OPAWA "WATERLOOED" AGAIN

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 196, 19 August 1912, Page 2

OPAWA "WATERLOOED" AGAIN

CENTRAL—I9I2 CHAMPIONS.

Opawa are not a team of opportunists, and this is one reason why Central defeated them on Saturday ■, by 9 points to 3. The result of the i "game leaves the decision of the pre-; miership of the 1912 season beyond doubt; and for the first time for several years the Senior Cup—if one exists—will leave the precincts of tl*e Awatere district and be guarded by: Central. '■

The attendance at Saturday's game i was again large, and the day and] ground being favorable for a good ex- i hibition of football, a game equal to, if not better than, the high standard set the previous Saturday by these two teams was anticipated. But the realisation did not come up to the expectation. Certainly the game was good; but the struggle between the forwards and the uncertainty of the Opawa backs did not make for a spectacular exposition. Individually the Central pack were not brilliant, but collectively there were often irresistible, and, although the Opawa forwards showed better combination than previously, they were again inferior to the opposing "pack. ' There is no questioning Central's superiority in this direction; it is evident in everything they do. They held their own in the tight scrummages, and generally in the loose they were in possession of the ball. The Opawa j backs had many opportunities, but j much of their passing was slow and i faulty, the ball often being parted with in a somewhat reckless manner. Although their general combination on some occasions was admirable, it unquestionably fell short of the previous standard. For a back team of their experience and pretensions, they grave a mediocre display, and their delinquencies undoubtedly lost the game. Again, the Central backs were sound on defence, their accurate fielding often repelling an Opawa attack. j It may be argued that Opawa were j unlucky to lose, as each side scored; one try. But such a contention is i wrong. A .win for Opawa was expected in many quarters; but it' would not have been in keeping with the gener-al run of ;the play or the comparative skill of their opponents, j A feature of the game was the display of,place kicking given by Jackson, some of those at long range being especially fine efforts. His trusty boot was 'responsible for Central's success, and once more evidenced the value of a good place-kick to a i team. THE PLAY. The flashing rays of the sun , were, to Central's disadvantage iix tHo first spell. Opawa kicked off, and, before hostilities began in earnest play was interrupted by minor accidents. Central resorted to their usual forward tactics, and play was speedily in Opawa territory, where Jackson had a good but unsuccessful attempt at goal from a mark by MeGuire. Effective line kicking by Jackson, Mc,r Guire, and Batty threatened Opawa's position, and a weak kick by Rees saw play on the line. However, Rush was conspicuous in scrum work, and a long kick by Twomey eased the strain. Play was dull, there being a succession of forward tussles, while the scrum work was not clean. Central re-asserted themselves, arid Jackson kicked a penalty goal from a good position. B. Boyle marked the kickout, but Jackson was unsuccessful with the kick. ■ Hesitancy on.; the part of Maher and. prominent play< : by G. Forbes again, resulted in Opawa being on the defensive. Opawa were penalised, and/ from the edge of the field Jackson kicked a magnificent goal. Opawa gradually developed; an. attack, but faulty handling of thetball by the backs gave the Centrals forwards opportunities, of which advantage was taken, and once more Opawa were defending a closely bejeagured line, culminating in the ball going into the dead1 ball-area. A subsequent Central onslaught yielded a mark, Jackson's kick being futile. A piece of combined play by the Opawa rear division resulted.in the scene of operations being transferred to the "Central area, where Parker had a kick at goal from a clever mark by Marshall. Twomey and Pfankuch initiated an attack to the Central line, where McGuire forced' down, although it appeared as if R. Forbes had scored. Just' before half-time Opawa's efforts were rewarded, and from a pretty piece of concerted back play Riley scored. Parker failed to convert. Over-eagerness on the part of the Opawa forwards nullified' a promising attack early in the second spell. After one or two incipient Central attacks ] the general scheme of play was attack by Opawa and defence by Central, the j latter prevailing. Promiscuous kicking in the loose was one factor in Opawa's non-success, while the kicking of Neal, McGuire, and Mclsaac repelled many an attack. Their j superiority in the tight eased r the i strain for Central, and a misunder- ! standing between Maher and Dunckley as to the taking of the oval from -a long kick let Boden, who was fol- 1 lowing up fast, score an easy try. j Jackson failed' to convert. R. Forbes '. created a diversion by changing the \ ■ scene of to the Central j area, an interchange of passes among \ the Opawa backs resulting in a tussle < on the line. Opawa kept up an al-i most incessant attack, but they failed . to make use of many opportunities, j the backs being at fault. Twomey | had an unsuccessful shotat goal from i a penalty. _ The pressure was main- } tamed until the end; but many good I openings made by the forwards and i Pfankuch were nullified by wild pass-; ins:, while the unerring precision with which McGuire, Jackson, and Neal i found the line kept Opawa «t bay. I Mr A. A. Wedde refereed. ' [ . — ~ —— —. . ' . I