FOOTBALL.

Cromwell Argus, 9 August 1926, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

Combined 12, Tuapeka 9.

The Combined Viucent-Maniototo team played its first match against Tuapeka, at Roxburgh, on Thursday, and after an indifferent display won by the narrow margin of three points. On what happened there was nothing between the teams. Combined set right out for back play, but many of the movements went astray. Tuapeka were mainly content with high kicking. Scrumming was poor on both sides. Tuapeka had a solid hustling pack, who put every ounce into the tight work. They dashed among the opposing backs m good style, even if they did show a pronounced disregard for the off-s-ide rule in doing so, and tackled well. The chief weakness of the home team was the fielding of the backs. Combined were patchy. The backs put in oue or two dashing movements, but frequently they failed to link up In open work the pack at times did well. The ground was in good order and there was a fair attendance. The teams were :

VincknT-ManiotoTO (Green) —Miller ; Forrester, Jolly, Hannay ; Niven, Townsend ; Leyden. Thomas, Pringle, Small, Anderson, Donnelly, Redding, Bell, Marslin (wing). Tuapeka (Colors). —Erridge ; McPherson, McDonald, Manuel ; Paiinett, Eckhoff; Toms. ./ones, McLauchlau, Morrin, Gilkison, Bowdeu, McCallum, Parker, Tull (wing). Tuapeka (Colors) won the toss and Combined (Green) kicked off against a light breeze. Greens were first to attack when Townseud broke away but was stopped by Kckhoff, but a penalty to Green left play in Colors quarter. A penalty to Colors went to midfield. A fine passing rush by Greens was stopped by Erridge taking Hannay near the corner, and the home forwards worked'back to the twenty-five. Hannay missed from a penalty within range, and Colors forced. They were again driven back on the line but a timely mark gave relief to halfway. Then the Greens opened out in a dashing passing rush. Leyden cut in nicely and near the line transferred to Marslin who scored well out. Hannay just missed with the kick. Combined 3, Tuapeka 0. Play settled on Green's side of halfway until Leyden broke away nicely, and the forwatds joined in, but the home pack, with McCallum and Gilkison prominent, put in a fine clearing movement. They drove Greens back. Colors were awarded three penalties in quick succession, and from two of these Bowdeu kicked at goal but missed. Donnelly and Marslin led the Greens out of danger, the backs joined in, and Mcpherson stopped Hannay on the line. A penalty gave Colors relief. From the centre Leyden and Townsend dummied up the blind, but the effort broke down. The Colors retaliated with a back effort, Pannett gaining ground. Green forwards returned, but McPherson saved nicely, Froni midfield Manuel dashed up the side line and transferred to Bowden, who enabled McCallum to cross well out and run round to the posts. It was Manuel's try. Bowden missed an easy kick. Combined 3, Tuapeka 3. A stirring rush by Colois back and forward was stopped by a penalty, and a timely kick by Miller relieved. Greens backs found trouble in poor fieidiug, but fine work by the forwards saved the situation. Toms marked in face of a rush, but Miller sent the kick down-field and caught the opposing full-back. Eckhoff was responsible for stemming a Green passing rush, and a mark by Pauuett transferred play well down the field. Marslin, Jolly, and Hannay were in an attacking movement, and from a penalty 40 yards out, Forrester just missed the posts. At half-time the score was Combined 3, Tuapeka 3. Townseud, who injured his knee halfway through the spell, retired, and Nicolsou went on. An early incident in the second half was a fine potted goal by Vic. Jolty from a penalty near midfield. Combined 6, Tuapeka 3. A mark by Toms, and a well placed kick by Eckhoff left play in midfield, and a penalty to Colors sent Greens on defence, some tight work taking place in Greens quarter. From 30 yards out McCallum had a shot from a penalty, but missed, and Green forced. Frotn the kick out Gilkison headed a Colors rush and play again settled in Greens twentyfive, Play drifted to midfield, where Forrester broke away in a dash up the line only to be stopped by Eckhoff. Greens back and forward came into action in passing. Towards the side-line on the twenty-five Greens got a penalty, and Niven piloted the ball over. Combined 9, Tuapeka 3. Bad fielding by Greens let Colors away, and they headed into Greens' quarters. A penalty against Greens just outside the twenty-five was entrusted to MoPherson, who goaled. Combined 9, Tuapeka 8. Greens opened out with a promising passing rush, but Jones marked on the line, and play was just outside the home team's twenty-five. In quick succession, Jolly and Leyden both potted but missed. Loose > play gave Colors an advantage, the backr. opened out, but it was stopped by Marslin, who led through to the opposing twentyfive, where Forrester came on to kick across, but a force followed. - Gilkison was well away from midfield, but was well stopped by Redding. Play was in Greens' territory, and there was a degree of unnecessary bumping by one team. From midfield Hannay kicked down and then Jolly set the backa going, but sound tackling saved Colors. McNeill (who had replaced a home player) marked and McCallum followed through and caught the Greens. On defence Nicolson marked, but a scrum followed the kick, Marslin led a counter movement but Manuel s.-ived. From a penalty at the twenty-five, near the side line, Hannay landed a- great goal. Combined 12, Tuapeka 6, Colors pack seemed to be tiring, bet they came away with a. great final dash and hemmed Greens near the line. McNeill knocked on at the end of a passing rush. They kept up the pressure. Then from loose work McLauchlau dashed through with the balj at his toe, and although he appeared to knoek-cn before crossing, was awarded a well-deserved try well out. McPherson missed the kick and time sounded. Combined 12, Tuapeka 9. Vincent missed Townsend in the second half, when there were more opportunities than in the first spell. The backs gave a fair Fhowing, but there was room for improvement. Forrester was playing with rare dash in the second half. Marslin played a fine game as wing forward. In the pack Anderson and Bedding were conspicuous. Of the Tuapeka backs, Eckhoff was the Btar, and did no end of solid work. McPherson and Manuel shaped well and rannett was sound. McCallum, Gilkison and Bowden played fine games in the forwards. The game bristled with penalties. Mr T. Waigth who referecd well, was almost too sudden 'on playsrs stopping rushes, or when tackled after taking a ball in the line out. His decisions, however, were prompt.

A programme is to hand for the West Otago Tournament, to be held at Heriot on August 28th. There are tour competitions : Seniors (gold medals), Juniors, under 10 years (gold medals), Schoolboys (silver medals), Bantams (silver medals) The fixture should attract teams from this end, as apart from the competitions a run to Heriot is a very pleasant outing.

The combined team met West Otago at Tapanui on Saturday and were defeated by ten points to nil. Townseud was not playing. The combined backs played a poor game. The winners score was a try, a potted goal, and a penalty.