FOOTBALL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2597, 3 September 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL

THURSDAY COMPETITION. • The Thursday championship matches were continued at the Victoria Domain yesterday afternoon. The ground was a little slippery after the morning’s rain, and a strong wind was blowing across the ground. There was only a very small attendance of spectator*. GISBORNE 12 v. STAR 0. Gisbonie were strongly represented, but Star took the field with, ten men;, several of the best players being absent. With plav in Star’s 25, Campbell had a resultless attempt at. goal from a penalty, and a moment later Kokin missed a similar attempt in the Gisborne 25. Star were playing up manfully, but by good passing amongst the Gisborne backs, play was transferred to the Star territory, where after numerous attempts Gisborne scored. J. Newton failed at goal. Keeping up the pressure Gisborne were only kept out by good defensive work on the part of Hargreaves, Makaore, and Rewai, but eventually from a line-out inside Star’s 25, Seymour dribbled over (the line and scored at rather easy try. W. Noil, made an excellent, though unsuccessful attempt at goal. " Although severely handicapped, Star were putting up a good fight, and even play in midfield resulted for some time. Campbell put his side oil the attack with n fine line kick, but the ball went into touch in goal a moment later, thus saving Star’s line. The interval was called after further loose play in midfield, each side being awarded penalties m succession. , , . . ' , From the kick-out Makaore made a good run along the line, but failed to pass at the crtical moment. Play was in Gisborne’s 25 for a time, but a penaltv brought them relief. At centre Bristow, Davis, and Ferguson broke away with a good run to inside the Gisborne 25, and the latter were, compelled to act on the defensive, and eventually forced just in time avert a score by the Star forwards, after clever work by Makaore. With the wind in their favor the strong Gisborne team were making a very poor showing, and Wilkinson again put then on the defensive by a good line kick. halfway Gisborne were penalised, and play settled in.their 25. A rush of their forwards, Leaded by Lyons. Delaney, and Seymour, carried the ball to close to Star’s line, where, after a scrum. Pollock obtained, and gave to Campbell, who got over. Swain’s kick at goal just went below the bar. At this stage of the game Kaipara, who had been amongst the spectators, came on the field. Star kept rip the pressure, but Pollock relieved with a good run, and Gisborne were awarded a penalty m mid-field; and loose passing by the Star hacks enabled them to get down to Star’s line where Pollock was well taken by Bristow when nearlv over. Hargreaves relieved to the 25. Here a lot of loose kicking and scrambling took place, and from a nice, run of the Gisborne backs Gillies got over the line at the far corner, but could not stop himself before rea,clung the hedge. From the 25 Star forced play, to centre, but Lyons, Delaney, Harrison, and Newton rushed the ball to Star’s 25, where Hepburn sent out.- Gisborne were now playing better, but the defence of the Star men was too good. A loose rush of the Gisborne team caned the ball over the line, and Swain fell on it behind the posts. He failed, very badly, to add the major points, from a ridiculously easy position. The whistle sounded soon afterwards, leaving v*is- , borne winners by 12 points to nil. Mr A. Pritchard was the referee. CITY 19 v. ALHAMBRA 3. Alhambra were only - poorly represented, while City had a fairly strong team. Play was in centre for a time alter the start. Alhambra were penalised close to the centre line, and Puflett, with a splendid kick, struck the cross-bar. Alhambra, aided by O’Neil, transferred play to City’s line, where Tocker saved in the nick of time, City returned to the attack, and after a loose scrambling run in which backs and forwrds joined, Grenfell scored under the posts. Puflett failed badly at goal. City continued to press, and were nearly over, but Stubbs relieved well on a couple of occasions with good line kicks to centre. A heavy squall accompanied by driving rain, came tip at this stage, and play, if possible, became uninteresting, being of a very scrambling nature.. A rush of the Citv forwards, headed by Gatland, carried the ball to the Alhambra line, where, after loose work, Witty secured and ran over far out. 1 uflett failed at goal. City continued to hold the upper hand, but Stubbs saved them well on one or two occasions, and Bowman, failing to hold the ball, the Alhambra backs rushed to half-way. Here a lot of line-out play took place, ancl Alhambra forced their way into the City 25-, only to be sent back by a good line kick. 'City attacked strongly just before the, interval- and kept_Alhambrh fiSisy defending tlieir line:. ’Just before tile whistle blew Stair Coleman obtained and forced his way between the;Tests, but Bowman missed ii very easy kick. Tocker and Bowman were each conspicuous with individual runs shortly after the resumption of play, but the latter failing to pass lost a certain try The City backs were passing fairly well, but Stubbs was repeatedly the saviour of his side by good tackling and kicking. Newton headed a rush of the Alhambra forward division to City s 25, and from a centre kick Huston was compelled to force to avert a score. Alhambra now livened up, and kept City hard on the defensive. From a scrum in the City 25, Anderson obtained, and after a clever run, scored close to the posts. He missed an easy kick himself in an attempt to add the extra points. From the kiefeout, City quickly assumed the offensive, and Bowman and Witty were both nearly in on different occasions. Alhambra forced, but play remained in their territory from the kick-out, and after a passing run Grenfell got over. Fitzgerald failed at goal. McLachlan broke on the resumption of play, and with a good kick sent the ball to the City 25, where Bowman brought relief by a tricky, run and kick to Stubbs, who, however, was very safe, and returned woli into touch at the City 25. A mark by Bowman relieved City, and his kick, found the line in Alhambra territory, where several forward passes lost City good chances of. scoring. Scrum after ’scrum was formed in Alhambra’s'line, but of, the ball by the City' backs loßteseveral sure tries.' A penalty brought- relief

r •■■ ’ vT ;■ to Alhambra,, and Anderson broke clean aivay, and accompanied by Carter and ‘McLachlan raced for City’s line. A bad case of obstruction by . Witty should most certainly have penalised by a try, but the referee gave p, penalty kick insi>ead, and McLachlan’s attempt av goal failed. From the kick-out Cuy forced matters, and Witty' dribbled over the line. O’Neill missed an easy chance of forcing, allowing Witty to score an easy try. City kept up the pressure, and just before the call of time Tocker got a nice opening, and dropped a pretty goal. The game thou ended, leaving the.scores City 19, Alhambra 3. , Mr C. Somervell refereed.

TO-MORROW’S MATCHES. The following will represent Makauri in their match with Kaiti-City to-mor-row: J. Campbell, J. Ryan, R. Witters, G. Campbell, C. Hyland, S.White, O. Cole, W. Butcher,- J. Lyons, E. Swainson, F. Swainson, J. Higgins, L. Walker, W. Pardee and W. Wilkinson; emergencies, E. Hansen, A. Lange, and A. McCreedy. Considerable interest is being taken in the match, as the competing clubs are the winners of the country and town competitions respectively. The team to represent Y.M.C.A. juniors in their match with Kaiti-City to-morrow is as follows: —T. Craill, H. Hepburn, E. Breingan, J. Olsen, P. Rewai, W. E. Brown, D. Burnside, F. Athur, C. Perry, H. Paora, W. Porter, H. Muir, F. Everissj S. Coleman, W. Hepburn; emergencies, Barker and A. Hepburn. The following team will represent Y.M.C-A. thirds in the challenge match with tlie Makauri third fifteen at the Domain to-morrow: Parsons, Winter, Nolan, Sweet, Mill, Fraser, Bloomfield, O’Meara, Ngira, Nelson, Winter, Wildish, Moore, Richardson, Quinn; emergencies, Richmond, Reddell, O’Meara. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. In the League match Rangers v. Taruheru to-morrow, the following will represent Taruheru : Matliieson, Coombes, Whiteley, Statham, Oates, Lasker, Minnis, Sharpies, Kelley, Mickie, Reid; reserves, Jennings, Taylor, Barnwell. THE AUSTRALIAN GAME.

Tho tenth match of the season took place yesterday afternoon, when Imperails met Rovers, and after a hardfought game, were successful in dfeating them by 4 points. The game was not up to the standard, owing to the boisterous weather, the ball being very greasy, and was hard to mark and pass with. Both teams lined up short, and this also accounted for the poor display. However, there were some good displays given at times by individuals on both sides, and running with the ball was much in evidence. When the whistle sounded time, the final scores were: Imperials 11 goals 11 behinds (77 points), Rovers 11 goals 7 behinds (73 points). Best players for Imperials were: Woodbury, Hogan, T. Atkinson, and Cooper ; while Rovers were best represented by Dixon, Tate, Brown, and Jones. Mr. Pope acted as central umpire.

MEMBERS OF THE WALLABIES

SUSPENDED

United Press Association —CorYiuoin

SYDNEY, Sept. 2. The general committee of the Metropolitan Rugby Union considered tlie disaffection amongst the Wallabies, and decided, after examining several witnesses, to suspend the following players:! Barrett, A. Burge, P. 'Burge, Craig, Hickey, Mandible, McCabe, McKnight, McCue, Russell, Farnsworth, and Jubb. Evidence was given that offers of £SO and £IOO were made l to the Wallabies to play a series of matches against the Kangaroos.

ENGLISH FOOTBALL DISPUTE

LONDON, Sept. 2

A truce has been declared in the football dispute. Pending further negotiations, the Association has removed the suspensions, and to-day’s match is being played.