FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 319, 8 July 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

OKATO 6 v. FITZROY 6. Okato and Fitzroy played a drawn -game at the Recreation Grounds on Sat- ' urday afternoon, after a match in I which the native team had if anything the advantage. The greasy nature of ' the ground rather marred the display, whilst the fact that the playing arena was not marked out rendered it difficult for players to tell when they were over the line or not. All the scoring was done in the first spell. The second spell was very exciting, play travelling from end to end, hut neither side could score, though both were within an ace of doing so on several occasions. Ilook set the ball in motion for Fitzroy. McKay obtained possession and centred, but Skipper was there, and returned down the field. A neat piece of feinting by Anderson, followed up by a forward rush, in which Andrews, "Drader and Julian were prominent, put Okato in attacking position, and Anderson set his backs in motion. Off-side play gave Anderson a shot, and three points went to Okato's score as the result. From the kick off Hook, Munga, and Francis were responsible for invading Okato's territory, and a passing rush between Carroll, Skipper and Tito ended in the latter scoring, though well taken by Corbett. Tonga Skipper's kick at goal failed. Wero next put in a nice run, but slipped when he had about beaten the opposition. Tlie game hovered about midfield for a while, when Corbett missing a long kick, with three or four opponents right on him. matters looked serious for Okato, but the ball was overrun and a good chance to score was lost. The Blues kept up the pressure, and failure bv Wero to kick gave them another chance to score, but they were over-eager, and a free kick gave Okato relief. Soon after McKay took a speculator. which Carroll marked in front of the posts and landed a magnificent goal. Okato livened up. and nice kicks by Mai one found the line in the Fitzrov 25. From the throw-in Anderson secured and cut in for the lino, being collared on the goal-line, and Carroll speculated to safety. OIT-side play bv Bellringer cave Anderson a shot, which failed. Okato now penned their opponents, and throwing the ball about nearly scored. Soon after K. Andrews put in a nice run and handed on to McKay, who ran nicely and scored. Anderson again failed with the kick. Pas-ing forward spoilt good passing movements on both sides. _ Long kicks bv Malonc and Corbett again had Fitzroy'defending, but they were able to force. Good footwork bv Drader saw Okato attacking when half-time sounded. The second spell opened with an interchange of kicks, which ended in neutral territorv. Here Turner set his backs moving.* and Anderson, Malone and Julian carried play to Fitzroy's 25, where Buxton secured, and, kicking hard, followed up fast, Corbett just obtaining possession in time. Loose pl a .V t ensued, Fitzroy having the better of things until Koupu obtained a nice mark from the line-out. which enabled Carroll to find the line in a handy position. The, Okaio forwards managed to clear temporarih'. A forward pass spoilt a nice Blue opening, and from the resultant scrum Corbett cleared. From a passing rush Tito was nearly over, but Corbett again saved. The Blue backs threw the. , leather about. Koupu again being held up on the line. Wero, with a well judged kick to the line, gave Okato a much-needed breather. This them good, as the}' at once attacked. Carroll, however, secured the ball and counter- | attacked, passing to Koupu. The latter handed on to Tito, who had a clear run in, but the leather was thrown forward and a serum ensued. Okato now pressed, but a rebound put nearly all off-side, and gave the Blues an opening, but offside play spoilt the chance. A free kiefc gave. Anderson another chance, which proved very weak. Andrews headed a rush, but Skipper, though smothered, got in his kick. Like a flash tile Blues transferred plav to the other end of the !field, and a race between Wero and Tito saw the former force. With a few ri]i flutes to go Okato pressed, "and scrums ensued on Fitzrov's line. Fitzroy cleared'. and Tito following up fast was not stopped till within a yard of the line. Here the Blues struggled strenuouslv to score, hut too hard n kick allowed Okato to force. On kicking off Andrews. McKay and "Drader set un a rush which erosed their opponents' line, but Carroll forced. Okato made desperate attempts to score, and had the better of the clos- . in? stage-, hut could not score, and the whistle went with them hotlv attacking. Mr. J. Sullivan refereed capably.

STAR (11) v. ROVERS (5). Once more Star took the field faced with rather heavy odds in the shape of a deficiency of three men. in consequence they made the game close, and played short-handed in the backs. Nevertheless although they were at times very hard pressed, they deserved their win 011 the day's play. Thompson kicked ofT for Rovers, with" the wind slightly in their favor. Stannering took the return, finding the line at half-way. Star forwards took the play into Rovers' 25, until a good kick by Grant relieved the pressure. By d'int of clever tactics Dewar removed play to Rovers' territory. Rovers remained in a tight corner until off-side play by Hawkins afforded relief. A dangerous rush by Rovers' forwards was stopped by a good mark by Stannering, but Rovers continued to press. A passing rush by Rovers' backs was stopped by McAllum, who transferred the base of operations into Rovers territory, where Star obtained a free kick through Grant lying on the ball. Hawkins failed in his attempt to goal. From the kick out. play returned to the Rovers' 2"). There Dewar nearly scored, a five yards scrum resulting. The ball was whipped out 'to McAUum, who c.s.saved an unsuccessful pot at goal, Rover; clearing. Star, however, were not to be deniedfand a splendid dribbling rush by Hawkins and Charters was nearly rewarded. From a mark bv Stannering Hawkins found the line in Royers' 25 with a good kick, but Rovers forced from theV'snltant line-out. A fine line kick by Thompson transferred play to Stars' 25. where Stannering «ot off-side. Thompson failed with the kick at goal. Good forward plav bv Dewar and Okey took plav to half-way. but Thompson •bended a rush to the Star goal line. Stannering relieved. Good forward nlay bv the Star forwards took the ball to Rovers' line, where Richards scored in the corner. Hawkins made a good but unsuccessful shot at goal.—Star Ti, Rovers a From the kick out plav went ill) and down the field. Rovers being unable to withstand the strong rushes of the Star forwards. Hawkins and Dewar. J by good combined play, rushed the ball : to Rovers' line, but a free kick for offside plav nullified their effort, half-time' sounding with the ball out at half-way. Hawkins kicked off for Star, but a splendid line kick bv Thompson found play removed to Stars' 25. Star forwards. headed by Charters, led out, but Thomnson relieved, the ball then being rushed un the field bv Webster, Clarke finding the lino just in time to prevent, a certain score. Star forwards again came to the rescue, with Charters in the van. Tie w«.= dribbling splendidly, nnd took play down the whole length of the field. Webster saving when matters looked «erious for Rovers. A free kick to Rovers gained them further ground, but Hawkins nnd Richards took the ball to Rovers' line. Webster again relieving temporarily. Star obtained a free kick I for Rovers taking the ball out of a scrum on their line. The kick at goal ' was missed by Hawkins, although the

shot was an easy one. Another kick wa» immediately after awarded Star for oH-sidc play by Webster at half-way. Hawkins again being unsuccessful. Reid and Thompson now rushed play to Stars' 85, but Hawkins relieved. Newell, however, returned play to Stars' 25 with a good line kick. A wild pass from Okey to McAllum was missed, and Clarke being out of position, Webster took play right up tli-e field, Quilliam finally scoring, after an excellent run, under the posts. Thompson goaled.—Rovers 5, Star 3.—From the kick out play went to Rovers' 25, the Star forwards now making the game very willing, the ball being rushed up and down with great rapidity. From a scrum on Rovers' line, the ball was whipped froim Gleeson to Stannering, who cut in and transferred to Dewar. who passed to Packard, the latter scoring. Hawkins failed with the kick.—Star 6, Rovers 5. —The Star forwards now swept the field in fine style, and it was not long before Dewar scored under the posts, Hawkins converting.— Star 11, Rovers s.—Thompson's kick out was returned by Gleeson to Stars' 25. Dewar and Woods, by good combined play, took the ball to Rovers' line. Woods nearly scoring. A nice line kick by Newell took the ball to Stars' 25. A goorl mark by Stannering stopped a dangerous rush by Rovers' forwards. but_ Martin and Grant, took plav back again, a mark by Packard relieving the pressure for Star. Good play by Cliarters took the ball to Rovers' goal, a free kick to Rovers bringing no relief, as Charters, by good dribbling took the ball '"tek again. Rovers forcing. The whistle then blew for no side.