FOOTBALL

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1689, 5 June 1929, Page 5

FOOTBALL

The Alexandra A team journeyed to Dunedin on Saturday to play the return match with the Southern Football Club. The game was played on Carisbrook ground which was in excellent condition. A. Marslin was missing from the visiting pack, having, gone on to Wellington to- play in the trial match. Southern won the match by 12 points to 3. The Southern backs started well, ami the indications were that they would romp all over the opposition, but the visitors soon settled down into their stride and were on the attack for the greater part of the game. At the end of the first spell they were unfortunate in not scoring on at least two occasions. In the second half they easily held the territorial advantage, but again they lost chances. Lack of finish to their play was the reason of their defeat and not the good play of the Southern team. Southern's score was made up of two unconverted tries and two penalty goals, and Alexandra scored an unconverted try. For Alexandra, Hannay (wing-three-quarter) played wejl, frequently making strong dashes down the sideline. He showed himself to be a very determined runner, but was often unsupported. Beilby, behind the scrum, also played a good game and the try he got was a very clever one. Lawrie was the best of the forwards, all of whom were hard workers. Southern were well served by Hastie, Wilson and Chooquee. The team were:— Southern (Black and White). Inglis, Strachan, Bolton, Hastie, Wilson, Chooquee, Sutherland, M'llroy, Hill, Silverster, Larkings, J. Lewis, Sheridan, Turner, C. Lewis. Alexandra (Green). Hesson, Hannay, Curtis, Eyau, Campbell, Munro, Beilby, Jelly, Carline, Clouston, Cummoek, Donnelly, Lawrie, Noble, Kilgour.

Alexandra kicked off and attacked first, but Hastie and Chooquee put Southern in position with clever runs, the latter being unsupported when only a couple of yards from the line. Wilson then made a good opening, and the ball went to Hastie, who ran well to cross at the corner and scored a good try behind the post. The try was not converted. Southern were penalised soon afterwards, and Hannay failed narrowly with a shot at goal from nearly halfway. With the ball at his feet, Lawrie gained a goo'd stretch of territory for Alexandra, but the advantage was lost through Hastie intercepting. Beilby made a good opening from a scrum, but the chance was not accepted. Then the visiting- forwards came away in a solid rush, and Noble was brought down inches from the line. Southern cleared after a hard struggle, but Hannay made a dash down the wing and passed in to Clouston, who was held up on the line. Southern returned play past halfway and were awarded a penalty, Sutherland kicking a good goal.—Southern S, Alexandra nil.

Alexandra again narrowly failed to score when Kilgour broke away from a scramble. and was just collared in time. The visitors were almost continually on attack, Hannay showing up witli a run of 50yds, but the passing movement broke down. Half time saw no alteration in the score.

The Greens continued to attack at the beginning of the second spell. They were driven back by a free kick, but Munro found the line well into the Southern twenty-five with a fine line kick. Only soluT tackling prevented the visitors from scoring. Bad fielding by Alexandra let the Black and Whites Mi rough to the Greea line, Southern' being awarded a free kick and Sutherland added three more points.— Southern 9, Alexandra nil. i

The visitors quickly resumed the,offensive, Beilby breaking awuy froin a scrum to be dragged down when within an ace of success. Some time later he again ran from the scrum, and on this occasion ihe was too quick for the Southern defence, scoring well out. Hannay's kick f*led.—Southern 9, Alexandra 3. Play now' became .more strenuous, the Greens keeping their opponents hemmed in for some time. A passing bout took play to the Greens' twentyfive and after a scramble the ball went to Wilson who dived over at the corner, Bolton's kick failed, and the final whistle went witM the scores:— Southern 12 Alexandra 3. In the early part of the round the B grade football competition was late in starting, six team failing to field teams. Saturday being an off day for football these teams were afforded au opportunity to complete their fixtures. Only two teams played (Clyde-Earn-scleugh and Alexandra), the Matakanui defaulting to Galloway. The Lowburn team were to have played at Cromwell but no results have come to hand.

Clyde-Earnscleugh v. Alexandra. Tiie above teams niet at Alexandra Recreation Ground on Saturday,' The game resulted in a win for the home side by 21 points to 3. The weather conditions ■ were ideal for playing but not at all favourable for the spectators who were consequently not numerous. The football was to say the least of it very disappointing. The first part of the fnnie was characterised by rough scrambles and Jop.se scrums with an occasional good passing bout by the home backs. Piny was even fop the first few minutes, but Alexandra pressed hard and carried play to the visitors' line where a series of scrums and scrambles took place. Alexandra made several attempts to cross, but over-eagerness vu several occasions uul-

lifted their efforts. However they kept the visitors on defence for some time. A force-down relieved the situation only temporarily/, the, home forwards carrying play to the visitors' line where from a scramble Thompson picked up and drew first blood with a try which hj? did not convert. Shortly before half time Thomson again crossed the lino for a Welled egcrved try. His kick at goal missed, play in the! second half was much the same. In this spell three tries w;ere scored the opposition being very weak indeed. The scorers were: L. Theyers, A. Riaeh and P. Grenfell. Thomson converted each try. O. Annan scored for the visitors, the final score being: . * , Alexandra 21 Clyde-Earnseleugh .... 3 Mr G. Campbell controlled the game. On Monday t|(e Alexandra I).H. School football teain journeyed tp Cromwell and met and defeated the home team by a fairly substantial score. SATURDAY'S FIXTURES. On Saturday the final matches of the A grade first round will be played. A Grade. Clyde to Matakanui. Waiiaka to- Alexandra. Cromwell a bye, '-. • B Grade, v, ' Clyde-Earn, to. Matakanui, . ~: Poolburn to Lowburn. .• Cromwell' to Galloway. Alexandra to Mmt Creek.