FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3277, 24 July 1911, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. C HAMPIONSHIP MATCi.II>'. The weather was very wet on Frljjtdiv when the local fixtures were continued. There was a fair- attendance of the public, but the grounds were in a; very muddy state. United had the better) of the game against Y.M.U.A., and: eventually won by 15 Points to nil. Kaiti-City easily defeated Y.M.P. by 28 points to nil. UNITED 15 V. Y.M.C.A. NIL. an easTVictory. United defeated Y.M.C.A. by 15 points to nil. The latter fairly held their own during the first spell, but in the second half they fell away and United scored five tries. ’ Shortly after the game started, Y.M.C.A. took play to their opponents territory where United were penalised and Miller had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Murray later got the ball, and by a good run and kick allowed his team to enter their opponents twen-ty-five and later Y.M.C.A. were compelled to force. Murray, Luttrell, and Nicholls, by good play again had Y.M.C.A. defending, but the ball was kicked over the dead ball line. United continued to attack, but good forward work brought the game to centre, and gradually Y.M.C.A. worked their way into United’s twenty-five, hut a mark hv Murray relieved, and after pl&y the centre Y.M.C.A. were again forced to defend. Murray again obtained possession, and was. nearly over. After a scrum near the line the ball was kicked into touch-in-goal. From a passin" rush between Cole, Nicholls, and Murray, and a kick by the last named, the game settled in Y.M.C.A..’ s twentyfive, but later the ball was kicked over the line and a force resulted. A passing rush was initiated by Murray, but the ball was thrown forward and a scrum followed. Loose play ensued, from which Nicholls got.the ball, and a passing rush between him, Murray and Morse, resulted in Morse scoring. Guthrie made a good, though unsuccessful, attempt to convert. . On changing ends the game was in midfield for some time, and after a scrum the ball was taken to \ .M.(b A. s quarter by a forward rush. From the line out a scrum ensued, from which Cole obtained. possession and scored. Guthrie failed to convert. United kept up the attack and later, after a kick by Nicholls, Ivin" was in trouble. Cole then got the ball and passed to Guthrie, who scored. Luttrell failed to convert. Play was in the centre until Nicholls secured the ball and kicked across to Morse, from whom it went to Murray, who kicked. The hall was returned and G. Fromm accepted it, and after a good run scored. Luttrell failed with the kick. Faulty handling of the ball again had Y.M.C.A. in difficulties, and a good passing rush between Murray, Cole, and Nicholls ended in Nicholls scoring. Cole failed to convert. Mr. C. Hepburn was the referee.

KAITI CITY (28) V. Y.M.P. (NIL). A ONE-SIDED GAME. Kaiti-City met Y.M.P. on No. 2 ground, and the game was little more than a mud scramble. Skillen won the toss, and took the running with the wind. The players did not strike concert pitch for some time, and the insecurity of the going made play uninteresting from the spectators point of view. Eventually City opened up the game, and entered their opponents territory, where Fromm secured, pud crossed the line at the corner. Skillen failed to convert. The leather went out at Y.M.P.’s twenty-five a few mmutes later, and from the line out Frcmm again gained possession, and scored without difficulty. Skillen added the major points, and the score stool: City 8, Y.M.P. nil. After loose play City again invaded their opponents’ territory, where Smith gathering up about ten yards out. notched another three points. Still another spell of vigorous, but rather one-sided, play ended in Fromm again scoring, but Skillen failed with the kick, and play went to centre. Not more than about two minutes later Fromm, who was evidently out for a record, once more entered the chase and. scored from a scramble near the posts, rendering the score City 17, Y.M.P. nil. Smith followed his example and added yet another try to City’s account just a few minutes before half time was called. No spell was taken and the second spell was only of about fifteen minutes duration. Soon after the commencement Bristow, securing at the twentyfive yards line, made a bid for a try but was brought down immediately beneath the posts and a scrum resulted, and from this Rice darted across the line, rendering the score City 23, Y.M.P. nil. The game then became slightly more spirited and Y.M.P. were more than once in a favorable position, hut after about ten minutes of moderately even play, City again attacked strongly with' the_ result that Huston scored in the vicinity of the goal posts. Skillen was this time successful in his attempt to convert, and the game closed with the score: City 28, Y.M.P. nil. Mr. 0. R. Olsen gave every satisfaction with the whistle.

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE MATCH KAITI-CITY Y. ATHLETIC. The annual junior fixture between Kaiti-City and Athletic (Hastings) teams was played at the Domain on Saturday, when the former won by 9 points to 3. The ground was in a very bad state, and the ball could not be handled with certainty. The visitors w f ere much heavier than the local players, but apparently City’s backs were faster and safer than those of their opponents. Soon after the game commenced the

ball was taken to Kaiti-City’s twentyfive, and after a loose rush the ball was : kicked over the line, and KaitiCity forced. Athletic again had the home team defending, blit from a scrum near the home team’s goal line, Stubbs obtained possession and removed danger. The ball was gradually taken to the visitors’ twenty-five, but a penalty kick to Athletic removed danger. Shortly afterwards Athletic were again in trouble, but good defensive work removed danger. A loose rush by Athletic then took the hall to City’s quarter, and after close play near their goal line Huston saved by forcing. A little later Athletic were awarded a free kick near City’s line, and Martin had a shot at goal, but the ball did not reach the goal. Stubbs accepted it and with Rigby and Huston took play well to the centre. Smith soon afterwards broke away with the ball at toe, and after taking the ball along nicely scored a good try ; Stubbs failed to convert. Athletic were attacking when half time was called. _ On changing ends play was m the centre for some time, but from a penalty the hall was taken up to City s line , where a scrum ensued and Hickey here secured the hall, and by a good run and a line kick centred operations. King then got the ball and removed play to the visitors’ quarter where, after a scrum Oman was nearly over, but a penalty kick to Athletic allowed them to clear their line, and the game settled in midfield. A loose rush by Athletic allowed them to invade their opponents territory, where Smith secured the ball. He made a good opening and passed to Rigby, who put in a splendid run and scored between the posts. Smith failed to convert. City again returned and McConnell was nearly over, hut relief was obtained by forcing. By loose play the ball was then taken to the home team’s line, where after a series of scrums, Hall got the ball and scored near the corner. Martin failed to convert. Athletic continued to attack, and after loose play Carr had an unsuccessful pot at goal. The game was in neutral territory for some time after this, hut Athletic were later compelled to defend their goal and forced twice in succession. Stubbs then obtained possession and took the ball right up to Athletic’s line, where King got the ball, but lost it as he crossed the line. However, Morell fell on the ball, and scored. Poswillo failed to convert. Time was called shortly afterwards. Mr. C. Hepburn was referee. In the evening the visiting team were entertained at dinner at the Royal Hotel. A number of toasts were honored, and several speeches were made. The Athletic Football team returned to Napier yesterday. It is probable that the City team will return the visit at the end of next month.

COAST TEAM FOR GISBORNE. A Coast team will visit Gisborne during the week and will play a Thursday representative team on Thursday, and a Poverty Bay representative team on Saturday. REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS. POVERTY BAY v. MAORI TOURING TEAM. The following have been selected to represent Poverty Bay in their match against the Maori Touring team on Saturday next:—Full-back. Luttrell; three-quarters, G. Fromm, Tocker and J. Pollock; five-eighths, W. Smith and Nicholls; half-hack, Skillen ; forwards, Lowe (wing), Nicolas,. Dou"las, Donnelly, Fletcher, Francis. Wheeler and McColl. POVERTY BAY v. EAST COAST TEAM. The following have been selected to represent Poverty Bay in their match against the East Cbast team on Saturday : —Full-back, Stubbs; threequarters, Tamati, G. Pollock and Rigby; five-eighths, King and! P. Fromm; halfback, Rice; forwards. Stagpoole (wing), Davis, Hargreaves. Winter, Ivaraitiana, Wi Luke, Woods and Guthrie.

THURSDAY FIXTURE. The following have been selected to represent Poverty Bay in their match against the East Coast representative team on Thursday:—Full-back, Ria ; three-quarters s Tamati. Karaka and Tocker; five-eighths, Murray and Roderick; half-back, Rice: forwards, Lowe (wing), SnowUen, Hargreaves, Wi Luke, Karaitiana. Carroll, Nicoias and IVeston. / m THE GAME IN AUCKLAND. [FEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.} AUCKLAND, July 22. The Rugby matches to-day were witnessed by Lord Islington and party. The results were as follow: —University beat Parnell 12 points to 8, Marist Bros, beat Ponsonby by 14 points to l;1, City beat Grafton by’ 13 points to 3. COMPETITION IN CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, July 22. The weather was cold and miserable for the Canterbury Rugby Union’s competitions this afternooh, and as a result of the drizzling rain , the grounds were greasy. Albion scored a lucky win over Sydenham by 6 to 3, the latter having all the best of play. Christchurch, the runner’s up in the senior championship, were beaten by' Linwood by 6 to 3, while Merivale had an easy win against Old Boys by 18 to nil. Marist Bros, secured . their first win of the season by beating Canterbury College by 14 points to 3. The results of to-day’s game assure Albion of the senior championship, as they have r.ow a lead of two points with only two more matches to play, one of which is against Canterbury College. MATCHES IN DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, July 22. The following are the results of the first grade Rugby matches this. afternoon:—Zingari 9 v. University 5, Southern 10 v. Pirates 5, Union 3 v. Dunedin 3, Karori 12 v. Taieri 8, Alhambra 3 v. Port Chalmere nil.

MAORI TOURING TEAM.

A WIN AT NAPIER.

NAPIER, July 22,

The New .Zealand Maori team commenced their tour with a match against Hawke’s Bay this afternoon in wet weather. The ground was covered with puddles, and after a few minutes play it became a sea of mud. About five thousand people were present. Takarangi kicked off for the visitors and the ball travelled out of bounds. From: a scrum in mid-field Hawke’s Bay secured the ball and carried play to the Maoris’ territory. where Piki (half) cleverly marked. Kaipara next secured the leather and passed to Rylandj who headed a Maori irush, but Monteith (the Hawke’s Bay full-back) saved, and. play again centred. The Maoris quickly started another rush and carried the ball to the Hawke’s Bay corner, where, following on a line-out, the Maori forwards got to work and a passing rush ensued. Hawke’s Bay, however, showed), sound defence and prevented the Maoris scoring. Hawke’s Bay retaliated with a vigorous attack, but Kaipara marked and took a kick at goal, but the hall passed outside the posts. Both teems were now making the pace warm, and despite the state of the ground play was fast and interesting, and the. Maoris were showing particular smartness in picking up. About twenty minutes from the staid Clarke initiated a. fine rush and Hawke’sBay looked like affecting something, when Hughes (the Maori full-back), cut across and found the line with a timely kick. Hawke’s Bay were now trying hard to score, but their forwards lacked combination, and their efforts were fruitless. Just before half-time the Maori forwards stairted a- rush which almost overwhelmed the opposing team, but Monteith, who was playing well, succeeded in stopping it. On changing ends the game became even more willing, and the Maoris soon pressed an attack home to the Hawke’s Bay corner, but. by a supreme effort, Hawke’s Bay retrieved their position, and for a time honors were fairly even. From now on the Maoris had everything tlieir own way, and kept Hawke’s Bay well in their own territory. The Maoris rushed! time after time down near to the Hawke’s Bay line, but their attempts to cross the line were fruitless. Erekana tried a drop-kick at goal, but the ball was touched by Downing and no score resulted. The Maoris kept driving their attacks home and from close play near Hawke’s Bay’s corner Moana cut in and crossed the line. Erekana failed to add the major points. With only, two or three minutes to go the Maoris pressed .Hawke’s Bay up into the corner of their territory, where play remained till the call of time, the Maoris thus winning by three to nil. Hawke’s Bay showed a really good defence, but the Maoris, showed greater cleverness, especially in! passing and picking up. Their combination, also, was much better than that of Hawke’s Bay.

NORTHERN UNION CAME. NEW ZEALANDERS RETURN. tPHR PRESS ASSOCIATION.} AUCKLAND, July 23. The New Zealand team of Northern Union footballers arrived by the Wimmera this evening.