FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 30 May 1914, Page 3

FOOTBALL

the Marists' display showed no special merit ; whilst the United 'were lament-' ably weak. The Star-Kohinoor fixture this afternoon should provide a good game: Both teams are getting into their very best fettle, and as 'each club will be represented by its strongest' fifteen the play should be *of more than ordinary interest.Blackball) will meet Marist "at 3"p.m The excelent showing" -of Blackball- a fortnight ago with the Stars will no doubt install them favourites to-day in spite of their defeat last "Saturday at the hands of Kohinoor. The country team have a powerful set of forwards who should give the green, backs some anxk>us moments. " , A noticeable weakness in last Sat urday's football was the place kicking, and incredible though it may ay pear, only two tries were converted out of fourteen scored during the afternoon (five in Star. Hokitika match, and nine in Mari'st-United)., Some' of' the kicks were from comparatively easy positions, but the attempts at goal were simply ludicrous. This is a department of the 'game that requires more attention than it receives from most clubs, for a good kick is always worth his place in a team." Drop-kick ing- is also an art that'is % little prac T Msed, but that it still has one or two exoonents was evidenced last Saturday. ' when Smith, the Star full-back, landed a goal., Taking the ball near' the Hof- ; kitika 25/ Smith ran -in to improve his position, and g-etting in his kick soon had the oval speeding between the Hokitika uprights, a performance that, earned a round, of applause from the spectators. SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNEY. ■■ '_ . The Seven-a-Side Tourney will commence on the Park ground next Wednesday at 10 a.m. As the Rugby Union are desirous of getting the (final off the same-day ,it will be necessary for players to be otj* the .ground and ready to take the field without any kiss of time. Sixteen teams have been nominated, so that a fast interesting" day's football should be ' provided* The Star Club, the present holders of the Trotting Club ? s' splendid shield, are determined to hold it, and have nominated two teams to defend the trophy. The 'Marist, Hokitika Kohinoor, United and Blackball Glubs wsll be represented, and -everything points to the tourney being thoroughly suc-cessful-from every point of view., ' . •! TOO MUCH LINE KICKING. ■ A somewhat monotonous feature of the local football competitions is the extent to which the touch line is used. The excessive use made of the Kn© has a most undesirable effect on the play, especially from a spectator's point of view. It tends to make the game very slow, and the return of the • ball into the field of play in>nine cases ■ out of ten leads to a blind, aimless scramble among ; the forwards. There are times .of course t when' a team is in a tight corner a good line kicker is a veritable tower of strength to hi? side, when a judicious u«e of the iine :s more than justified, and a number of players could be mentioned whose ilne kick? are made, with Tare judgment, but* these are few and far 1 between. O'Cailaghan. of the Marist team, is perhaps one of the real local performers in this department. The Rugby Union fixtures during the, present season have shown that a majority of the 'backs are firm believers ,' in giving the touth' iudge as much work as possible, and under nearly all circumstances make an effort to put the ball out. It is in this copnection that the cross ' punt or the centreing of the ball could be introduced and utilised to a far greater extent - than, obtains just now. 1 This style of play was noticeable otf a few occasions last Saturday, during the Star-Hokitika match, when the - Star . backs used it with advantage to themselves as" well as opening up the game" and making it fast and interesting to the public. ; Instead of the monotonous' regularity ' of kicking to the line; wihich is ap- . : parently the sole aim of some players, ' a little more use. were made of the : cross punt, there is not the slightest doubt that it would be, productive of 5 an improved style of play as well as '* raising the game a point or two in the public estimation — not an inconsiderable time when the good old public 1 pays its' "bob" at the gate each Saturday and naturally expects value fofr its outlay. : v , ,;

TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. Stars v. Kohinor, , Park^ at 1.30. Marist v. Blackball, ■ Park, 3 p.m.. Uuited, v Hokitika, at Hokitika. The above matches on the Park this, afternoon should prove a strong attraction (to fqtboall followers, and the games set down for decision should provide some interesting- Rugby. , Last Saturday's fixtures produced some surprise in the local competitions. When the Stars and Hokitika lined out it was generally considered that Very little would separate the teams when the final whistle sounded, and from the state of the - game at half-time it seemed as" if this-.predior tion would be a correct > one. The second spell, however, found the Stars playing a fine open game, and makingthe play fast throughout the^ remainder of the match, were able to pile up 19 points to their opponents-n il; a somewhat runaway victory. Undoubtedly the Stars owe their win to the superior play of their backs and their determination to make the game open, as well as to general condition of the team when it took the (field — condition which stood to the players, , the forwards particularly, right to the last whistle. The Hokitika pack made the game willing enough, in the first half, but condition evidently told its tale - for they faded away in the second spell, coming again towards the nnish with a. final. flutter which, however, failed to seriously disturb* the opposition' The display of the blue backs, owing to some absentees, was not" up to its usual mark, and that the southern rear guaTd is capable of a much better exhibition is the opinion of most supporters of the gaac. T(he t -decisive- win- of # the Kohinoors over Blackball, al" Blackball, last Saturdy was the occasion of some surprise to the critics considering the fine showing made by the Blackball side the previous week against the StarsThe knowing- ones looked wise .and' 1 gave various " estimates* gf the ponjit!, that, would be .registered.-by ,the <joVjs| try team. Kohinoor. however, played well from the start to the 'finish of- the game, and had "the measure of their opponent throughout. r The ? matchwas the first played on the new ground*! which proved to be in splendid order.' and the going as fast as any of the town grounds'; The Mari'st and Uniteds gave a very poor exhibition on the Park, although the former ran up the Tops total of 31 points. Notwithstanding 1 this jscore I " V-