FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 271, 13 May 1912, Page 8

FOOTBALL

RUGBY. THE GAME IN WELLINGTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The senior Rugby football championship \ matches were continued on Saturday in' fine weather. About 2500 people wit- ' nessed the Oriental v. Poneke match at Athletic Park, and about 12001 watched the Petone v. St. Jamies game I at Petone. The following are, the re- '•■ suits of the games played:—Oriental (17) beat Poneke (0); Petone (26) beat St. James (0); Athletic (18) heat Victoria College (5); Melrose (11) beat Wellington (6); Southern (27) beat Old Boys (0). OKATO 14 v. FITZROY 9. Spectators had no need to to dissatisfied with the fare provided at Western Park on Saturday by the Okato v. Fitzroy match, , for it proved a very interesting display. The match was fast and fairly open, and was brimful of exciting moments. Skipper won the toss for Fitzroy and Carey set the ball in motion. Malone with a nicely judged kick found the line near the corner, and from the resultant play a force ensued. On the kick out the natives asserted themselves and an infringement on the pairt of the country team saw Koupu find the line in Okato's 25. Offside play by Okato gave the Blues a chance, and from the resultant -rum they got their backs in motion, F per, Tito, and Buxton being prominent. Okato had an anxious few moments of strenuous de-

fence, until Mackay broke away to neutral territory. A well-execubcd passing movement between Canroll, Tito, Buxton and back again to Tito saw the latter slip when a certain try was within his

grasp. The Okato forwards then took a hand, and invaded the Blues' territory, but a loiijr kick by Carroll, well followed up by Tito, removed the pressure. A neat mark by Turner gave Malone a shot at goal, Fitzro'y forcing. Harry returned the kick-off well, and Carey and Dracler following up smothered Hardnrave, a serum resulting. Turner here secured the ball and passed to Corbett, to Malone, to Rua, who put in the finishing touches. Malone made a good but unsuccessful attempt to add the major points. A few minutes later, however, he mad'ei no mistake from a free kick, and Okato's score was six. This livened the Blues up, and Skipper and his men started throwing the ball about, and gaining much ground. A mark by Carey,

however, saw play in neutral territory. Failure by Harry to take a pass from Malone let Buxton through, but Turner was too solid, and with a nice kick neutralised their efforts. The play was now very fast, both sides working well and showing Rugby of a bright order. From then on to half-time Okato had all the better of the game, and the Blues were lucky to save on two occasions. On resuming the Blues immediately invaded Okato's 25, and an infringement in a handy position enabled Tutai to register three points for Fitzroy. Immediately after, however, the Okato men returned the compliment. The country backs threw the ball about and offside play by a Blue saw Malone kick another penalty goal. Nothing daunted the Blue forwards came again, and a rush headed by Bellringer and Koupo put the latter oyer teh line. Tutai had hard luck with the kick, a poster resulting. He had still harder luck a little later, when from a mark under the posts by Tito he had another shot, the ball striking the posts, then running along the bar, and falling in field. The Blues kept up the attack, and another force resulted. On kicking off Rua headed a rush that carried the ball out at the Blues' 25, and from, the throw in Malone marked and had an unsuccessful shot, which was forced. After an interval of quiet play, another shot had a similar result. The country forwards then carried play right to their opponents' line, where Turner opened out the game. A pa-ss from Rua to Corbett was intercepted by Skipper, who kicked up the field, and fast following up placed Okato on the defensive. In fact, on one occasion had Buxton not failed to pick the leather up a score must have resulted instead of a force. The Blues, however, were not to be denied, and keeping up the pressure Tonga secured the ball from a scrambly rush and shot it across to Buxton, who, running strongly, got across, equalising the scores. Tutai's kick failed. The Blues came again, excuting passing and dodgy runs. Corbett's defence was severely tested, but stood the strain, only a force resulting. Koupu had a shot from a mark, the ball falling short. Carroll smothered Corbett's return in front of the goal and things looked awkward for Okato. In a flash, however, Carey, McKay, Andrews, Drader and Eustace initiated a forward movement which carried play to their opponents' goal line, and from a scrambly rush Skipper (jun) picked up and foolishly passed, enabling H.' Cor-' bett to intercept and dive over the line. Malone made no mistake with the kick and gave Okato a lead which they maintained to the end. Mr. J. Johnson made an efficient referee.

STAR 12 v. ROVERS 8. Although the Star-Rovers match was by no means a brilliant exposition of football, still it was an interesting and at times exciting game. The fact that Star took the field against a full team with only nine men, which number was by thei end of the game increased to 12, added interest to the contest, and the good fight they put up gave them to a large extent the sympathy of the! .spectators. More than that they created a mild sensation by scoring within less than five minutes from the kiek off. From- a scrum near Rovers' line, Dewar secured tiro ball, burst through the defence, and scored in a fairly easy position. Hawkins failed with the kick. This put Rovcts on their mettle, and Grant, eluding his pursuers crossed the line, but had hard luck in not scoring, rolling off the ball. Rovers backs came down again with a passing rush, which was spoilt by a bad pass from Thompson to Grant. Star came on again, and Hawkins scored a second try at the corner, falling over the line from the ruck. Rovers backs now handled the ball well, and Webster securing scored' with a good run of thirty yards. I Thompson made no mistake with the

[kick. Give and take play followed. ! Hawkins failed with a kick at goal from ■im offside penalty, but just afterwards Goudie scored with a good dodgy run [from a pass by Evans. Hawkins failed Jto add the major points. The first spell ended with a change: Star 0, Rovers 5. In the second spell Hovers endeavored to open up the game for the benefit of their backs, but were well held by Star, ; whose strength lay in their forwards. jSoon after play recommenced, Hawkins' ' offside play gave Rovers a free kick, i which relieved them at an opportune i moment. Star, headed by McAllum, icame up with a good rush, and brought play into Rovers' territory. Greatbatch brought the ball nearly through, but a force was the only result. E. Grant with a good lin>e kick. Star frequently had Rovers penned. Thompson, who played a sterling defensive game, relieved, time after time with line kicks. Rovers several times took the play to Star territory, but their forwards could not hold the Star vanguard. A passing ■ rush by Grant Bros, carried the ball to - 'wads the Star goal, and by a free kick jgai't'd still more ground, but Star | gradually forced them back till HawI kins being offside a scrum resulted. Star I secured the ball, but bad'passing spoilt this chance. Prom a lime out, Star forwards initiated a rush, which was 'stopped by lan Grant, but Goudie, who was playing well, again scored with a 'good run. The kick failed. From a

scrum Star handled well and from a good .passing rush by Greatbatch, Hawkins land Goudie the latter nearly scored again. Rovers now shook things up, carrying the. ball almost under the Star goal, where a scrum resulted. Grant secured and passed to Webster, who scored his second try. Thompson's kick went wide. Play was kept in Star territory. Rogers opened up the game as 'much as possible, but eould not score, and the game ended—Star 12, Rovers 8. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. On Saturday an Association football match was to have been played between Wanderers and Mangorei (Swifts), but owing to a misunderstanding Mangorei did not turn up. However, scratch teams were picked on the ground in the shape of captain's and the vice-captain's elevens. After a very keen contest the captain's team won by 5 goals to 3. Several very promising colts were schooled into the game, and with a little practice should be numbered with the i best.