FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 June 1912, Page 3

FOOTBALL

TIRED TIMARU. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Timaru,'Last Night. The seven-a-side Rugby tournament on the King's Birthday yielded a net profit of £lO, half of which, a* arranged at Coronation time, goes to the Ambulance Brigade Hall fund. The South Canterbury Rugby Union Committee declines to nominate players for the inter-Island country teams match, on two grounds, viz: (1) In view of the success of this union's representatives in recent years it claims to he a first-class union; and (2) the fixtures already arranged make it impossible to nominate players. WELLINGTON MATCHES. Wellington, Last Night. The weather was very wintry yesterday afternoon, there being heavy rain and thunderstorms between 2 and 3* p.m. Nevertheless the football matches were well attended. Senior Rugby results: —Petone beat Oriental by 8 points to 6, Melrose beat Victoria College by 12 points to 8, St. James and Wellington drew with no score, Poneke beat Southern by 24 points to 6. NORTHERN UNION. Wellington, Last Night. In the League match, Wellington beat Nelson by 19 points to 6, after a poor game. ROVERS 13 v. OKATO 9.

Rovers and Okato provided an exciting display at the Recreation Grounds on Saturday. As on the previous occasion when these teams met, Okato had all the better of the early part of the game, and a win by a comfortable margin seemed assured, as they rapidly amassed three tries. Condition, however, told, and Rovers, playing a dashing game, assisted by weak' play on the part of the visitors' full-back, ran up three tries in the second spell, two of ! which were converted, and won them j the match; The ground was very greasy, and the rain which fell during part of the match did not improve matters, j Following the kick-off Okato forwards carried play right to their opponents' line, where Carey dashed across, but lost the ball, Rovers forcing. Hardly had the ball been put into play again before Mckay, Carey, and Wera came through, and the latter dribbling past the opposition picked up and got over the line with Grant, hanging on hia back. Malone's kick struck the post. Within two minutes a forward rush saw Carey score Okato's second try. Malone's kick again failing. Ryder followed up the kick-off, but Malone, with a long kick, found the line at the corner, and from the resultant line-out the same player forced his way over, but lost the ball. A freekick gave the Greens relief, and fast following up by Ryder. Bocock, and Mulloy saw Okato seek relief by kicking to the dead-ball line. Almost immediately the Greens were compelled to do the same. Grant Brothers next essayed a dash, but the ground was too greasy, and their opponents, getting the ball at their feet, swept down the field, and the ball being handed to Carey the latter scored his second try. Malone kicked well but unsuccessfully. A little later a free kick got Rovers out of an awkward corner, and good play by Newell also checked the Yellows. The game was now very fast. Rua securing the ball set sail for the line, beat several opponents, and passed to McKay, who hung on to the ball, and a free kick once more give relief. Mulling by the Okato full-back left an open field to the speedy Rover backs, but the ground was against them and obstruction by Wero gave Webster an unsuccessful shot., After an interchange of kicks Grant and Thompson carried play to Okato's 25, and Rua, falling with the ball, a score for Rovers looked imminent, but they could not handle the greasy ball, and Carey forced. Rovers now pressed and a smart mark by Malone saved the position. Reid next centred the ball, which Grant secured and transferred to Webster, "who handed it to Falvey, the lat-, ter getting close to the line. Offside play by Rua gave Thompson an unsuccessful shot, and the spell ended: Okato 9, Rovers nil. On resuming Turner set his backs moving, Malone, Corbett and Rua all taking a hand. Newell, however, returned the latter's kick, and Boeock, Falvey, Thompson, and Ryder headed a rush which compelled Leedom to force, 1 From a line-out later Andrews broke away, but was collared in time by Grant. Carey was next in the van, but Newell, who played splendidly, checked him with a long kick. Leedom hopelessly failed to take the ball, and fast following up by Ellis, Thompson, and Ryder saw the last : named score. Thompson goaled, though it narrowly escaped being a poster. This roused the visitors and Webster was almost at once called on to force. Passing bouts by Turner, Malone, Corbett, and Wero and forward rushes by Carey, McKay, Eustace and Co, were gamely checked by their opponents, though scores were imminent on more than one occasion, until lan Grant secured and' made much ground until well collared by Corbett. A high kick by Thompson' was badly missed by Rua, but Leedom i speculated luckily and staved off but only temporarily, as Thompson gathered up the ball and shot it out to Grant, who galloped at top, and then passed to Webster, and the latter, just grasping the ball under a full head of steam, raced across the line, nearly losing the try in an attempt to get behind the posts. Thompson's kick failed. Matters were now interesting. Rovers were making strenuous efforts to score, but the burly forwards counteracted them and set up a counter attack. Offside play by Wero, however, turned the tables, as Leedom, again failing badly to take Thompson's kick, was outpaced for the ball by Webster, who scored his second try in very close proximity to the dead-ball line. Thompson's kick was a beauty, making the score Rovers 13, Okato 9. The visitors endeavored to wipe off the deficiency, but could not, and the game ended as above. Two minutes before the end of the game Carey, who had played the best forward game on the ground, met with an accident and hud to retire. Mr. J. Johnson ably controlled the game. ASSOCIATION. A representative Association match between Taranaki and Wanganui, at Wanganui, will be played on June 24. It will be interesting to see what team will be picked, as this season there are so many good men in the field.