FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 June 1912, Page 8

FOOTBALL

STAR 11 v. FITZROY 0. This game was played at Western Park on Saturday under weather conditions which made good football impossible, the players being, hampered by wind, rain, and a greasy ball. The play therefore calls for little comment; indeed, it early degenerated into a wild and humorous scramble between the forwards of the opposing teams, which was, as on spectator put it,, "funnier than football." The game was played straight through without a spell. Star took the field with 14 men, and Fitzroy, playing with the wind, came down with a couple of rushes, Tonga SkipI per making an ineffectual attempt I and play went back to half-way, where j Fitzroy had a free kick, but their shot at goal failed. Charters, dribbling in , good style, broke away and Star soon had Fitzroy defending, but a likely rush was stopped by the Maori full-back, and fro"' a line-out the Maoris gained a little ground. From a mark Star now ) had a shot, which failed. Okev now snapped the ball up from a scramble and got over. Hawkins failed with the kick. Uninteresting give and take play followed. Star worked Fitzroy back. Gleeson attempted to pot a goal from the ruck, and soon afterwards, from a Star forward rush, Packard passed to Penwarden, who dived across. Hawkins added the major points. From this on the game was nothing but a wild scramble, which kept the spectators in »oars of laughter. The Maoris often got away, but bad handling and over-kicking spoilt their chances. Tonga Skipper showed a turn of speed, but could do no good. From a line-out at half-way two Maori forwards got away on their own and a score looked certain, but fumbling and over-eagerness allowed McAllum to overtitke the pair before they could get across the line and a force resulted. Star got away at last with a forward rush, and Packard dribbling well from quarter way notched the final try. The game became more wildly willing, and was punctuated by shouts of "Look out, pakeha," "throw him down hard," etc., to thea musement of the few spectators present. The scramble ended with no alteration to the score. For the winners Dewar put in a lot of good work and was a host in himself. Charters dribbled as well as usual. McAllnm on the wing played as well as ever, and Hawkins at full-back, where he played on account of an injured leg, was as safe as a house. The backs on the whole were poor. The Maori team played a willing game, but do not make enough use of their weight in the forwards. Tonga Skipper and Mac Skipper were seen to_ advantage, but lack of backing , up nullified several chances of scoring, The score about indicates the difference in the play. Mr. W. Roch was referee.