AN INTER-CLUB FIXTURE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3281, 28 July 1911, Page 6

AN INTER-CLUB FIXTURE.

GISBORNE (ID DEFEATS TE KARAKA (0.) What was obviously an important event in the athletic lifeof Te Karaka took place there yesterday, when a team of footballers representing the Gisborne Club met and defeated the Te Karaka team. The town team journeyed out in a brake, and were met by Mr. Jas. Poynter on arrival, and were the guests of the Te Karaka- Club at lunch at the Rangatira Hotel. - The ground was in a very muddy state, and it was only with great-diffi-culty that the various members of the teams ‘could be distinguished a few minutes after the commencement. Over two hundred people witnessed the match. The following were the teams: —Te Karaka: J. Poynter (captain), J. Graham, J. King, Taha, Ham, Graham, Evinson, Nisbett, Cnmmin, Collins, Graham, Sefton, Green, Wi Pere and K Gisborne: Skillen (captain), Clark, King, H. Gibson, Sullivan, Pollock, Nicholls, Snowden, O'Neill, Hargreaves Guthrie, Mortison, Davis and Cole. Gisborne kicked off, and a serum followed almost immediately, whence the leather went to Te Karakajs quarter, and Pollock receiving a pass from King crossed the line and opened his team s account within two minutes of the commencement of play. Skillen was unsuccessful in his attempt to convert. Following up vigorously after the kickoff, Te Karaka entered their opponents’ territory, hut King again distinguished himself by intercepting and passing to Gibson, who transferred to Pollock, the latter being forced to relinquish the leather, which went out of play at the home team’s 25. Thence it was carried across the field to a position with Gisborne in the advantage, where a serum was called, from which the Te Karaka rained possession. Receiving tlie bail at 25. Graham (Te Karaka) was hemmed in and was f orced to kick. King fathered np, and instituted a rush, which terminated in Pollock searing near tlie corner flag. The angle was difficult, and Skillen did not convert, the ball striking one of the posts. The score stood: Gisborne 6, Te Karaka ml. After kicking off, the. home team attacked and reached half-way, where Gibson secured, and after a smart run crossed the line, but was recalled cu account of forward passing, and a scrum was given at Ivaraka’s 20. Gaining around by a series of line-outs and scrums, Baraka reached their opponents’ 25, where they were penalised, and Skillen found the line at half way. Being awarded a- free kick at this point a few minutes later Karaka set up a determined attack, and raining ground by scramming, in which their slightly superior weight told to their advantage, and for a time a score- appeared imminent. Faulty handling of the leather, however, gave King an opportunity to relieve the. situation, and, securing, he found the line at half way. Flay, remained at this quarter for some time. Green eventually took a mark with which he failed to find the line, and King and Pollock instituted an attack which removed play to Karaka-’s 25. Here the leather went out, -and line play followed after which Poynter set his" backs in motion, and reached their opponents’ 25 line, where Gisborne were penalised, but Poynter failed to score. Gisborne then became aggressive, and attacked strongly, with the result that the sphere of operations was removed to Te Ka-raka’s end, where the game remained until half-time. The second spell differed in, very few particulars from tlie first. Poynter kicked off, and play at once centred m Karaka’s quarter. A scrum on Karaka’s 25 line resulted in some long kicking, and Hara took a mark after an exchange of kicks, but he failed to relieve the situation. Nicholls was soon afterwards in possession of the leather, and, working m concert- with Gibson, put up a very creditable -run to within about ten yards of the goal line, where he finally transferred to Gibson, who crossed the line and scored between the posts. Skillen contributed the ma jor points, and the score stood: Gisborne 11, Te Karaka nil. On resuming, the game centred until Karaka wore awarded a penalty, and removed play to Gisborne territory, whence it was quickly returned to the home team’s territory, where J. Graham averted what promised to- be a try by a narrow margin, and play went to centre. J. King several times i olievcd pressing situations in which the Kanaka team found itself during the next few minutes, but at length, by determined play, the visiting forwards reached close proximity to Karaka’s line where the- were awarded a penalty, which, however, went unconverted. Thereafter the game settled mside the home te9.m J s territory ? £tnd re-m-ained there until the call_ offline. Mr. W. Hay was an efficient referee. The visitors were tendered a dinner at the Rangitira Hotel in the evening, when the usual toast list was honored. The repast was a sumptuous one, and was done ample justice to. Later on a dance. in honor of the visitors took place in the town hall, there being a large number of participants. Tlie dancing was continued until a late hour, and was much enjoyed bv those present.