FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 48, 15 July 1912, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OKATO 1G v. ROVERS 3. The above match was played at Okato on Saturday, and resulted in a somewhat easy win for the country team. The town team could only muster eleven men, and three of these were .very late in arriving, owing to the motor-car arrangements failing. At about a quarter to four, when eight of the town team were on the ground, a start was made.. The vacancies were iilled by Okato players, including H.eke Martin (Opunake). Immediately on starting the Okato fori wards set up a solid rush, but Booker at full-back found the line nicely. Here the three late arrivals took the field, but the substitutes were so enamoured of the game that the)' would not go off, and Rovers played eighteen men throughout the first spell. Spon after Eustace scored from .a forward rush, but again injured Ms knee and had to retire. Malone converted. Play now became more even, and Carey, the Okatp fullback, was kept busy. He did well, only making one mistake when he centred in front of his own goal. The nippy Rover back»—Reid, Martin, Grant, Speight, and Webster—almost .scored as the result. Keeping up the pressure their efforts were rewarded, Martin scoring after a good passing bout. Speight's kick at goal failed, the ball falling short. Wero tok the ball, and here occurred a most amusing interlude. Evidently thinking that the shot at goal was from a penalty, Wero set sail along the touch line. Jennings attempted to collar him, but Wero beat him and continued on his way, scoring a brilliant try, but, un- • fortunately, it could not be allowed,, as the necessary formality of kicking off had not been performed. Play for the remainder of the spell was more even, and no further store resulted. In the second spell Okato made the game more open, and despite strenuous exertions on the part of Rovers, whose number was now reduced to sixteen, succeded in scoring three more tries, Julian getting over j after a nice dash, Malone converting, whilst Sullivan scored on two occasions, Malone_ falling with both kicks. Rovers ! were within an ace of scoring on two or three occasions, but the defence was too good. From a free kick Thompson almost increased the score, a poster resulting. Andrews,, H. Martin, Martin, Webster, Grant, Jennings, Reid, Solus, and Adlam were most conspicuous among the visitors, as were Andrews, McKay, Anderson, Julian, Carey, Hawkins, and Turner among the local team. Mr. A. Coltman, formerly o£ Dannevirke, who has lately joined'the local Refarees' Association, made., his deTiut' in Taranaki with the whistle. He ably controlled the game, _ and the losing team, as _ well as, the winners, were unanimous, as to the fairness and correctness of his decisions. !

STAR -29 v FITZROY 0. ' > Star beat Fitzroy on f Saturday in a ? manner which calls for very little comj ment. The game Was not.a brilliant exposition of football; indeed, in the second spell, it early degenerated into a wildly hilarious scramble, in which Star simply ran over their opponents. Soon after the kick off Star" forwards rushed the play into Fitzroy's 25, where Dewar secured and passed to'Stannering, but a Maori back relieved and play shifted to Stars territory, where "a mark under the goal gave Fitzroy a shot, which Tonga. Skipper was unable to negotiate. From a scrum at half-way Gleeson secured, and give and take play followed. Star forwards, headed by Charters, broke away, but Tonga Skipper relieved and got moving himself with a nice turn of speed, ,but was forced to kick and McAllum marked at halfway. John Skipper replied with a ( good line kick, and MoAllum, Hawkins, De\var and-gtanner- ! ing took part in a dangerous 'rush, which the Fitzroy full-back stopped nicely. From the ensuing scramble Tonga Skipper marked and relieved slightlv, but Star were not 'to be denied, and Gleeson snapping up the ball passed to 3ylc-. Allum, at wing-tlireequarter. who flashed -through with a nippy run, and scored a try in a good position. Hawkins converted. Star 5, Fitzroy 0. Star came down,-on Fitzroy with a willing forward rush, but Hawkins'was off-side, and the free kick relieved Fitzroy. Richards, Hawkins, Dewar, and Charters initiated another rush,, but Charters infringed the off-side rule, and Tonga. Skipper made good use of the free'kick*. Give and take play of an uninteresting description followed' for some time! Tdnga Skipper put in an excellent rifii and beat the Star full-back, but Doughty collared him. This was almost thei only time Fitzroy looked like scoring. The Star backs handled, under Fitooy's goal, and MclAllum passed to Ciaiske, ' w h o nearly scored in the corner. 'Dewar attempted to bullock through, <but lost the .ball and off-side play-gave .Hawkins a shot at goal,, with which he made no mistake. Star 8. Fitzroy <}. /' ./ The second spell was of a most onesided character. Star ..rait, over -their opponents and had them penned nearly the whole time. 'From a scramble under Intzroy's goal Stannering made a good opening and Richards scored, but Hawkins failed with the kick. Star now had it all their own way, arid to the amusement of the spectators : put on score after score m a very free and easy manner. Richards soon scored agajn rfrom the ruck and converted his try. Play-went back to half-way, but Star soon came on again, and Hawkins over Staimering's kick , failed, pewar then took a hand and raised the score bv three points, Richards, making a «Wd but unsuccessful attempt to convert Okey next scored from <tliG ruck, and Hawkins made a pdor attempt to convert. Fitzroy once/got Star defending, but could net hold them,' passed to Charters, w ho added his quota to the score, but McAJlumV kick failed, btar then initiated'a forward rush but over-ran-the ball, and.Tonga Skipper relieved but Star were soon back, and McAllum scored again. Glees-on's kick faded and the game ended as indicated. Mr. Johnson refereed. ■'