FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 104, 6 May 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

Senior. OLD BOYS (12) v. PALMERSTON (6). Being the opening of the season there was very little classical play in the match between Olcl Boys and Palmorston played on tho Showgrounds on Saturday. Both teams were characterised by greenness, which is invariably in evidence at the beginning of the season. Some very good material was on the field in both teams, and with a little training they should render a good account of themselves before the Reason has very far advanced, It is unnecessary to criticise to any great extent the play of either side. The weight in forwards was all in favour of Old Boys, and at intervals throughout the game was made good use of, although not always effective. In the packs their extra strength could be noticed, but from a scientific point of view preference must be given to Pnlmerston forwards. They liad a hard solid uphill fight, as from the start the odds were against them, and it was very seldom throughout the game that they were a source of any danger to Old Boys. The backs of both teams showed looseness in their movements, particularly the reds, who could easily have added a good many more tries had their passing been anywhere near the mark. It was also noticed that one of tho backs was inclined to give way to speculating, which did not result in profit to his side. Both fullbacks filled their positions well, and had to be relied on several times. Their taking of the ball as a rule was fairly clean, but the same cannot be said for the three-quarters. There is a very little lacking in the forward rushes, some of the men being very keen on the ball, Smith, of Old Boys, in particular. Both teams were equal to the occasion on the line out. Play was fairly central for a start, but it could be noticed that Old Boys were to have the better of the game. Within the first fifteen minutes Puhi scored for Old Boys after a smart piece of work, resulting from a forward movement. Smith took the shot and failed, the ball falling short of the goal, Later on a mark was secured in a handy position, but Smith again failed to convert. Some loose play up and down the field followed for a short interval. Palmcrston got into trouble near the line, but for a time the backs saved the situation. The Ola Boys got the ball out to the backs and Hall whipped it up and bounded acros3 the line, adding another three. Lowe made a good attempt at goal, but failed. Palmer,3ton then appeared to display more energy, and one of the backs put in a very decent run, which met with the approval of the spectators. Old Boys were pressed very near to their line, when Rev. Stephenson had a pot at goal, which just missed the post. Near the end of the spell Old Boys tacked on another three, ending the first spell with Old Boys 9, Palmerston nil.

During the second spell Palmerston rallied somewhat, and fop ( x while had Old Boys on the defensive, but missed their chance of scoring by hard kicking. After a good deal of centre play the leather was transferred to Old Boys' 35, which resylted in a scramble near the line, the Palmerston half scoring. Boon made a poor attempt with the kick. Play now livened up, and Old Boys, by a good forward rush, looked like scoring, but Boon by a safe kick found the line and saved for Palmerston. Shortly after, from a good passing rush, F. Wingate crossed the line. The lack at goal was a failure. Prom this out play was of a give and take nature until a few minutes before call of time, when Old Boys, by a good passing rush and fast following up, scored again. The game thus ended in a win for Old Boys by 12 to 6. The Rev C. C. Harper was an efficient referee. FEILDING (4) V. KIA TO A (0). The Kia Toa fifteen made the journey to Feilding on Saturday, and met the local seniors on the new ground on the racecourse. As might have been expected after such a week of floods the ground was very soft. Feilding had a very weak forward team, but their backs more than made up for any weakness in front. Kia Toa played with the wind in the first spell, and their forwards early asserted themselves. Feilding immediately afterwards raised the hopes of their supporters by a couple of passing runs among the backs, which placed Kia Toa on the defensive. As the spell progressed it was seen that the local team had as much of the game as the Kia Toas, but when half time arrived the score sheet was still unsullied. On changing round Kia Toa had a few moments of anxious defence. Occasional bursts up the field by the Black forwards relieved the pressure. Again the Colours gained a position near the Kia Toa line, '.''he ball came out to Eout, a Fielding three-quarter, and with a quick drop he put the ball over the bar, and gathered in a useful four points for his side to the delight of the spectators. Both teams were tiring fast, and although Feilding came near scoring again more than once, the defence of tho Blacks proved equal to the strain. Feilding thus came out winners by four points to nil. Mr Evans was a very satisfactory referee. Rout, who has the distinction of putting up the score for Feeding, is an exSouth Canterbury rep., and showed great form throughout the game. junior. PALMERSTON (3) v. FEILDING (3). On the adjoining ground, which was wetter than that on which the senior game was played, the Palmerston juniors engaged the Feilding juniors. Palmerston played with the wind to begin with and quickly showed superiority to the local boys. Their backs got in some nice passing runs, the half-back, being well supplied by the good heeling of the forwards, sending the ball out splendidly to his three-quarters. In the course of a melee near the Feilding goal, a glaring case of illegal tackling led to Feilding being penalised, and the place kick brought in three points to Palmerston. Soon after Palmerston had another shot from a penalty, but no score resulted. In the opening part of the second spell the Feilding forwards took charge of the game, and rushed the ball down to Palmerston quarters. Here a scrambling rush across the Palmerston line resulted in a try to Feilding, Young managing the touch down. A very easy place kick was sadly bungled. For the remainder of the spell Palmerston were passing, and only the worst of luck prevented several tries being scored. The game thus ended in a draw—three points each. Mr W. H. McLean refereed. OLD BOYS (6) v. HUIMAI (5). The newly-formed Huimai juniors made their first appearance on Saturday, on the Showgrounds, when they were opposed to Old Boys. The game was a very hotly contested one from start to finish, especially on resumption of play after half time, when the scores were Huimai 5 Old Boys 3. Both sides played all thev knew, and just a few minutes before call of time Old Boys gained another try and pulled tho match out of thi fire by G to 5. KIA TOA (18) v. ASHHURST (6). This match was played on a very fair ground, at Ashhurst, under tho control of Mr Duthie. For the first ten minutes

the homo team mado it pretty warm, but want of condition told its tale. The game, which was played throughout in the best of spirits, ended in Kia Toa scoring four tries, three converted, to Ashhurst's two tries—lß to 6. Third Class. FEILDING (3) v. HIGH SCHOOL (0). ILgh School and Feilding met on grounds of former, who, though much lighter than their opponents, made a good fight of it. Feilding won by the narrow margin of three points (a try) to nil. Mr Tunbridge made his first appearance an a referee in Palmerston and created a favourable impression. KIA TOA (5) v. OLD BOYS (0). This game started at 1.30 and wag even throughout, the boys showing more condition than any other of the teams. Kia Toa managed to register 5 points and the Red and Blacks were unable to even matters. The referee was Mr Crichton.