FOOTBALL.

Mataura Ensign, 23 July 1914, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

*'%W~ ALBION W,NS THE BANNER. ** -A SfItENUOUS CONTEST. wj The conditions overhead were entiriK ffirV ly favorable yesterday afternoon lor the H"■ final contest for the banner between the »| > Mataura and' Albion first-grade teams, 4/ Lut the ground, following on the soakjfcj * ing rains which have been cxperiem ed during the hist few days, was naturally E*' on the soft side. The game was chietly C, confined to the forwards, ami oil the . day's play; Albion were un<|iU'stionably the better pack. In the serums the Yellows rarely failed to secure |H>nseSr.< Bion of the ball, while in tlie tight. |>lay . and the loose- they were always n.ore in * tho picture than were the Mataura Their fast combined rushes greiltly hampered the .Mataura baeks, ■ ■'mitt were quiet unable to make any lieadnyay. In fart, only on a few oc- . ( ensions did the Blues' rearguard' at<"•:^fimpt. to.- play the passing game, and *\ tneh With "very little success. Still it [-",-aJmust at)|!carcd ss if the visitors wore ' J»liteht to" hold the one-jwint lead they : v for the banner by preventing their ; Viwrondnts from (..coring, as when the h t ' Yellows scored shortly before time, the ; ■ gavo a glimpse of tho open ; -r .'style j»f. play for which they are noted, f", Ow th<? day's play the better team won and Albion are to be congratulated on Annexing tho premiership honors for .the season. There was a good attendance 'ctf spectators.

, THE PLAY. Albion won the toss and 1 kicked off with• the sun at their backs, tho ball .being returned to the centre. A mark ,j.. >y tfreJilucs and fast following up by theff forwards let Mataura away on a liot'aitaek in front of tho Yellows' goal, : but. Biggar temporarily relieved with *ono: of lus characteristic dashes. Smart . iijfiv-kieking by the visitors' backs -;s>rojight tho leather back to the corner . "j y flag, but a free kick to the Yellows en■V, v " ablwl them to Imot out "ast the 25 flag. A nice loose rush by Albion carried play to midfield, where, a series of serums ■ and tight forward play ensued until Brett headed a strong combined rush ' , !<fr lt;o B!U(?» to their opponents' terri- '• Ifjom a serum McGregor broke • •* »wajr on the blind side, but too-hard ' kicking sent tile hall over the line and Albion forced. From a line-out at the flag Bigg.ar broke away but ; Jest poFsesi >n of thf ; ball. The Yel- ' " loirs vanguard camo away in a fine ' tfclly' and forced play close to the visitors' line. From a scrum in front of Matnnrn's post Albion secured, but McLeojl collared Macale before lie could get fid of the leather, ami Hayles, who was handy, tkicked through and "removed play to half-way. Mataura worked down the line by short forward l rushes, but were unable to bring their ' ' bactj into action, as Albion almost in-. . variably secured in the scrums, an ad- , ; vantage they were'failing to make much i. use of, the passing from the scrum be- ■ ing t-tfft.slow. Finally McGregor snapped • tin from some lose play and sent out to . Hayles, who, however, was smothered v when, attempting to pnew out, and Stevens and Asninnll removed tho leather T-ast the half-way flas;. A nice kje.k by Aspinall and fumbling by S'ul'Jivnn saw'Mataura's line threatened, v' Imt.offiido play by the Yellows enabled the Blues to kick out in neutral'terrij r tery.- From a line-out Cameron broke -v away ntcely, but Moore secured and re'turned to the half-way flag with a long tine-finder. A capital dribbling rush by • ».i the Yellows' forwards was only pulled 'v.'trp in front of the Blues' posts, but , * fiom the following t-crunr Jardine ref , moved the leather to the 25. , The YTel- ■> » lawOi'ifcured! frotn the scrum and kicked out clo.se to the Hhll --' line, but an infringement by Albion enabled Mat-lira

to get out of n tight corner. The Yel- -■ Minvs i<ijvin attacked with great r;«or, W nnd Mataurn had to seek relief in a i fqrey-down. KMt;TfAth<:> kick-off JYtntaura i i Tn*<fo to break through, * 1 s wero defend'style, finally fltho Blues' i. f! wit into the Yellows' 25, Kut , T Biif'wr. McKittenck and' Hoffman imy. flieuiatciy counter-charged to the . v Vfkirs' territory. Albion broke away in a dangerous rush from the Une-ou't. but Maley saved nicelv. Tlie Yellows' ' * backs owned out in the first passing Imut of the day. the hall travelling from Jlacale to Stenhens to Aspinall, but the lattnnmed player's pass was drop|.<?d by Johnson, who lest an al- : most certain score. Half-time was called alnxwt immediately afterwards, neither side having scored: K', ! ; Albion. • ... „ 0 »+ ~ .Ofataur! 1 , .?. ... 0

On resuming Mataura forced the pace niul carried the. ball inside the Yellows' a-3, where .1 ;<reat struggle ensued between the two lacks of forwards which , . elided n Albion pushing the visitors 1 C n V* 1,1 Good forward work »y Ifibptaon placed the Yellows in an nosition, but McGregor re■lipwl with a-Jino kick to the Blues' So. Form a line-out the Albion forwards charged thrcusjli to within 15 .>attfc from tho visitors' lint*. Kcopins up the pressure, tlie Yellows swarmed down (Oil tlie line, but Malev drove them bark with a nice kirk to the 25 yards flag. Hayles broke through the nick and kiekqd. but Jinrtin sent the Yellows I.ark to the attack. The Albion vanguard were now overrunning the Mataura pack, and it was onlv the rtnart and accurate line-kicking of the Blues' backs that saved them on several occasions. Albion lost , good chance wheß Maley foolishly kicked out in front ot his own posts, but Wilson failed to take an easy mark. A great dish by tile Albion forwards completely broke down the defence, but ibb'otson slipped, when almost over. Adam came to the ro-seuo with a nice run. but B ! gViir came I>--k with a great dribble, lite Yellows attacked with renewed vigor, and Hoffman made n great effort to cross, but Malev saved ju 8 t in the juck of time. Twice in sumvwion Mr- .»■. -«rogor saved with smart line kicks, but the Yellows came back i " an irresistible rusn and McKetterick go tovcr but was poifalisvd for luring Sullivan «ocjp?tf from the- kick-off and dashed aWay 111 a great run to near midfield, but whs unMipported. Mntanra now . . took a hand in attacking, and A'bion s *erc <-rini|>elleW to force. From a scrum st ittidfii'lil secured and scutto Hayles, but the latter was - , bWked when attempting to cut in, and ♦ and Asmnall dribbled back •, sYnartly to the Blues' 25. "Brett headed « rosin Jor fh- lilues to the half-way *** "'flag- •IVibb'ing by Asninf 11 saw Albion again attacking, l.nt Svllivan relieved with a fa.H.'lash down the line. but. , ivhen blocked kieked too hard and Albion forced. A rush by the Blues removed tV.e scciw of operations to the . home team'*, line 'whe-e »Mataur« narrowly missed scoring. Cameron led the Yellows t*> Hi ;t!li n M. ar.d ulav "now became, very fast. Ibbotson" dribbled through 'the Bines' hacks oleverlv, and Wilson .Aspinall gained further ground with praart dribbling. From loof-c play in front of thf> visitors' goal WHsoii snapped. up and sent on to

Stephens,, who in turn transferred to »A_sp!n(?ll. The ]a?>,inamed smartly beat iiN maii/jiiil sent out to Jobnson on tho wing, who touched down in a fair position. Martin's kick at 'goal was charged down: Albion .... ... 3 Mataura ... 0 Wifi only a few minutes to go Ma- ; tttjira broke away .in a determined effort ; 'to turn the tide of disa.4ter.and nassing between Hayles. Adam and Sullivan

.saw the lastnamed make » strong bid ■V for" a score, but. the tackling was too deadly. Moore next essayed to not a pohl, Hut the ball failed to rise and Albion returned play to the half-way flnsi. Tho Hhit-s, realising that their only dwince lay in kerning Iho game open, til row the lmll aWrut- with great freedom, but the attack was met with inert, as solid a defence. 'Mataura had a last chance froM a frecf kick, but

Maley's effort fell short, and the game ended immediately afterwards, leaving Albion winners of the banner for the 1914 season: Albion 3 Mataura 0 Mr G. H. Lang was referee;

SECOND GRADE. HIBERNIAN (12) v. PIONEER (0). The match played between Pioneer and Hibernian for the final of The second grade banner resulted in, a. winfor tho Greens, after a keenly fought contest, by 12 points to nil. 'Both the ground ami the ball were greasy, consequently the leather could not be handled with* any degree of accuracy. Hibernian won tlio .toss and elected l to play with a strong: wind- and the mm on their backs. Pioneer's initial kick was returned to halfway, where play hovered for a. short time until a forward rush, carried the ball close to the Reds' line. Fromi. a loose scrum the ball came out to Oacmody but be was k grassed a Jew yards short of the line. [The Green® continued to press, but a ' free kick brought relief to Pioneer. Fromi ai scrum ait halfway the Hibernian, forwards hooked/ the ball cleanly and E. Eg,m (halfback) sent it out' smartly to O. Smith, who, 'after beating two opponents, kicked! too hard, a force resulting. A forward rush by Pioneer transferred play to Hiberniams' 25, whore the Rfds' .secured a free kiok for off-side play. Jjeen failed to take the ball, and tlo (Pioneer forwards swamedi round the leather, having hard, luck jni ( not scoring.. Hibernian were agai|fri>eniilise(f .for off,, side play, but Hi&fef' kick at goal failed. Pioneer continued! to press'unitil a strong kick by Sullivan shifted the scene of operations to Pioneers.' 2-5. From a tlirow-in, Sullivan, bro>ke away with tho ball and narrowly missed scoring. Two unsuccessful attempts to land penalty goals followed, on© by F. Onirk and the .other by C. Oarmcdv. Hibernian kept up a strong attack, anrl the Reds were compelled to force twice in quick succession. Misifielding by Pioneer backs let the Greens down, pn their line, and 1 stoutly afterwards 'Knap-p potted'a nf»at goal. An interchange of kicks followed, the ball finally g.oinjr out at Pioneers' 25. Clev°rl work by Sherborne carried p/ay to halfway. Millar made a fine dash (V'wn tho fieM' but was collared when looking dangerous. From loose play im front of Pioneers' goal C. Smith broke through! the opposing batiks and scored* in a> good position. Slieehy added l the major poimts. Half-time was called immediately afterwards, the score reading: Hibernian 0 Pioneer ... o

. On resuming Pioneer, with, the wind m their favor, immediately invaded l the Greens' territory. A 'series of line-outs followed until a forward rush by Hibernian transferred phy to halfway'. A counter rush shifted the ball to Hibernians' territory, the Greens Laving to oeek relief in forcing. A combined rush l by the Red* had .Hibernian in' difficulties, but- they managed' to clear their line and carry play to halfway. A series of scrums ensued and Miliar eventually secured,-but his attempt to break through the opposing backs wiaa unavailing, and play returned to midfield where a scrumi was formed. The leather came out to Egan, who found the lino in the Reds' territory, Pioneer gradually worked play into the ■Greens' 25, anil from a throw-in Sherborne cut in nicely but 'w*s collared when close to the line. Hibernian now. took «• hand l in attacking, and Pioneer wore placed in' tight- corners on- more than one occasion. Hibernian kent up a, strong attack, and fin ail ly Garmody by fast following up ■scored'. Kaapp failed! xritti the kick. Pioneer rallied and carried l play close to tho Greens' line, hut" the giame ended without further incident, the final scores being:

Hibernian 12 Pionee-r q Mr J. Hargest was .referee. ALL BLACKS BEAT ARMIDALE. BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COPYRIGHT. PBK UNITED PEIISS ASSOCIATION. mL iti SYDNEY. July 22. The AIL Blacks severely defeated) the Iww England team at Armidale, the scores being: New Zealand 35, New England 6.