COAST FOOTBALL

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5533, 15 July 1920, Page 7

COAST FOOTBALL

BANNER COMPETITIONS AT TOLOGA BAY.

CITY BEAT HAUITI

; (Bv “Critic.”) Tiic Banner Competitions entered the third round on Saturday, and, though it had rained all the week, the ground was in good order, and that keen interest centred in the game was apparent from the enthusiasm shown by the spectators. Tho contesting sides were City and Hauiti, and though City won by 14 to 3, the score by no means represents the difference in the game for, if anything, Hauiti scores were only narrowly averted by the Beds. Hauiti are to be congratulated on their fight'and with the Whangara players m for next Saturday will give Country a close run. Nelson, the City skip. (Beds) won the toss and decided to defend the North goal, and Smith for Hauiti (Blacks) set the ball in motion. After three minutes’ play a pass from Nelson to IV. Smith saw that player cross the line and Harrison made a good but unsuccessful shot at goal. 3-0 ■ The kick-out was well taken by Smith, who. by a Alice run and kick, sent the ball out at the corner, 'but the blacks gradually worked the ball to mid-field, when Anderson got possession and sent it on to J. Lockwood. who gave Nelson a sharp high pass which rebounded, hut lie snapped it up and was in a hanuy Position to score when the referee ruled a. -knock-on. Steady play by the Blacks took the ball to the Beds quarters, but Smith kicked it too hard and a force saved. The kickout was returned to E. Smith, who punted high and followed through, bui an infringement under the Blacks posts saw a scrum and) scramble fioni which Lincoln snapped up a good mark : n an easy position, but no o-oal resulted. The kick-out was well fielded bv Lockwood, who sent it- on to Burgess,, and the hall went out- at the Blacks’ corner, but a fine kick by Noanoa relieved as Smith was well tackled bv an opposite player an taking the ball and the Blacks swept down to the Beds’ 25. hut Findlay j o-ood footwork, brought it back only to see Temple snap it up, and, beating a couple of men return it._ Ham i players, at tills stage, were inclined to hang off-side and obstruct, and for the latter reason the referee gave Beds a free kick, but had the advantage rule been applied and Stevenson allowed to go on ft possible score was in view. The Blacks weie masters of the scrum and worked the ball to the Beds quarters but a good save by Lockwood and fast following by Harrison and Callaghan took play hack past the half-way 'Good plav bv Hauiti m which Temple and Harvey" wore very prominent, saw the latter make a good run and pass to Pen fold, who failed to take when a score was certain and halitime was called with 3-0. From the kick-off the hah centered for a few minutes until A too to and Penfold broke away, but I’intk lav relieved I)V' sending the ball to the 'Blacks’ 25 where Tonga by a good run and kick, put the Beds m danger, but W. Smith saved. A nice’ run by Harrison and Holdc i took plav to the Blacks line where Holder’s fleetness should have taken him across, but looking round, for a mate saw him up-ended. Hie Blacks forwards, working hard, took the ball down tho field, where Anderson secured and. as lie and Lockwood were fairly clear, things looked da ngoron s, but £ood def once hy • Noanoa saved the situation by upending Lock-wood in possession. I he Blacks, not to be domed again set up an attack with Schnapper m the load and the same player had the hardest of luck in not scoring, the hall e-oing out touch in goal. From the k!ck-out the Blacks began throwing the ball about and bad prosing lost them a certain score. From midfield Lockwood snapped up the ball and well followed by Anderson careered down the ground and scored under the posts, but the kick again failed—6-0. From the restart the Blacks bv close play worked, the ball down field andl a free kick saw Temple punt high and misunderstanding between seme. Bed hacks gave Tonga a chance but- he knocked on and from the resulting scrum the hall was heeled out and -again a Bed back waited for it to come to him with the result that M’Gregor shot through the serum and marvellously missed scoring, but his club mate Smith, who was always handy, secured a good try which was not converted. —j 6-3. j ’ The last quarter was now entered into and looked as if the Beds would be hard pressed as Hauiti at once forced the ball to their quarter hut a penalty saved. Lockwood next got away with Anderson in attendance hut kicked and though Anderson followed hard Tonga had got in Ins kick before bc.idg grassed. Harrison sent tho bn.ll back to tho Blacks 25, where Anderson secured and sent on to Nelson who centered, but Tonga again saved by marking. _ For an infringement in Blacks’ 25, Cahaghan for Bods essayed’ a _ drop kick at goal which went wide. The Black’s again worked • their way down the field and for some minutes ft score looked certain but detei mined play by the Bed forwards in which Hale, Jolly, and Lincoln were prominent took it to the 25 whore Callaghan and Lockwood g ot j

possession and took it to the halfway to bo relieved by Holder, who kicked and regaining possession, sent it out. to Hale, who, in turn, sent Nelson over by the -posts and Findlay converted—ll-3. The Blacks mulled the return from the kick-off and Lincoln got possession and was well clear of tho field with Anderson again in attendance blit he elected to short punt and a knock on by Anderson was penalised, but the cause thereof, an '.illegal interference by Tonga, was overlooked. The Beds got possession in the scrum, and a grubber kick saw . the Black backs beaten and Smith charged through and by centering enabled Lockwood to carry on and though lie was sorely tempted to pick up he played the correct game and kicked and following through scored and as no goal was kicked time was called with the score—l 4-3. The touch judges were Messrs Dee and Guthrie, and H. Nelson had charge of the whistle and gave genera] satisfaction though as enumerated above “Critic” was at times guessing the reason for the whistling. The ball'was heavy and greasy, having _ been used in a previous game during rain showers, and this militated against easy and quick handling.

A ext Saturday Hauiti play Country and providing they can get their Proper team a very interesting game should result and will give one a guide as to tho Banner (holders for the season. The position now stands: City have 7 points and one match to play; Hauiti 1 point and one match to play; Country have 6 points and 2 matches t 0 play.. So irrespective of next Saturday’s game the deciding match will be City and Country. It is to be hoped that rumor as not wrong in stating that wise counsel lias prevailed at Tokomaru Bay, and that our neighbours are prepared to right the wrong °1 last season, as I understand they have a very promising combination and that being so the return to home and home matches will be looked forward to with* pleasure by the public and players alike.