SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3575, 15 July 1912, Page 7

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

KATITI-CITY (6) v. GABKISON (3)

'Kaiti-City were more than a shade lucky to have left the fiejd winners against Garrison. After having much the better of the exchanges for a greater portion of the game, and sitting with a lead of three points, it looked a fowl-run to sixpence- that the Greens would prevail and that tli© wearers of the Blue were candidates for a second licking. _ In the Last few minutes of the game, however, Kaiti set up a hot pace and a couple of tries were notched in quick succession through the agency of P. Fromm, who, on both occasions, grabbed the hall from a scrummage near the line and dashed over. Just before call of time Garrison had an opportunity to even matters, but illegal interference on the part of Stubbs spoiled the chance. A Garrison man_ was dribbling the ball well down past half-way and had a clear field in front of him when Stubbs butted in and tackled him. 'Plie referee could easily have awarded an obstruction try in tins case, but apparently in the darkness in which the closing stages of the match were played, the incident escaped his ken, for he failed to even award a free kick for the breach. Both sides played a number of junior players, for both teams were short of the regular seniors, the most noticeable absentee being Alcana, vho was taking part in the big fixture at ‘Napier. The game would have to he taken well into a. No-license area to Ire able to carry the XXX label, there being very few occasions of sufficient brilliance to raise enthusiasm. Kaiti kicked off with the sun against them, and the ball was returned to midfield. Garrison gradually worked the leather to the Blues 25,' and for some time kept a series of attacks. The Kaiti hookers were penalised for lifting in a serum, and •McGoll made a good, hut' ineffectual, attempt, to find the uprights. A couple of mi mites later the same player took another shot at goal from about the same position, the ball going just outside the posts. Garrison were having all the best of the play and were continually attacking. A hot forward rush -ended by the ball going out at the corner. A series of scrambles on thfc Blue line ensued, Kaiti eventually rallying and relieving the ■pressure. Again Garrison attacked and Jl. ffomevell marked at the 25. AlcColl once more made a fine effort to land a goal. Play continued in Kaiti territory, and -relief was eventually obtained through forcing The respite gained was, however, of short duration. Garrison swarmed on the Blue line, and on several occasions just missed the coveted try. Eventually a good forward rally drove the Greens back to the 25. Breaking away from a line our. the Blue pack transferred play to Garrison's 25. where Ale Coll intercepted a. pass, and after a short run kicked out well down the field. A spoell of nlny in neutral territory followed, and from a subsequent- exchange of long kicks, the ball went out at half way. Through the agency of Toc-ker, Kaiti set up an attack and for a few minutes Garrison had to strenuously defend. 'Toc-ker snapped up a nice mark on the 25 line, almost in front of the goal, hut Tate failed to get near the posts with the kick. A spell of midfield play followed- From here Aiken broke away an with the assistance of the remainder of the Green pack carried the ball over the line. A forward dived for the ball and missed , enabling Toc-ker to force just in the nick of time. In the next few minutes nothing sensational occurred Gar- 1 rison having slightly the better of a period of dull, uninteresting play. ; Eventually the Blue pack, led by AlcGill. set up an attack, a. force resulting. Kaiti again returned after the drop out, and a chance was lostthrough the ball being picked out of , ia scrum near the lino. Aided by the kick the Greens transferred play to the -other end of the field. At call of j half time the play was situated ijj j mid-field.

The second spell opened with a long period of dreary football in -the centre of the field. Eventually McColl made a nice opening and, aided by Aiken, carried the ball across the ■Blue line, and the last-named player touched down. The kick at goal was abortive. Garrison had all the best •of play at this stage. It. Somervell had a. shot at goal from a mark near the twenty-five, but did nor produce any material result. Play continued in Kaiti’s twenty-five and after some livelier exchanges was gradually taken to the half-way. A good line-kick by Toeker saw the ball out at the twenty-five. From this on Kaiti-City asserted themselves and had Garrison on the defence for the majority of the time. From a free kick in front of the posts Toeker made a close- attempt the ball going just outside the uprights. The Greens rallied and from the drop-out took charge of matters, but Skillen saved- Nicolas returned and headed a good rush which was nicely stopped by McColl. A series of scrums ensued on the Green line and tlie ball, shooting out to Fromm, he picked up smartly and dived over. Nicolas failed. Garrison set the pace and made it hot for a. time. McColl took a long but abortive shot at goal. The Blues counter-attacked and. Pritchard spoiled an opportunity by mulling. Garrison broke away and a score seemed imminent, when Stubbs illegally tackled a man who was dribbling the ball and play returned to the Green zone again. From a scrum near the line Fromm secured and again dived over, giving Kaiti-City a

lead of three points. The try was not improved upon and no-side was called a few minutes later. Air Osborne refereed.

UNITED (40) x. Y.AI.P. (4)

The contest between United and Ah ALP. seniors on No- 2 ground turned out to be a fiasco, “a win in a canter.” The United team took the field with a full team and played a good, fast game; the Maoris, were a man short and they played minus the services of Ivaipara, Broughton and Smith, three of their solidest players. The gaps were filled, as far as possible, by lied juniors, some of whom had played a hard game beforehand. The Maoris were without generalship and the ability in the ranks was lost. United, consequently, did just what they liked and .piled on the agony to the extent of 40 points. Once or twice, there was a feeble flame of smart play by the Alaoris, but a want of combination extinguished it early every time. A couple of minutes from the start Guthrie booted from the close and touched down, Squirrell missing the kick. Sexton took advantage of some fumbling a little later and made a bold bid for the line, to be brought dlqwn heavjily by Kokirij. Campbell was next to sc-ore-and this time Squirrell placed an excellent goal. The sajno player put a penalty goal over a moment after. And so- matters proceeded until half-time, when the score was 21 to 4. Pollock once whipped out smartly to Wyllie, who scored, Pollock adding the major points; Cole registered a try and Petherbridge converted amid cheers from his comrades; a Alaori rally, during which Tu Kara, Hamilton and Rukingi worked the blind side of the scrum, followed, and ended in Rukingi placing a pretty potted goal from the twenty-five line. The second spell was even a greater farce, neither side playing with any spirit, and the United players indulging in trial sprints and cuts-in. Pollock was first to score and Squirrell converted; Alurray scored and Luttrell missed the goal; Luttrell next got over and Hods failed with the kick; Squirrel reached the coveted territory and Cole’s attempt to convert struck the crossbar and bounded back; the last event was an easy score by Cole directly behind the goalposts, Alurray converting. Thus the game ended: —United, 40 points; Y.AI P. 4 points. Air E. Pudney refereed.

JUNIOR MATCH ES.

Y.AI.P. (6) v. GARRISON (3)

Y.Af.PI juniors defeated Garrison by 6 points to 3, Tu and Joe scoring for the winners and Hay for Garrison. Air Pudney controlled the game.

KAITI-CITY (27) v. OLD BOYS (U)

Ivaiti-City had a day’s practice at scoring tries against Old Boys, and when the whistle blew for no-side had put up a respectable total of . nine, none of which were converted. Of the number Rigby touched down on three occasions, Clover o-n two and O’Neill. AVinter, Ale Lean and Quinn one each. Old Boys, who played with only 12 men, failed to score- Air Osborne refereed. THIRD GRADE. HIGH SCHOOL 10 v. GARRISON 0. High ISVIiooI succeeded in defeating Garrison by 10 points to nil. Tries were scored for school by Bull and Gartshore, the latter kicking a penalty goal. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. The competition for the deCosta Cup was advanced another stage on Saturday morning, when the final games for the first round were played. The games were more even in regard,to scores than has been the case on previous Saturdays. In defeating Gisborne by 9 points to nil Te Hapara has secured a lead of 4 points. The other games resulted in Mangapapa defeating Alakaraka by 11 to 8 and Convent defeated Kaiti by 11 points t-o nil.

NORTHERNERS VICTORIOUS INTER-ISLAND RUGBY FIXTURE. GALA DAY AT NAPIER. NORTH ISLAND, 12; SOUTH ISLAND, 8. [PES PEESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, July 14. The North Island v. South Island Rugby football match was played on Saturday -afternoon in beautiful weur ther and in the presence of an enthusiastic crowd, estimated at a. little short of five thousand and including many country people and a number of visitors from different parts of New Zealand. The game resulted in a win for t-lie North Island by 12 points to 8. After the recent rain the ground was a bit heavy and slippery in places. Lack of combination was noticeable in the South Island team in the early stages of the game, but except that the North Island forwards were slightly better than the South men both teams were fairly evenly matched. About eight minutes after the

gam© started E. Roberts {Taranaki) scored the first try behind the posts. O’Leary converted. North Island 5 South Island 0 Twenty minutes later Alexander (South) got over the line and Doell converted from a difficult angle. North Island 5 South Island 5 Towards the end of the first half Alexander .again got over as the result of a Southern rush, hut Doell failed to add the major points. South Island 8 North Island 5 Soon after the second half commenced Stohr scored for the North, but O’Leary’s attempt to convert was a failure. North Island ... ... 8 South Island 8 When half-way through the spell McKenzie potted a neat goal for the North. 'The final score was: North Island ... ... 12 South Island 8

NOTES ON K GAME

By Telegraph—Special Correspondent NAPIER, July 14. The most beautiful weather was experienced for what was undoubtedly the best exhibition of Rugby football seen in this district for many days. There had been hundreds of bookings recorded for tho inter-Island match- —the most important fixture that can be held: in the Dominion with purely New Zealand players—and the many thousands who .assured for themselves a seat from which to watch tho great game did not have their confidence in Napier’s weather misplaced. the day breaking clear and fine. Five thousand people must have been .present at the Recreation Ground during the progress of the game, which was of a most interesting .description from start to finish. The arrangements made by the Napier Rugby sub-Union for the safety and convenience of patrons were busi-ness-like land satisfactory, both the chairman (Air R. T. Bailey) and the secretary (Air Hislop) being untiring in their attentions to details.

The seating accommodation, which provided for just under 2000 persons, was fully occupied and in addition there must have been over 3000 other interested spectators either standing or perched on one of the many trees surrounding the ground.

The South Island team took the field first, but whatever luck there was in that failed to materialise, as they lost the toss and also the game.

Burns elected to defend the western end with a brilliant sun at his back. Within a few minutes of the start Roberts (Taranaki) secured the sphere and by a clever run during widen he succeeded in evading McDonald and Lyncli he crossed the line and without opposition placed the ball behind the posts. In the centre of the field Doeil was slightly hurt in trying to stop Roberts and temporarily retired from the field. During his absence the major points were added by O’Leary and a fresh attack was just about to result in a further score when the injured man put in an appearance and saved the position by forcing. Tho scrum work of the Northern iepresentatives was prettier and more effective than that of the Whites.

The game was fought hard throughout,' but although Grey got his right collar bon© broken while taking a mark near his own line, it could nos be said that the gam© was anything but a gentlemanly contest. Both tho full-backs played a cool, deliberate game and repeatedly saved their respective sides, O’Leary being perfect.

Early in the first spell Alexander saved the Southerners by a superb kick along the line. This was followed up well and resulted in that player crossing the line. He was grassed by E. Roberts in attempting to get nearer to the centre. He could have spared himself the trouble as a beautiful kick by Doell added the extra points.

Many pretty passing rushes gave both full-backs exceptional opportunities to prove then* worth and that was done on every occasion, O’Leary’s play being characterised by excellent precision. The Southerners lost a firstclass attack and probably a score through McDonald (Marlborough) making a blind kick at a bouncing ball after failing to take a pass and when his mate was just on the point of picking it up, the line being only a few yards away. The first thing worthy of note in the second' spell was the clever generalship displayed by Stohr who, following up ia kick behind, scored from what looked like a hopeless chance. He was challenged by Black, who looked like winning in the race for the touch, but at the supreme moment Stohr dived between the ball and Black, the latter naturally forcing Stohr on to the leather. Kaipana failed to keep several passing rushes going and on two occasions his presence was a disadvantage to his team. One very effective bit of play occurred when E. Roberts secured and passed to McKenzie to Roberts (Taranaki) and instead of the ball going out to Stohr, who drew the defence, it was returned to McKenzie and then to Roberts. The latter, however, was grassed. The Northerners gave Roberts (Taranaki) many chances, but Alexander, who was playing a brilliant game, cut his career short on almost every occasion. A pretty passing rush by the North team looked like spelling disaster for the Southerners, but at the critical moment Kaipara spoilt by a bad pass to Stohr. McKenzie displayed excellent judgment when he potted the winning goal from a series of short passes in front of the posts. He took his chance and sent the ball over the bar without effort. The Black forwards were quicker into position than the Whites, and the Northerners’ scoring men were always in position to set up a determined attack. Play wias in mid-field when time was called. Mr A Williams, who refereed, ■stated after the match that it was one of the best exhibitions ot Rugby seen in this dstret. Hie teanis were evenly matched, he considered, and fought a great game, but the Northern forwards were nippier, and to that fact he attributed their win. Both teams were entertained at dinner on Saturday evening. DUNEDIN GAMES. [PER PEERS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, July 14Ideal weather prevailed: for tlie football yesterday, but the grounds were heavy after the recent rain.

University (5 points) heat Pirates (3), Southern (9) beat Kaikorai (3), Zingari-Riclimond (24) beat Alhambra (3), Union (6) boat Taieri Rovers (3), Dunedin (6) heat Port Chalmers (3). WELLINGTON MATCHES. AVELLINGTON, July 14. Fine weather was experienced yesterday afternoon. The senior Rugby matches resulted: Oriental (6) v. Poneke (0), St. James (10) v. Victoria College (5). Petone (12) v. Wellington (0), Athletic (24) v. Southern (3). FOOTBALL IN AUCKLAND. • AUCKLAND, July 14. At Rugby football only two senior matches were -played yesterday. College Rifles beat Marist Bros.’ by 18 points to nil, and 1 City defeated Parnell by 10 points to 8. Newton Rangers won the senior championship under the Northern Union rules. M. Gilmour, one of Carlton’s soccer players, sustained a broken log during play yesterday afternoon. The soccer championship was won by Everton.

MANAAVATU (29) v. HOROAVHENUA (3).

PALMERSTON N., July 14. The representative football match played yesterday between Alanawatu and Horowhenua was easily won by Alanawatu by 29 to 3. The following Horowlienuia and Alanawatu representative team has been chosen to play Taranaki at Taranaki on August 8: Hughes, Toa Win iota, W. AViniata, Rawiri, Ford, AValdegrave, Pegden, Munro, Sciascia, Reed, Harkness, Hardie, Frame, McDonald, W. AViniata. Emergencies: AA r alsh, Frayberg, Griffiths, Eglinton.