FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3218, 15 May 1911, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY CAME.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

The second day’s play. of the first round of the championship matches took place at the Victoria Domain on Saturday, when Y.M.C.A. defeated United by 8 points to 3, and Y.M.P. won their match against Kaiti-City by a similar margin. There was a good attendance of spectators, and both fixtures provided some interesting play. Y.M.C.A. (8) v. UNITED (3). This was a very strenuous game. Y.M.C.A. appeared to have more combination among their backs than United, while the forwards were fairly evenly matched. Soon after the kick-off the game was taken to United’s 23, where it remained for some time, and later H. Murray saved by forcing. From a line out Campbell took a mark, and Miller had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Y.M.C.A. by good forward play had their opponents in trouble, but Pollock obtained possession, and centred by a nice kick. Play was again taken up to United’s quarter, where Miller made a futile attempt to pot. Y.M.C.A. then got on a loose rush, which looked dangerous till Pollock kicked out. United by open play then invaded Y.M.C.A.’s territory, where Pollock obtained the ball and passed to Murray, and the latter was just stopped from crossing the line. Pollock was nearly over in the next few minutes, and from a melee Campbell got the ball and centred. United again forced their opponents back to their own 25, where a good passing rush was spoilt by a - knock-on, Francis getting in and centreing. Craill however obtained the ball and found the line well in Y.M.C.A.’s 25, but from the line out the game was centred by good forward work on the part of Y.M.C.A. United were then placed on the defensive, and Miller rabbited over, but the referee ordered a. scrum out, and later hard kicking allowed United to force. Half-time was then called. On resuming the ball was taken down to United’s 25, where Craill relieved pressure by a good kick, and play was returned to the centre. From a loose rush Capstick obtained the ball, but was collared by Pollock. Cramp, however, got possession, but was pushed out when nearing the line. The game was then returned to the centre, where after loose play McColl gathered up the ball and sent it to McCoy, who transferred to Woods, and the latter scored. Miller converted. The scene of operation was then shifted to Y.M.C.A.’s 25, where from a line-out Morse got the ball and scored. Pollock failed to convert. From a scrum United were awarded a free kick, and Pollock had an unsuccessful shot at goal. A passing rush between Te Hau and Miller took the game to United’s territory, where Bradley obtained the ball, and a fine passing rush between, himself. Campbell,- and Miller resulted in the last-named- scoring. Miller was unsuccessful with the kick. The game was then taken to Y.M.C.A.’s 25, where during the last few minutes United made strenuous endeavors _ to score, but Y.M.C.A. managed to withstand the attack till time was called.

Mr. L. F. Williams was an efficient referee.

Y.M.P. (8) V. KAITI CITY (3)

The match between Y.M.P. ana Ivaiti-City was controlled by Mr. 0 .It. Olsen to "the entire satisfaction of both players and spectators. Y.M.P. won the" toss- and * played! with the sun at tlieir backs. Loose scrumming characterised the early stages of the game until Rice secured' a mark for Kaiti - City. The kick was recalled, however, on account of a man being in front, and from the scrum which followed, Karo took the leather across field and found the line near half way.. From the line Tamati took the ball into City’s 25, where he was collared, a scrum resulting from which Y.M.P. took the ball to the other side of the field, where it was kicked out. Following the line out Y.M.P. were awarded a free kick, but them very little as the Ivaiti-City forwards secured the ball and made a spirited 1 rush taking it into Y.M.P. s 25 Another forward rush transferred die ball to the line in dangerous proximity to Y.M.P.’s goal line, but Tamati securing it from the line out, made a good run across) field to the half-way peg. Huston soon afterwards secured a mark and again sent the hall into Y.M.P.’s territory, where the City forwards nressed hard' and' made -a fair stretch" of ground', but Kaipara saved the situation for Y.M.P. with a well directed' line kick. A kick across field resulted in Tamati securing the ball, and after a splendid 1 run he was brought •down inside City’s 25. .Shortly afterwards Y.M.P. were awarded a penalty and Wi Luke kicked an easy, goal, making the score Y.M.P. 3. Kaiti-City nil. Immediately after this. Kaiti City made a determined effort which was rewarded by Skillen scoring near the posts. The try was not converted and the score •stood Y.M.P. 3, Kaiti City 3. From this time until resuming play after halftime Kaiti City were hampered by the loss of Rice, who fell .heavily on his back and had to be carried off.

In. the second spell Y.M.P. assumed The aggressive from the commencement, and Kaipara securing the ball near City’s 25 line, easily outdistanced! his opponents and scored between the posts. Kokiri converted, and the score then read: Y.M.P. 8, Ivaiti-City 3. After the kick-off play centred again in Kaiti-City’s 25, Y.M.P., from a free kick, sending the ball close to City’s goal. . The ball went out from the scrum which resulted, and a line out followed. Tamati secured the leather and made a good run, but was brought to earth, near the- goal line. Play then centred in Y.M.P.’s territory for the space of a few minutes. Some long kicks were exchanged, and the City forwards made strong and determined attack, but! were brought up just in time by Kaipara, who saved prettily with a line kick. Following this City made another rush and this time crossed the line, but Y.M.P. forced just in time. A fine dribbling run by Nicolas

and Deanv once more transferred the scene of operations to Y.M.P.’s 25, but Kara relieved ..the situation with a. line kick., From the line out. the ball was passed to Kaipara, who with Taniati and others', made an exciting passing run which was checked 1 by City’s fullback with a strong line kick. The ball w r as their taken very near to Y.M.P. V goal 'line, where, after a succession of scrums Skillen secured ,it and centred. JHis side pressed hard' and in a loose rush Deans was knocked out. He was removed on a stretcher and play resumed, a scrum heing formed on the line. Kaiti-City three times sent the leather. across_the goal line, but it was twice forced and the third time kicked into the dead ball area. Soon afterwards Y.M.P. by a smart run took the sphere into City’s territory, where it was kicked out and the whistle sounded the call of time, leaving Y.M.P. the victors. JUNIOR CUP COMPETITION. - GARRISON" (20) V. UNITED (0). Garrison defeated United at the Victoria Domain on Saturday by 20 points to nil. Quinn (2), Wildish, Mclntyre, and Somervell scored tries, one of which Somervell converted. Wildish kicked a penalty goal. Y.M.C.A. (5) v. KAITI-CITY (3). A close game was witnessed between these two teams, and although at times some good play broke the monotony, the majority of each spell was taken up with some very poor exhibitions. The closeness of the game, however, should be a sufficient prediction that, as the season xjrogresses, and these teams acquire more combination, some liardfought contests should be expected. The match resulted in a win for Y.M.C.A. by five points to three. From a passing rush in the first spell Winter scored for Kaiti-City. Stubbs’ kick at goal failed by a narrow margin. There was no further score until a few minutes before the call of time, when from a dribbling rush by the Y.M.C.A. forwards Muir scored near the posts. Fraser, with a neat kick, converted, and a minute afterwards the game ended, leaving Y.M.C.A. victorious. Air. A. AVallace was the referee. THE GISBORNE CLUB. The Gisborne Football Club will hold a harrier run to-night at 8 o’clock. If the weather is unfavorable, the members will meet in the training ball. THE GAAIE IN AUCKLAND. [PEB FBESS ASSOCIATION.! AUCKLAND, May 13. The rugby football season opened here to-day in fine weather. In the senior grade -matches a surprise was effected by University, who defeated Ponsonby (the champion’s) by 10 points to 9. For the winners, tries were scored by Wilkes and Wilson, Schofield converting both of them. O’Leary, J. Clark, and Webb scored for Ponsonby. Grafton and Parnell played a. drawn game of 9 points each. AYolfgramm scored three tries for Grafton, and Hardwick© kicked three penalty goals for Parnell. City defeated Newton by 2S points to nil..:. ; U..-;.:-:;-THE CANTERBURY COMPETITION. CHRISTCHURCH, May 13. The Canterbury Rugby Union’s competitions were advanced another stage this afternoon, the only drawback being a cold, easterly wind that was bloving. There was good attendance at Lancaster Park, the gate takings amounting to £4O 3s 6d. The principal attraction was the game between Albion and Old Boys, in which the last mentioned, after being four points to the bad until -right on the call of time, made a brilliant final effort and won by 11 points to 10. 'On the west ground Lin wood, led against Merivale, with but- a few minutes to go, when a potted goal gave Alerivale a win by 10 points to 7. On the south ground, Sydenham beat Canterbury College by 16 points to 3, whilst at the show' grounds, Christchurch defeated' Alarist Old Boys’ by 18 points to nil.

DUNEDIN MATCHES. DUNEDIN, May 13. The first round of tlie football matches was continued to-day in splendid weather, Avith the following results: University ;(8 points), beat Alhambra —last year’s premier (6 points); Southern (13 points), beat Zingari, Richmond i(3 points); Port Chalmers (10 points), beat Dunedin (3 points) ; Pirates (19 points), beat Union (6 points); Kaikorai (6 points), beat Taieri Rovers (3 points). A PLAYER INJURED. WELLINGTON, May 14. Tlios. Crawford, Avhile playing for St. John’s against Athletics yesterday, broke his left leg below the knee. HOSPITAL BENEFIT MATCH. DUNEDIN, May 14. A football match betAveen University and Alhambra yesterday yielded £ll2 net, which sum has been given by the Rugby Union as a donation to the fund in aid of the Avomen’s Avard at the hospital.