FOOTBALL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2929, 1 August 1911, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

QUEENSTOWN WINS THE FLAG,

The final match between Queenstown and Arrowtown to decide the winners of the flag took place on the local ground on Wednesday last. After a close contest Queenstown won the game and with it the flag, by 3 points to nil. Both teams lined out their best playeis and it was evident from the outset that each intended to play their utmost for the coveted trophy. There was an unusually large number of spectators present to witness the game. Queenstown (Yellows) kicked off and Arrow (Blues) returned to MoDowall, who kicked the ball out well down the line and after a series of line-outs Arrow forced. Queenstown in turn were then driven into their own territory where play centred for a short while. The Yellows were relieved by a free kick which carried the ball into midfield, but Blues marked and again brought play into Yellow's 25. The latter'a full-back, although taking the ball well, hung on to it a little too long on one or two occasions to the detriment of his side. The Yellow forwards at this stage of the game were not attacking too well, with the result that Arrow compelled Queenstown to force. The 25 kick improved the position for the Yellows. Shortly afterwards the Arrow came away with a dangerous rush but Anderson found the line at mid-way. The Yellows now put more dash into the game and rushed the ball into their opponents' 25. Blues' fullback relieved several times. Through failure of R. McDowall to return a long kick by Queenstown -full back Arrow was placed in a very tight corner in front of the Yellows' goal. The ball reached reached Campbell but he was unable to get it away fast enough with the result that Queenstown forwards, who were attacking strongly, dribbled the ball over the line and Donne fell on it. This was the first and only try. The kick at goal was fruitless. A good deal of give and take play now took place, each side attacking in turn, but the score remained unaltered at half time.

The second spell was, if anything, not so fast as the first as the ball and ground were very heavy. In the scrams the Blues' forwards got the ball out to their backs more often than the Yellows and several passing rushes were started, but the slippery nature of the ground prevented the benefits of these being fully realised. Bines had a good chance of equalising the scores once when a mark was obtained in front of Yellows' goal, but the ball went wide. Shortly after this Anderson, Canning and Gunion stopped* forward rushes by Arrow who were attacking hard in order to retrieve themselves. Long kicks by Arrow were returned in fine style by McDowall, who was playing with utmost confidence. Anderson, a wing three-quar-ter, also put in several serviceable kicks. In the latter end of the second spell the Blues showed themselves as too anxious by their hard kicking over the line, thus spoiling their chances. The Yellow forwards made the pace merry at times and frequently had Arrow hemmed in in their own 25, but their fullback saved them over and over again. The game ended without any further score. Blues played a man short in the latter part of the spell owing to an accident to Heller.

As stated before, the ground was very heavy, which considerably militated against a fast, open game. The winners almost to a man played well and gave very few chances. Several members of the team, however, have a good deal to learn re the proper manner of tackling an individual player. The losers made a game fight all through and although victory did not lie with them they gave a good exhibition. Queenstown is to be congratulated on winning the flag. Mr A. H. Crawshaw controlled the game with satisfaction to both sides.

The first of the cup matches which was to be played at Arrowtown to-morrow between Queenstown and Arrow clubs has been postposed.