SENIOR CUP.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 148, 21 June 1909, Page 2

SENIOR CUP.

MOUTERE v. OPAWA. Save for one flash of brilliancy in the first spell, tins game never rose above the standard of mediocrity. It was mainly a forward game, and a poor sample of that—a striking contrast, to the previous Saturday's contest between Central and Moutere. There were 15 free-kicks given, 12 of which were against Moutere. Moutere won the toss, and Opawa kicked off against the sun, there being no wind in either side's favour. The Opawa forwards carried play to Moutere quarters, but good line-kicking b^ Skelley and. Whiteley sent them back to neutral territory, where a period of ragged play ensued, Robinson had a shot from a fr<v©-kiek, but made a poor attempt. A miss by Goulding saw the blacks in difficulties, but Mclntyre saved by forcing. Immediately afterwards Robinson kicked over the line, Dunckley beating him for the ball. Nolan marked in a good position, but his kick at goal was unsuccessful. Then a combined Moutere forward rush saw Satherley touch down. Ross was unequal to the occasion. Moutere 3, Opawa 0. The Opawa backs now tried a bit of passing, and Jermyn got in a good run and kick, J. O'Dwyer and Sheridan coming to Moutere's rescue. Terrill made an excellent attempt at goal from a freekick, the ball falling under the bar. The game now livened up for a brief a very brief—spell, and the b.all travelled from one end of the field to the other. Costello nearly got over from an Opawa passing i-ush. Skelley stopped an ugly Opawa forward rush, and the Moutere vanguard retaliated, and, aided by a useful run and. kick by W. O'Dwyer placed Opawa on the .defensive, Masters nearly scoring. Several promising pieces of play on the part of the white forwards were spoilt by off-side play, and Opawa temporarily relieved. Masters almost got over again as the result of a pass from Uttley, but was not supported. Opawa were forced twice in quick succession, and a passing rush among W. O'Dwyer, Uttley, Skelley, Horgan and Robinson nearly resulted in a try. The black forwards now attacked, and the backs essayed a passing rush, but gained no ground, and halftime sounded soon after* with the ball in neutral territory. A free-kick to Moutere and a pass-ing-rush, which was well stopped by Jermyn, opened the second spell. Joe O'Dwyer broke away with the ball at his toe. Jermyn stemmed the onrush for a second, but Sheridan kicked the ball over the line and scored. Uttley easily failed to add the major points. Moutere 6, Opawa 0. Opawa forward rushes took play to Moutere territory, and from a pass from Costello O'Brian nearly got over, Moutere eventually forcing. Priddle, too, just missed a try, and Terrill had a futile shot from* a free-kick. The Moutere backsj by good line-kicking, worked play into Opawa quarters; then the black backs fumbled, and Bell picked the oval up and carried it over the line. Robinson's kick left the score Moutere 9, Opawa 0. A forward rush in which Priddle and Harrington, were prominent looked like a gave for Opawa, but Moutere managed to force. Terrill marked in a good position; Priddle's kick struck a Mou•feere forward and rebounded. Opawa still attacked, and forced Moutere again, but in a minute or two they had themselves to force twice. A clever run by Jermyn, Avho kicked and then collared Nolan before he could get rid of the ball, was the only further incident worthy, of note until the whistle blew no-side, with the leather on the Opawa side of half-way. Mr H. W. Horton refereed.