FOOTBALL

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1737, 14 May 1930, Page 5

FOOTBALL

* ALEXANDRA 6, CROMWELL 3. It was a very poor crowd of spectators that witnessed the game played on the Recreation Ground last Saturday. The local seniors met and defeated Cromwell by two unconverted tries to a penalty goal. Alexandra were without the services of Finlay and Thompson (the latter left the district last week) and their places were filled by L Frater and R. Campbell. G. Bowler was also played, ■ R. Curtis going up into the forwards to fill ;i vacancy. Alexandra won the toss and played with a strong sun behind them in the first spell. Right at the commencement of. the game a Green forward was caught off-side right in front of his own goal. As luck would have it a rather easy kick was missed. After a fairly even struggle the Greens had j worked to the visitors * line. Munro made a dive for the line but was held up and a five yards scrum was given. 1 The home hookers heeled the ball out clean and Bowler (half-back) danced round to score a neat try which was not converted. Shortly afterwards the visitors evened matters up when one of the home side was caught off-side in his own twenty-five. Nicolson sent the ball between the sticks.—3 all. V. Jolly was injured and had to retire his place being taken by Gillespie. A fairly even spell ended shortly afterwards with no alteration to the score. When the players came off it was noticed that j Marslin had sustained an injury, to his knee through falling on the hard surface. A change was made in the Alexandra backs during the interval and on taking the field it was noticed that Bcilby replaced Bowler behind the serum, the 'r latter going to the wing; Munro played I first five-eighth and M'Pliail second; ! R. Campbell was centre <and I. Frater on the other wing. This combination indulged in some nippy passing rushes which were only frustrated by good defensive play oh the part of the visitors' rear division. The Green forwards, too, appeared to be working better in this spell and were winning a big percentage of the scrums and lineouts. W. Noble was at the head of many Green forward rushes and Lawry shone out in the loose and lineouts. Curtis was playing a willing game and putting every ounce of Weight into his play. For the visitors Nicolson, Jolly and the half-back played good defensive games and saved their side time and again. The only score in the second half came when a rebound from one of the Cromwell players, off the full-back's-kick, was taken by Marslin (who was very lame) and thrown out to Munro. A clever piece of in-and-out passing saw I. Frater cross and score well out. The kick failed.' R. Campbell narrowly missed a drop kick about halfway through the spell, the ball going over one of the posts. The final score was: Alexandra , .. 6 Cromwell .. .. .. ~. .. 3 Mr Cox, of Lowburn, was a very s+rict and most efficient referee. MATAKANUI 3, WANAKA 0. Matakanui had a narrow win at Wanaka. The home side had the best of the game in the first spell and were unlucky not to score. In the second half the Matakanui forwards dominated the play and White was able to "cross and score an unconverted try. The game ended Matakanui 3, Wanaka nil. Mr A. Dewar was an able referee. CLDYE-EARNS. 9, POOLBURN 6. Clyde-Earnscleugh travelled to Poolburn Where they defeated the home side by three tries to two. It is rather strange that not one out of the five tries was converted. Mr W. Wilson was an efficient referee. A GRADE. May Alexandra to Poolburn (Mr E. g»n)Wanaka to Clyde (Mr G. Campbell). Matakanui to Cromwell (Mr R. D. Cox). | ' The following team has been selected to represent Alexandra against Poolbum on Saturday. Any player unable to make the trip to notify Mr R. Campbell immediately. Bus leaves Carlinc's corner at 1.30 p.m. sliarp:— J. Duncan W. Koble, L. Cummock, J. Noble, Jack Nob\c, 3"< Kedfdcll, S. Carlinc, E. Lawry, G. Bowler, R. Campbell, J. Bcilbs J. Munro, 11. Curtis, J. Frater, G. Hesson. . Alexandra B 3, Cromwell nil. Last Saturday Alexandra B Grade j journeyed to Cromwell where they metj the local B team and defeated it by a narrow margin of three points to nil. Both the teams Iwere fairly evenly matched (the visitors' forwards were a little heavier). From a spectator's point of view the game was somewhat of a ragged nature, it being confined mostly to a strenuous forward tussle. The home team's backs, on the whole, were fairly safe, the full-back playing an exceptionally fine game and on many, occasions saving his side time and again] I The forwards also put up a good fight. For the visitors' backs Thomson was the most prominent and Gardner, Mast kill, Pierce and Ashworth also played well. W. Jackson (half-back) got the ball away well and Jim Rankin, as full-back, played a sound game. They were responsible for several good passing bouts. The forwards were a good working pack and S. Jaekson and T<. Theyers were a good pair of hookers (in the majority of the scrums they heeled the ball) and from start w finish they played like Trojans, while Les. Hunt was responsible for good work in the tight. They were well supported bv Wright (who was always on the ball), J. Cummock, J. O'Neill, - Reed and O. M'Kellar. The visitors won the toss and played with the sun behind them. Soon after the kick-off Alexandra took the ball down to Cromwell's territory and for several minutes play was kept within the twentyfive until the home full-back, with a good.kick, found the lino at halfway For a while the ball travelled up ant down the field, Again the visitors forwards transferred play to the liomt

side's danger-zone, where bctihus and ( lineouts followed. Alexandra was getting the ball from the scrums and the ' backs were throwing it about in good style and made several attempts to cross but when within reach of the line i a forward pass would spoil the op- j portunity. As usual the mistakes were , due to over eagerness. About ten nriii- , utes from half-time the Greens* looked dangerous, and through a Blue back _ obstructing a player, a free kick was ' awarded Alexandra and JR. Thomson Handed a nice goal from just outside ' the twenty-five line. In the sfceond spell the home forwards commended with plenty of dash, but the opposition < was defending well and turned defence \ into attack. Throughout this half it j was a continuous struggle between the forwards, Alexandra having the advantage of the game. Not long before the final whistle went a passing bout by the Blue backs took place and when five yards from the line -juc of the home side was pushed out; from the throw-in the Greens were compelled to force. Alexandra forwards were on the fcttack when the final .yhjstlc 'was sounded. Mr K. M'Naught was aw imt partial referee. i Moa Creek defeated Lowburu by 8 . points to 5. i Boolburn defeated Clyde-Eurnseluugh i by 20 to nil. ? B GRADE. ) May 17— ; Poolburu to Alexandra (Mr C. Kinl raid). 1 Clyde to &owburn (Mr A. Dewar). s Cromwell to Moa Creek (Mr A. Nicol- -, son).