FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2501, 14 May 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TH URSDAY COM PETITION

The Thursday championship matches were resumed at \ ictoria Domain yesterday afternoon. The weather was fine, ’but the ground, in consequence of th rain that fell on Wednesday, was rather muddy in places, making the ball greasy aud difficult to hold GISBORNE 8, v. STAR 3. This game commenced twenty-live minutes after the advertised time and, as a consequence, the closing stages of darkness. Very oven play followed to following game were played in semiafter the kick-off. Gisborne, if anything, holding slightly the upper hand. Each side pressed in turn, and the backs of both teams indulged in some good passing bouts, butt good defence prevented any scores being registered. Gisborne attacked strongly towards the close of the first spell, and scrum after scrum took place in the Star 25. Irom one of these J. Newton obtained possession, and, forcing his way across the line, scored close to tho posts. Scott added the additional point with a good kick, and the.whistle sounded for the interval shortly afterwards. On the resumption of play Star played hard to open their scoring account, and the backs, passing well, -were nearly over on several occasions. A loose combined rush of the Star forwards nearly resulted in a score, and a- moment later Gisborne were penalised m their own twenty-live, but Petihana missed in his attempt at goal. Gisborne now took a turn in attacking, but the Star forwards broke away, and after a loose rush nearly the whole length of the field, the ball travelled out to the wing, where Malware picked up and scored hear the corner nag. Wi'kinson’s kick at goal was a splendid attempt, just missing the posts. Irom the resulting twenty-live yards luck, Gisborne speedily transferred, play to their ' opponents’ territory. Close scrimmaging Work, took place outside Star’s line, and Henderson securing, nipped over'tho line far out. Scott failed in his attempt at goal. Soon afterwards the whistle sounded, halving Gisborne the winners of a hardly-contes-ted game. Air. A. Pritchard was ieler.ee. CITY (12) v. ALHAMBRA (6). 'l'liis was a game of a very soruinlv.injf nature, very little good football being 1 shown on either side. City had- the best of the game all through, but Alhambra exhibited greatly- improved form on their last Thursday’s display. itli a strong lead, and holding their opponents safely, City -did not work tremendously hard in the second spell, and the last period of the game, which was- .played almost in darkness, was more or lose in tho nature' of a farce. The final result was in favor of City 'by 1 2 points to 6. Tries were obtained by YYvtlie,' McKenzie (2), and Puffett; while Alhambra secured two well-deser-

vod tries from forward rushes. The game was controlled by Mr. M. Osborne.

TO-MORROW’S MATCHES

Tho following will represent tho United Football Club to-morrow: E. Luttrell, Grenfell, Smith, Malloy, C. Somervell, Witty, A. Luttroli (captain!, •Bright, Parker Turei, 0. Delaney, Gat.and, J. Braggo, C. Winter, J. Newton, 0. Taylor; emergency, J. •Weston.

Tho following teams will represent the Y.M.C.A. in tho matches to-mor-row :

Seniors:, Full-back, Rangi; . threequarters, Miller, Campbell, Neill; liveeighths, Ivaipara and Clark; half, Patihana; forwards, Pine, Pewhairangi, Russell, Ellison, Paul, Brownlee, Perry, Coleman. Juniors: Fullback, Craill; threequarters, Makaoro, Arthur, Barker; five-eighths, G. Fromm arid Graham; half, Hutton; forwards, Chirnside, Stevens, Everiss, Perry, Saunders, Muir, Hepburn, Paora; emergencies, McGregor (forward), Aitken, Robinsdfi (backs). Thirds: Full-back, Barlow; threequarters, Reddeil, O’Meara, Mill; fiveeigbtlis, Fraser and McMillan; half, Bloomfield; Quinn, Moore, Wildish, Parsons, Ngira, _ Stafford, Fyson, L. Stevens; emergencies, Sweet, Winter, Evernden, J. Kennedy.