FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3593, 4 October 1920, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR COMPETITION PIRATES v. HUIAS. I , FOOTBALL On Saturday the seventh game of the Senior Cup competition was played between Huias and Pirates, and that a great deal of interest was taken in the game was evidenced by the large number of spectators.

The game commenced inauspiciously, and was for several minutes little better than an exchange of kicks as first one side and then the other was penalised for infringements. It was some time before the players realised that they could not get away with off-side play and other infringements, and the players were at times apparently surprised at being caught. The play was in Huia territory till the Huias got going in a loose rush. Cowie went down to it just in front of the posts and hung on too long, Beiliss scoring a penalty goal. Huias 3, Pirates 0

The Pirates rushed play into Huia territory again, and it was not long before the Huias were penalised and Cowie kicked a goal from the 25 flag. Huias 3, Pirates 3.

The Pirates came again, the forwards playing a great game in the loose, with McAuliffe and Rose settin them going from the backs. The Huias got well out from loose play near the centre, but West missed the ball when in a good position, and Pirates forced. The Pirates were getting the best of the scrums and the line-outs, and the game resolved itself into a series of loose rushes. ' Huias were penalised at the 25, but Collier missed the goal_ Pirates charged down to the corner, but West saved with a line kick. Rose marked from the line out and sent the ball out in the 25. Play went across field, and the ball went over the line in a loose scramble and Hulas forced. Pirates attacked again, and Bennett was caught witth the ball, but managed to get in a kick which found the line. From near the centre the ball,, was kicked high, and McAuliffe ran up, taking the ball well* in his Stride, an<i got over the line, hut was prevented from touching down. Maher secured and found the line. The Pirates came again and Beiliss saved-by rharking. The Huia forwards took play from the 25 to midway, but Rose and McAuliffe sent the play back, to the 25 flag] Batley and McLaughlan took play to the centre again, but a series of line-kicks gained a little ground for the Pirates each time. From line-out near the line, the ball went over and a scramble r) ensued, ending in a five-yards scrum. The ball came to Bochery, who was forced out. From the line-out, the play went right across field again, and Black's wore penalised in the 25. Collier marked and Beiliss terok the ball from thdh kick and found the line at The Pirate forwards were again prominent in a loose rush, but were penalised in the 25. end Huia s found the line . Play was near, the centre for some time, and a series of line-outs ended the spell, with the

scores Hums 3, Pirates 3. Having had the best of the play in the first spell, the game looked a certainty for th Pirates; but the Huias commenced the second spell with a strong attack. Batley took the ball along 3n great style, but it went out in a ocrambje at the corner. The ball came out to Beiliss, who passed to Rogers, who was forced out. The Huias came again, and Cowie. stopped the rush, the ball going out. Prom the line out McDermott marked, and followed up a high kick, but Rose got in and found the linbe. A little later Pine took play from the 25 flag to the 'corner, but the ball went out. Prom a scrum the ball came back to Cowie who found the line. West marked from a low kick and stopped a loose rush by the Pirates. Chase was going well in the forwards and made some good openings. Huias were penalised near half-way and Collier had a try at goal, but missed. Beiliss brought the ball back from the 25, but was nicely collared by Sinclair Maher took a good mark and found the line at half-way. Pirates took play to the Reds 25 by a loose rush, but the advantage was spoiled by Beiliss kicking for the line at halfway. From a line-out Maher marked again, and Beiliss tried to drop a goal but missed. A little later the Huias were penalised and Collier missed again from half-way, but the kick was a good one. Near the 25, Beiliss snapped up and passed to Ongley, who took play well in, but the ball went out. From a line-out,. Beiliss and Batley figured in getting the ball over the line with the result that Batled scored. Bennett missed the goal. Huias 6, Pirates 3. The game after this score was still in favour of the Huias, who took advantage of the lead and availed themselves of the line. The Huia forwards were getting all over their opponents, and the Pirates -fad to defend for the

rest of the spell. Chase and Whakn were always prominent, and JBellisa not having any defensive work to da a was more prominent in attack la t£SS second half. West made a good fort to score,’ but Sinclair got him in time. G. Maher also had a go, and might have got over had he notpassed to Beiliss, who was well marked. The Huias were still having the best of the game when time ws'.s called, theh score being: Huias 6, Pirates 3. The game was not marked at any stage by any particular brilliancy,, and play was mostly confined to theforwards. The ball was greasy after the light rain and was difficult tohandle . The Pirates had such a de- t . cided advantage of tlje play in thefirst spell, that at half time, with the scores even, it seemed likely that they would win # The play in tithe second half was however, very much in favour of the Kuias, who gave no chances The first spell was not marked by any good combined play on either side, and Rose at half for the Pirates, did not seem to consider that it may have been worth while feeding his backs. He had numerous opportunities to send the ball out, but he either kicked or worked the blind side of the scrums. He played the kind of game on Saturday which would have made him invaluable as a five-eight. He was very nippy at saving his side marking, and he spoiled some good solid rushes by the Huias. If the Pirates are to -have a chance of winning the next game, they will have- to get the besth out of their backs, who can win for them if given a chance. The Pirates were getting the best of the scrums and line-outs in the first half, and they kept the Huias very busy right through the spell, the play very rarely being in the Piratesf 25. In the- second half the Huias played a different game altogether, and it was the Pirates who had to play on the _ defensive right through. The second half was slightly more in favour of the Huias than the first was in favour of the Pirates, and the Huias deserve their win. , * For the winners, Beiliss played a very solid game throughout, and was good in attack and defence. Whaki. was at his best, and Chase made somey good openings at times by fast fot- * lowing up. Batley, Tuke, and MeLaugblan also played up to form,, being prominent in some dangerousrushes. Of the backs McDermott played well at half, and West played better than in any game this season, R. Maher and Ongioy were alwaysuseful, the latter spoiling the Pirate' rushes by intercepting the passes on several occasions. He also made-some* good openings for the forwards; Gfv i Maher was also useful, air.l played safe Bennett failed to take the ball at times, and on some other OG-, casions he did not get rid of it quickly enough. Healey and Hay wereprominent among the Pirate forwards,but O’Connell was not quite up to his usual form. R. Sinclair was also' . prominent, and Geange played a good I solid game right through. McAuliffe’ j was the best of the backs, but Cowie' I was too often caught with J the ball,, j and got his side into trouble. E. SinI clair was prominent most of the time, j and did somea good tackling. The j backs were never brilliant in attack.

as they were given no chances. The result of the game is that both teara s are now even, and will have td play-off to decide the premiership. - Each team has won three games, and, the other game was drawn. Compared with the other games, Saturday’s match was not spectacular, and tha game was very loose at times, but oit a dry ground the final game should be worth seeing. A feature of the game was the * splendid control exercised over the . players by Mr A. W. Thompson, who journeyed from Palmerston North fo referee the game. His decisions were well received and applauded by the spectators. ' *