FOOTBALL

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1907, Page 7

FOOTBALL

JUNIOR BANNER

"WAITOHI DEFEATS OPAWA

The final match in the junior cham-1 pionship-ythat is, unless the Opawa Club's protest on account ot the unsuitableness of the «™ n* » Xj£ and the game ordered to be je-Pjjjea —took place in Picton on Saturday afternoon. The day was lovely and fine—though on the warm side loi a Wer game-and there was a large attendance of the public, a full train4oad going down from Blenheim. Ihe result of the tussle was a win for the home team by 15 to 6—three tries and two penalty goals to two tries. From a spectator's point of view the game was not especially interesting. Both sides committed a great number of breaches of the rules, and at least thirty free-kicks were given. Ihe secret of Waitohi's success lay m the fact that their forwards were too good for the opposing vanguard, both in the scrum and in the loose, and also that the Opawa backs, several of whom were, playing in strange positions, failed to take the ball cleanly, and on many occasions failed to take it at all. The exhibition of football was below what is expected of junior players, but was a marked improvement on the display given in the previous meeting between the teams in Blenheim. An unpleasant incident was the orderingoff of an Opawa, J. Crook, in the opening stages ot the second spell. It cannot be claimed that Nelson Square is an ideal football ground. Running across the field is a gravelled path, with ruts on each side, and a few feet behind the goal-line at one end is a culvert. To all appearances; the ground is not the desired length. This is no greater hardship to one side than to the other, of course; but the path, culvert and roots make it dangeroiis to both, and the Rugby Union will have to consider the question of whether it is advisable next year to play on this ground.1 It will be unfortunate if the public of Picton are debarred owing to the want of a proper playing-field from witnessing championship matches in their town, but better this than that players should run the risk of being disabled, perhaps for life. The dangers of football are great enough under ordinary circumstances; to ask men to. play on fields like Nelson Square is asking them to risk a good deal more. Goer won the toss from Bush, and played with the wind and sun behind him. Opawa set up an attack, but a Waitohi forward rush, followed by a free-kick, soon had play in black territory, where Derbyshire had two ineffectual attempts at goal from penalties. The Waitohi forwards narrowly missed scoring, but Lane and a freekick to Opawa stemmed the tide of attack. After some give-and-take play, a good Waitohi passing-rush was spoilt by Thompson's inability to take the ball, and then, from a free-kick, at half-way Rouse placed a goal.— Waitohi 3 } Opawa 0. At the end of five free-kicks—three to Waitohi and two to Opawa—the yellows were on the defensive, but Goer relieved. The Opawa forwards then rushed the ball to Waitohi territory, and a great struggle took place. McHale secured the ball from the scrum, and passed to Mogridge, whence it went to O'Rourke and on to Bush, who scored. Lane's kick was futile, and the score read— Waitohi 3, Opawa 3. Before the ball had been in play many minutes the Waitohi forwards rushed it over the Opawa line, W. Godfrey touching ilown. Rouse failed with the kick.— Waitohi 6, Opawa 3. A miss by Lane nearly ended in another score for the yellows, but O'Rourke forced in time. Several free-kicks and marks followed, and the Opawa backs showed to great disadvantage in their efforts to field the ball. Now two players would collide as both ran to catch it, and then it would bounce between them, as each waited for the other to move. In this way the Waitohi forwards were enabled to get down on them, and keep them constantly in trouble. Waitohi were w.arded a free-kick for obstruction, but C. Godfrey failed to land a goal. After three more freekicks—two to Waitohi and one to Opawa—Goer missed the ball, and Crook nearly succeeded in scoring, the yellows being compelled to force. O'Rourke was the means of taking play to Waitohi quarters again, and after a mark by McHale and a freekick to Waitohi, Bush kicked towards .the latter's goal. O'Rourke ran through, beat Godfrey for the ball, and carried it over the line. Mogridge failed to add the major points, and half-time sounded with the score six all. f Soon after the second spell started the yellow backs instituted a passingrush, Goer and Rouse taking the ball to Opawa country, where a free-kick to the blacks eased the pressure. W. Godfrey marked in a good position, but C. Godfrey's kick was a failure, Opawa forcing. The home team kept up the pressure, and Lane was kept busy defending his line. A Waitohi passing rush was stopped in time, but the kicks of Goer, Rouse and Carter kept the blacks on the defensive. Carter spoilt a passing rush, and Jacomb relieved. The Waitohi forwards rushed the ball back, but were repulsed by the Opawa scrummers, and then O'Rourke eased matters somewhat by a line-kick. Another forward rush took the ball over the line, but O'Rourke ran round and found 'touch. Goer, Thompson and D. Godfrey in turn were nearly successful in scoring, and a shot at goal by Rouse from a" penalty went very near the posts. A couple of free-kicks brought "the Opawas relief, and the backs essayed a bit of passing, which was spoilt by a faulty take. Rouse start- \ «d a Waitohi attack, which the for- j wards continued, and soon a scramble on the Opawa line ended in Jas. Randall touching down. Rouse was not equal to the occasion, and the score i -stood: Waitohi 9, Opawa 6. A deter- S mined Opawa rush carried the ball to ! the Waitohi line, but a free-kick spoilt ! -Hie attack. A run by Jacomb and a dHW to O pawa k t the n ™S n& tIU Rf use intercepted a wW, v, c ran down the field, but i the baW naT **? th 6 f ulI-back bounced ! free kiS- f hA& knee ' and lost **• A enabled to indulge in a timber of passing rushes which kept the blacks on their own side o f hal/-waT W held on to the ball in front of hi! ; goal, and kick made thi , score Waitohi 15, Opawa 6. lAnt^ put in a great run to Waitohi tern *IGn, ,pas l sed to Mogridge i jtnd O'Rourke helped to keep the vel*»ws defending. After some unln- ' Resting play, Opawa were awarded ' two free-kicks, but Lane's attempt ' from the second was charged down Passing among Mogridge, Bush and V J-wHi.rke- saw the last-named nearly

in and another rush was also stopped none too soon. After a free-kick to Waitohi and a mark by Jacomb, O'Rourke made a great run, but was again unsuccessful in scoring, and time was called soon after. v Of the Waitohi backs, Goer was the best, and-was well backed up by t. Godfrey, Rouse and J. Carter, while Thompson made several serviceable runs; among the forwards, the most conspicuous were Derbyshire, Vv. Godfrey, Perano, and Cragg. O'Rourke stood out as the best back on the Opawa side, and Jacomb and Mogridge played fairly good games; O'Brian, Mcßae, Callan and Jordan were the pick of the forwards. Mr J. O'Dwyer refereed.