N.Z. 6: N.S.W. 0. Almost immediately the., New South Wales play brightened up, and Bentley set Thorpe and King in motion, the movement culminating in E. Ford making a fine dash and scoring in the corner. Bartley failed to improve the score.

, N.Z. 6: N.S.W. 3. After some give and take play, New South Wales commenced a series of further sorties. From a penalty given against New Zealand for obstruction, Boss narrowly missed with a kick at goal. Leys and Oliver then sent the ball to Grenside, who made a splendid dashing run, but Ross brought the Hawke’s Bay man down in capital fashion. Following upon play in midfield, another penalty enabled Lilburne to kick a fine goal. In twenty-five minutes’' play, New Zealand had now scored nine to New South Wales three. New South Wales now began to show somewhat improved form, and some smart work on the blind side enabled E. Ford to register his second try in the corner. RoSs made a brilliant, but unsuccessful, attempt to add a goal.

N.Z. 9: N.S.W. 6. Penalties continued to be Warded against New South Wales, and Lilburne gained much ground by effective line kicking. There was no further score up to half-time, when the figures were:

N.Z. 9: N.S.W. 6. SECOND SPELL. In the second spell, play commenced ; n a sensational manner. Within two minutes, a ,short, sharp bout off passing saw Oliver and Carleton with the ball brilliantly running down the side y r, \

line, and a firio centreing' kick To Carleton was smartly fielded by Geddes who scored under the posts. This Lilburne converted. \ N.Z. 14: N.S.W. 6. Continued spirited attacking by the All Blacks and a fine bout of exchanges ended in Oliver running through to Ross, and Hook finished the'movement under the posts. Lilburne again converted. N.Z. 19: N.S.W. G. As the result of some good passing on the All Blacks’ line, New South Wales almost crossed, and they were awarded a penalty try for obstruction, but Barkley failed with the kick at goal. New Zealand were now 19, and New South Wales nine, with half of the second spell gone, and tlie play of both sides was showing much improvement, though the blue back failed to take several chances of scoring. As the result of" a good All Black forward passing bout, the ball reached Grenside who crossed at the corner. Lilburne’s kick failed. N.Z. 22: N.S.W. 9. Tlie play during the remainder of the spell was principally in the All Blacks favour, and in New South Wales quarters. Ross saved repeatedly. As the consequence of Stringfellow fumbling a high ball, the blues invaded New Zealand territory, where a penalty was given for obstruction 'to Ross, who essayed a goal but failed. The" All* Blacks re-attacked, and Stringfellow tried to drop a goal, missing narrowly. New South Wales were again temporarily prominent in an attach, which broke down as the result of fumbling tlie ball. Just on time a penalty gave Bartley a chance, but lie missed the goal, and the game ended:

NEW ZEALAND ... ... 22 NEW SOUTH WALES ... 9 The game generally was lacking in methodical work or finesse, though New Zealand showed lmpruveu lonn an round. A notahie leature \sas the number of penalties imposed, especially against New South Wales. xdiOurne, Oliver, urens.de and Leys were tne best or the New Zeaianu backs. The forwards all played solidly, and did wen in tne scrums, feeding tne hacks consistently. A DRAW.' HASTINGS, July 10. The Rugby match, \Va.kato v. Hawke’s nay, was played to-day before oO<j\j people, ilie game was an open one, ending in a draw, eleven alf. BUSH V. ORUA. i'AIIIATUA, July JO. At Rugby football, Bush defeated Oroua oy IS points to nil, on a heavy ground. REMAINING FIXTURES, July 13—v. Victoria, at" Melbourne. Jitly 1 /■—Match in tlie country, either with New England or Clarence River Unions. July 20—v. Australia, at Brisbane. July 24—v. Queensland, at Brisbane. July 27—v. Australia, at Sydney.

DRAW WITH N.S.W Commenting on the football match New Zealand v. New South Wales, played in Sydney on June 29th. the ‘ oydney Morning Herald” said: “Dailey has two dashing five-eighths in Oliver and Lilburne, the former of whom was more prominent in the quick handling which characterised many of the New Zealand attacks. Dailey himself is lull of resource, and on this tour is likely to sustain his high South African reputation. Stringfellow, who replaced Carleton, is a dashing straight-running centre. It was stated that Nepia’s defence would need to be proved on Australian grounds. The big Maori answered every test, and was unperturbed. The forwards are assuredly up to standard. From early announcements one was led to believe that they were not the giants of previous All Black sides. Their weight was surprising. Physically they are true to type.”

A Christchurch paper sa^»s: Jack Steel, the ex-All Black three-quarter, is not the player he used to be. and it is seldom that he displays the form that made him the most popular man on the ground when he scored that never-to-be-forgotten try against the Springboks at Carisbrook, Dunedin, in the First Test, but be is still a very useful man to Albion. On Saturday, against Christchurch, he was conspicuous for his beautiful kicking, time and again saving bis forwards by this means. To him went the distinction of scoring all the points for his side. Tn the second spell he surprised, players and onlookers alike hv kicking a field gcal from near the touch line, the ball, which was low in. flight, striking the crossbar and bouncing:, the right way. He followed this up by scoring a trv inches from the corner, from which be converted with one of the best kicks seen at Lancaster Park for a long time.