FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9508, 8 May 1911, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF THE SEASON.

Tho football season in the Manawiitu opened in splendid, weather on Saturday. Tho senior game set" down for decision here, 11.5.0.8. y. Palmorston, was a very poor exhibition, the Old Boys rlaying with twelve men, including several substitutes. In the first spoil Palmerston wero continuously on tho attack, and several almost certain tries were lost by carelessness. In the second spell tlmy fell off a little, and 11.5.0.8. livening up, put on eight points to their opponents twclvo. Mr Eraser-refereed in a most impartial manner. Thoothor senior game, ICia'Toa v. Arhlcctie. played at Fcildjng,' was a match hotter exhibition, and was more interesting for both players and spectators alike.

senior; PALMERSTON (24) v. H. 5.0.8. (6). High School'won the toss. From the kick-off Palmerston attacked, Childs at, half making excellent opening# for bis backs. A couple of good rushes v.ere' spoilt by mulling near tho line. A few minutes lator the Palmerston backs again got into action, and Stagpoole was nearly over at the corner, but was smartly grassed by Dick Waldegrave. Pegden relieved well,but play was soon, returned to 11.5.0.8.'s 25. Again a good passing rush was frustrated by Waldegrave. Tho black and whites tried several times to cross tho lino, but Hanna and his colleagues ( on tho threequarter lino did good defensive work.' Stagpoole put in a good run, but was penalised on the line, 1 and after- play travelling across the field in front of the goal, Buick got over from a scramble. Brown was entrusted with the kick, hit was unsuccessful. Palmerston 3, 11.5.0.8. 0. From the kick-off "School" attacked, and after play travelling lip (U'd dowii the field in quick succession Childs made • a good opening. The result was a, good passing rush, and Gray was nearly ovor, but was grassed near the line. Ho passed to Kylo, who fell over near tho posts.' Brown failed to add the major points. Palmerston 6, 11.5.0.8. 0. Palmerston again went to tho attack, and from a forward rush the ball camo out to Eglinton, who ran round arid scored. Childs failed with the kick. Palmerston 9, 11.5.0.8. 0. ; A good rush, v fcin which Childs, Eglinton, Gray, and Proudo took part, ended in tho latter crossing the line. Brown missed an easy goal. Palmerston 12, 11.5.0.8. 0. Childs made several good openings for his backs Which were not taken advantage of, and Hanna relieving well put his side on the defence, play being in Palmerston's 25 when the whistle .sounded for half-time.

A most unusual incident occurred at the commencement of the second half, J. Bennett, who kicked off for High School, landing a, splendid goal from the halflino. Palmerston at once resumed the aggressive, and mainly owing to tlio efforts of Childs, Puke got over in tho corner. Harkncss had an unsuccessful kiok at. goal. Palmerston North 15, H. 5.0.8. 0. The H.5.0.8.'s backs were not given much of a spell, and as tho 1 result of a good united effort Kyle scored between' the posts. Eglinton did not justify the confidence reposed in his kicking powers. Palmerston 18, H. 5.0.8. 0. "School" now attacked vigorously, '•Waldcgravo being particularly aggressive, but Childs saved well.. Their forwards led by Bennett and McGregor kept the Palmerston men busy defending, and Vernon and McGregor following up well, the latter got over and scored first blood for his side. Bennett's kick missed the post bv inches. Palmerston 18, H.S.0.8, 3. Play became very open fiom this out, Stagpoolo and Gray scoring for Palmerston, both of which wero unconverted. H. 5.0.8. then livened up, snd by a good combined effort McGregor got over again. Gardiner took tho kiok and registered the only goal of tho dsj. The game ended 1 a few minutes later with H. 5.0.8. on tho attack, and tho scores— Palmeretor, 24, H. 5.0.8. 8. KIA TOA (5) V. ATHLETICS (17). Kia Toa and Athletics met at Feilding. Soon after the commencement of the game T. Bade scored two trids in quick succession. M. Carroll also scored two tries, one of which lie converted, Arnold was tho other scorer. Just before time Baigent scored a try' for tho visitors, O'Connor converting, the contest ending Athletics 17, Kia. Toa 5. SOME OPINIONS BY AN ONLOOKER. Woathcr and good conditions word most favourable to Rugby in Feilding, 'and in consequenco there was a- very fair attendance of spectators. Though the score resulted in favour of Athletics by 17 to 15, yet tho game was evenly contested. The refereeing was in tho hands of Mr A. McMinn, and his rulings were impartial and most satisfactory to players and spectators alike. Nothing of a trivial nature was penalised, and 60 the gamo was not marked by "too much whistle." Tho game was not an exhibition of skill, but rather of brute strength, and so was not attractive to spectators, who love the scientific side of Rugby. "Playing the

game" is evidently impossible to the great majority of players, who,, when they are beaten by fair tactic invariably resort to foul play rather,.than counter-., tactics.; "Blocking" or "obstruction" wa6 very common, and referees will liavo to put this element down,'qvdrt"at the cost of ordering some of the nicn ,oit'. the .field. Talking and questioning referees' decision were also very noticeable, and, of course, mar any game:. The Carroll brothers were very bad offenders in this respect., Surely ihey aro good enough eportg to know how irritating this is, to both players and reterco, and their best friends ardontly hope to see this habit checked as the season advances. Tljo new club contains good material, .and it should remember that in good football it takes the efforts of the whole team to score a try. They made a mistake on Saturday in depending too much on the Carrolls, They aro a smart, active lot, and should be able to organiso original offensive tactics instead of resorting to the old haphazard stylo of trusting to brute strength and ignorance. Tho open game is tho modern idea, of ecentific football; the tight game is 50 years old, and should be buried with tho past. "Mic.k" should not be played in the/ backs; .ho is tho best wing-forward in Manjiwatu, and does not know tho five-eight game. Jacobson is a good, half, but was- afraid to use anyono but, "Mick" bohind. the serum; Godyre is a good wing, three-quarter, but was not worked, except by chance. The Athletic pack are heavy, young, and untiring, but had no place of attack except "bustlo and boot," Chum Carroll was, as usual, tho.-most prominent forward; for hard work and determination ho would bo hard to beat anywhoro, but when it conies to. head work ho fails, Arnold, with Carroll,. stood out most noticeably among a very even lot, Hughes, at fullback, was safe, and a star compared with Stevens 1 (I(ia Toa), who is,, undoubtedly, a three-quarter. Bartholomew was not asked to do anything, and, like Godyro, had to trust for a chance to defend, having nothing to do with the attack at all. Tho new team will make a name for itself before the season is out, and they certainly dosorved their win on Saturday. Unlike their opponents, tho Kia Toa did not wake up until they found themselves weakened by the loss of their half, who unfortunately .broke his collarbone early in tho second half. When O'Connor went up to tho half, brains and generalship at once became evident, and tho Blacks not only had tho best of tho game from that timo on, but outclassed the Athletics in knowledgo of attack, scooring 3 and converting,one try and narrowly missing several others, to say nothing of the chances at goal from penalties. O'Connor should play behind the scrum, and his team recognised the fact from the way jt' suddenly, took a grip of tho game. The Kia Toa pack individually worked like Trojans, but played too wide to prevent the wedge-liko scrum of Athletics from becoming effective. Forwards must play opposing forwards at their own game, and should depend on their backs for tho oppn tactics, Waters was prominent and fit all through tho game, and did splendid line-oi\t work. Jim Hardio worked with his'head, feet, and weight to great avantage. Ward was palpably out of condition, but place-kick-ed well. The paclc badly wants a leader like old "Brum" Smith. Mullins lan- are two splendid forwards individually, but must do more work in the tight. Sievens is not a full-back, and it is unfair to play him there. Godfrey was off, and did not seem able to kcop his place. Being too anxious to be prominent, ho failed to attend to tho solid duties of his position, \Vebb performed well, and is worthy of moro trust from his fellows, Skipper O'Connor has a good team in tho making, and what is more, they seem willing to play in a sportsmanlike way,

JUNIOR, OLD BOYS v. ATHLETIC. A particularly strenuous game eventuated on No. 2 ground, when Old Boys defeated Athletics by the narrow margin of one .point. Old Boys opened the attack, and play had not long been in progress, when Sheerin got over for the black and reds. Tho superiority und weight of tho Athletic forwards told in tho ond, and just before half-time W. Thompson scored a good try, which was convorted by J. Simeon. In the second half Athletics at once assumed the aggressive, and Simeon scored, but iailed to convert his own try. Old Boys now woke up, and had their turn at attacking, and by splondid concerted worlc I.«w got over, but tho try was not converted. Old Boys wore awarded two kicks in front of tho goal, and from the last Tremaine landed a goal amid great excitement from the spectators, the game ending Old Boys 9, Athletic 8. KIA TOA v. PALMERSTON. .Palmorston could only muster five men, so Kift Toa kicked off, scored, and so won by default. THIRD-CLASS. HIGH SCHOOL v. PALMERSTON. High School First Fifteen had an easy win over Palmorston 111. by 25 points to 3. For High School, Kerr (3), Low, Nettlefold, 'and Munro (2) scored tries, two of which Kerr converted. Eglinton scored an unconverted try for Palmorston. KIA TOA v. 11.5.0.8. Ivia Toa won by default, tho H. 5.0.8. team having withdrawn from the fixtures. OLD BOYS v. ASHIIURST. Old Boys and Ashhurst played a fairly even gamo on tho Sports Ground. Tho visitors wero tho heavier team, l:ut the homo backs wore good both in attacking and defending. Mexted seoied twioo for Old Boys, ono of which Croucher oonvortod, and also kicked a penalty goal. FEILDING v.' ATHLETIC. Foil ding had not much difficulty in disposing of Athletic at Feilding, the scores being 19 to 5 in Folding's favour. FOURTH-CLASS. KIA TOA v. HIGH SCHOOL. Kio Toa had a vory easy win over a weakoned High School team, tho scores being 32 to nil. ' ' FEILDING v. OLD BOYS. Foilding defeated Old Boys at Feilding by tho substantial margin of 1710 3. ASSOCIATION. ■ GLEN OROUA r. RANGERS. A vory good oxhibition of football even.tuatod at Glen Oroua on Saturday, when tho Rangers defeated tho local team by threo goals to two.' Tho Rangers vicre woak in combination, and although taken individually they had tho best men, although Glen Oroua wore superior in this department. Tabornaclo (2) and Richards scored for Rangers, and Farmer and the inside right for Glen Oroua.' JACKEYTOWN 'v. CELTIC. Jackoytown dofoatod Celtic on their own ground on Saturday after an excellent game by thrco goals to. two. For Celtic, Slowman and Hughes' scored the goals.