FOOTBALL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 93, 21 April 1908, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

[/■■' GPAWA v. ORIENTAL

Taking into consideration the time of the season, the "scratchness" of the teams, and the greasy state of the ball, the exposition of the Rugby game given on' Saturday, when a junior team from the Oriental Club (Wellington) met a mixed Opawa fifteen, was very creditable. Of combination there was little, of condition still less; but occasionally the game was raised, from mediocrity by a touch of something akin to brilliance. The Opawa team included several seniors, and their presence mainly accounteu for the local team's win. Five tries were scored against the visitors, none of them being converted, and the Opawas left the field 15 points to the good.

Galloway won the toss from Sturrock, and Opawa faced the wind and the rain-squalls. Oriental commenced to attack, but a run by C. Costello and good kicking by Fairclough cleared, the line. Soon afterwards the Oriental forwards dribbled the ball down the field, and Opawa were forced. After a bout of passing among the Opawa backs, the forwards kicked over^the Oriental line, Neville scoring. Lane's kick was resultless. Each side now attacked in turn, and Oriental lost a good chance of scoring by bad passing. Then the black forwards obtained possession and carried play down tne field, and from a scrum on the line Dunckley dropped over with the ball. The game now became very fast, the ball travelling rapidly

from one end to the other, and both sides were twice compelled to force. Shortly afterwards Mogridge dribbled the ball over under the Oriental goal-posts, but made a poor attempt to convert, and half-time sounded with Opawa nine points to the good. Play settled in Opawa quarters soon after resuming, and O'Rourke secured possession. He kicked down the field, followed up, beat his man for the ball', and raced with it over the line, registering his side's fourth try. Opawa still attacked, and after the black-and-whites had twice been forced, Fairclough scored, 0 Brieh?s kick striking the bar. The visitors now took a turn at attacking, but were unable to penetrate the blacks' defence, partly through their own faulty passing and partly on account of the good collaring of the Opawas. A free-kick to Opawa brought relief at a critical time, and "no-side" was immediately called. Mr E. S. Hylton refereed.