EXCELSIOR v. AOTEA.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 61, 10 September 1908, Page 6

EXCELSIOR v. AOTEA.

•The football attraction yesterday .afternoon Avas the match between the Aotea and Excelsior seniors. In anticipation of a toirgh game a goodly number of spectators gathered in the pavilion, but the exceedingly inclement Aveather made it impossible for any but the most ardent enthusiasts to see ; -the. game out; As the result of frequent shoAvers the ground; was inclined to be soft, the ball greasy, and generally the conditions Avere not favourable to good football. Still up to the last 20 minutes of the game there Avas . plenty of incident in it for the oulookers, and up to that itime it Avas any one's match. ToAvards the close, hoAvever, the Excelsiors began to assert their superiority and it was then evident that Aotea could not possibly win. The first spell was fought out ou fairly even terms ; aud neither, side could claim much advantage. True, Excelsiors had notched a i>ry, but this was got from a palpable knock on by Kelly, AAhich the re-

fereo evicle; ilt i y did no t notice, and constituted a score AvHich should not have '«yeen allowed. ' Apart ..from this j ac itrantage the play was of ran evenly balanced character,* and' there Avas lirtle'.to 'chppse between the sides, there being many aylio thought Aotea might easily win in the second half. From the kick off at 'half time loose 'play* was the order' ; of the clay in which. Aotea gained some advantage. There- weiie times when tjieir play Avas "really brilliant, but a bo\it of good '^as'sing Ava's heaily. always nullified by some reckless ttu-pAving Avliich allowed •the- Excelsiors to ., rush .the .ball down ; the ' field and once •■Snore; place Aotea ou -fclisv Hdfe'jis'ivo. "As the. result of one.: of these rushes. Excelsior" scored -their. isecoakl ia-y.- '-■ The. 'ball had. been driven, wer the line, and secured : by'Aotea's full-back, who, instead of forcing I ,'; tried to.'ruh round-, a.nd j)unt into, touch. He,- however, missed ■his-kick'J'and Br'idsou at once ponnced'on the ball and scored.. The kick at goal was a failure, and Aotea revengecl' themselves -in resuming the aggressiA'e.- Their .attack, liOAveA r er, lacked "deA-il,'' and they -neA'er succeedecl in getting through. TAvice they forced the ball pA r er the .line, but on both occasions failed to .secure the 'try. Piiro and -Tax amongst the backs, arid Hopj^y in the forwards Aveiie doing good Avork for Aotea, althoagh Avild passing by the former was often fatal to his side, AA'hile the tw-o I)ririkwatei;s were the life and soul of Excelsiors" game. Some smart play: by "Bob"- Drinkwate'r, and a good run by Harry once more hemmed Aotea in, and while a scramble .was. going on -neaj" the liae, Bridspn picked' the leather upy and AA'riggling tlirc-ugh the opj)osviig forwards^ scored his second ''and ..Excelsiors.thi rd try. Again the kick at goal Avas a failure, but from this out, . Excelsior had ivo difficulty in niore than holding their oavii, and .although no further, score Avas. registered. the balance of iylay. was decidedly' in their favor, ■ the" game -ending,: Excelsior 9,' Aotea .nil; ■ : ■■" • •'■"':- ;■

Mr Gebhie had a good Jeaifo^d^ft 8 : referee, as breaches^ of the rules were frequent. ■ : -.b;j -.';-/: ■ ;:;.