FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2509, 24 May 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. The Saturday competition matches were continued at the .Domain on Saturday afternoon, in dull and threatening weather. The. ground was in excellent order, and a fast and interesting game resulted in the senior match. KAITI-CITY (16) v. UNITED (8). United won the toss and defended the western goal. United had the best of the opening exchanges and play -settled in midfield. City attacked with a loose forward rush, but Bright saved well on the line. The United forwards brought relief by rushing the ball to theii r 25, but with a passing run the City backs again returned to the attack, where Bright again saved by marking from a line out. Kaiti-City wore awarded a penalty in midfield for an infringement, and Puflett landed a beautiful goal from just inside half-way. United, from the kick off, forced matters and play was on City’s line jror a time. By dint of hard showing" the City forwards forced them back to the 25,"where loose scrummaging work took place. United were again penalised for offside, and Puflett gained a lot of ground with a nice line kick. City were penalised in the United twentyfive and the hall was rushed to centre, where, after a few moments play, Puflett had a resultless shot at goal from a penalty. United wore awarded a penalty for a City man lifting his foot in the scrum, and a dribbling run by the forwards headed by Nicolas and Scott nearly resulted m a score, and City for a moment pressed hard, Puflett having an unsuccessful attempt to drop a goal. Loose play followed, each side obtaining several marks. Puflett was makincr. a lot of ground with his line k'-ckin?. and Stagpoole was prominent with good dribbling work on the line. Somervell, for United, was also kicking well, and the- City forwards fi-ero repeatedly penalised for off-side p’av The game was very fast and even, but play was chiefly confined to the forwards, and was of a very scrambliner nature, little good football being shown. City attacked by means of a nice passing run between Rove, Pu - lett. and Hart, hut the United forwards headed by Gatland, Delaney and Prague, broke away half the length of the .field, where they were sent back by a good return from Huston. City had United defending hard prior t° the interval, and from a forward rush home cr 0 t over, but Puflett failed at goal. From the kick out United again force matters, Grenfell being prominent with an individual run down the line. 3 returned to the attack and, headed b> Stao-poolc and Scott, the forwards were nearly over, when the interval whistle brought relief to the sorely tried greens. After the interval City forced fiom a kick-off that rolled over the line, but City once again, assumed the offensive. United, however, obtained three pena - ties in rapid succession for off-side pla> rafti"- .part of the City forwards, and Hart was penalised for . obstruction. 'The same was a succession of -oose iSu-fanl free kicks, and Wiffi playing hard to register a score. Ihcu efforts at the time were unavailing, end a rush of the City forwards, heaued by Sertt transferred play to die United territory where United were r.warned rtffl another penalty The tinned to-be last, and ' nnicky from one end of the held to trie other After a series of toie-outs and loner kicks, play settled in to United holding their more weight's opponent All in check. Atom the. United forwards resi-tedm the 'hall being kicked over the. hue, ancl Flatman lust heat Smith for ijossession and forced. From the kick out United camo hack to the attack, and a fast dribbling run by Gatlaml and Newton looked like a certain seme. Huston, the full-back, who was endeavoring do save, obstructed rather bad.y, and the referee awarded a try to Unit ed. LuttreH’s kick at goal missed narrowly. Excitement now ran high, and United pressed very hard to equalise matters. They were, awarded a .pen.ilt.y near the twenty-five, and- Luttrol! just failed to ‘-ml tin; hall ever the posts. |P ; ,-1 7,’av in eejitre followed, -nd Grenl- i: and Alaioy saved what looked

like a certain score from a rush of the City forwards. A meteoric rush of the whole United carried the. ball nearly all the length of the field and Huston, missing a high kick, the United forwards bore down on firm and over the line, Winter scoring amidst applause. LuttreJl added the extra points, giving his side the 1 lead. The result of this reverse seemed to put City on their mettle and they attacked hotly. Eventually, after a series of scrums, the hall came out to the backs, and after a short passing bout Puflett got over, but failed to kick a goal. With a lead of one point in City’s favor, they continued to attack, and kept United in their own territory, defending hard. Rowe obtained from some loose play inside the twenty-five, and with a beautiful drop kick sent the leather sailing high over the posts, giving his side a lead of 5 points. < United took a turn in attacking, but when looking like scoring, were penalised for offside. A scrum was formed just on the City line, but the forwards broke away and gave relief. Their turn to press came next, and they were penalised for off-side, right on United’s line. This only brought temporary relief, as they returned to the attack and Lowe scored just on call of time. Tocker’s kick narrowly missed the • uprights, and the whistle sounded, leaving the scores Kaiti-City 16, United 8. Mr W. Howard was the referee, and controlled the game in a most able manner.

JUNIOR MATCHES. Two junior matches were played on No. 2 ground, the first being between Y.M.C.A. and Kaiti-City third fifteens. The game resulted in an easy win for the former by 20 points to nil. scores being obtained bv Brown (2), Fromm, Wildish, Reddell., and Mill. The Y.M.C.A. team was a great deal heavier than their opponents, in whose ranks were some very light players. Mr Harold Carr was referee. The junior game between the second fifteens of the Y.M.C.A. and United wag s- lnost keenly contested game, and resulted in a scoreless draw. Y.M.C.A. had slightly the best of the play, but were unable to .penetrate their opjionents’ defence. Mr. L. F. Williams controlled the game. AUCKLAND MATCHES. [Pun Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 22. The third round of the Auckland Rugby Union’s district championships was played to-day in showery weather and on sodden grounds. In the senior grade City beat Parnell by 14 points to 3i; Ponsonby beat Newton by 31 points to 3; and Grafton beat North Shore by 6 points to nil. WELLINGTON MATCHES. WELLINGTON, May 23. The senior Rugby matches yesterday resulted as follows:—Poneke heat Melrose, 17 to nil; Oriental beat Wellington, 25 to 6; Petone beat Victoria College, 45 to 3; St. James’ beat Southern. 8 to nil. The following Rugby team has been selected to represent Wellington against Wanganui, at Wellington, on June. 3rd: Iriill-back, James Ryan; three-quarters, Evenson, F. Mitcliinson, Matlieson; five-eighths, Walsh and Flanagan; half, F. Roberts; forwards, Tresize, Houlihan, A. C. Wilson, “Rangi” Wilson, Bruce, Shadbolt, McKellar, Con Sullivan. CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES. CHRISTCHURCH, May 22. The secondary schools tournament for the Devenish Shield commenced at Lancaster Park this afternoon, when Christchurch Old Boys met AA ellington College Old Boys. The game ended: Christchurch 11, Wellington 6. The following are the results of the senior matches: —Albion 6 beat Linwood nil; Christchurch 11 heat Canterbury College 3; Merivale 6 beat Syd-. enliam nil; Old Boys a bye. DUNEDIN MATCHES. DUNEDIN, May 22. The following are the results. of the senior matches" played to-day, in fine weather: —Port Chalmers 12 points beat University 3; Southern 32 boat Pirates nil; Alhambra 6 boat Dunedin nil; Zingari 14 heat Kaikorai nil: Taieri Rovers 3 and Union 3, a draw.