FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 12884, 6 August 1906, Page 8

FOOTBALL

- RUGBY. —Results of Matches.— University 9 v. Alhambra 5. Southern 8 v. Kaikorai 3. Dunedin 3 v. Pirates nil. Zingari-Richmond 17 v. Union 3. . The following is a description of Saturday's games:— ~ —University v. Alhambra. — The men with T the hockey sticks ceased tormenting -the cricket bull at 2.45, and people began to look more attentively at the arena. Many had merely endured the hockey, and to them the coming of the footballers was like the entrance of the matador after the'chtilo had stopped annoying the bull, the advent of the gladiator after the fight had rooked" itself to sleep. ] Besides, tho match was expected to 'settlo things"—not the premiership, for that was already setth-d, but the lifferenco of opinion. As tho 'Varsity team, led by Adams, came out through the jate, and Alhambra, led by Given, followed ». minute later, it seemed that 4.000 people were Blue by sympathy. About 1,500 'Cemed to be Red. And no doubt there some neutrals. Each side was contit.hat the game would show that, " the nor fellows" did not know what, they I ere talking about. At a meeting the night before the Blues natl resolved to give the Beds war to (he knife whatever the weather was like. So they assailed the Kensington goal immediately, and twice in tho first few minutes Alhambra were nearly scored against. 'Varaty "centred" against the wind. It was magnificent; but it was asking a lot from the forwards. Knowing that the slightest slackness in following up would cost them the length of the ground, they played close on the ball. This, also, was asking the men to do what only the acme of training could achieve. Each member of tho 'Bnnias' rearguard was smothered as he tried to pick the leather up. Plainly the game for the Reds was to give the wind a chance if they could, ajid "presently King found the way. His kick from behind the scram placed 'Varsity on the defensive, and more kicks, principally by Harrhy, kept them there. _ When the wind is allowed to take a hand in an argument of this land, the wind must win. And so it was. Once Scannel allowed the ball to ran over the line, and forced. An attempt to repeat the caper let the ball into touch near the flag. From the throw-in the struggle wrestled over towards the harbor goal-posts, and the TJamas heeled out. It was the position for a_ half-back to go "on his own," and Knowles put his head down and tried. Caught by three men, ho got the ball away to King, who dived Iwtween two opponents and got over near the posts. Ben Get wa<s called to take the kick, and sent it over. s—o. Twenty minutes of the spell had gone by, and Alhambra had been none too soon in scoring. In the next rive minutes Harrhy missed a pretty easy shot. " They've blued a chance," said a spectator, speaking little English but much truth. The Blues stack to it. They played all over Alhambra, but, -the wind-borne ball plaved all oyer them. To add to their ill-luck," it first rained and then hailed. The spectacle given by tho 'Varsity backs catching unerringly with the storm beating in their faces was magnificent, and the whirl of the play bewildering. Both sides had chances. Once Gilray got clear, stumbled as Harrhv took him from behind, struggled to his feet, and went on until seized earnestly in fiont and rear and laid low. Once also, when one of the beautiful 'Varsity rushes straightened out, it could be seen that they were oearing down on Slattcry three to one. But the Blue who should have passed didn't pass, and that ended that. On _ tho Alhambra fide Phillips and M'Kewen dribbled across on separate occasions, and got a fine full-sized view of Scanrrel forcing down. M'Leod also ''rabbited" hard for the goal, but had to " let up on the performance" when Alma Mater fell on him in one lump. Shots at goal by Harrhv and Harridge—one of these from the " spot where Mardgrave came to light in the Taranaki match—also helped to swell the total of might-have-beens. At the end of the 6pell there were still some who believed that the "heart" of the 'Bamas would pull them through, though it was generally allowed that they had not scored enough to be safe. Among the " views " which were aired at half-time one honest man was heard to say: " Can I pick what will happen in the second spell? No, I can't, and 1 don't believe that there is anybody on the ground who can." Ten minutes after the game, re-commenced *Var6ity drew blood. A long kick by G.lray hopped awkwardly for the Alhambra full-back, and when the situation sorted itself out Lang had the ball tucked under his arm and was past everybody. He ran resolutely and threw himself across near the posts, giving the 'Varsity war-cry in the stand a flying start. Harrison was brought tip to square the scores, but failed, and there were cheers, hoots, and sundry demonstrations. At this stage it was pretty plain that both sides were '" done." The Ban came out —a level, dazzling beam—and the copious steam could be seen rising from tho worn warriors. 'Varsity had entered the field in superior condition, but Adams had asked them to play the superior football against the wind. It was too much to ask any team, and now they were " all out.' So was Alhambra. In the general "doneness" both sides had to bo content to live on neighborly terms along the switchback touch-line. Several times the Reds explored the fringe of the 'Varsity goal— Given generally leading. Each time some Red offender caught Mr M'Donald's eye, and Adams, taking the kick, found the middle flag. Half the spell wore bv, and it began to look as if 'Varsity would not be able to sheet the charge "home. Then Lomas launched out on the winning effort. Beginning at halfway, half the Alhambra team were wrapped round him as he reached the quarter distance. He handed on the ball to a comrade. The new comer seemed to be a good man. He had sis Alhambras to pass—no ordinary tacklers some of them —but bo knocked one down, fended off another, jinked two, passed tbe rest, and scored, with M'Xeod sticking closer to him than a brother. As he fell there came the jubilant strains "0 tureke turekc, panaka, panaka," etc., from the grand stand. Wi Repa had touched the game with the hand of a. giant. 6—5. What happened in the nest minute could not. have amused Alhambra much. It was the rush of the day. Dansey, Foote, Adams, and Gilray were in it, and when the 'Varsity captain had finished a strong effort he gave his colleague on the wing a, straight run in at the bowling green corner. The latter raised every pound of steam, beating the commando of Reds who were coming at him post-haste across the field. Someone stopped iiim as he turned to come behind the posts, bat could not stop him from touching down. 9—5. A pot by Adams—a near thing—was one of the last incidents, and the play at about halfway when the referee blew "" no aide," finishing the hardest game of the year. 'Varsity had played Alhambra, wind, rain, hail, and general circumstances—and won. —Southern v. Kaikorai.— This match was played on Tahuna Park Before about 200 spectators. Southern [kicked off against the wind and sun, and after about fifteen minutes of give-and-take p,lay the ball was kicked up to Kindley. who was playing full-back for Southern In trying to find the line this player kicked into the hands of Dobson, who ran in and Bcored -unopposed. The kick at goal failed. After this reverse Southern rallied, and lbeir forwards dribbled the ball up to the Kaikorai line. M. Casey picked tip and passed to Eckhold. This player ran up to the full-back and passed to Stanley, who got over, scoring a good try. The whistle sounded half-time a few minutes after. On resuming play, Southern put the Blues on the defensive rijht away, and Shirley got a mark in their twenty-five in a good position, but Eckhold's kick went wide. Immediately after Sbeehan got away from a line-out, and scored, wrtli some of the Kai korai men looking at him. Eckhold. with a splendid kick, added the extra points.

The only incident after this worthy of note' was when the Blues got a. mark and kicked the ball right into Shirley's bands. He was standing at the, halfway flag, and with a very strong kick almost potted a goal, the ball just dropping under the bar. Then the whistle sounded finally, with Southern 8 points, Kaikorai 3. —Dunedin v. Pirates.— Pirates had a chance to score at the very start of the game at Carisbrook. Their forwards rushed the ball to the twentynvc mark, and Dunedin, in striving for relief, broke tbe. rules, giving Cramond a good show to kick a goal. But he did not get .tair on to tho. ball. Nor did anyone else during the afternoon; The ballVas very wet and greasy, and not one kickput it over the bar. As a matter of fact, Rugby of any sort was almost impossible, the ground being so slippery. Twice in the game Dunedin seemed likelv to score, and just missed it." Not from 'the pot at goal—that was merely a desperate specu-. latum. The first show was when Clarke started a pass that sent the ball through pretty well all the Dunedin backs anri finally to Teesdaie, who could not twist smartly enough when near the touch-line, otherwise he would have got in easily enough. Dunedin's next lost chance vas again with Tcesdale, but a glissade gave one of the Pirates a show to flick his jersey from behind and pull him off his balance. On the whole, however, Dunedh had better luck than Pirates. Their forwards played a very hard and dashing game, particularly Fenwick, Wilkinson, and Denniston, and the following up of one of the five-eighths, G. Nicholson, was excellent : but somehow or other the incidents and accidents of the game usually went against them, and every attempt to score was foiled. G. Nicholson's long rui; in the first spell was about the most ex citing feature of the game, and the for ward rush beaded by Fenwick and Wilkin son just before the interval looked very meritorious. The oidy score of the afternoon was shortly after the second spel. began. Dunodin dribbled, from near halfway and Thomson got over. Clarke tool the kick and it was a poster—that wus .about all that could be expected from the angle. Thomson, by the way, was playing wing-forward for Dunedin, Whelan going into the scrum. This change was madi because Ivimy could riot play, through illness, his place being taken by a mai picked up on tbe ground. Another substi tut ion was also noticed. Mr White, the appointed referee, could not attend, and .Mr Duncan acted for him, controlling thr game, so far as could be seen, with judgment. —Zingari-Richmond v. Union.— This match was played at Tahuna Park Union won the to3s, and had the advantag of a brisk wind. The first attempt fw seoro was made by Zingari, who wer, awarded a free kick for a Maroon playei being off-side, but there was no result After some scrum and line work, gooo loose play on Mauley's part enabled Thorn son to score a try for L'nion. Good plav on Sullivan's po.rt. he getting clean awaj with tbe ball, took the play close up u tho Zingari line. Abbott broke away on ;. dribbling rush, and brought the ball to th Union twenty-five. Shortly after Redding ton made a splendid run from one twenty five to the other, and the ball being passed to Collie, he passed it on to a forward. The manoetivTc resulted in Union finding touch. At this stage of toe game Littlejobn retired through an injury to his hand, his place being later on filled by Gray. A couple of free kicks to Union brought no addition to the score. Some excellent work on Stewart's part cleared the Zingari line. After a fine passing rush, the leather being handled by Thomson, Collie, and Reddington, play' was once again taken down to halfway, when M'Lennan (Union) found touch. "Good dribbling b the Zingari forwards shifted operatioi .- into the Maroons' territory, a scrum being formed within a fow yards of the line, Union touching down. Some further dribbling by tho Colors followed, which ended in them scoring a try. Low© took the kick, but the effort was futile. First-class forward tactics and a spirited passing rush by the Zingari backs enabled Lowe to cut in and score in a good position. Alf. Lowe was entrusted with the kick, but failed, and at half-time the situation was: Zingari-Richmond 6 points, Union 3. The second half could easily be dismissed in half a dozen words. Soon after resuming Barr scored a try for Zingari, but once again Lowe failed with the kick. A passing rush by Zingari gave some momentary interest to tho game, but Collie, holding the ball rather long, spoiled a good chance oi scoring. Play was now transferred to Union quarters, a scrum being formed on the Union line, but they soon partially retaliated by bringing the ball to halfway. They seemed now to have lost heart, however, and Zingari cut in with a swift passing rush, giving Reddington tbe opportunty of scoring behind the posts. Collie was entrusted with the kick, which he converted. More passing bv Zingari followed. Watt eventually securing a try. The game resulted: Zingari-Richmond 17 points, Union 5 points. —Second Grade,—■ Dunedin beat Alhambra by 14 points to Taieri Rovers beat Ravensbourne by 11 to 6. J —Third Grade.— Zingari-Richmond beat Kaikorai bv 56 points to nil. —Fourth Grade.Alhambra beat Port Chalmers by 12 points to 5. Southern defeated Dunedin A bv 6 points to 3. Zingari-Richmond defeated Pirates at Forbury by 6 points to nil. Kaikorai claim a win against Ea.vensbourna by default. TARANAKI DEFEATS CANTERBURY. The weather and the conditions on Saturday were anything but. favorable for the match between Taranaki and Canterbuiy, the first eff the season's representative fixtures, played at Christchurch. About noon rain st;t in from the south-west, but it cleared shortly before the match, and the sun shone out. The ground was in an extremely muddy state, pools of water lying all over it. and as the match progressed players found it extremely difficult to obtain a foothold. Consequently the game was little moTe than a mud scramble, scientific play being utterly impossible. The attendance was very satisfactory, however, for such a miserable day. Fearce kicked off for Canterbury from the pouth. The return was muddled, and a useful kick by Deans set play in tbe visitors' twenty-five. A moment later Taranaki were forced from a flying kick by Burns. The. Reds continued to press. Hunter checked tbe rush. Ford, however, returned well, and a miskick by Hunter ! looked dangerous for his side, but fortn- | nately the ball went out. A moment later the Yellows had to force down again. The kick out gave no relief, Murray being prominent in a forward rush that had the visitors once more defending. In a loose rush the ball was kicked over the Taranaki I line. Hardgreaves taking some risk by not forcing promptly. A passing rush by the I Rods was stopped by a good line-kick. ! The Canterbuiy forwards broke away, but a good speculator from Hardgreaves found touch. Shannon headed the next rash, the effort being spoilt by offside play. The free kick that followed removed play to the centre, and Dive, intercepting a pass, made a useful run, and then passed to Abbott, who, however, failed to take the ball cleanly. A cross kick by Fraser was well 'ollowed up, and Taranaki were in trouble, Hardgreaves just saving by marking under his own goal-posts. In the scramble that preceded this, o"Sullivan was injured, and it was found that he had broken his collarbone, and he retired from the field, and was replaced by Harkness. Canterbury continued to hold the upper hand, but at length sound line kicking by Hardgreaves and Abbott removed play to the home team'?? twenty-five. There Abbott obtained possession, and after a run. down the touchline he kicked into the centre. FoTd was tackled with the ball, and lost it, and Harkness scored in a good position. Hardgreaves, however, failed with the kick at goal. A mark was taken by Cameron on kicking off, and play was taken to the centre, where Ward managed to get it, and passed to Hunter, but the latter was i imable to get through. Passing between I .Hwntee-jnd Abhatt took. the 4@m&- oa to

Canterbury's goal-line, where the ball went out. Canterbury then got on a dribbling rush,_ but a long kick by Abbott saved the position;. A free kick to Canterbury found the line near Taranaki's twenty-five" where the visitors were again penalised, and Frasor had a shot at goal, but his kick went wide.. Crowley. and-Ryani;twitb ; ,a good dribbling rush, looked dangerous,-but Deans shot in, and got the• hall, after sliding about a yard, and making a. smart recovery dodged through and saved the- position.with a kick. Shannon then got on to the ball,and led Canterbury into. Taranaki's twentyfive, but Hardgreaves returned by a long kick.. Fryer then picked up the hall, and after a good run passed to Deans, who took it well into Taranaki's quarters. Abbott, however, came to the rescue,.and removed' the danger. Canterbury returned to the attack, but Abbott, who was playing a fine defensive game, shifted the scene of operations to the centre by a long kick. A free kick and fast following up saw Taranaki again in trouble, but the ball was kirked over. Just before the interval Deans had a good chance of scoring, but slipped and the ball was k >kcd out near Taranaki's <roal-line. Canterbury were pressing hard, but no score resulted. On resuming, a free kick was awarded to Canterbury in their twenty-five, and the bill found the line at the halfway ilag. A kick by Deans was returned by Hardgreaves, who found tho line in Canterbury's twenty-five. A free kick to Cantcrbury was taken by Fryer, and the game was in neutral territory, but a rush by Taranaki had Canterbury defendm!* vigorously, and i little later Hunter obtained a mark in Canterbury's twenty-five. Hardgreaves had a yhot at goal, but the ball was touched by a Canterbury forward. The ball was returned after the kick-out by Cameron, who followed up well, and another force was registered. A forwa.rd rush by Canter bury was stopped by Hardgreaves. and plav enfcred. A rush bv Taranaki was saved bv Deans, and from bad passing by Canterbury Abbott obtained the ball and looked like scoring, but Fryer collared him before he could get over. A forward rush bv 'aranaki had Canterbury in difficulties, but a smart piece of work in marking the ball by Fraser relieved. Taranaki were nenaltved a little later for Loveridge being iff-side. Open plav followed, in which w ord obtained tho ball, and after a good run was collared by Hardgreaves, who returned the ball into the Canterbury twentyfive, where fast following-up saw Frasor in trouble, but tbe kill was kicked out. In taking a free kick, .Fitzgerald just tipped the 'ball, which was caught by Hunter, and pirsing between the visitors' backs had Canterbury in trouble, but later Grav obtained a mark, which saved the situation A long kick by Burns and a rush by the Canterbury forwards had Taranaki on the d-fensive. but Hardgreaves came to the rescue and saved by a line kick. A brilliant piece of passing was. then indulged in bv Deans, Bums, Ford. Pcaree, and Gray, which took the play well into Taranaki's territory. A long kick removed the clanger, and the game was acain in Canterbury's twenty-live, where Abbott obtained the ball a little later, but in passing to Hunter Deans cut in and intercepted, saving an almost certain score. From a'serum near halfway Ryan broke away and, beating Fraser at back, got throue'h, and scored a well-merited try. Hardgreaves had the shot at goal, but it went wide. A few minutes later Ryan repeated tho performance, but Ford ran in and saved. Taranaki were pressing hard when time was called, the score being: Taranaki 6 points, Canterburv nil.

_ The Wairarapa v. Wanganui representative match was played on Saturday in a. gale of wind. The game was evenly eontested, Wanganui winning by 12 points to ASSOCIATION. Senior. —Results.— Wakari 2 goals v. Kaitangat-'i 2 goals. Northern 11 goals v. Battalion 1 goal. Roslyn 3 goals v. Green Island 1 goal. Because Wakari and Kaitangata are fighting for second place in the senior competition there was a sporadic outbreak of popular interest in the match that they played at Mornington on Saturday. Or (to throttle importunate metaphor, and speak plainly for the nonce) there were quite a lot of enthusiastic onlookers at the game aforesaid. The O.F.A. had decided Taylor's fate before the g.me start* d, and G. Middlemass undertook to fill his place. In the stead of J. Olliver and Findlay there were Dobbio and W. Ramsay. Since the days of his prominence Middlemass has not had need to keep up his physical condition, but he retains many of his old "notions" and all his determined spirit. Dobbie has some tricky I ideas, though in the way of execution he' needs additions. The Wakari mantle of Rhodes scholar Farquharson fell upon Wright, who did his part all the time without making himself conspicuous or objectionable. For various reasons " the people who knew " averred that there was "only one team in it," and that Kaitangata would be defeated with a big bump —or words to that effect. But so it was not. Besides mud, wind, skewed goalposts, and other local peculiarities, there was a, hail storm, that happened, fortunately, at about half-time. As to the game as a game, it was—just a game. It neither rose very high nor sank very low, but ambled along go-d-naturedly and then stopped. Tho first spell was dull; the second spell was less dull. Nobody did anything sensational (though Morrison, of Wakari, threatened to once or twice); the referee came off tho ground unscathed; and only a few spect.itois goi excited. Wakari had the first spasm of serious attack. The forwards jogged along up the field, and Ussher centred nicely to Clyde, who smote the atmosphere witii his foot, and allowed the ball to go over the line. Then there was a period of plav usually described in a set form of word's which readers will bo spared. About this time it became noticeable that Bobbie was "wrastling" occasionally with a heaa-and-toe problem. He solved it when Olliver sent bim a nico pass, and the ball lobbed gently into goal. Freeman, with the sun in his eyes, punched at it and missed it. And so Kaitangata collected some score. The Green men rambled about anio l -- the Wakari backs for a while after this, and W. Ramsay chased several-fleeting opportunities, but they all got away. Then he captured the ball near the corner flag after a breathless pursuit, and centred to Dobbie, who hobbled it along at the goalkeeper, who allowed an opening for J. Ramsay, who scored. 2—o. All this time Robertson had been doing guileful things with his feet and hammering in quick shots without success, what time tho Wakari men were not shifting the geographical position of the play to the other end of the field, and arguing the point with Penman and Pilling. Not long before half-time Morrison gathered himself together and made certain violent assaults upon the Kaitangata defence. He dribbled, centred, and shot splendidly, but Pilling and other circumstances prevented any damage. Then the hail came, and tho ground was white. Accentuated energy gave some brightness to the second spell. Middlemass went for ward, and Olliver seemed to be carrying out a Kaitangata tactical move, of which the apparent object was to keep' the score, as they were. Allen hurt his leg, and limped through the remainder of the game. Morrison pushed the ball and the Kaitangata backs down the line and centred; Allen couldn't run fast enough to be of any use, and Ussher cut in and scored Kaitangata beg.on to badly, want another goal after this, and made effort after it by feeding J. Ramsay , bounteously. But «J. Ramsay was not hungry. Therefore there was no more scoring till Morrison drcumnavigated Ramsay, galloped past Allen, abied at Penman, and defeated Pilling I with a shot that scattered the small boys ' who, to the number of sixteen, were standing agape in fch«> shadow of that great man. That levelled the scores Various other thinfS that needn't be mentioned happened after this, and when Mr W. Morrison breathed his last into the whistle the score was "2. all." Battalion, with two emergencies, man- '_ fully stood up to an 11 to 1 defeat. ; Roslyh went out of town, to play_ .Green j Island, and beat thcrn .after a,;, struggle, } Therois-no reop.rd..ip,.jßu^^p|v^Ti,^<>waiOt,

happening, such as was hinted at aforetime. —Junior. — Roslyn 5 goals v. Battalion 2 goals. Northern beat Green Island.by default. Mornington A 2 goals v. Mornmgton B 1 Maori Hill .4 .'goals v. ...Raveii^bdurne' 4 V goals. .-■"' .'.' ~ .-.'..' .. . '-'.'. .., V"j f. "'—Third Grade.— ;-'—' : —Representative Match.— : l The representative match cdin and Kaitangatawasvwon.by theJtown r boys by 6-. to :;3 .after a/bright and; merry; tussle. -, ■...'..'• .... .'■ ; ... ■ .. - • ,-;■; j Boys' High;-School beat Christian": Brothers' Aby 2 goals to 0. v.} •- The- representative match;^-between.'.■•Wel-lington and Taranaki, pl.lyedat Day's Bay,' Wellington, on' Saturday, resulted in a;win for Wellington by 5 goals to nil. Both . teams were in fine condition, and the game; was fast and interesting throughout. Taranaki representatives showed individual brilliancy, but were outclassed by the splendid combined play of the Wellington forwards. Goals were shot by Organ, Smytbe,: Davis (2). and S. Hickson. The game" wati a triumph for scientific play over individual endeavor. SUNDAY FOOTBALL. Before bis address at Holy Trinity Church at Kumara on a recent Saturday, the Rev. A. Hore referred (says the' Kumara Times') to complaints that had been made concerning the playing of football matches in the Recreation Ground on Sundays. He-said he bad no objection to the game, as he liked jt, and had played it, and he was no bigot and held no puritanical-views regarding tbe Sabbath, but the game being played ! in. the middle of the town was a. nuisance to the susceptibilities of a mimlver of Christian residents of the district. If the teams could find no other day to play their i matches, they could play on the racecourse, where the noise .would"not'be a source of nuisance, and some of the language used l would not contaminate children on their way- home from Sunday school. He appealed to the members of the congregation as citizens to protest against tile matches being played in the town on Sunday?.