FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL

EXCELSIORS v.' BRUNNER.

This game took place on Cass. Square on Saturday afternoon under perfect weatner conditions and ground. The game ended in a w.n for Excelsiors by 14 points (3 tries, one being converted, and a penalty goal) to 4 points (a. po.ted goal/.

ine game was fast throughout, but it was specially noticeable lor bau handling and last following up. There was an extraordinary amount of kicking all through the game, but neither side gained a great deal of ground, only on occasions the line being lound with proat. There were instances where beautiful kicks resulted, one special one being a free kick taken by u. King, from just under his goal posts, which found touch seven yards past half-way—a real beauty. Brunner forwards excelled in the line outs, and eaisly won three-quarters of them, breaking away continually and giving Excelsior inside backs a lot of stopping that was not too successfully effected. The sterling defensive play of Houston was sadly missed, lie being an absentee from the game. Much ground was gained by the Brunner forwards, while their backs were handling the hotter, taking most of the high kicks', especially in the first spell, very successfully, the full-back making no mistakes, and also/kicking well. On the other side th’e'light cross wind blowing down the field had several Excelsiors guessing at times and the usually , sure Freitas missed quite; a number, two in' succession losing considerable ground. Tlie possession of the, ball in the scrum was more evenly divided than the lineouts, but there was considerable offside play around tlie scrums, in which both sides participated, that was allowed to go by without notice. Brunner made very few attempts to open out the play, and when they did attempt it, very little ground was gained. In the second half about half-way through, one fine opening was badly 10-st. A mis-kick from the line sent the hall into the hands of, the centre in front of the posts, and though he had two men on his wing and only one man to beat liis pass ' went away, arid a beautiful opening was lost. The first spell was a fast one, but the play on both sides was ragged, passes being very badly missed, the Excelsiors who were attempting to open out the play being well tackled and hustled and continually ground was lost. Half-way through the spell a Brunner loose rush headed by BirsSj who was an outstanding forward, both in the line out and iri the loose, took play right on the Excelsior line, where a forward pass was taken offside and relief came. Back to the other end and a nice 'mark by A. King saw him make a good attempt to place, a goal, but file ball wenf, wide. / A red passing rush soon, after was nearly successful, Schroder .being bumped into touch in goal.just as he crossed at the corner. Shortly after a Brunner forward was injured - , being badly twisted as a scrum formed and broke up, two ribs being broken. Half-tirne came without any score.

In tihe second half Excelsiors had the better of the play, and though they were getting the ball, the passing rushes were stopped by solid tackling, aided- by the dropping of somewhat: wild passes. Play went up and down the field and then from a scrum inside half-way Davidson sent' to King and Nightingale to Smith, who made a’ fine dash and left Ins opponents standing to score an excellent try under the posts that made some amends for previous failures. Davidson failed to improve jwith the easiest of kicks, d~O.

"With about 20 minutes to go Brunner endeavoured to open out the play but tlie tackling was sound. A blue loose rush saw. a failure to go down to the ball, and play went to Excelsior line where a force resulted after a dose call. Then Hughes, following up a kick collided with an opponent and was forced to leave the field. Excelsiors continued to attack and from a scrum at half-way Davidson sent the ball to"'Nightingale who passed to J. King and with the finest dash of the day dummied the inside backs badl.V and went over under the posts to score a spectacular try. He took the kick himself and converted it. B—o.

'Continuing the attack a passing rush saw It. King just able to finish off the movement and touch down almost on the corner. J. King made a nne attempt to convert, the ball falling short. 11—0. Play went into Excelsior quarters' and from a line out the ball went to the Brunner centre, who passed across, but the hall was missed and a great opening was lost. Back came the play to Mclntosh, who picking up in front of the posts, potted a fine goal. 4—ll. The play went again to Brunner quarters, Nightingale making a strong dash that took him right under the posts before he was pulled down. A penalty against Brunner was then given and J. King goaled 14—4. Play was fairly even for the remaining few minutes and time was called with Excelsiors winners by 14—4. Mr D. Heerian- was referee. At~" Grcvmouth Blaketewn defeated Stars by 28 points to nil. Kiwis forfeited to United. In the junior e-arno plnved on Cass Square, Ross defeated Kiwis by 14 to 5. ... .

WEST COAST TEAM TO PLAY

4 BULLER

The following players have been selected to represent West -Coast against Bull'cr at Groyriiouth next Saturday:—

Nightingale Jamieson Fong Greer King Houston Davidson

Hagar J. Bell G. Wilson Freitas Dougherty Mclntosh Birss Ferguson

Emergencies: Backs, Mason and Pfablert; forwards, A. Wilson and Hughes.

SEDDON SHIELD

WON BY MARLBOROUGH.

(By Telegraph—Proas Association)

NELSON, August 24

There was a record crowd for the Seddoir Shield match, in which Marlborough beat Nelson for the trophy by 12 points to six.

Marlborough scored first, Newman making a solo effort. J. Mci.onal.l, a former New Zealand Maori representative, riiade two splendid tries foi* Marlborodgh.

Bowers and (Snodgrass kicked penalty goals for Nelson, ’ which were heir only points. The Marlborough forwards very gpod, Devine scoring a try from a rush. It was a fast, open game. The best' team won.

CANTERBURY V. SOUTHLAND. CHRISTCHURCH, August 24. The represeritative Rugby match, Canterbury versus Southland, was won by the hom'e team to-day by 21 points to 3—five tries (three converted) to a try. i

For Canterbury two tries each were scored by Hart and Steel, the two wing-threequarters and the fifth try by.Lilburne. Southland’s try came in a forward melee in the first spell. 1 Canterbury backs held the visitor's safe always, and tlieif attar-king an* passing movements were too swift and resolute for the visiting bacl s'. In the forward play the local side held their heavier opponents; and won fnost of the set scrums.

WANGANUI BEAT TARANAKI

NEW PLYMOUTH, August 25

Wanganui representatives defeated, Taranaki by 28 to 9; The game' was-played-in brilliant-sunshine on a dry prou’nd l , but it was a poor exhibition. Wanganui played a. ufair game, but Taranaki were stale and lifeless, being obviously far below form. Bali scored'-four tries' for Wanganui, and Tilly kicked a magnificent penalty goal from beyond- the half way. PETONE BEAT CUP WINNERS.

WELLINGTON, August 24. In the senior Rugby match to-dnv. Retone (cliatlengqrs) beat Varsity (winners of the senior chamnnnsbirV by 20 points to 11 in a game for the National Mutual Trophy. Last time tlie teams ,met, Petone also won. COLLEGE TOURNEY. WELLINGTON, August 24. The. annual intAr-oollege Rugby tourney between Wellington, Christ’s College, Wanganui Collegiate and Nelson College teams commenoed today... ; . Wanganui drew with Nelson, nine points all, Nelson.,,pqualling in the last minute. For Wanganui, Rainbow, Pomare and Kemp sepred tries, and for Nelson, Newman kicked o' penalty and . Duncan and Stewart scored tries. The result leaves Nelson to play in the big match on Monday. • . Wellington achieved a narrow victory over Christ’s .College by 8 points to 6. Carlson scoring for Wellington and kicking the goal and Stephenson scoring an uncoverted try. For Christ’s 'College, Acton-Adams and Aitken scored unconverted tries. On Monday Nelson and Wellington will piny to decide the' winners of the tourney, and' Wanganui and Christ’s College will also piav. There' was : a large crowd' to-day at both games. The ground' was' very soft and heavy, and' the standard of play up to the best traditions of college Rugby, being fast and open with deadly tackling.