FOOTBALL.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 198, 22 August 1917, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Two veiy interesting games were •played at Spring Creek and Picton respectively last %Saturday. CENTRAL V. MOUTERE. At Spring Creek Central, who are as yet unbeaten in the competition for the Citizen's Cup, met Moutere, the ruuners-up, and Central went within an ace of tasting their first defeat. Had Moutere had in their team one reliable goal-kicker the result of the game would undoubtedly have been far different from what it was, viz., a draw, 6 all. Central drew first blood with a penalty goal by Day, and soon afterwards Casey equalised by kicking a penalty for Moutere. Central's next score is worthy of description. Fitzgerald secured the ball quickly from a scrum, and, beating the opposing wing-forward, raced down the blind side and decoyed in the wing threequarter, Watson. Having- secured his objective, Fitzgerald now tossed the ball over Watson's head to his own wing-three-quarter, Ewart, who sprinted down the line unopposed and scored before the juvenile full-back, Mills, could force him into touch. Day's attempt to convert failed. Cen-. tral 6, Moutere 3.

From now on Moutere fought hard and furiously for victory. After two or three unsuccessful attempts Watson; scored in a good position, but Casey's attempt at converting hit the bar and bounced back. Central 6, Moutere 6. The Moutere forwards now made the pace a cracker, and the Central forwards appeared crippled ..nd war-weary, perhaps the result of their. rough handling at Nelson. Clever defending by the Central backs managed to stave off all the Moutere attacks, and when the whistle sounded the score still stood at 6 all. General comment was'passed upon the good showing made by both the Moutere backs and forwards, Phillips and Casey in the former, and Woolley and Broughan in the latter being specially worthy of mention. Mr Costello refereed. OPAWA V. WAITOHI. At Picton Opawa met Waitohi, and the home team were defeated by '12 points to 6. During the major "portion of the first half the game was very even. Opawa drew first blood by Fuller drop-kicking a goal from in play. From this onwards Opawa pressed the opposition, but Brunsell at full-back saved the situation time and again. From a penalty awarded for off-side play by Waitohi Fuller kicked a goal for Opawa, and halftime sounded with Opawa 7, Waitohi nil. Waitohi started the second half with a swift forward attack, and after about 15 minutes' play were rewarded with a try on the corner. "Brunsell's attempt to convert failed. Cheered on by the enthusiastic spectators, Waitohi again set to work and by vigorous forward rushes, kept play in the Opawa 25, but were unsuccessful in obtaining any further scores. However, from a penalty, Cornston kicked a penalty goal for Waitohi, making the scores Opawa 7, Waitohi 0. Roused by the danger of their situation, the Opawa defence now _ improved, Fuller's line-kicking gaining ground for his side on many occasions. From a scrum in the middle of the field the ball was kicked out to Gleeson, at five-eighths, who gathered neatly, and, dashing between the two opposing five-eighths before they realised the danger, raced for the line, successfully averting attempts to tackle him by the wing-three-quarter and full back. His score was a meritorious one, and placed his side in a safe position. Fuller had no difficulty in adding the major points, making the score 12—6. This score was unchanged when the whistle sounded for time. Mr Torrance controlled the game.

These two games were the last of i the second round, and the positions | of the teams are now as follows: Cm- j tral 14, Moutere 9, Opawa 7, High j School 6, and Waitohi 4 points. As ' Waitohi and High School are unable I to compete in any further matches, ! Central is now in a position where it

cannot be overtaken, and is consequently the winner of the Citizens' Cup for 1917.