FOOTBALL!

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL!

EXCELSIORS v. MAGPIES. This senior game took place on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon, ground and weather conditions being perfect. Tiie Excelsiors won by 20 points (tries •by J. King, A. King, It. King and .VLevcasjn, the latter converted by Nightingale, and u< penalty goal by Stevenson) to nil. In the opening ten minutes it looked as if Magpies were going to try out their opponents as they secured repeatedly in tho scrum and opened out an attack, which though not successful, gave promise of better results. It was, however, only a flash in the pan, for from the time Excelsiors settled down they held the upper hand and much of the results lost, was caused by their own faulty handling, time after time passing runs going for ■ nought, owing to a failure to handle at the end of the effort. Two tries and a penalty came in the first half and three tries in the second, in spite of this Magpies were never rattled, and it was noticeable that their fullback gave a convincing display all the game, in spite.of'the team in front of him being badly 'beaten. His handling was very satisfactory and tackling good. , The other backs tackled well, but their passing was very poor. In spite of their easy .win the play of the Excelsiors was fn.r from convincing and much' of their play would have cost them dear if a better team had been opposed. The play throughout, though fairly, fast at times was badly marred by faulty handling, while the kicking at times was not at ail sale Or judicious. Mr Heenan was referee.

BLAKETOWN BEAT BRUNNER At Greyniouth Blnkotown continued their former successes by defeatin' Brunner by 22 to (5. The game was a bright one, the winners showing to de ciued advantage. Blaketown’s score was made up of tries by Hanham. Bunt and Spiers. Pascoe kicked two penalty goals and converted two iries. Brunner scored a try by Bell, who als kiciceu a penalty goal. UNITED BEAT STAR. The match between these two teams resulted- in a great deal of scoring, United winning by 35 points to 17. The open tactics made the game fast, but the play was not of a very interesting nature. KOIvATAHI V. EXCELSIOR 11. This game was played at Kokatahi and resulted in a will for Kokatahi by G points to 3, Woolhou.se and Cropp scored tries for Kokatahi, and Schroder kicked, a penalty goal for Excelsiors. ARAHURA V. RIMU. Played at Rim it this game resulted hi a draw, both sides scoring 8 points THIRD GRADE. Hokitika. School had a very easy win over Arahura thirds, winning by 3t‘. points to 3. ROSS v. KIWI. The junior fixture Was played on No. 2 ground, the Ross team coming to Hokitika for the second Saturday in succession. This southern team is a -efty one for juniors and the forward.led by Osmers are a . solid combination while the backs are sale and fairly fast. They were up against a far lighter team, but though beaten decisively the losers put up a stiff defence and every score had to be earned. 'Hie easy nature of the win, however, robbed the game of much of us interest, and the play of the winners was not nearly of the standard of that of a week previous, ltoss won by, IS points. Mr D. Williamson was referee. THE BANTAMS. The 7-aside game., of the, bantams, School v. Convent again ended in a draw, there being no score. THE WING FORWARD. WELWGTON, May 9. At a meeting of the Management Committee of the N. Z. Rugby Union, the following communication was received from, the English Rugby Union : —■. “A.t a meeting of the Rugby Union Committee, I was directed to inform you that a discussion was held on an agreement reported to- have been entered into by tho Soiitli African Rugby Board and the manager of the Now Zealand team, recently on tour in South Africa, that the New •Zealand wing-forward who .nut the ball into the scrummage should be regarded as a half-back. “It was resolved that it be pointed out to your union that law 17 (b) applied to all players, whether they arc forwards or hacks, and also that tinlaws of the game draw no distinction between players—e. g., if a halfback gets into the scrummage he forms part of it; if a forward does not get into a scrummage, he does not, form part of it.”