FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1931, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

SENIORS

Excelsiors 3 v. United 0 JUNIORS.

Kiwi 14 v. Excelsiors 0

The weather on Saturday was fine until shortly before p y commenced. The rain was not heavy but it made the ball and ground very greasy. There was only a moderate attendance oil Cass Square to witness the play. The senior, game provided a very poor exhibition, but- tiie junior contest proved a very willing game.

EXCELSIORS V. UNITED. The conditions for Saturday’s game were somewhat greasy, but that was no reason why the game presented should have been such a poor one. Excelsiors won by three points (a penalty goal kicked by Martvn) to nil, and on the play were very lucky to win. The gave proved a very uninteresting one to watch. There was an absence of open play, and in this respect Walton half for the United was gravely at tanlt. Throughout the game he was continually getting the ball cleanly from the scrum but he elicted to kick into touch time and again, and even his kicks did not gain much ground. With splendid opportunities he failed to open up the game and liis backs were starved. United forwards had much the better of the line out play, continually securing and passing back, but the half nullified these efforts. Only when they broke through and put the ball on the ground did any material advantage come. When United backs did ball by accident other than from the half they put up a very good showing, but these opportunities were not, numerous. The forwards gained a large majority of the scrums, and heeled very smartly and cleanly.

Excelsior forwards were not packing well and when they gained possession the ball hung badly in tlie rear rank. The half was generally smothtered. Even when it did come to him at all cleanly Davidson was not at his best, and the game when opened up went slow ly, though Hughes at times made several .nice openings that went astray. The forwards were badly beaten in the, line out and tignt scrums, but at times showed to advantage in the loose rushes. The backs did not lntndle too safely, and at times all seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball badiy whale the greasy ball made matters worse for combined play.

The game opened with a series of scrums and line outs in which little advantage was gained. Then United rushed the ball to Excelsior quarters where a hard blue kick carried a ioice. Then an attack by United saw Stevenson relieve to the centre where Walton gained ground by a long kick, wliicn was lost at once when Freitas returned to the c. ntre from a free kick. Then United wing broke, a way and took play to Excelsior’s line but Martvn with a long punt forced back the play. Then a cross kick and pass went to Martvn who kicked and raced for the ball over ■the line • but a tforce resulted. Up and down play followed, the blues attacking, a bad miss by Stevenson letting the forwards to the line, a force resulting. A red rush took play back

to United quarters where from a penalty, Martyn kicked a fine goal, the only score of the game 3 —o.

Play continued up and down the field for the few minutes remaining before half time was called.

The second spell opened with a red rush to United line, a force resulting. Then from the centre Freitas broke through but spoiled a fine effort by mis-kicking into touch. A loose rush saw the play go to Martyn who was well taken. United attacked and a penalty given to United saw a shot at goal, but it was a poor attempt. Stevenson stopped a rush with a nice mark, but Walton got the ball and potted without success. United were now forcing Excelsiors back most «*f the play being inside Excelsior’s side of the half w.ay. Getting the ball to the half United forwards gave plenty of opportunities to open out Ue play, but with monotonous r'vrHarity Walton kicked, almost straight out, into touch, an exhibition of selfish, foolish play that ha s not been excelled for years and completely spoiling h : « team’s chances of a victory. As time wore on United made many attacks,by the forwards, but with some luck and some solid de'ence Excelsiors kept their opponents out. Another penalty within range was not successful and the pressure was kept up till whbin n h>w minutes of time when a red rush took play to the other end and from a scrum on the line Davidson was a’most over. Excelsiors roruinued to attack and the closing nh\v was ; n t,h“'r favour. Time was then called wth Excelsiors victorious by 3 to nil. Mr A. Cut hush was referee.

STARS 3 v. RIVALS 0. The new Rugby Park was rather inauspiciously opened on Saturday when Star and Rival seniors clashed. The curtain raiser was postponed in order that the ground might not be cut wo cOo much for the senior fixture, h-'t before, the game had been going long the ground was in a frightful state, there being fully six inches of mud jn places. The game developed into a. forward struggle, and was of a very even nature, play see-sawing up and down the field. Rivals made frequent efforts to open un the game, but the condition of the ground did not lend itself to this type of play. Stars, on the other hand, made very few attempts to get their backs moving, and kept the play as tight a.s possible. Fill scored the onlv try of the match

mid-way between the posts and the touch line, about fifteen minutes before the final whistle. The score was a fair indication of the jielative merits of the teams on the day. Among the winners’ backs, Fong and Guy were outstanding, while Henderson (fullback) played a very sound game. The forwards weim a very even km, with Mclntosh, Furness and Deere always in the picture. Houston and Webster were the pick of the Rival backs, while Pfahlert shone on occasions. The vi-sitors’ pack worked hard and consistently throughout, and Meljean and Monk were always in the thick of' it. Mr W. Williams controlled the game.

COBDEN 3 v. BLAKETOWN 0.

At the Cohden Recreation Ground, Cobden maintained their unbeaten record by defeating Blaketown after a hard-fought and interesting struggle. On the day the better team won and for tine greater part of the second spell Blaketown were hard put to it to keep their line intact. The only score came from a penalty goal midway through the first spell. The outstanding Cobden back was Ta-affe, who played probably his best game yet this season. J. King played a good game at full-back, and was seldom in trouble, while Gating, Rinuner and Bluett all played soundly. The forwards weave- ft very eveai lot, with Gordon, Birehfield, Dunstan and Wilson always in the picture. Paseoe, the Blaketown last Imc of defence, was below form, his handling and kicking being anything but good. .80-ute rey was the best or the* losers’ backs on both attack and defence, and was always in the thicii oi it. Negri and Hannam were the best of the others. Bunt hung on too long on numerous occasions with plenty oi support outside him. Among the Blaketown eight, who had rather the better of the loose Scott. Bell and Harper shone out, while Lister and Dimond were very consistent.

KIWI v. EXCELSTOR. This junior fixture provided n good game though Kiwis had considerably tlie better of tbe play and won by 14 points to three. For Kiwis tries were obtained by Sumner and Heinz, converted by Stapleton and Sumner, while Stapleton potted a goal. Excelsiors obtained a penalty. Mr Best was referee.

VARSITY RUGBY,

DRA W AT SYDNEY

(Australian Press Association )

SYDNEY, June 7

The New Zealand Varsity team drew with Sydney University in the third test match. The score w s eleven all. The New Zealanders at one stage were leading by six to nil. It was a very fine game. 'Pile ground was dry and fast.

. Both sides played open Rugby. The home backs were- in better individual lovm than previously, and they showed more enterprise and dash than in the previous tests.

King replaced Stephenson-Wright, who was hurt in the first half. King, who suffered a minor injury in toe second half, was replaced by Peacock. The captains beforehand had agreed to replacements. i Throughout the first half, the game was fairly even, this being due to the improved form of the Sydney forwards, and also to the better defence of ,the backs.

j Bush opened the scoring with a long j penalty goal, and Rum was responsible for a brilliant try shortly before the interval.

| After the resumption, Gibson and Booth gained tries for Sydney Unii versity, Hemmingway converting the latter. The first try was,the consummation of a three-quarter rush, the New Zealand defenders being outflanked.

Booth’s try was the result of a cross-kick leaving the goal-line open.

Peacock obtained a try from a forward scramble, which Bush converted, thus regaining the lead for New Zealand.

Joyce then equalised the scores at the end cf a passing rush by forwards and backs. Sydney University was still attacking in the last five minutes. Bush was again an outstanding figure. Rum, who was well-marked, was again resourceful. The teams were:— | New Zealand: —Bush; Mae.kay, Thomas, Williams; Ruru, Ewart; Prvde; Stephenson-Wright., Edwards, i Barker, MeVeagh, Dixon, Hodge, Perkins and Diedrich.

Sydney placed the same team as they did last Wednesday.

QUEENSLAND V. N.S.W. BRISBANE, June 7. In the R ugltV Union representative game, New South Wales and Queensland drew eighteen all.

FOOTBALLERS HURT

NAILS IN PL W EILS’ BOOTS

CHRISTCHURCH, June 6

Several players were injured while playing football this afternoon. A. T. Campbell, playing for Training College, was admitted to the hospital suffering from concussion.

E. Hustno, a Varsity player, was injured in the ankle.

T). Sutherland, a Soccer player, sustained head injuries and was admitted

to the hospital. Sutherland’s injury led to the game being declared off. He

suffered a cut on the head when at tempting to head a ball. He was struck in the face by the boot of an opposing back. Alter examining the injury, the referee inspected the back’s boots, and he found there were miih protuding through the leather studs. He then sent the player off to remedy the defect. During this interruption, the referee examined the boots ol other players. He found them all simiilarly at fault, and he declared the match off.