FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3246, 16 June 1911, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

LYSNAR BANNER COMPETITION.

GISBORNE DEFEATS ALHAMBRA

Seldom has there been so much interest centred around a match in the Thursday competition as was the case when Gisborne and Alhambra tried conclusions at the Victoria Domain yesterday' afternoon. As was expected, the game proved to bo fast and at times exciting. victory finally resting with Gisborne by 8 points to 4. The ground was in fairly good order, although in places a trifle slippery, and there was a large attendance of spectators.

GISBORNE (8) v. ALHAMBRA (4).

AN EVENLY CONTESTED GAME

Gisborne won the toss, and Mo ana kicked off for Alhambra against a fairly strong breeze, an interchange of kicks between the backs on either side leaving play at centre. The Gisborne pack indulged in a loose rush, after some fumbling between the Alhambra backs, but Stubbs sent back the invaders with a timely kick. From dangerous looking centre 'kicks Tocker and Nicholls successively took clever marks, and then a misunderstanding between the Alhambra backs let Gisborne down to their 25, where the defenders were penalised. Skillen’s kick at goal fell short. A moment later the Gisborne forwards, headed by Donnelly and Guthrie, crossed Alhambra’s line, but Campbell saved by forcing. After the drop-out Fromm, Nicolas, and Lowe were prominent with good work in the loose, carrying the ball to centre, where Ryland obtained, but foolishly kicked hard, and the ball rolled over the dead ball line. From the resultant drop-out, Skillen put Ms side once more on the attack, but Tocker relieved the pressure, returning to half-way. The Gisborne forwards returned" to the attack, and got past Stubbs, but offside, through oyer-eager-ness, spoiled an almost certain score. Gisborne continued to have slightly the better of the game, but the' backs were not combining well, and a faulty transfer by Pollock to Sullivan lost rather a good chance. For a time, Gisborne kept Alhambra penned in their own territory, and the defenders were penalised for am infringment, Guthrie’s kick falling short. Play was about midfield when the whistle sounded for the end of the first spell'. On changing ends plav was quiet for a time, until 1 a- decision in regard fx> a penalty did not appear to give entire satisfaction. Loose play of a rough and tumble nature followed, and the next thing to be seen was Skillen, the Gisborne captain, walking off the field holding hie hand to his face, evidently having received some injury. He resumed his place in the field, however, a little later. Play, which had been fairly fast, now became even more so, and Alhambra, put in strong claims. With the game in centre, Fromm gave to Tocker, who in turn transferred to Miller, and the latter passed to Somervell. The last named centred with a high kick, and the forwards were down on dark before he could get rid of the ball. Loose play followed, and Nicholls foolishly indulged in a “speculator.” The ball rebounded out to Tocker, who quickly seized the opening and drormed a pretty goal. Spurred bv this reverse Gisborne pressed hard, Fromm, Tocker, and Stubbs being prominent with good defensive work for their opponents. Alhambra 'were penalised twice in rapid succession., and from the second of the resulting kicks Skillen’s attempt at goal just dropped under the posts. S. Roderick failed to. take the ball, and H. Davis, who Followed up fast, secured it and scored under the bar. Skillen had no difficulty in adding the major points, making the scores Gisborne 5, Alhambra 4. On the resumption Gisborne pressed for a time, but their forward rushes were on a couple of occasions stopped by Stubbs, and Alhambra took a turn m attacking. With an almost irresistible rush, in which apparently nearly the whole team joined, they swarmed down on the Gisborne line, only to be sent back by a penalty awarded to Gisborne. Nothing daunted, Alhambra- returned to the attack, by means of a . clever dribbling run by Benjamin, but the ball went out near the Gisborne line, just before the bell rang for the second spell. On resuming, play centred in midfield, Fromm being responsible for good work in finding the line _ with/ timely kicks. Clark put his side on the attack by a splendid line kick fnom his own 25, and for a time Gisborne pressed hotly, but were unable to score, Miller saving well on a couple of occasions. The game was transferred to centre, where Ryland, failing to take a pass from Nicholls, let Somervell kick well down the field, but J. Pollock took cleverly and. returned to the Alhambra 25. Clark saved smartly a moment later" -from a dangerous rush by the Alhambra forwards, and Nicholls also, put in some effective stopping work. Headed' by Leach and: Donnelly the Gisborne forwards returned to the attack, but Stubbs picked up from their toes and got his side- out of a tight corner. Then the Alhambra forwards, with Lowe, Nicolas, and Morse in the van, invaded the Gisborne territory but apparently some minor infringement took place, and they were sent back, a penalty being awarded to Gisborne. The fourth snell was entered into by the Gisborne forwards initiating an attack on the Alhambra line. Snowden, however, kicked too hard and Stubbs w r as enabled, to remove danger bv forcing. Even loose plav followed, and then. Alhambra pressed Gisborne for some considerable time. They were almost over the line when Gisborne obtained relief by means of a penalty. Somervell returned Clark’s kick, finding touch near the corner flag, and loose play followed in the vicinity of the Gisborne 25. A penalty was here awarded to Alhambra, but Miller failed at goal from a comparatively easy position. After further rive and take play in midfield, Ryland got clean away and kicked

high. • In the race for possession he was obstructed, and the resultant penalty kick put Gisborne on the attack. After loose play near Alhambra’s 25, the ball, came out to C. Pollock on the wing, and lie picked up smartly and dashed over at the corner. The members of the Alhambra team then left the field, as tlie bell had been rung and the kick at goal was not taken. " Mr. R. MoWhirter refereed.' the game.

BANKS v. LAV 7

A football match Banks v. Law offices will be played on the Victoria Domain on Coronation Day, and the annual dinner will be held in AVootton’s rooms in the evening. N.Z. UNIVERSITY TOUR. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.! DUNEDIN, June 15. Duthie, of Otago University, is unable to go to Sydney with the ’Varsity touring team. J. Thomson, fiveeighths, will take his place. H. D. Tait. the half-back of Otago University, has been selected, to proceed' to Sydney with the University football team.

N.Z. RUGBY UNION

MEETING AT WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, June 15. A meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union was held to-night. Grants for fostering school football’ were made, to the following unions: —Bush Districts £6, Manawatu £6, Marlborough £B, Nelson £6. South Auckland £9, South Canterbury £lO, Southland £lO, Wanganui £lO, AVairarapa. £lO, Hawke’s Bay £B, Buller £6, West Coast £6.- Bay of Plenty £5. ' An appeal was received from a club in the South' Canterbury Rugby Union against the decision of the local Union by which the Club were ordered to forfeit a match. It appeared there was no ball with which to play the match, and the Union adjudged the local team to have lost the match, the other team being vistiors from 12. miles away. The appellants asked that the game be played again.—Appeal was dismissed.

The Poverty Bay Union wrote that they desired to challenge Auckland for the Ra.nfurly . Shield. The secretary has instructed the Poverty Bay Union to arrange a day with Auckland Union. The. South Auckland Union wrote stating that they had arranged for a challenge match with Auckland about the end. of August. A similar reply was authorised that they must fix a definite date.

Mr W. T. Parata gave further particulars re the proposed tour of the Maori team. He stated that the team was not from the Bay of Plenty district, and the object was not a moneymaking onej but if there was a profit from the tour, the loss incurred by the committee on last year’s Australian tour would be repaid, and if there was still a balance it would ‘be given to charity. A proper statement of accounts would be supplied to the New Zealand Union. Mr Parata added that his team find every member of it had been approached with tempting offers from the League, but the boys had remained loyal amateurs. 'He urged that the tour would assist in retaining the Maoris for the amateur game. It was decided to allow the tour to go on, provided each player obtained permission from his Union to join the team and that a statement of accounts be supplied to the New r Zealand Union, and that any profit should be devoted to such charities as the New- Zealand Union should approve. The Union was not prepared to allow, the losses of the last tour to be recouped out of the profits of this one. An appeal for a remission of "the remaining year of the two years’ disqualification imposed upon the Melrose player, J. Marshall, was forwarded through the Wellington Rugby Union, with a favorable recommendation. The Union decided that Marshall’s disqualification terminate on June 30th. “Is a secretary of a Northern Union League a .professional player?” was a queiy forwarded by the South Auckland Union.

The Union, decided that any person actively promoting the League game was guilty of an act of professionalism, and the query was therefore answered in the affirmative, and the secretary was instructed to ask l for the secretary’s name and all the particulars relating to his case.