FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3522, 13 May 1912, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. COMMENCEMENT OF UNION FIXTURES. SATURDAY’S 'MATCHES. The Poverty Bay Rugby Union’s matches were ushered in on Saturday ini cold southerly weather, and it looked, when the senior matches commenced on the Victoria Domain, as though they would not be decided before a downpour would set in. Hie rain held off, however, and a couple of fairly interesting games were witnessed by the fair number of spectators that assembled. Y.M.P. defeated United by 13 points to nil, while Kaiti-City piled np the respectable total of 29 points in their match with Garrison. SENIOR MATCHES. Y.M.P. (13) v. UNITED (0). In the .tussle on No- 1 ground YM P proved the quality of their goods. ’ The forwards had the goods to market and the backs put them through the delivery process to me best advantage. United’s forwards also had seasonable stuff to place, but the methods of the back division were not up to standard in the matter of forwarding. Hie ways of parcelling •and handing over the counter were different. Y.M.P. .parcelled up thenwares tidily and passed them over in a style calculated to make you call again, while tlieir opponents put up their stuff in a slovenly fashion which caused the surface value to depreciate. United forwards were just as good as the Y.M.P. forwards, but the Y.M.P. forwards and backs together carried too many guns for the United combination, and tbe difference totalled 13 points at shandy time. The margin of two tries without goals just about represented the merits of the team.

Playing against the wind Y.M-P. (red) quickly commenced to attack. Concerted play by the United forwards removed the oval to neutral territory. From a line-out Broughton initiated a passing bout, which terminated in United’s twenty-five. A scrum resulted, and a Red forward, hooking the ball out with liis hand, was penalised, affording relief to the Blues. The Y.M.P. returned to the attack and a forward rush was spoilt in tlio Blue twenty-five by an overeager sernmmer getting off-side. The kick brought relief and the United forwards, initiating a progressive movement, made tracks for the Red line. Pewhairangi stopped the advance, but was penalised for lying on the ball. From tbe subsequent kick Pole essayed a shot at goal, but failed to find the uprights. The Reds cleared and counter attacked. Some pretty passing bouts on the part ol tin Reels, in which Smith, Brough'-on and Rukingi were prominent, gained much ground. United cleared thenline, but their opponents returned with a rush which was nicely -stopped by Newton. From two successive line-outs Kershawe took the ball and broke clean away, and the Blues were .called upon to strenuously defend their line. Relief was afforded by Cecil Davis breaking away and dribbling the ball down the field [last half-way. Hie Reds, however, were not to ije denied. A splendid passing bout in which nearly every back bandied the ball was spoilt through a knock-on within a few feet of the line. In their efforts to clear United were penalised for off-side, and Matahiki goaled. Hio Reds were now having much the better of the game. Faulty handling on the part of the Blue backs went a long way to give their opponents the advantage held a. this stage. ’ A Red passing bout terminated through Ereahara running out right on the corner. From the line-out Kokiri secured the leather and dived over. Mataliiki was entrusted with the kick and safely goaled. At this juncture the whistle sounded for lemon time, with the scores 8 to nil in*Y.M.P/s favor.

On the change of ends it was thought that with the advantages, accruing from having the wind in their favor Y.M.P. would rattle up a good round score, hut the United forwards played with dash and in the end the spell was as much United’s as Y.M.P.’s. Shortly after the commencement of hostilities Guthrie essayed a shot at goal from a free. The kick was weak —the ball hardly going "25yds. Up-and-down play followed, with United a shade the better. A good line kick by Smith put the "Reds in a scoring position, but United rallied and relieved. Harrying the hall down the field the Blue forwards were, within an ace of scoring. The leather was bustled over the line, hut Hamilton, snapping it up, ran round the posts and kicked well down the lield- Improving upon the advantage gained, Y.M.P. looked likely scorers ■ —-a speculator kick by Muir coming off and saving. The' relief gained, however, was only temporary. In a subsequent scrum the Red ' hookers secured and the hall, coming out of the side, Tvershawe picked up smartly at once setting up a forward movement. Cutting out the first fiveeighths he sent the oval out to*

Broughton, who dashed for the line. When within a few feet of Broughton lost the leather and his opportunity, but Pewhairangi, who was-handy, snapped up both. Matahiki was again entrusted witli the kick, and added the major points by a splendid effort.' Both'teams were not handling th© ball with anything like the precision that characterised their earlier efforts, and the forwards of both teams showed a strong inclination to dwell. Play moved between the 2o’s for some time, a failing light making it difficult to distinguish the players. Guthrie took another shot at goal without effect. In 'the last few minutes Guthrie and O’Brien headed a strong dash into Red territory, and for a period Y.M.P. were kept busily defending. They were successful in staving off the attack, the no-side whistle sounding with the ball out at half-way.. Mr Dean refereed. KAITI-CITY (29) v. GARRISON (0).

Tbe match between Kaiti-City and Garrison, which occupied No- 2 ground, resulted in a most decisive victory for the former, the score being 29 to nil. Though Garrison were defeated bv such a substantial margin, the figures do not give an' accurate idea of the interesting game that resulted. particularly up to the interval. The match occupied four twenty minutes’ spells, and during the, first quarter Garrison had decidedly the best of the play, their forwards putting in some good work. The second spell saw Kaiti-City score a couple of tries after a good struggle. In the concluding spells the Kaiti-City forwards were far too solid for their opponents, and practically did all the work that resulted in scoring. The game settled in Kaiti-City’s territory soon after the commencement, and on several occasions their line was in danger, but good defensive work by Stubbs, the- full-back, kept Garrison at bay. Miller later snapped up the oval in the centre, and with the Assistance of Musgrove took it into City’s quarter, where off-side play by one of the' Bines allowed Miller to have a shot at goal, but the ball refused, to leave the ground. Garrison again forced Citv 'to defend, but Stubbs gave relief by a line kick. Nicolas then got in possession and headed a forward rush, which- resulted in the ball being taken to Garrison’s line. Over-anxiousness on the part of City, gave Garrison a penalty kick, and plav was again m mid-field. Another broach of the rules on the part of Kaiti allowed Garrison an opportunity to have a line-out in the Blues’ twenty-five, but Nicolas, Fromm, and Carruthers removed danger. and play settled in front of Garrison’s goal-posts. From a scrum _ the latter were penalised, but Tait missed an easy shot at goal. On changing ends Garrison were m trouble, and the Citv forwards looked as though they would carry the ball over the line, but Somervell got in a lucky speculator and shot it into touch- • Stagpcole broke away with tbe oval a little later, arid carried it within a few yards of his opponent’s line, where he passed to LeaCh, and the latter scored. Tait failed to convert. Me Coll and Musgraye were prominent in a rush bv Garrison, and supported by Cruickshanks they made a. determined effort to score, but Stubbs managed to secure the ball and kicked well up the field. From the loose play that ensued Carrutliers obtained possession' and passed to Fromm, from whom the ball went to Stagpcole, and he easily scored. Carruthers failed to- convert. _ Oil resuming after the interval MeColl secured a mark. Nicolas tcok the ball and kicked, but it struck one of tbe Garrison players and rebounded. A willing few minutes ensued .almost on City’s line before they managed to clear, during which Davis was nearly over. From a line-out in the centre Stagpoole got the ball, and after a fine run scored. Tait was .unsuccessful with the kick. Good work by Carrutliers again placed G-.arrison on the defensive, and from a scrum near their line the ball went to Spencer, and he scored- Nicolas made a futile attempt to convert. Graham and Miller took the ball to the centre a few minutes later, where Kaye knocked on, and a scrum resulted. Loose play followed, during whic-h Nicolas gathered up. unci after ”a good run transferred to Stagpoole, and the latter scored. Stubbs converted. Garrison were unable to withstand a forward rush by City, and wore again up against their own goalline. Somervell attempted to pick up the ball, but it shot between, his Kgs, and Bristoe fell on it, adding another three points, to City’s score. McGill was unsuccessful with the kick. At the commencement of the fourth spell a melee ensued on Garrison’s line, and Bristoe got over, but was unable to ground the ball, and a force resulted. A little later Carruthers initiated a passing rush hy sending the ball to Spencer, from whom it went to Fromm, and he got over. Tait was unsuccessful with the kick. From a scrum in midfield Fromm got the ball, and a combined rush between himself, Tait, and Carruthers culminated in the ’ last-named adding another try, which Tait failed to convert. Just before time was called Nicolas snapped up the ball in the centre, and after a run passed it to Stagpoole, who scored. Time was called shortly after. Mr. C. Hepburn was referee. JUNIOR MATCHES. GARRISON (8) v, OLD BOYS (6). Both the Garrison team and the Old Boys team had to commence the fixture, on No- 1 ground short-handed. Additions wore made at intervals, and

by half-time the two teams were going with full complements;. Playing with the wind in the first spell Garrison rattled on eight points—a try by Stitchbury which Atkinson converted and a penalty goal by "Wildish. Old Boys appeared not to be able to get going and were kept busy defending during most of the spell. In the second half play was more even, hut in the last few minutes Old Boys got to work arid cracked on two tries in quick succession—one secured iby Winter and one bv Green. Garrison were' lucky in securing the win f-or the ball in the kick at goal in the second of Old Boys’ tries, though going over the bar, had to be disallowed on account of its striking an opponent during its flight. ..j.r Burge refereed.

KAITI-CITY (38) v. Y.M.P. (0). ’Kaiti-City defeated Y.M.P- by 38 points to nil on the Victoria Domain. Tries were scored by O’Neill (2), Clover (2), Pirie (2), Giilard, McLean, Rigby, and Stevenson. McLean and Poswillo converted two tries, and Winter potted a goal. THE GAME IN CHRISTCHURCH. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] * CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. The first grade football matches resulted : Sydenham 17 beat Christchurch 9; Linwood 6 beat Old Boys 3; Albion 16 beat Canterbury College 3; Merivale 3o beat- Marists 0. DUNEDIN GAMES. DUNEDIN, Mav 12. Fine weather was experienced yesterday for the football fixtures. Hie senior Rugby matches resulted as under: University 11 heat Kaikorai 8; Southern 9 beat Dunedin 0 ; Alhambra 26 beat Taieri 3; ZingariRiclmiond 6 beat Union 0; Port ‘Chalmers 6 heat Pirates 5. WELLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIP. WELLINGTON, May 12. The senior Rugby football championship matches were continued on Saturday in fine weather. About 2500 people witnessed the Oriental v. Poll eke match at Athletic Park, and about 1200 watched the Petone and St. James game fit Petone. Oriental 17 heat Poneke nil; Petone 26 beat S. James nil; Athletic 18 beat Victoria College 5; Melrose 11 neat Welling, ton 6; Southern 27 heat Old Boys nilAUCKLAND MATCHES. AUCKLAND, May 12. The senior Rugby matches were continued in splendid weather and before large attendances. The Marist Bros’ Old Boys v. Ponsonbv provided an excellent game, very fast and exciting, Marists winning hy 17 points to 9. Parnell drew with University 6 points each; and City beat Coiiege Rifles by 20 to 6.