FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LV, Issue 4497, 28 May 1935, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS. SENIOR. Hui Mai 11, Punahau 8. Shannon 18, Wanderers 9. Otaki 18, Fire Brigade 13. Athletic, a bye. , JUNIOR. Foxton G, IVoolpacks 5. Rahui 6, Otaki 0. Waimeha 26, Athletic 0. Fire Brigade, a bye! SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE The position of the teams in the Senior championship may be seen from the following table: —

Team. ■ Played. Won. Drawn. 1 Lost. !Ch. Points

FOXTON Y. WOOLPACKS. Perfect weather conditions prevailed on Saturday afternoon when Foxton met Woolpacks at Easton Park, the game being the first in the second round. Keen interest was aroused in this match, speculation being rife as to whether Foxton could avenge their first round defeat by the Textile boys. The game was played as a curtain raiser to the senior match, and was witnessed by the largest crowd drawn to the Park this season. During the game, which was played in a sporting manner, injuries were numerous, T. Taylor, of Foxton, having to retire with broken ribs shortly after the second spell commenced. W. Neville, of Woolpacks, suffered injuries to his shoulder, a subsequent medical examination showing a broken bone and torn muscles.

The teamis lined out as follows: —

Foxton (yellow and black). —K Coley, Madden, iCarmont, Baird, Matthews, Alexander, R. Coley, W. Melton, Taylor, Hill, McCarthy, C. Castles, Waka, Death and Bills (captain). Woolpacks (blue and gold).— Monaghan, Arona, Walls, A 1 war'd, Dunn, E. Coley (.capt.), Williams, Vertongen, K. Robinson, Broad, Klee, Raxworthy, Neville, H. Robinson and T. Taylor.

Foxton won the toss and took advantage of the sun, defending the western goal. From the kickoff Foxton immediately took play into bilue territory setting up a hotattack in blues’ 25, where a blue forward was penalised for offside play. Carmont had an unsuccessful attempt at goal, blue forcing. From the drop-out yellows again penetrated blues’ 25, only to be held up bv good defence. Yellow forwards led bv T. Taylor, were striving hard to cross, and blues were having an anxious time defending, when they were relieved by a yellow forward being off-side. Walls, with a good kick, found touch well outside the 25. From the lirie out Williams sent his backs away, but the movement- broke down when Walls was caught in possession, K. Coley (yellow) relieving with a good line kick. -Yellows secured. possession from a scrum and R. Coley set his backs in motion for Baird to make a determined run down the line, his centre kick just going too, far, allowing Dunn, in a race for the ball, to force. From the drop out Matthews gained possession and with a good attempt at a “pot” just failed to find the uprights, blues again forcing. The yellow forwards now had the. upper hand and with the sun very troublesome for blues, were making the pace very willing, and plav was seldom out of blues territory. T. Taylor (yellow) with a fine dribbling effort went clean through .the blue defence only to have Dunn, who was playing a fine defensive game, beat him to the touch down.

From the drop out the blue forwards took play into yellow 25 where K. iColev relieved with a good line kick. Blues again went through with the ball at their toe, yellow forcing. From the drop out Castles led the yellow pack into blues 25, only to be penalised for offside play, and Walls, with another great kick found touch at the halfway. Yellow again attacked, but Monaghan relieved with a good kick. From the line out Broad was penalised, and Castles’ kick, high in the air, was knocked on by Dunn. Yellow secured from the serum in blues 25, lxut Coley’s pass was intercepted by Walls going at top speed with only the yellow full back to pass. Excitement ran high as Walls’, speed and side step should have enabled him to beat K. Coley, but he faltered and was grassed bv Coley in yellows’ territory, the ball going into touch. From the line out yellows again carried play into blue 25 where Carmont had another unsuccessful kick at goal, Vertongen being penalised for offside play. Up and down play followed, yellows being penalised several times for breaches, plav eventually being in yellow 25, where the blues made desperate attempts to open their account, but the yellow defence held, until a long kick by Baird relieved. Again yellows attacked, blue having to force. From the kick off Foxton attacked, Castles being prominent, Put lie spoilt a good effort by getting offside in blues’. 25. Walls found touch at halfway with a good kick. The yellow backs got going here but Iv. Robinson was penalised for offside. Castles kicked high and with the yellow pack in pursuit Dunn misfielded the ball,

allowing Melton to open Foxton’s account wide out. Carmont’s kick was unsuccessful. Foxton 3, Woolpacks 0. The kick-off went out on the full, and from the scrum R. Coley secured and sent his backs away to earrv play to the blue 25, where Castles was again penalised, Walls kick taking play into yellow territory, where the blue forwards took possession and had the yellow backs defending strenuously until a force relieved. The game had developed into a forward tussle, attempts at opening up the play by the backs, being frustrated by either side as soon as the movement had started. From a scrum Madden put in a spirited dash down the line, and being hemmed in kicked the ball over blues line for Castles to follow up fast and score Foxton’s second try in the corner. Castles took the kick himself but failed. Foxton 6, Woolpacks 0. Play* was in midfield when half time was called.

The second spell opened at a great pace, Woolpacks, with the sun behind them, determined to make up the leeway, immediately carried play into, yellows’ 25. T. Taylor here left the field, being replaced by Preston. Foxton being without the services of Taylor, their hooker, were now being beat-x on in the serums, and blues were attempting to get their smart backs in action, but all their efforts were nullified by E. Coley’s erratic handling and passes, Coley having gone to the base of the serum and Williams taking the full-back position. Foxton had also made a rearrangement in their back-line, Baird coming into the half position and R. Colev going to wing threequarter. This change was made too late as far as Foxton were concerned as they were not hooking the ball.

Blues continued to attack and now it was Foxton’s turn to feel the glare of the sun in their, eves and blues were taking full advantage of this by employing up and down, tactics. The yellows were not to be denied, however, and again carried play to the blue 25, but it was short lived, however, as ldues came down field in a solid rush making K. Coley force to relieve. The yellow hacks were having an unenviable time stalling off the blue forwards’ attacks. At last the blues were- to be rewarded for their consistent attacks, Walls making a determined ran to Icicle through to Tv. Colev on his line, who made a feeble return kick for Dunn to gather in and run over unopposed. The scorer took the kick himself and with a good effort raised the flags. Foxton fi, Woolpacks

For the next- 20 minutes condition seemed to tell and' the blues were almost over several times. The yellow pack now being beaten for possession in the set serums, were breaking too fast and the blue forwards were using this to the fullest advantage, coming through with the hall at their toe, everyone of them working hard, but still the yellow defence was sound. In the closing stages Foxton evidently recovered their second wind as they carried play into blues’ 25, where Williams misfielded the hall and with a clear run in four or five yellow forwards over-ran the hall to allow Williams to come round and gather possession and relieve with a line kick. Up and down play followed and a good, even, game ended with the scores unaltered. Foxton 6, Woolpacks 5. Mr Wl Neville controlled the game.

OTAKI SENIORS Y. FIRE BRIGADE.

The teams were as follows: — •Otaki (green).—Barrett, Webster, ‘Tulloch, Huff, Haikaraia, Merwood, Cook, Marin, Hakaraia, Cox, Henrys, Tekana, Gray, Merwood, Foley. Fire Brigade (blue and 'white): — Stevenson, Read, Huff, Everleigh, Hirini, Chrystall, Moses, Richardson, Robinson, Pratt. Smith, Coley, Morley, Gilmour and Roore. Fire Brigade won the toss defending the western goal. From the kick off greens immediately attacked, Richardson being penalised for offside play in front of the posts. Barrett had no difficulty in raising the flags. Otaki 3, Fire Brigade 0. Fire Brigade attacked from the kick-off, green being compelled to force. Greens returned to the attack and in the face of a green forward .rush Stevenson marked. His kick found the line at the blue 25. Blues earned play into green 25, where a green forward was penalised for offside play. Gilmour failed in his attempt at goal, Barret# returning play to the 25. Smith was penalised in the line out and Barrett found touch at the halfway. From the line out Smith took the ball at his toe to the green line, where green forced. Green attacked and from a scrum Cook secured and sent his backs away for Hakaraia. to score a. nice try. Barrett failed with the kick. Otaki 6, Fire Brigade 0. Blues attacked and from a. forward rush Coley secured and scored well out. Huff made a fine attempt at converting, the ball hitting the uprights and going outside. Otaki 6, Fire Brigade 3. Blues, again attacked and again a green forward was penalised foxoffside play in the green 25, but Huff failed, Barrett forcing. Green cai-ried play into blue territory -where from a passing- rush the buP went to Webster on the wing, who finished off a nice movement by crossing well out. Huff failed with the kick. Otaki fl, Fire Brigade 3. From the kick off the ball came back to Read, who made a magnificent run down the line, but owing

to no support was forced to kick, which was just too hard, allowing green to force. Play was fast .now and a penalty outside greens’ 25 was taken by Moses. He placed the ball for a shot at goal. Moses fooled the opposition, however, by just kicking through a short distance, and greens being taken unawares the ball eventually crossed to the opposite side of the field for Gilmour to cross. Huff converted. Otaki 0, Fire Brigade 8.,

From a serum later on Chrvstal) shot the ball out to Moses, to Hirini, who cut Huff out but the pass to Everleigh went astray and a wonderful opportunity was lost. From the line out Gilmour broke away hut green forced. Half time was called soon after. The second half commenced with green attacking strongly but Stevenson saved nicely twice in succession. From a line out blue carried play into green territory per medium of a. penalty kick. Here blues had another opportunity of crossing but the forwards overran the ball which went into touch in goal. From the drop out green attacked and blues were kept busy defending Stevenson making a good job of finding the line. Green were not to ho -denied, however, and eventually one of their forwards snapped up and went over wide out. Barrett faded with the kick. Otaki 12, Fire Brigade 8. Green were soon on the attack again, Stevenson being compelled to carry the hall over near the posts and force it. From the resultant scrum green secured, Cook was well smothered by Coley, but Coley was ruled offside, and Otaki were presented with a sitting shot, and Barrett made no mistake, Otaki 15, Fire Brigade 8. Blue attacked but green again carried play into blues’ territory. Barrett again succeeded with ET Here Fire Brigade were penalised and Barrett again succeeded with the kick. Otaki 18, Fre Brigade 8. Play continued from the kick-off in greens’ 25 where in a ruck near the posts “Plugger” Robinson received an injury to his head. He carried on after attention. Barrett relieved by finding the line at the 25 Here' a green forward was penalised but Moses failed to find the goal. Shortly after blues were attacking solidly and Morley went over for Huff to convert, making the score Otaki 18, Fire Brigade 13.

Shortly afterwards the whistle sounded with the scores unaltered. Mr A. Flutey controlled the game.

The value of having a consistent place kick, of the calibre of G. Williams in a team was amply demonstrated in the above game when quite a number of kicks at goal went astray, which might have turned the tide for Fire Brigade against Otaki.

“Plugger” Robinson had to have medical attention after the match and was ordered to the hospital immediately, suffering from severe concussion.

. Roy Roore, captain of the Fire Brigade team, received an injury to his shoulder during the first half and had to retire at half-time, being replaced bv Devonshire.

Says yesterday’s “Dominion”: A. Stevenson (ex-Foxtonite) has alwavs been regarded as a class forward, hut on Saturday he revealed maiiked brilliance in attack and defence. His powers on anticipation are uncanny, while he handles perfectly and has the speed of a greyhound. In his present form the Hutt forward appears to be Wellington’s best All Black forward prospect.

Hui Mai 5 5 0 0 10 Punahau 5 3 0 2 8 Fire Brigade ' 5 3 0 2 6 Shannon G 3 0 3 6 Otaiu 5 3 0 2 G Athletic 5 2 0 3 4 Wanderers 5 0 0 5 0