FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3599, 11 October 1920, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE FINAL CLUB GAMES. JUNIOR COMPETITION. UTIKU v. PIRATES, On Saturday of the cup fixtures for both the junior and senior fixtures took place and were very disappointing from a specitular point of view the junior game being devoid of any semblance* of good football and the senior game one-sided. The junior game started at 1.30 between Utiku and Pirates' the following being the players:—Utiku: Full back, Peebles; f Sutherland, McAlister,Kereopa; fiveeighths Robertson, Kereopa; \ Nichols; forwards, Shields, Nichols, Ballantyne, Curran, Potaka, Anderson, Foster, James. Pirates: Full-back, Reid, £ Straehan, Eaton, Cowdrell, five-eighths Kilkolly, McGowan, J McLure; forwards, Doan, Donovan, McSweehey, Darvill, Daly, Murphy, Theed, Keating. Utiku won the l oss and from the kick-off Pirates were quickly on the attack but Peebles saved with a good line kick which took play to half way, where Utiku were awarded a free kick but little advantage was gained and the Pirate forwards broke away and again play went to Utiku’s territory. Utiku’s forwards however, n a eked together and took the ball down field to Pirate’s 25, where they were awarded a free kick but Potaka made a poor at temp! . Utiku. however, still k-rd tip the pressure and Kcreona made

a nice opening and then passed to Sutherland who scored out, failed to add the major points. Utiku 3, Pirates 0. On resuming the Pirates gressive and a nice passing rush

the backs took play to Utiku’s 25 where Ithey were awarded a free kick but Eaton failed to place the ball between the posts. Utiku then forced the play to Pirate’s 25, but Pirates relieved the forcing. On resuming Utikm marked the kick and had a pot at the goal but the ball went wide and Pirates, were again compelled to force. Play was still in Pirate ’s 25 when half-time was called. On resuming Pirates got busy and play* went to Utiku’s 25, and the Pirates looked dangerous for a while but Utiku got relief from'a free kick. _The Pirate backs returned the ball and the Pirates were again attacking and were awarded a free kick in a handy place, but the attempt was poor. Utiku forcing. Prom the kick off Pirates marked and had another shot alt* the goal, but again missed the bar. Sutherland caught the ball from fche kick and was quickly away, and. put in a good run taking the play to Pirate’s 25 and Utiku spoilt a good chance by a knock on. Pirate forwards cleaved and play went down the field and again Utiku were defending, but the Ulrikus’ defence was too solid and play hung in Utiku’s 25. whdn Pirates were awarded a free kick. But again the kick failed. Play now became fast. With only a few minutes to go Pirates were making desperate efforts to score and Utiku were equally as determined to hold them off. The ball travelled up and down field bull Utiku’s defence proved to solid and i the game ended: Utiku 3, Pirates 0. j Mr. Kelsall gave every satisfaction - as referee. THE SENIOR COMPETITION. HUIAS v. PIRATES. The seniors took the field at 3,15,tlie spectators being about 700, and everyone expected to see the game of the season, bmfc were sadly disappointed, as the game was too one-sided to prove interesting. The following were the players: —Pirates: Pull back, Healey; E. Sinclair, Collier, Dockery; five-eighths, Cowie, McAuliffe; I Rose; forwards, J. Sinclair, O’Connell, J.. Collier, Murphy, R. Sinclair, Grange, Olemence, Hay. Huias: Full back, Bennett; J, West, Maher, Rogers; fiveeights, Maher, Ongley; i, McDermott; forwards, Sully, Rogers, J. Plni, Tuke,. Batley, Chase, Beiliss, MeLaughlan.Huia’s won the toss and defended Ithe' northern goal with the wind slightly in their favour. From the kick off Beiliss returned the ball putting it out in' Pirate territory. Prom the line out, Cowie marked. Huias returned the kick, MeAulile taking the ball neatly and sprinted down the field then sent out to Collier whovwas forced out in Huia 25. The game was open and the play then-went up and down the field when the Pirates forwards took the ball down Ithe field and had the Huias busy defending, when relief came from ! a free kick to the Huias. The Pirates were soon again attacking but Bennett I who was playing" a good safe game ! found the'Tine well down the field. ; From the line out the Pirate forwards broke away, but McUaughlan saved his j side by going down to the rush. At j this stage West had to go off and GraI ham took his place. From a scrum 1 near the half line the" ball came out to Rose who sent out to McAuliffe, to Cowie, Collier, Dockery, the latter scoring. Cowie failed; with, the kick. Pirates 3, Huias 0. »

Oh resuming, ithe Pirates were soon* again attacking and the Huias saved by forcing. Play now hung in neutral' territory for some time when the Pirates again forced the play to Huia’s 25 who got relief from a free kick, Play then" going to neutral ground, when Graham who had replaced West had to go“off owing to a kick on the head. He was replaced by Stoney who wenlt in the forwards and' Chase went back. Tho Huia forwards •now broke away and took the play to the Pirate’s 25, but were penalised for off-side. From the kick the play went to 'Huia’s 25, where O’CTonnelT snapped up and got over, scoring in a handy place. Cowie converted. Pirates S. Huia 0.

On resuming the backs exchanged' kicks the ball eventually going out half way. From the line oult Boso marked. Rogers returned the kick and Huia forwards following up took the, play to Pirate’s 25 where from a throw* in McDermott marked and Beiliss had s. kick, but the ball went wide. The* Huias still kept up the pressure, butl Collier marked which gave relief tot his side. The Huias, however, woroj making desperate at tempts to score* and were again attacking but the Pirate’s defence was too solid. Play their went up and down the field the backs!* of both teams putting in some finelino kicking. Play eventually went tothe Huia 25. where ft hung until thocall of half time.

On resuming the Huias seemed to liven up and play became fast and up and down +1 •' when .the Pirateforwards broke away, but McLaughlan--saved by going down to the rush.

Pirates up the pressure and play bung near the Huia line for some time, but the Huia forwards managed to gelt away and took the play to astral territory. Play which-was of jpnifj uninteresting nature and was mostly forward play, hung between the half line and the Huia 25 for some time, when from a scrum the ball came out to Eose and went to McAuliffe to Cowie, who scored. The kick failed. Fir alt es Id Huia 0.

On resuming the play still hung on the Huia side of /the half-way line for some time when the Huia forwards broke away, but their rush was spoilt by Cowie marking. play then went back to Huia 25, when Bennett saved by marking. The Huias seemed to liven up, but it was only momentarily and play soon came back to Itheir 25 and Huias saved by forcing. On resuming the play went to Pirate’s 25 when the Pirate forwards broke away and took the play to the Huia 25, when from a sirum near the Huia line, O’Connell gdfc the ball and raced over the line. The kick failed.. Pirates 11, Huia 0. ,

On resuming the play hung in the •Huia 25, the Piraltes pressing all the time until the whistle sounded time, the game ending; Pirates 14, Hula 0. The Pirates thus won the cup. As the conditions of the cup were “To bo won twice in succession or three times at intervals” Ithe Pirate Club now retain the cup. Mr. Thompson of Palmerston gave every satisfaction as referee. SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT. 1 -- The Primary Schools ’Seven-a-side Tournament on Saturday resulted as follows: — JUNIOR. First round. —Ohakune 8 v. Taihape B 0. Utiku 10 v. Raetihi 0. Taihape A 3 v. Ohakune C. Pinal. —Utiku 4 v. Taihape A 0. SENIOR. Pirst round. —Ohakune 3 v. Kaetihi '=o. Taihape 6 v. Eaetihh 0. Final; —Taihape 9 y. 0.