SENIOR CUP.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 142, 14 June 1909, Page 7

SENIOR CUP.

CENTRAL v. MOUTERE

The visitors lost the toss and kicked c-ff, the leather being returned out of touch by.the blues. A scrum followed the throw in, and Sowman broke through, taking the ball with him at his tee to Moutere's 25, where a eeebnd scrum was given^ the ball going out to Moutere and passing from the half to Horgan and then on to Skelley. Very little ground was gained by this piece of passing, and Moutere were eventually penalised. Although the angle was an easy one and the distance short, Church's attempt was ineffective, and it was the unanimous opinion of the spectators that it was a "let off" for the wearers of the black and white hoops. Moutere forced. Nolan, with a well judged kick, set the ball once again in motion, finding the line on Central's side of the half-way flag. Immediately following the throw in Uttley marked, but his kick did not find the line, and "Manning returned, the ball going out in Moutere's 25. The blue forwards gained possession on the line out, and quickly rushed play to Moutere's line, where Central wove awarded a free kick throuech a member of the opposing side holding the ball. Church 'once again failed to pilot the oval between the posts. Roused by the vigorous attack made upon their line Moutere became aggressive, and succeeded in temporarily relieving the pressure, several line-outs attending their efforts. Central, however, were not to be denied, and it was not long before Moutere's lino was m danger or being crossed. The blue forwards to a man worked like Trojans, and from a serum in neutral ground E. Hegglun eained possession of the ball and raced down the field with it, bub when challenged he passed, presumably to some imaginary companion, and the leather went out in Moutere's 25. Rush was in close attendance on Hegglun, but the latter evidently did not know it. The local men gained an advantage from the throw-in, and sat oft m all haste for Moutere's line, and matters looked very grave for the visitors, when owing to a knock on a scrum was ordered. Blues got the ball and Branton kicked high; but the oval went over the line and was forced. Moutere next took a hand in the tray, and as soon as the ball was set rolling transferred play to their opponents' line, the sphere going out close to the corner. The throw-in- favoured the blues, and the tension was relieved by the forwards taking play to Moutere's. side of the half distance flag A considerable amount ot scrambling took place there and eventually Moutere were penalised. Church had another attempt at goal and although he put in a wonderful kick the ball fell a few inches short of the cross-bar. Moutere set the oval coino: afmin, and from a scrum it went ont to Uttley, who put m a good run and Sen passed to Skelley, the latter fn turn trowing the ball on to_ HoySn, but the pass was intercepted by Parker who cut in and spoilt the but was not long in being transferred 1c that team's territory, where McCallum secured a clever mark almost in front of the goal. Church, with an easy lack, sent the ball between the posts, thus drawing first blood. Central 3, Moutcre 0. The whites, by strenuous play, worked the ball to Centrals' line, where a series or scrums, as well as a number oi line-. outs, took place and Centrals were sorely pressed for a time, but Branton got tne ball from a scramble and pa^ed'to Church, who whipped it on to Manning, and the last mentioned centred with a splendid kick, and Moutere marked. A brief period of cive-and-take play ensued, and halttime sounded with play in neutral ter--11 ThoFccond spell opened warmly, and soon a deadly battle was raging. The spectators realised the severity of the struggle, and divided sections yelled themselves hoarse for the respective sides. Central kicked off, and bkelley returned the ball with a well judged kick out of touch. Moutere's 25 was invaded as a, result of the throw-in, the leather going out of touch. A scramble followed the throw-in, and JMoutere kicked high, but Church

marked. Skellcy returned, and the ball went out off a Central man. A scrum followed the throw-i.vi, from . which Parker gained ' possession and got in a good khk, which Skelley marked, and Church took the ball and found the lino. " The siime player r.con sent the crul cut. with, a "iipoculat-o:'" from a scram. Mont ore iverc now'having slightly the better of the game, and tiio bail was taken to Centralsline, the blues eventually being compelled to force to relieve the pressure. Uttley got possession of the oval as ' soon as it was set in motion, ■ and passed to Horgan, who, when tackled, sent it on to Robinson. The last mentioned was grassed by vjhurch, who kicked the ball out in blues' 25. Broadmore got the oval when it was thrown in, and, beating off the opposing men, gained a good deal of ground for his side by sending it out. A good deal of line-kicking work eventuated in Centrals' 25, but once again the bin© forwards reversed the position, and carried hostilities to j Moutere's ground ; but Robinson found the line with a good kick. Parker secured a mark after the throw-in, and the leather was sent out close to the visitors' line. Moutere got the ball on this occasion, but O'Sullivan marked, and the kick sent them back to defend their line. Robinson again relieved his side with a well-timed kick, but the Central forwards came again, and this time to some purpose, Aitken eventually getting over, and it seemed that a try had been registered. The referee, however, disallowed the* try and ordered a five yards scrum. Moutere secured the ball, and it was kicked down the field. Manning, with a- fine punt, sent the ball out at the corner. C Hegglun threw it in, and Sowman, gaining possession, fell over the line, thus scoring the first try of the match. The kick at goal failed. Manning, who was playing a fine game, took the ball and. set his backs in motion, a fine piece of play being witnessed by which a good lot of ground was made up. Give-and-take play followed the line out, and quite" suddenly the Moutere forwards rushed play from almost their own line to Centrals', the ball going out close to the corner. Several attempts to score were made from a succession of throws-in, and Moutere were subsequently rewarded by J. O'Dwyer getting over as the outcome of a scramble. The kick at goal failed, and soon afterwards the whistle sounded no side, the scores being: Central 6, Moutere 3. Mr E. S. Hylton refereed. ["Spectator's" notes on the play are unavoidably held over till to-mor-row.]