FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1919, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

MAORIS V. CANTERBURY. Chrlstchurch, Last Night. To-day's match between the Maori soldiers' team and Canterbury was very fast and most exciting, although Canterbury won by 1(5 to 6. Play surged continually up and down the ground, and the excitement of the very large crowd spectators was kept at fever point. 1 Canterbury were rather lucky lo win. Certainly there was not ten points margin of superiority. Canterbury, however, made better use of their opportunities than the visitors, Barclay and Hall scored for the Jlaoris, and Thompson (two), Fitzgerald and McLeod scored tries for Canterbury, two being converted. STAR DEFEATS OKATO. There was a fair attendance at the match which was played between Star and Okato football teams on the Recreation Ground on Saturday, in aid of the Mynott benefit fund, The Weather was fine, and the ground dry. The game, though by no means a brilliant exposition of football, was fUrly fast for an opening game, play being mainly confined to the forwards, who were fairly equal. Occasionally Star backs got going, and though the Okato defence was good. It was the local team's superiority in the back division that gave them the victory. Okato won the toss, and opened with the sun behind them. Star at once attacked, and kept Okato on the defensive. Eustace, who .returned from the front on Thursday, did great work for the visitors, and being mainly responsible for clearing the lines. Richards and Reynolds headed a rush that had Okato again defending, and from a penalty kick Copestake landed a nice goal. Andrews and Fabish headed a rush that carried play to the Star 25, and Eustace was nearly over, but Loveridge forced. On resuming, Star again set up an attack. Okato forwards cleared, but Star were back again. Manu, at half, passing out nicely, Star backs kept moving, but their work lacked finish, and this, combined with good tackling by the visitors, kept them out until Pennlall Obtained possession, and scored a neat try, Copestake falling to goal. After a brief invasion by Okato, Fay led the Star forwards back, and Kohe scored a second try, and the game ended soon after—Star 9, Olcato nil. Manu, Loveridge, Pennlall, Tito (backs), Reynolds, Richards, Fay and Kohl (forwards) were the pick of the Star team, while for Okato, Eustace and Smith (backs), V. Andrews, C. Corbett and Fabish (forwards) were most conspicuous. 0. West gave general satisfaction as referee.