FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2565, 28 July 1909, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

(Notes by “Full-back.”) In view of tlie proposed tour of the Ppverty Bay Representatives the senior cup matches have been suspended, last Saturday’s game being atrial of strength between town and country teams. Trial games as a rule in past years have resolved themselves more or less into comedy displays, but on Saturday there was a- really ding-dong go, and although'the.town men won by a substantial margin, their country opponents showed decidedly good football, and were unlucky in not registering more points, than they did. Amongst the town players Kaipara stood right in a class by himself, aqd gave one of the best displays he has ever done in the Bay. Hepburn, at full, was fair, although getting little opportunity to distinguish himself. The three-quarters played moderately well. Tocker got through a lot of defensive work, as also did Miller, while Campbell gained a lot of ground repeatedly by good kicking and following up. Witty, who partnered Kaipara at fiveeightlis, suffered somewhat in comparison with his companion, but did useful work at times, julatman, at half, showed improved form,, and got „ the ball well away to his backs. The forwards played a really good game, and it would be hard to individualise any of them. The country backs, although not combining any too well, showed good individual form. Ryan, Te Reinga, Halbert, and Cole were about the best of them, while in the forward division Lyons and Donnelly showed up well. Next Saturday another Town v. Country game will be played, and as the country team are being allowed to select their own fifteen, I anticipate a much better game,, and not improbably a victory for the country. ! Harold Rowe and “Shiny” Trevarthen, the two well-known Auckland members of tho New Zealand professional team, remained bemnd in Sydney, it being their intention to go to the Old Country! where they will sign on with one of the Northern Union clubs. Both Rowe and Trevarthen showed, tiptop form in the recent professional matches in Sydney, and should be a big acquisition to any of "the crack League teams at Home. A sensational incident took place recently during a game of football (says a Dunedin writer). Two of tho players quarrelled, and one of them was stabbed three times in tho back. His assailant then made off. They had a veterans’ match in Timaru the other Saturday. Amongst the players were Tom Lynch, Otago threequarter of the late eighties, and Rue Cooke, the New Zealand 1903 representative forward. * TO-MORROW’S MATCHES. Tho matches to be played at Victoria Domain under the auspices of tho Poverty Bay Rugby Union to-morrow are as follows:—City v. Alhambra, 1.45 p..m; Gisborne v. Star, 3 p.m. Star team against Gisborne will be picked from the following: Kokir 1 , Pera, W. Smith, P. Te Hau, A. P. Ka - para, M. Makaore, F. Haigreaves ; D Burnside, C. Davis, L. Nicolas, J. Beach, T. Bristow, E. Jones, W. Carroll, D. Ferguson, R. Wilkinson, 1Wilkinson, S. Ruru, Mauha.ia, G. Pclloclc, Williams. Gisborne team: H. Kelly, J. Ryan, R. Campbell, W. Neill, J. Pollock, G. Neill, H. Henderson, R. Morse, H. Harrison, J. Lyons, F. Delaney, T. Henderson, Flatman, J. Newton, and W. Brown; emergencies, T. Swain, A. McConnell, R. McKenzio, C. Hepburn, A. Pirie. C. Pollock, and R. Flatman. The Alhambra team will be picked -from the following: Stubbs, Anderson, McLachlan, Oman, Craig, Anderson, Somerville (2), Whitfield, McConnell, A. Newton, Carter, Darville, Gillis, Williams, Casley, Parker Turei, P. Muldoon and Stevens. City team: Lutrell, Huston, Tocker, Wyllie, Witty. Grinlinton, Stagpoole, Roderick, O’Neill, Gatland, Bragge, McKenzie, Grant, and Ferguson. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The Rugby Union matches to bo played on Saturday will be as follows: On Victoria Domain. —Representative practice. Town v. Country, 3 p.m.; Juniors, Kaiti-City v. Y.M.C.A., 3 p.m.; Thirds, Kaiti-City-v. Defence Cadets (No. 4, ground), and Y.M.C.A. v. High School (No. 2 ground) 1.45 p.m. The following will represent the Kaiti-City juniors in their match with Y.M.C.A. on Saturday: Full-back, Stubbs; three-quarters, O’Neill, Oman, Huston; five-eighths, Whitfield, Pollock; half, Stichbury; Hargeaves (wing), Bristow, McKenzie, Whitfield, Jackson, Roclie, From ftp O’Neill; emergencies, Hepburn and Lang. The above-mentioned players are requested t'o meet at the Royal Hotel at 7.30 to-night for practice. KAITI-CITY CLUB. A meeting of the Kaiti-City third fifteen will be held at the Domain at 4.30 this evening, when several matters of importance will be considered. COAST CUP FINAL— I TOLOGA BAY v. TOKOMARU. An ideal football da- graced the final struggle for supremacy between these two teams, Tologa Bay requiring a win or draw to secure the coveted cup, already held by Tokomani for five'years ; and Toko-mam bidding for a win to leave them on the same footing, necessitating a play-off. Mr. W. Hay, of the Poverty Bay f Referees’ Association, controlled the strenuous but clean game that'rosulted. The ground was in perfect condition, as were all arrangements, and the attendance was quite up to expectations, Jolly set the ball in motion for Tologa against the sun, there being practically no wind. Tokomaru returned smartly, and for some time play was confined to neutral territory. A smart

dribbling rush by Tologa forwards nearly resulted in a score, and Gerrard (Tokomaru) punted nicely from the resulting five yards scrum.. From a penalty to Tologa, Tait essayed, without success, a difficult "kick at goal. Tokomaru retaliated by carrying play to their opponents’ twenty-five, but were gradually brought back over the halfway, where Tait had another * shot at goal from a mark, and Tokomaru forced. Shortly after tho drop out, the ball from a loose rush was lacked across Tokomaru’s line, and their backs failino- to force, Brown, who had smartly followed up, fell on the ball and scored a try, amid much jubilation. Tait again failed with the kick. I* rom thence to half-time play was of a give and take character, and “spell-oh” was blown with Tologa 3 points m the lead. On’ resuming, it ivas seen that both teams were very much in earnest about the matter, and stubborn defensive tactics on both sides kept the play about tho midway line for some time, when from a mark, Aorcre planted a fine goal from close to the half-way line. Tokomaru 3, Tologa 3. Excitement at this stage naturally ran high among the spectators. In reply to the goal, lologa forwards got in a rush, and a free kick against them only prevented a score, and brought play up to half-way, where a lot of scrums and line play were indulged in. Callaghan, at wing, then put in an appearance, making for Tokomaru’s corner flag, but not being able to field cleanly, knocked on, and a scrum close in the corner resulted, and from then play continued till the end with Tokomaru defending, the noside whistle sounding amid somersaults, cartwheels, and a flight of hats a drawn game. This makes three drawn games between these’ teams in two seasons, one draw being played .five weeks ago in Tokomaru, with no score on either side. It would not be fair to comment on individual play, ,as there was not one man in either team who was not putting in his last ounce, and deadly tackling prevented either side’s backs getting any dangerous work in., THE ASSOCIATION GAME. The first gamo under tho British Football Association rules was played o-n Saturday last .at Nelson Bros, works. The Taruheru team is composed of the works’ employees, and the Rangers are drawn from various parts of the district. If one can take this match as a criterion, the outlook for the Association game is decidedly promising, and when the men have had the experiences of a match or two, and found their form, some close contests should be the result. The two teams on Saturday are to be complimented, for the game they played, which was contested in the" best of spirit, and free from fouls. As regards the match itself, there could be no question that the best team won, and on the general run of the play, there was a bigger margin than is indicated by the score. Right from the kick-off the homo forwards took the .game in hand, and gave the Rangers’ defence a lively 40 minutes. They did everything but score goals, and for this they have to thank their bad shooting. If this bad had the direction and force necessary, they would have led by more than the two goals at the interval. The second half was much more even, as the Rangers had the advantage of the slope, and they also plaj'ed with a little better understanding, so much so, that they scored twice, as did the home side, leaving the result as stated. For the first attempt the game was decidedly satisfactory, and the Tarulieru team showed signs of developing into a firstclass side. The forwards, ably led by Micliie and Sharpies, played with great dash, and also with combination. The ball was kept low, and passed and repassed with-accuracy, the only fault being poor shooting: Once this is remedied, they are a quintette who will score a lot of goals. The half-backs and backs, too, played well (the veteran Whitely being as nimble as a youth), but they were not too heavily pressed, and the goalkeeper was almost a spectator. The Rangers, of course, suffered by comparison, and also having to play two substitutes, which greatly weakened the forward line. They, did not get going in order at all, their efforts mainly being individual attempts, which, however creditable they be, cannot be compared to combined attacking movements. Tho defence was the strongest portion of the team, Young and Whyte being the shining Ights. Young, at centre half, was the best man on the field, getting through an enormous amount of work, with Whyte running him a good second. The remainder of the team suffered from lack of experience or wore not properly fit, but they have no need to be discouraged, as the freezing works boys are decidedly good. Among the two teams there were some players jvlio were making their first appearance m an Association game, and they all exceeded expectations. Once convei;sant with the rules, especially the offside rule, I do not see why some firstclass players should not be turned out, from' what is at present raw material. A word of praise is due to the Taruheru committee for the splendid condition in which they had their ground, as it was all that could be desired.