FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2554, 16 July 1909, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THURSDAY COMPETITION. Tho Thursday championship was continued on tho Domain yesterday afternoon .in, splendid weather. Owing to • recent rains th© ground was muddy in places, but good games were witnessed by a moderate attendance of spectators. •GISBORNE (15) v. ALHAMBRA (0). Alhambra, t-ook the field with only 10 ’men, but despite the'fact that they were only poorly represented, the game was by no means to one-sided as tho scores would indicate. Gisborne assumed the offensive from the start, and early, from play in midfield. Henderson sent out to C. Pollock, who quickly transferred to J. Pollock. The latter, with a splendid swerving run from centre, got clean through tho opposition, and scored a brilliant try. Campbell failed to add the- extra points. .th play in Alhambra territory,' [field and Somervell transferred to 'the Gisborne twenty-five, where J. and C. Pollock saved well. The Gisborne backs were passing fairly well, and the 'forwards rushed the ball to the Alhambra line., where, in quick succession. Campbell, Pollock, Lyons, and Harrison were nearly over. Alhambra wore kept busy defending their lines, but J. Pollock ran in from the twenty-five and scored cleverly. He took the kick himself, but failed. Gisborne led by 6 points in the first spell. Stubbs saved well for Alhambra early in the second spell, but the Gisborne backs were going well, and after a passing bout between Kelly, Pollock, and Ryan, the latter got o-ver far out. Campbell made a splendid attempt at goal, the ball just- falling short. Play continued in Alhambra’s ground, and Campbell picked up cleverly and darted over, but no goal. resulted. A lot of even play followed, and Alhambra made several incursions into the enemy’s territory, but failed to open their scoring account. Several penalties were, awarded to each team, and with play close to the Alhambra line, J. Poflock obtained and, dashing over, scored his third try, which was mnconverted. The whistle sounded for time with .Alhambra pressing, and leaving the scores: Gisborne 15, Alhambra 0. Mr. W. Hay refereed the game. STAR (11) v. CITY (6). Star attacked strongly from the start, and kept City- very busy. Shortly after the start, Hapu obtained from the serum and, after nice pacing between Kaipara and Makaore, L. Wilkinson received and scored at the corner flag. R. Wilkinson failed at goal. ’Star kept up the pressure, the forwards beating their opponents, and the backs passing in excellent fashion. Just inside midway Smith broke through from loose play, and kicking over Luttrell’s head, followed up fast and. scored a well-deserved try. Peru, with a good kick, converted. With a lead of 8 points, Star were playing well, and Tocker and "Witty were responsible for some good, defensive work. Kokiri missed a high kick from the former, and Bright obtained. He ran right to the Star line, where- he was taken by R. Wilkinson, and passed to Grenfell, who .got over. Luttrell failed to convert. Encouraged by their success, City livened up considerably, but Star were uot to be denied, and with the. hall in City twenty-five, Wyllio foolishly kicked across his own goal, enabling R. Wilkinson, to pick up and score. Smith failed to convert. Even play followed until half-time, with no alteration to the scores. On resuming, after the interval, Star pressed hard, but the defence of the City backs was too good. The latter’s forwards rushed the ball right to Star’s line, where Bright, who followed up well, got over. Luttrell failed at goal. Requiring a goal to draw level, City redoubled their efforts, but the Star men rose to the occasion, and a ding-dong battle took place for the closing ten minutes of the game. Each’ side attacked in turn, and the ball travelled over the field very quickly. There was no further scoring, however, although both sides were within an ace of it on several occasions, and tho game finally ended: Star 11, City 6. Mr. H. Carr held the whistle. ALHAMBRA CLUB. The- members, of the Alhambra Football Club were entertained at supper by one of their Vice-Presidents at the Strand Cafe last evening. An excellent supper was provided by Mr. W. H. Douglas. Mr. M. Doyle occupied the chair in the absence of Mr. W. R. Brady, President or the Club. The secretary of the club, Mr. Casley, spoke on. the necessity of unity among club members, and expressed the hope that, if the Alhambra Club did not win the banner this season, they would gain the victory in 1910. Other toasts honored were the VicePresident who provided the supper, Mr. Douglas, and the Press. Suitable responses were made, and all adjourned to the Alhambra Club rooms, where a musical programme was gone through. TO-MORROW’S MATCHES. The . following teams will represent Makauri: J. Lyons, J. Higgins, E. Swainson, W. Wilkinson, W. Butcher. S. White, W. Walker, M. Ryan, W. Campbell, It. Witters, J. Ryan, Wilkinson, and A. McCredic. The team to represent the Defence Cadets against the High School will be selected from the following: Wright, Scott, Sheet, Hansen, F. Lloyd, Neill, Higgins, Walters, J. Lloyd, Peters, Tapapa, Dennett, Scouts, File, Bean, McI>od, and Church. . The team to represent the United Club will be picked from the following: E. Luttrell, Grenfell, Somervell, Smith, Kelly, Witty, A. Luttrell, Bright, Taylor, Ferguson, Brugge, Gatland, Winter, Punka Turei, Nicolas, Malloy, and Pollock. The following teams will represent the. Y.M.C.A Club: —Seniors: Kokiri, Clark, Miller, Campbell, Kaipara, Makaore, Hutton, Pine, Russel], Pewihairangi, Paul, Mead, Ellison, Brownlee, Perry; emergency, Rangi. Juniors: Craill, Arthur, Breingan, Barker, Coleman, Graham, Burnside, A. Hepburn,

Perry, raora,. Porter, ,W; -Hepburn, Brown, Peterson, Muir; emergencies, Gin,.. ’-e v.r.u McGregor. Thirds v. Wuerc: gu u~hika College: team will bo picked from the following: Fromm, Fraser, Broomfield, -McMillan, Redden,’ Mi'U, jrtuiu, O’Meara, Nelson, Wildish,SwevL,, Parson, Stafford, Stevens, M.Uiw, r\gna, Quinn, A. Winter, J. SSI iho v-n.LBd juniors to play against Y.-.-.v.... will be picked from the fol-low-i.g ; -ii.. Newt oil, E. Newton, Brown, ’Do,! n.-uj, Tesdale, Peterson, Davies, CarbetD, Tha-xter, Hill, Morphy, Olsen, V. rsomervell, R. Somervell, Wyllie, At-, kin omy the, Dodds, Cameron, Malone, and Ciar'k. THE AUSTRALIAN GAME. The Australs and Imperials met on the League’s ground yesterday afternoon, when a very interesting and exmciug game- was witnessed. Great improvement was shown by several players, and it would be wise if. the old players would indulge more in combined play, long kicking, and passing, instead of so much ground iplay. The new members acquitted themselves well, and are fast picking up the various points of the game. \Vebs.ier, capta.n of the Australs, won the toss, and elected to kick to the Girey Street goal. - t .j first quarter opened with fast play, neither side gaining much advantage. However, Imperials got witliin striking distance on a couple of occasions, arid notched, two behinds. With the change of ends, the Australs’ ruck put ; in some solid work, and soon after the bounce .rushed the ball into Austral | territory, when Hanson was - successful ; m raising the two flags. Alter the bounce, Imperials attacked, and rusa- ; ed the ball to their end, and managed |to score a minor. After the kick-off, ; hhe ball again travelled towards Ausi trals’ goal, when a free was awarded Ito Shillabear, who made no mistake, and raised both flags. Afteiythe bounce give-and-take play was the order. The timekeeper then announced half-time. The scores were: Imperials 4 behinds,Australs 2 goals. The third quarter was entered into very willingly by both teams, the ball travelling at a rapid pace over the ground. The Imperials added; one goal, by Tennant, and 4 behinds to their score; while Australs responded with one goal (Dalton) and two behinds. Soon after the last quarter was entered, . Imperials notched a behind. From the kick-off Euring marked and passed to Atkinson, who potted a pretty g0a1.... After rhe bounce the (Imperials again rushed the leather into their territory, when smother goal was recorded from the foot of Atkinson. During the remainder of the game the Australs had most of the play, hut only managed to add two behinds to their score, and when time was called the final results were: Imperials, 3 goals 9 behinds (27 .points), Australs 3 goals 4 behinds (22 points). The best players for Imperials were Euring (captain) on the 'nan-back and forward line, who marked and kicked with good judgment; Pollock, on the defensive, proved a knotty problem for his man; H. Wack, following and fullback, was ia. excellent form ; Woodbury is a battler, and would do to a more important team. He is a firstclass follower. Swain, following, played clean, manly football; Jenkins is improving in every match, and deserves the best of praise; Lund, a new man, played in excellent form, and will make a very fast wing player when he knows more x)f tho -game; Atkinson, who is only a hoy, potted two goals for Imporials in succession, and is a very smart and cool player. Australs were, best represented bv Webster, who played in really good form, and he is a first-class half-hack; Burnett, on the forward lines, battled hard; Hanson is to be commended for good, clean .football, and should prove a first-class (player with a little more practice; Tate, who is quite a midget, : and also (unaccustomed to- the game, is fast proving himself a valuable player, and will make a brilliant rover; Carr, following and hack, was in good form, and put in solid work; Shillabeer, F. Wack, and Tennant were also conspicuous at intervals. The players vowed it was the best game of the season. As time goes on more combination is expected in the games, and will do away with so much ground work. Long kicking and passing are special features of the game, and players would do well to pick the ball <up and kick instead of knocking along the ground. It is expected that a first-class eighteen can be got together to meet an Auckland ream (such a visit being proposed), to take place in Gisborne at the latter end of the season.