FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 7, 9 June 1913, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

STAR (3) V. ROVERS (3). ' It was only the closeness of the scoies that saved the match between Star and Rovers, played on the Recreation Ground, on Saturday, from being a mediocre affair. When the first spell ended, there had been nothing to show for the first forty-five minutes, but a series of marks, free kicks, line-outs, with hardly a passing rush worth mention. The second half was very willing, and there was at times, a tendency to play the man rather than the ball, Star being the chief offenders. The score of three points all, fairly correctly represented the respective merits of the teams. McKay kicked off into touch, and a series of line-outs and scrums marked the opening stages of the game, neither side gaining any advantage. Stars were twice awarded free kicks for off-side play, the game settling down at halfway. . The Greens were awarded a free, and Thompson failed to hold the ball, Webster isaving to touch. Carroll picked up in the loose, and passed to Bertrand, who found the line at the corner. Rovers were then forced. Stohr marked time, but an interchange of kicks gained no material advantage for either side. A long kick by Thompson was nicely returned to. touch by Box, who wag very safe at full. A no-charge gave Thompson two shots at a penalty goal, but both kicks were abortive. A nicely-judg-ed kick by Thompson, gave Webster and Grant the opportunity of putting in a nice passing rush, which looked dangerous until Grant's return pass to Web--1 ster went astray. Pratt started a I rush, and Riekleben, dribbling down .the | line, Bertrand secured and passed inj field but off-side play relieved the Greens. Rovers were awarded another free-kick, and Lusk found the line with a beautiful kick. Stewart, at full back, secured twice, his second kick to the line being, well judged. Rovers attacked strongly, but the Blacks were very safe. From a mark by Grant, Lusk had a shot at goal, but the kick, though a good one. fell short. The Blacks hooked from a scrum near the posts, but the Greens broke away smartly, and beating Jacobs, were nearly'over, but lost the ball. A free-kick relieved the Blacks, who had a spell in the v attack. Stewart missed the ball badly, and for a moment things looked bad for the Greens, but a forcedown temporarily relieved them. Another solid rush was spoiied by Francis, who was badly off-side. Jacobs marked for Star, but Box was unsuccessful with the kick, after a no-charge had been awarded'. Half-time sounded with Star attacking, and' still no score. Rain commenced to fall in the second spell. Stewart marked, when the Blacks were attacking, and Bertrand returned nicely to touch.. Lusk, Quilliam, and Drake headed a splendid rush downfield, Bertrand picking up cleanly. Rovers attacking strongly, but Edwin, who had been playing a dashing game, headed a forward movement to half-way. (Another Rover rush was stopped by Bertrand, then a score came. Bertrand centred, and Stanley secured, passing to - Riekleben, who got clean' away, scoring I under the posts. The try, however, j was a questionable one, Stanley appeari ing from the line to be off-side. Box J failed with the kick. Shortly after--1 wards, Box attempted a penalty goal, but was again unsuccessful. Rovers made a great rush down field, and well deserved the penalty goal which rewarded their efforts. The Blacks being penalised for lying on the ball, Webster landed a nice' goal, making the scores three all. With two men knocked out, Newall made a streak for the line, the ball at his toe, but the Blacks kicked the ball into touch. Rovers continued to attack, and play became fast and interesting. Thompson kicked too hard, and the Blacks forced. Stars then attacked, but Webster relieved with a clever mark. Rovers made great efforts to score, and appeared to have gained a touch-down, but a scrum five yards out was given. The Blacks gained ground steadily, Francis marking in mid-field, but the kick at goal was charged down. ■ A free kick to the Blacks, and Box failed to increase the score. Star's backs esaved a passing run, but their passing was weak, and Rovers had little difficulty in stopping it. Stewart, who had been badlv knocked about, was playing a very safe and solid game. Darkness had descended on the field, and the players were indistinguishable when Star raced down the field", and Riekleben secured, only to be up-ended. No side sounded, with the scores unchanged Star 3 Rovers 3 Mr. 0. West was referee. t OKATO (9) V. INGLEWOOD («). At Okato on Saturday Inglewood received their first reverse this season, when they were defeated by the coastal team by a potted goal and a converted try to two unconverted tries. On the day's play the better team won. had ail the better of the first half:' The secdnd half was more even until the closing stages, when Inglewood had much the better of it, and strongly attacked. Indeed, just prior to the call of time there were within an ace of scoring on two occasions, and might easily. have equalised scores had Bullock passed out instead of trying to force his way over. The game was principally confined to the forwards, and here Okato were superior, both in the tight and loose. Okato backs also were the surer. Indeed, Inglewood backs were very seldom prominent. Okato kicked off with the sun in their eyes, and with the wind blowing across the field. From a scrum, Sutherland secured, and cut through, but the dash was ended bv a pass forward. Carey, who played* a great game, led his forwards to the attack, and in quick succession Inglewood were forced twice, once when .Malone had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a free kick, and again when Eustace had another shot from a neat mark by Surgenor. A resumption of hostilities saw Chapman and Atu head a strong Tildewood' rush, but off-side plav bv Nieholls 011 two occasions let the Reds return to the a.ttack, and a hefty rush by Carev saw Inglewood force just in time. Okato still had the best of matters, Carev. Eustace. Surgenor. Turner and Malone playing well as did Atu. Xicliolls. Russell and Olsen for the visitors. . Okato worked ili,> ball down, and Turner neatly lined at the twenty-five. From the throw-in. Surgenor marked. Malone having a fruitless shot at goal. Okato were not to lie denied, as a little later Surgenor secured, cut in, and potted a pretty goal. liussell retired hurt and was replaced by Fraser. A slight shower then fell, during which there was a temporary cessation, owing to Kennedy receiving a knock. Okato backs initiated a passing movement in which Turner I'uigenor. Malone, and Rua participated the hitter knocking on. Hughes, Sulher- - land, and Russell relieved, and the Jii"lewood forwards set up a rush that carried play to the locals' territory, where''too hard a kick enabled Corbett to secure and drive it well down the field. Inglewood were now having the upper hand, aw ;t niiss-kiek by Malone let tlu-m right on to Okato's line. Scrambling p ay ensued, Okato defending well, until Hughes, marking m a good position, gave Smith a sl.ot at goal, which only lesulted 111 a lorce, and a moment later" the same non-success rewarded Ewle-' ton. Half-time was called, with T;Hcwood right on 1 heir opponents' line ° Surgenor returned Inglewood's ' kickoff, and Hughes, failing " to hold tli" leather, Carev, Eustace, Sullivan, and Burrowes rushed the plav to their opponents' territory. Atu,' Nieholls and

Frascr were in the main responsible for removing play to neutral country, whero; Bullock centred, but Okato gained the advantage. Turner later secured the' ball, and cutting right through his opponents, carried the ball to the goal line, where he lost it. Burrowes, who followed up fast, scored, and Malone goaled. Inglewood then livened up, and compelled the locals to force, and from: the kick-off they attacked again. A free kick, smartly followed up, had Okato strenuously defending, and Russell, failing to take a high ball, the locals got clear for a while. Inglewood were de- j termined, and Carey being charged down with the ball, owing to claiming a mark which was not allowed, a scramble occurred close to Okato's goal. Hughes secured, and instead of using his pace, punted high. He was lucky, however, as the bounce beat Surgenor, and Nicholls fell on the ball, scoring in the corner. Smith's kick just went wide. Immediately on resuming, Okato set up a rush which ended in a force. Features of the lext few moments' play were clever narks bv Surgenor and Bullock. Okato forwards, who were playing a great game, charged down the field, and Russell, mulling, the ball went out right in the corner. Inglewood forwards then got going to some purpose, and play was right under Okato's goal. Bullock secured from the scrum, and shot out to Smith, who knocked on, and after a few moments' strenuous defence, the Okato forwards not only cleared their line, but set up a counter attack, which culminated in a touch-in-goal. A little later, Eustace made a nice opening, and passed to Surgenor, who. was, collared just on the line by Eggleton, and'Atu, Olsen, and Nicholl came to the attack. < A hard kick went, to toucli-in-goal. The Reds still pressed, and Kennedy made an attempt to pot, but missed" the ball altogether. A moment later Okato were forced. Tlie kick-off fell out of bounds and was called back. Inglewood carried the serum. Fast following up saw Nicholls score. Smith failed with an 1 easy shot. With five minutes to go', Inglewood returned to the fray, and kept the locals busy. Scrum after scrum ensued on the local's line, and on two occasions Bullock attempted to force his way over the line, but was held up. Had he passed out, a try would almost certainly have resulted. On the last occasion, the ball was forced into touch-in-j goal, and time was then called.

Mr. J. Johnson made an impartial referee.