FOOTBALL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 57, 22 June 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

The following table shows the.positions of the various teams at the close of Saturday's play : £ j * Club. i . , g a a g • S £ 3 Q fi < to SENIOR GRADE. "Clinton .... 5 4 o I 24 11 9 Owaka ... 5 3 ° 2 59 & 8 *Kaitangata 5 3 1 1 23 9 7 Toko ... 5 2 3 0 32 41 4 Clydevale ... 5 1 4 0 17 5° 2 *Clutha ... 5 0 5 0 0 38 0 *Kaitangata won 2 matches by default. *Clinton beat Clutha by default. JUNIOR GRADE. Kaitangata... 3 3 ° °34 3 6 Owaka .►. 22 0 o 14 3 4 *Toko ... 3 i 2 o 3 12 2 Rornahapa ... 3 1 2 023 25 2 lutha ... 3 0 3 o 3 34 o *Toko II beat Clutha II by default. OWAKA I. v. TOKO I.

This match eventuated at Balclutha on Saturday. Owaka kicked off, with the disadvantage of facing the sun, and put play into Toko's quarters, who suffered the ignominity 'of a force-down four minutes after the start. Owaka returned to the assault, and W. Tobm spoilt the effect of a good run by throwing a wild pass to Sutton, The Maroon forwards, from a dribbling rush, sent the ball over the line, but C. Lane forced-down. A. Clark cut off a passing rush between Tobin Bros., and following up his kick, grassed the Owaka full-back. This was followed by serviceable kicking-by C. Lane. W. Littlejohn failed to take B. Latta's kick, but A. Clark was handy. Sutton made a bid for Toko's line, W. Littlejohn accounting for him. A free-kick to Toko relieved. Moir returned dribbling the ball. A free-kick was then awarded Owaka, but Sutton's attempt at goal was weak. Owaka forwards again invaded, only to see Toko force-down. From the kick-out Richardson returned to Toko's twentyfive, whore a scrum took place, and White securing the ball from ic, ran over Toko's line without much opposition, M'Kechnie did not convert. (3—o). This livened the Yellows up. Their forwards burst down the field, aud passiug rushes eventuated between Lano„.Bros. and Beid. From a throw-iu Hislop secured and plunged for tho lint, without avail. Hero Fraser, the Owaka fullback, retired injured, G. Duff taking his place. W. Tobin relieved by a good luck which W. Littlejohn failed to take. Sutton marked, but White's kick at goal was futile. 0. .Lane was instrumental in Toko attacking. From a dribbling rush by Toko forwards the ball was cross-kicked to Owaka's line. Keid stricked for it, and a score uppoared certain, but by a misjudgment he failed to get it, and a resulted. Hislop aud Turnbull headed a dribbling rußh, which ended near Owaka's goal-posts, where a scramble occurred. The ball came out of it freely, but G. Beed lost his head, the ball, and a splendid opportunity to score. White was penalised for getting off-sido, and Beid made a good attempt to kick a goal. After a brief respite Owaka were again defending. Curran sent tho ball on to Beid, who ran strongly before passing to A. Clark, who dashed over tho line, but was unable to touch-down, Half time was then called.

The second spell started with Toko attacking, followed by up-and-down play. Finally Meder Richardson, and S. Latta headed a dribbling rush, which Reid aud W. Littlejohn failed to stop, and Richardson scored. No goal kicked. (6—o). Play continued in Toko's end. Hatton nullified a passing rush between H. and W. Tobin near Toko's line. Subsequently W. Tobin got possession, and scored at one of the corners, Sutton again tried to kick a goal. (9-0). For the remainder of the game Toko were pressed bard. Momentary relief was obtained by Meder getting oil side. From a scramble the ball was kicked into W. Tobin's arms, and not one Milton man tackling him in proper style, he ran through them and gained Owaka's fourth try on the call of lime. The kick at goal faring no better than the others, the game ended— Owaka 12pts. • Toko nil, An ideal day, good ground, and fast game, of which the score cannot be taken as a criterion. The winners Bhowed vere little superiority over Toko, and the match was any team's till the last 15 minutes, when lack of training told. Owaka were much heavier than Toko, and the Maroon forwards had all the advantages of the scrumß. Dribbling was the beat feature of the day's play. W. Littlejohn, the Toko full-back, was lamentably off-color. Reid was the best of the threequarters; L Clark did some serviceable work, but Hatton was starved throughout the game. 0, Lane was the spectators' favorite, and all features of his play were good. His brother, hindered by an injured knee, could bo classed fair. G. Reed, the " halt," may attempt to play senior football again--ho shouldn't. Hislop went top amongst the forwards. Curran and A. Littlejohn both battled hard, though they wero rather light for such doughty opponents. Turnbull and Pcdlow wore prominent in following up, whilo W. Clark, Mac William, and M'Murtrie did not spare themselves.

Richardson, a young fiveneighths, was Owaka's best back. W. Tobin and Sutton played well. Cooper was a hardworking forward, and was well supported by Meder, Moir and S. Latta. Mr Shanks, of Kaitangata, referocd to the best of his ability.