FOOTBALL.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 225, 3 October 1916, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR CUP.

OPAWA (21V v. CENTRAL (10). The above match, played on the Oicaka Domain on Saturday,' between the above teams, proved a victory for Opawa.' by 21 points to 10, making them tilts .winners of the senior eompetitioii for 1916; In the first spell Opawa, assisted by "a strong wind, attacked strongly, and kept Central in their own twenty-five for the greater part of the time. After about ten minutes' play v passing rush-among-the Central backs enabled Young to score a. fine try, after putting in a. great run from half-way. Day converted with a good kick. Opawa -were ; no\v roused, and started to press Central back, until Gbstello scored a good try, but Fuller failed to convert.. Opawa again and Reid scored. Fuller again failing to convert. Opawa continued to hold tho upper hand, and after a scramble m Central's twenty-five Costello drop kicked a goal. Central appeared to be> livening up, and their backs combined more effectively. Just prior to half-time Optawa again pressed, strenuously to the vicinity of the Central line, and Costello secured), the leather and. scored. Fuller's attempt at goal failed, the ball hating the cross-bar and bouncing back. ."Shortly after the whistle sounded with play in mid-field. . Central pursued1 the.leather, energetically at the beginning of the 'second half, but the Opawar defence was too good. The play was now even, and .after come good passing r^hes by tihV Opawa- backs Gleeson sbore'd. The attempt at goal failed.. Coivtral now set out to score, and after a passing rush the ball was kicked for the line, but failed to reach it, and an Opawa player who was off-side kicked the ball out of play! Young, who followed up well, would have' scored a certain try had the ball been leffc. in play. For the offence of'',the Opawa.pikyer the referee awarded (a penalty try to Central. B'-iy kicked a- ln-a-gnificent goal. Most of the play was now confined to mid-field. From alineout -Smith secured- the ball and passed to ..Dewy w/ho scored.' Mbrrissey converted., and the score,stood at" 21-10 in Opawa's favor. Cfenfjral tried hard to secuiio the winning points, but were unable to,, owing to the strong defence pf the Opawa," backsv Mr Torrance was an efficient referee.