FOOTBALL NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 20, 30 July 1920, Page 9

FOOTBALL NOTES.

galbraith shield final. STAR (9) INVERCARGILL (6). (Black and White). (Blue and Black). The teams were— Star : Backs: Lilley, j Sarraclo.igh, Brown, Oughton, Jas., Murray, Agnew, Oughton Jno. Forwards: Smith, Hall, Clarkson Strang, Jenkms, Lilky, G., Leggatt, W. Jenkine. Invercargill — Backs: McKay, Irvmgf FrW S LytUe Vial, Qeland DavMForwards : Rice, P., R ce> O., Todd, Garrett, Fraser, Fougere, Millar and OByrne. The premiers of 1919 led ihe way to No. I area to be greeted with hearty acclamations frora the great crowd. Tlie Blues jollowed receiving a no less geninne welcome, the organised barracking under Messrs J. Doig and J. Martin making the welkin ring and keying up players and spectators to a ver.y high pitch of enthusiasm. It was a pity that these two gentlemen could not have arranged with the clerk of the weather to leave the ground dry, the weather of this water - loving town having been abominabry wet durihg the days preceding this historie game. Star lined bigge'r than Blues, the loss of Whittaker disorganising the latter team's line and scrum work. Garrett was ' loek, the fastest spoiling forward, and only latelyi recovered from a fractured proboscis. Star did as they liked with the parallels, breaking through readily to find a thin line of defence, the centre and second five being out in the field. The Star had gained slightly from the kickoff return, and they smashed the first Blue line like paper. Millar, Fougere, and P. Rice, came back with the ball at toe, but Star punted and charged, Irving relieving because no .one dived at him. Star hegan passing, and Agnew at second five cut in several times. This occurred several times ending at Blues' 25, where Millar and O'Byrne made a great dribble, the Star backs not going down. Another dash by the same two forwards aided by . Garrett saw a free for pulling Brown off the ball, when a penalty must have come r for lying, had they waited. Cleland j made out but Vial did not receive, and n Star ■ came away with clever footwork. Blues' pass failed, did a Star pass shortly afterwards. The Star were getting more 'ball and their back feed was very clean, as was their defence passing, playkrs seeming to be in perfect accord, and displayed a resource and coolness not expected from backs who have not been favouring an attacking game which includecf transferring. Indeed,. had the Star developed a rear-guard action earlier in the season, the province would be now much stronger in its ba-ck game, and would not be on the look-out for repreSentative fives, centres, and wings from other than Wednesday Town players. Star s following up kicks was a treat to see, the broad face of neat blue and white jerseys drew comments from old representative players, the remarks being commendatory in a very great degree. Much dropping- and miss-catching occurred on each side, the rpferee using the advantage rule with admirable discretion, the absence of whistle being noticeable and distinctly tending towards the brightening of the game. There was a great sameness about the play of the first spell, the superiority of the Star being evident on the line, in the scrum, and in getting the ball. The game was keenly fought and clean. The first spell ended with the ball at Star's 25 and no score to either side. It was thought that during the inierval improvements would be made, the crowd was encroaching badly on the northern line and youngsters were standing even on the in-goal area at the west end. The Blue gap in the defence might be rectified etc, but Star seemed to be the only thmking combination. J. Oughton came in to his old place and Murray took the wing-three position. Agnew returned the Blue kick-off to half-way and the Star at once broke the Blue line, dribbled, and set up a passing movement that took them to the corner of Blues' 25, the defenders getting two yards' relief on the first line Star secured and tried the blind side. but yere checked, Agnew again receiving to ' the baJI swaying across to near the *i|Westeru goal where Agnew again secured and bumping his man hard, kicked along the ground to Murray who picked up five yards from the line and pcored with no marae r, five minutes after the opening of Spell two. Star 3, I.F.C. nil. Garrett was bemg missed in the lose and Whittaker on the line and in the scYum ; for a pock is a lock always. Star passing attack contmued, C. Oughton dashing to middle to pass, Brown punting, and Jenkins nearly getting the ball before full McKay forced. Exchanges of kicks, Lilley to McKay was no change in the respective ■position s of the forwards; but Vial made y ,gr6at struggle to get clear of a long ' Lllley "waiting for the bounce of the

five's kick, the ball being driven out near Star's line. The big forwards at once cleared, but were sent back and forced with a stupid lash. Then McKay waited for a hop, but Glelland cleared him to middle where a scrum gave Star a siight gain. Clelland then broke away from a line receipt, and rnnning out fed the centre, who put Irving over at the corner, Millar' s attempt at goal being short. Star '3, I.F.C. 3. Star seemed to be lagging, and opinions were expressed that their condition was telling. However, though the Blue attack continued, defence passing, especially by Agnew and Brown, relieved the tried team several times. The quality of their defence being good, except in ground work, where C. Oughton dived alone. Star at length broke the attack and came through to the full, who got in a kick, Vial bettering on a transfer but failing to pass, evidently being uncertain on his feet. The play moved over middle where a mark by McKay was well oentred from Fraser, Lilley being caaght with the ball, and Todd going over with ifc close in. Millar failed with an easy dry-ground kick. I.F.C. 6, Star 3. Give and take play with mucks was ended by Fraser linning at the press table, and Blues moved towards Star's 25, where Vial made a good run and punt, the return producing a clever defence pass from Irving to McKay, a well spread Star spoiling rush being frustrated. Star passed the table, the ball going across opposite, the crowd receding slightly from the line to allow a scrum. Star came on with two more rushes, Davidson relieving well, his defence attack Being outstanding at this stage of the game. Star secured and passed to Barraclough who was pushed out at the blind corner after a smart run along the line. Vial with two kicks gained twenty yards of relief ; but Star broke back with a dribble which Hall carried on right to five yards from the posts, Fraser coming across to hump and not to collar. The determined light forward Hall recovered himself and dived over at the north post of the west end at 20 minutes to five. Lilley took the ball out too short, and it was touched before it flew over the bar, a piece of very bad luck. Star 6, I.F.C. 6. Two movements saw C. Oughton send the hall out at middle, Star receiving, passing, and kicking, and Barraclough not diving at McKay, who just cleared. A good Star heel was centred my Murray, and a scrum came., though Vial claimed a mark, the referee being well bhjeked from seeing it. The scrum fed Oughton, wlio set Agnew going strongly with plenty of ground to work on, Barraclough receiving in ideal position to score an unmistakable try. Star 9, I.F.C. 6. Again Star moved into Bluas' 25, Clelland clearing. Littleand Fraser, appeared in clearing efforts, but Star again dribbled down to the corner, where they nearly scored. Vial made a great effort to dribble clear ; but, although Lilley speculated, the Blues got just over halfway. Another Blue rush saw Lilley force. The whistle came with Star 9, I.F.C. o.