SENIOR CUP.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 118, 17 May 1909, Page 2

SENIOR CUP.

MOUTERE v. CENTRAL

Played on the Show Grounds, this match resulted in a win for Moutero by four tries (one of which was converted) to two penalty goals. There is not much of the play that merits description here. Moutere won the toss, and played with the sun behind them, the' wind being on their right-hand quarter. The black-and : whites immediately became aggressive, both forwards and backs participating; but faulty handling of the ball, combined with the great defensive work of Church, kept them from scoring. Central managed to work the leather into Moutere territory, and,as a result of offside play by the white winger the blues were awarded a , fxee-kick, Church landing'a good goal. Central 3, Moutere 0. Shortly afterwards the scores were equalised; Skelley kicked -down the field and the forwards took -the ball on to the Central line, Satherley scoring vat the corner. Nolan s kick was resultless. Central 3, Moutere 3. Two long kicks by; Church saw Moutere defending, and the same player had an ineffectual shot at goal from a mark. A dangerous rush by Nolan1 was well : stopped by Church," and half r time sounded. ;T v -■■■''.Shortly after the commencement of the: second 1; spell Church- repulsed another rush; by Nolan, and then Broadmore marked a high kick within striking-distance of the. Moutere goal.' Church gauged the wind to; a nicety, and landed his second goal. Central 6, Moutere 3. Moutere at once attacked, and Joe O'Dwyer, getting the,/leather from the line, fell over at the corner.' Nolan made a poor attempt to., add the major points. Central 6, Moutere 6. Good work by Atley ahd Whiteley placed Central on the defensive, and Nolan got over, but failed to-ground the ball. Immediately afterwards, however, he crossed the line again, and this time made no mistake about his try. , Ross placed an easy goal. ] Moutere 11, Central 6. After the kick-off Murphy came with a great run to Cenfral quarters, but was pushed out at the corner. From a scrum the ball came out to Ross, who passed to Skelley, and this player kicked. Robinson followed through, obtained possession, and ran in'be-" hind the goal-posts. Ross was unequal to the occasion. Moutere 14, Central 6. Some give-and-take play, in which Simmons and Sowman were prominent, ensued, and from a passing rush Robertson nearly got over. Parker* made a good run and passed to O'Sullivan near the line. A scramble took place on the Moutere line, and Hegglun almost succeeded in scoring. Time was then called. There were no "passengers" in the Moutere back division. Atley and Horgan stood out most, prominently, their play being sound throughout. Whiteley, at full, was quite safe. The wing threequarters, Murphy .and Robinson, did well what little they had to do, but Skelley's handling was faultyj and Ross was inclined to get In his five-eighths' way. Nolan was the best of the forwards, while Bell, O'Dwyer, McDonald and Sheridan also did useful work. The mainstay of the Central rearguard was Church, but for whom Moutere's score would have been much greater. "Safe as a church" is Church, and conspicuous always. The only other back on the blues' side who showed to advantage was Parker, the rest being very weak; In the front division Sowman, Simmons, Forbes and Hegglun lasted best. Mr Hi W. Horton refereed.