FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 301, 15 May 1911, Page 7

FOOTBALL

THE SATURDAY COMPETITION,

ROVERS (24) v. UNITED (0)

The above match took place on ths Recreation Sports Ground on Saturday in splendid weather, though a hit on the warm side. The ground was in tip-top oTder. United managed to muster only twelve men. The match was a very poor exhibition of football, Rovers being much too good for their opponents, and the game was very one-sided. Rovers won the toss, and played with the sun at their backs. Goss kicked off for United, and Rovers took play into .United's 25. From a serum, Laing sent the ball ..-out, and a good passing rush ended in A. Grant scoring a good try at the corner. Thomson made a good) attempt to convert, the ball dropping j under the bar. From a scramble,! Thomson tried to cut in, but got | smothered. United's forwards now broke I away, and took play down the field, but kicked too- hard, and Pott secured and sent the ball into touch with a good kick. Rovers again attacked',' and from a scramble in United's 25, Webster got; possession of the leather, and crossed! at the corner, but was held up. United ! gained temporary relief from a free kick | against Laing for picking the ball out I of the scrum. Baker broke away nicely j from a line-out, but kicked too hard, and! United forced. Rovers again penned their opponents on the line, and from a foolish! kick by one of the defending team, Web- j ster picked up nicely and scored in good position. Thomson failed to convert. From the kick-off United took the ■ ball well down the field. Charteris' broke away, but kicked too hard, and! Pott found the line. Good play by I United's forwards had Rovers back on: their line. Coker was penalised for off-! side play, but Kisby made a poor at-1 tempt to goal, though in a good position, j Rovers came away with a nice rush,j which was well stopped by Skipper, who j took the ball through the forwards with a nice dribble. I. Grant picked up' smartly and sent the ball in to centre.] From a scrum, Laing sent out a long pass to Webster to I. Grant, who scored between the posts. A. Grant made a poor attempt to convert. Rovers were soon on the attack again, and a nice bit of passing between I. and A. Grant saw the latter score near the corner. Thomson's kick was good, but unsuccessful. A nice passing rush was started by i Baker, but Webster slipped in front oil the posts when a try seemed certain. Shortly after, United were penalised, | and Thomson kicked a splendid goal. | United had a turn at attacking, and took the ball into Rovers' 25, where Kfeby had an ineffectual shot at goal 'from a good position. A likely passing .rush'by Rovers' backs was spoilt by A. ,Grant knocking-on. Tito got the ball -5n his own 25, kicked down the line, and 1 following up fast, got possession again. iHe passed to Goss, who sent the ball to. several United forwards, but a good 1 chance to score was lost through over-j eagerness.

For the greater part of the second spell, play was a series of scrambles. Thomson had a shot at goal from a good angle, but made a poor kick. From a passing rush in United's 25, A. Grant scored. Thomson failed to convert. Good play by Skipper relieved United, but Rovers were soon attacking again, and from a passing rush between Thomson, A. and I. Grant, the latter scored. ,C: Ooker failed to convert. I. Grant was almost over again, but was well tackled by Tito on the line. Rovers were now continually on the attack, and from a scramble, A. Grant scored after a good run. Webster failed to convert. Shortly before time A. Grant again crossed the line. I. Grant failed to convert. The game ended in favor of Rovers by 24 points to nil. Mr. 0. West was referee.

v , STAR (10) v. OKATO (0). >; The weather was perfect for the Star v; Okato match, which was played atj Okato.. The ground was dry, though! rather'- rough, and spectators were I treated to an interesting game. Okato' played pluckily, and more than held their own in the first spell, but condition told its talc, and during the greater part of the second spell, the country team was kept busy defending their line, which the town men succeeded in crossing on three occasions, two of the tries being converted. In addition a.ipenalty goal was kicked, the final result. being Star 10, Okato nil. The (Joantry team was got together at very short notice, and from the performhnoi'! they put up in the first half, should, prove hard nuts to crack when they! obtain more condition and experience. • | Star won the toss, and played with a.'glarmg sun behind .them .*■■ Carey set the s ball in motion. Seldwn "failed! U>; take>thc return, and Rua broke awsj?l From the scrum Okato forwards bl<okt! a,way, and E. Andrews crossed the line 1 ' at the corner With the ball at his feet, I bnjs.-.in -.falling he knocked the ball' out'! of bounds—touch in goal. From;! th£! kick out a weak return by Putt enatol&l I Hawkins to break through, but Mafotne ' forced. Soon after, Hill made a nice! rim, but was thrown out in neutral territory by Carey. Star backs opened up 'the game, and attempted! passing rushes, but did not gain much', ground. Okato forwards carried plajij down to Star's 25, where Daly saved'j and, putting in a nice run, passed td'Pfankuch, to Hill, who was collared'by 1 ! Rua. Malone was kicking with splemlid' judgment, and made good use of a free kick, for, off-side. Play was stopped' for] a while owing to Okey receiving an'ili £ | jury to his face in stopping Ru'aYi Scrambly play ensued, several free kicks' being awarded, principally agairistij Okato, whose forwards were having the', best of the loose play, but were o'vefeager, and exhibited a want of know- j ledge of the finer points of the game.! Star gained considerably when Dcwarj lined up his men and hurriedly thr'ewthe ball in to Hill, who passed it back to him, and a good run ensued until Rua intercepted. Half-time sounded with play about half-way, and no score on either side.

On resuming, Star pressed, and a passing rush in which Pfankuch, Hill, and McAllum took part, saw the last-named cross the line, but the ball was thrown forward, and a scrum ensued. Woods i and Hawkins made strenuous efforts to cross, but Malone cleared with a nice kick. Daly returned to Putt, who kicked hard and followed up. He reached the ball, but three of his men were waiting off-side, and a free kick was awarded Star, from which Hawkins landed a fine goal. From the kick-off, Star forwards immediately carried play back; and a score looked imminent, but the • hall went into touch-in-goal. Richards next got across, but was calico back for off-side play. A nice kick by Hill carried play to Okato's 25. where McAllum obtained possession and passed to Hill, who raced round and, •eluding several Okato backs, who made futile grabs for his nock, scored beliind the posts. Hawkins added the major points. Star still pressed, and Malone and Kupi were doing a lot of gtoppina;. Okato forwards rallied, and carried play to Star's 25, but a bad pass to Sullivan enabled liain to clear with a fine kick down the line. From the throw-in, Dewar passed to Hill, who made another nice run and passed to Seldon. the latter runnintf in unopposed. Hawkins failed to convert. Soon after, liiil scored a

try after a dashing run. Hawkins converted, and made the score: Star 16, Okato 0. Star continued to press, and Daly obtaining possession raced for the line. He had only the full-back to beat, but the latter was equal to the occasion, and play ceased without any additional score.