FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 306, 19 May 1913, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

INGLEWOOD (14) V. OKATO (3)

Inglcwood made a most auspicious entry into the ranks of Saturday football by defeating' last year's champions in that competition* by 14 points to 3. The game was fast, and at times very interesting, though a knowledge of the finer points was lacking, whilst condi tion told its tale also oh the local team Inglcwood uad much the better of tin game in the first spell, and did all tin scoring, .though off-aide play gave Okatc many shots at .goal, some in a liandj position, but their luck was out, a: none materialised. In the second spel Okato had much the better of affairs but could not drive their advantage right home, just failing to score or several occasion?. Ingle wood scored a try in this speli, and Okato a goal as the result of a magnificent kick. The Inglcwood team show great promise, and with a little improvement and combination, will be hard to beat. Malone cap'tained Okato and Bullock the local team. Bullock won the toss, and Okato played with the sun in their eyes. Within two minutes of the kick-oil' an infringement by the locals gave Malone a shot at goal in a handy position, but i the attempt, though a good one, failed to negotiate the uprights. The kick-oil' saw Andrews Bros, and Carey head a forward rush that culminated in a force. Neutral play ensued until Inglewood woke up and Oliapman, Karalus, and Knoiflock headed 1 a rush, only to be driven back by a long -kick frojn Sur- ' genor. Inglewood came again, and a rush saw Kennedy beaten by the rebound when he looked dangerous. From a line-out, Smith shot the ball across to Morey, who cut in and lined. A little later, Olsen, .Russell, and Karalus smartly followed up a free kick, anil, : beating Oorbett, Olsen scored under the posts, Smith converting. Okato livened up, and headed by Carey, carried play down field onlv to be driven back by a counter red rush, and from the loose, Kennedy scored the second try, Smith failing to convert. 8 points had been scored in twelve minutes. Inglewood still kept the coastal team busy defending, and a force ensued. Sutherland then essayed a run, only to be fetched down by Surgenor, ami who, a little later, instituted a passing rush, in which Andrews and Turner assisted. Carey also was prominent in a forward rush, but was driven back by a long kick by Russell. Bullock set his backs moving, but a wild pass let Adlam secure andfind the line. TJp and down play ensued, until Larsen cleverly marked in a nice position. Surgenor's kick at goal failed. Offside play by Okato gave Inglewood a free kicik, but the ball was brought back. Hughes, the Inglewood flier, Jiad a nice opening, but passed instead of running. A few moments later, however, Smith secured and cutting through got over the line just as lie was collared. Knofflock's kick failed. Carey followed up the kick-off and carried the leather into Inglewood's territory, where R. Andrews marked, giving Malone another shot. The kick was a beauty, but the ball just sailed under the bar. Play hovered about centre, Bullock and Carey taking clever (marks. Turner ithen got' ithe coastal backs moving, but Andrews was too far away and a, nice chance went begging. Surgenor., Turner, and Malone were playing finely, as were also Smith Bullock, and Russell, for Inglewood. A dangerous Okato rush was stemmed by a clever mark by Sutherland, but Okato were not to be denied, and Carey, O'Sullivan, and Bun-owes carried play back to Inglewood's line. A great mark by Surgenor and an infringement by Inglewood gave Malone two more shots which also just missed, and the spell ended Inglewood 11 Okato nil The second spell saw Carey, Andrews, Burrowes, and' O'Sullivan head a forward rush into Inglewood's territory, where Burro,ves was thrown out. Kennedy retaliated with a rush to centre. A high kick which Andrews failed to take, enabled Inglewood to clear. Okato came again, and Inglewood had to find the dead ball line to save. Surgenor secured from the kick-off, and beat several men before being collared. Off-side play by Kennedy on two occasions gare Okato free kicks which relieved the position. Inglewood forwards now pressed hard, and several serums ensued right on Okato's line, but ultimately Okato cleared. Surgenor, who was now playing wing forward, and a great game too, got' the tall awa.v cleanly, but Andrews was out of position .and the Inglewood forwards, rushing down the field, Sutherland picked up, and galloping down the touch line, scored. Kennedy failed to convert. Inglewood again attacked,' Wt Malone lined' at the twenty-five. G! Nicholls headed a rush that took play to Okato's twenty-five, where Sutherland . marked. Kennedy's kick just went outside the post. Okato, with a passing movement in which Turner, Surgenor. Malone, and Adlam took part carried plav right down the field, but when within striking distance, Hughes intercepted, and the Inglewood forwards carried it right back. Like a flash, the ,Okato men retaliated, and Inglewood's 'goal was again in danger. Okato pressed hotly, but could no.t score, a force resulting. Larsen and Corbett were responsible. for a good Okato movement that again had Inglewood defending. Turner and Carey made desperate attempts to score on two occasions, but Bullock relieving with a mark and the forwards taking a hand, the scene changed to neutral territory. A mark by Sutherland assisted Inglewood in their attack, but Andrews, taking a high kick, gained <a lot of ground, and further offside play by the reds gave Okato a slight advantage. A further kick gave Okato another penalty, and from about midfield Eustace landed a beautiful goal. Okato were heartened by this success, and Turner, Surgenor, and Malone took a hand in a passing movement which was ended by Surgenor being offside, when taking the ball the second time. A clever mark by Andrews saw Eustace take another shot, which »'.SS | failed. Centreing fi'Oitt ft mark, Okato rushed the ball up, and off-side play gave Eustace another shot, 'Which just went wide. Okato were attacking hotly in the closing stages, but could not score, and the game ended Inglewood 14 Okato 3 Mr. F. Spurdle controlled the game. ROVKRS (20) v. STAR (0). I The above teams met at the Recreation Grounds on Saturday, when the Rovers raced over their opponents to the tune of '2O points to nil. The match was timed for :l p.m., but the hands of the clock showed nearer to 3.30 when the teams took the field. Star mustered eleven players at the start, the number subsequently being brought up to one dozen, The contest was not so uneven as the scores denote, but the play right through was of a very inferior nature and far below what one would have expected from senior teams. Each team possessed two or three players who stood out, but their efforts went for nought, owing to the utter want of combined action. Had Rovers possessed a player who could have taken advantage of the many openings, the score might easily hava been 100 instead of 20. The game was one that does not call for detailed description. That the teams were green I and lacking in combination was apparent to all, and it is to be hoped that this will be remedied as the season advances. | The last half hour of the match wa:? 1 dreary indeed to the spectators, while ili£ jnrijoi'Hv; at the geared to

be longing for one thing only—the call of the whistle. Tries were scored for the winners by Stolir (2), Brown, Newell, Loveridge aiul Quilliam, one of which was converted by Thompson, Mr. J. Johnson refereed.