FOOTBALL NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 19, 23 July 1920, Page 9

FOOTBALL NOTES.

WEDNESDAY GAMES. STAR (8) v. WAIKIWI (8). Waikiwi' s slrowing against Western District had pointed to the snburbanites as an improving team, while Star's defeat at Gore, and its succession of losses gave rise to conjecture of some falling off in standajrd of play for the team that once held its head so high. The above result speaks for itself. Waikiwi showed bustling tactics from the openin-g, the Stai' full being caught. A free and several judiciously kicked lines sent Star into fair position, where a sho.t failed, Waikiwi forcing. Changes of territory came through forward efforts, Whyte leadmg his pack, and Leggatt that of Star. Star put up fair defence against Waikiwi. ' A break in the suburban placing allowed the Star centre, Brown, to score well out. Star 3 A long Waikiwi attack was resuliless except for forces, Star finally getting into position by clever work by C. Oughton on the wit'g, his anticipation and in kicking being good. The second spell Star opened with attack, but the tackling was good, and two more attempts to transfer a try failed, Waikiwi opening the Star lines with a great kick which finally forced Star. A series of handling efforts were attempted by Waikiwi, Darragh and Dawson and Sloan, being prominent. At length a forward came through and passed in instead of out, Dallas, with a support, receiving to score close to the posts amid the vociferous cheering of the spectators of the other game. Darragh made it. Waikiwi 5, Star 3. The Waikiwi continued attaclc. a new man on scoring in a race in which he beat .a, solitary Star for the corner fiag. Waikiwi 8, Star 3. The Star then tried passing, and did well, making one wonder why they have so nealocted it. From about 40 yards out from ihe middle of Waikiwi north-east line, a Star set-scrum.s feed saw. Agnew transfer to Brown who cut in and ran straight to the full, most unselfishly passing out with two men to spare, when h,e might easily have had the honour liimself. This was as fine a try as has. been scored this . seacon. Lillev goaled. Waikiwi 8, Star 8. Star kept passing, but were not awarded another try. Waikiwi came back to Star line to force, but neitker side bettered, the game- being a draw, 8 each.

INVEBCARGILL (3) v. ATHLETIC (0). Great ir.tercst centred grourrd this match j which vvould decide the' f.carn to me'et the j Star, no one giving Waikiwi much hope of ! even drawing with the .redoubtablcs. These" j who watched the game" csrtainly recehed ' their money's worth in tfcrills and in anx- | ieties, the closenews of t-he scor.es inj dicating Ihe dei.ermincd eharact&r cf one j cf the • best fought, scen liere for yeais, i and, if our rc-preser.tativcs si , iv.e with. the ! determ.ination and pevseveriince of the. 30 f in this game, Southland need' have no fegr j that its trained, side will do it other than I honour, however the ^scores go. Blues ! were well lincd out for their kick-off, luillar swerving it high to north-east, apd i Itoche returning to witfcin five yards from | micl-flag, the first line scrum feeding "&leland, who gained 10 vards . with a s'de-line | punt. The second line went to Blu-e.s, as I did the third, their wing atteniptmg a i shovt side pass. The next line was in 1 Ggeens' favour, their wing", .Mapletop, beI ing fc-d from ihe scrum, his kick being gocd. The Blue full returned it well to . about half-way. The parallels ^rought Green poss£ssion and five yards' gain, which was further improvecl by Coa-kley's booting to 12 vards over middle line, G i 1roy immediately gaining 10 yards more

with a clever left from a weak B.ue kicx. .The ball was then possessed by Shepherd, who sent it to Ihe Blues' corner. The Athlntic tactics made the game look neatand wor.kmanlike. There had te&n little wasted effort up to this point, ard Greens were in excellent position for atiack. What did they do? They carried the line and fed full Fraser with an over-kick, a sli-ght relief to Blues coming. Then Greerfs drove ovrer the line and kicked a force. Th.e 25 kick was returned to O'Byrne, who made his own 25 line, the movement being followod by a Blue dash of the forwards, with a° passing atlempt, when O'Byrne was pushed out several yards past mid-field. Greens at once cleared the line to the middle, O'Byrne missing and Vial speculating. Athletics kicked to Fraser who made the 25 well. From the line break by Blues, Green speculated back, Irving missed, another Blue lashed, and the Green wing, Mapletop, came up with the ball to be well tackled by O'Byrne. The Green forwards were too strong on this line which was fairly long, but a Blue lash went to Gilroy, who missed, and the Blue forward mcrved on to over-kick a mark to Coakley, the ball Symg at half of halfway in Green.* half. The line kick of

Athletics went to Fraser, who failing to take, footed, his side losing about 20 yards on the exchange. Green secured from the line scrum, but Cleland intercepted and Gilroy returned the kick to half-way ,flag. A Green mark and a speculaior did not aJter the position, though Mapletop gained a yard or two later. A Blue free lost ground, Vial at once relieving, O'Byrne carrymg on, his forwards coming through in a thick crowd, much hacking from the mixed forwards occurring. Then a great passing effort of I.F.C. failed, with the ball across the line. The scrum fed the backs and Irving was handed one by Vial, but fell short twice. Scrums on the line and lines near the corner ended with Greens clearing 20 yards, a free fcettering them further, Miiler returning well and Davidson carrying on to the 25. The scrum let Greens centre kick and Fraser came up well to the take and mark, play going back to the * 25. Green forwards moved, were checked, and the Blue scrummers at once came back at them ; but a good pass fro-m Gilroy to Mapletop allowed wing to clear what looked a deadly attack, or at least a penalty, near the goal. Blues dribbled again to distance, where O'Byrne markecl and sent across the goal face, a great forward struggle resultiug. the Greens clearing to well from home. The movement continued and Blues were clunrsily forced. Coakley was slow in . the return, and Miiler and company smothered him to his 25. The Blues passed, wing Irvihg being at last blocked. He centred, but Gilroy forced. Play kept at Greens on defence, and Little and Irving shone in another handling, A pass came to Cleland, who slipped and cut in, the kick sending BlueS to the-.Green corner. Again JBlues passed, Vial jinking to Jose the ball, which O'Byrne moved on with, a scrum resulting. . The feed vyas inst'antane'Ous. '"Cleland came across from the blind side, tool^ the ball from Davidson, the movement ending with Irving at the corner. I.F.C. 3. The 25 kick saw too many, Blues near the ball, and they were driven to their last- strctch. Greens j moved 011. O'Byrne checkirg. Roche j , h.eaded a god-rush, but Blues staved off I | and- though Greens got. two' mark s, . r ea ; | cleared "slightly. Greehs tried passing, j | but it .was poor, several attaoks fa-ilmg, I ihe forwards. all the timo d.ontroilVg. The S. | spell ended Invercargill " 3," Aihletic ni!. j | Then. followed one cf th6. .mos't- stre.-ruous • j r 45 miuut#i'of football seen here for many | a day. Aihletic clcse lines and I.F.C. ; ! Io.se rushe.;. Green baek.s ^.kieking aird | T'lae backs handling for' tiics, Roche, j Leith, and Timpany, doing yoo.man service | for their side, and . Whittaker, Garret, iF'-aer, Todd, and Miiler, battling "dgainst | the b'g pack. .Coakley did great footj work for his side, _Vial? Cleland, Little, | and Irving, -sirupglecl hard , for sco.res, but I none came. Ti ,\i b'etic ; forwards had riiuch oi the speil on : attack, but their | backs did not look like scoring except Jbe- | fore Cosgrovc hurg on during a hetter i transfer effort. The intense excitement i of the game roused to -enthusiasm su-p-j pcr'.ers, eveiy bit of play i t g puijutrfat.d j with cheers. The game er.dcd with Greens | attackirvg, and the score : Invercargill 3, j Athletic nil. ; — • j This makes eleven games each team has pla.y&d : I.F.C. have 14 points, Star. 13, Athletic 11, Waikiwi 8. The 12th game will decide the premiership. REP. MATCH FIXT'DRES. The dates for the rcpresentative gameis are Ganterbury, Au.gust 11th ; Otago, August 25th; Wairarapa, Beptember 1st (peircilled) ; Wanganui, Septembef 8th; Wehn toi., Septrember ,15th ; South Canterbpry, September 22nd ; and a. return match with Otago,' at Dunedin, on September 25th.