FOOTBALL NOTES

Northern Advocate, 8 July 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL NOTES

. . (By "Rugby.") Spectators at Kensington Park oil Saturday had a full afternoon's programme and most of the games protided excellent football. The senior fame was a strenuous go, but the play although close and exciting was not of I the highest order. On the run of the | play Hora Hora were unlucky to lose the match just 011 the call of time; they

deserved to win. The junior games saw High School give their best display this year. The winner of the other section is going to be hard to find, for Portland and Pioneer continue neck and neck with Maungakaramea close behind. Y.M.C.A. continue on their victorious way in their section of the third grade competition while High School B have now a one-point lead over Old Boys in the other, and should De the team to meet Y.M.C.A. m the final. Selector F. Little has picked two even teams for Saturday's senior Town v. Country clash. With Bunny

available the former should win but his absence should just about give victory to the Country fifteen. The invitation, extended to the Auckland 'Varsity team to meet the Whangarei Reps, on Saturday week was accepted very willingly, subject to Auckland fixtures giving them a freo t day. Definite word will be received on Thursday .morning and indications point to its being favourable. 'Varsity will strengthen their ranks by drawing _ ' . jl._l ii '11

'upon other club teams, so that it wul take our boys all their time to win. The match will be a splendid try-out in view of the more serious game on the following Saturday at I>argaville. The date of the Moasear Cup match between Whangarpi and Te Aute has not been definitely fixed, but will probably be the first week in August. Our boys are improving every week and will put up a good game. Matches against weightier opponents here are providing good training ■ for their meeting with the heavy team the holders can put in the field. The match Whangarei v. Mt. Albert will probably start at 2.30 on the 05th inst., to enable Northern enj thusiasts to witness what should be j I the brightest game of the year. Second- j arv school players are not frightened to' throw the ball about and the risks they are prepared to' take make , for bighly spectacular play. The Union Management Committee has had several complaints from its gatekeepers this season concerning a certain section of visitors to Kensington Park, who seem inclined to look upon free admission as their right. Ail bona fide players were provided with passes at the beginning of the season, at least the secretaries of clubs wero, and as gatekeepers have received strict instructions to demand either the production of the pass or of the necessary shilling it will be well for all players to see that their pass is (n their pocket. A player is to be called upon to explain his conduct at the committee's next meeting, and the management has resolved that no re- ! funds of gate money will be made. Supplies of the New Zealand Rugby Handbook have come to hand so that the rules in future will be' the legal, ones. ... Local referees very diffident about bringing them-into- use., but really the. differences *are not many, although sufficiently important to hamper a team' that has not become accustomed to For thai reason the sooner our' : representatives pln.y under them therbetter.

The main points" are: -Charging a kick at goal, placing the ball for kic-k at goal, permission being given to the rover to advance further than the back of the scrum, allowing the half to hook the ball from the scrum with his foot and placing the ball in the scrum. The difficulty hardest to overcome will be to take a kick at goal with the opponents charging while a player otlisr than the kicker is placing the ball. This will require more practice than many think, while the changed wine; forward play will cause the half to use his head to counteract the altered circumstances.

In other parts not much change ha 3 J taken place. Ponsonby's position in . Auckland is now quite unassailable. In j Wellington Poneke remain on top, but | Petone went down on Saturday, al- ! though 'Varsity won. In Christchurch Old Boys have reached the top of the iadder, beating Christcliurcli last wc>ek end after a splendid tussle. Dunedin has Pirates in the lead by virtue of their defeat of 'Varsity, whose only loss this has been.

The temporary seats at Kensington proved quite effective on Saturday— another row on the other side would be made full use of. The present No. 1 ground will have to do for thn 'Varsity and Mt. Albert matches, but

an earnest effort is to be made to bring the old No. 1 ground into usable condition before other important gaiu-,s are played. Fine weather is needed as much as the caretaker's work. PRIMARY NOTES. Only one match eventuated last week, the two leading teams in the competition, Hikurangi and Whangarei A, meeting for the first time. The match was played at Hikurangi and resulted in a win for Whangarei by 12 points to nil. The game was hard and fast from the kick off to the final whistle. Hikurangi relied on forward play and in the first half their spoiling tactics upset the Whangarei back division

who were unablfe to get going. At half time the score was 3—o in Whangarei's favour, the result of a splendid penalty goal kicked by Megson. In the second half the Whangarei backs played deeper and so were able to get going before the Hikurangi forwards were on them. Tibbits, the Whangarei half, got the ball out well and as a result of several good passing rushes Whangarei scored three tries, none of which were converted. Megson, McDonald and Andrews scored for Whangarei. Hikurangi has a fine lot of forwards but their back division is very weak .indeed. For Hikurangi C. Wilson and McKenzie were outstanding,

they were always on the ball and worked like Trojans. A. Goodhue and A. Wilson also played well. The Hikurangi boys are to be commended for the plucky light they put up against a heavier and better balanced team. For Wihangarei Hilford played an exceptionally line game and was the best forward on the ground. Wilson, Robinson, Tibbits and Swinburne also played a sound game. Megson as centre did good work, his line kicking being exceptionally fine. Next week the writer hopes to. be able to publish the names of the boys selected for the Eeps. No further word has been received

from Dargaville re the game on the ISth instant. The Auckland P.S.E.A. are holding a football carnival during the August holidays and have invited the local Association to send a team to compete. The matter is to be discussed at a meeting to be held next Saturday. It would be a splendid trip for the boys and should be able to be arranged as the only expense would be the fares, the boys being billeted privately in Auckland. The writer feels sure that there are enough Eugby supporters in Whangarei to see that the trip does not fall through on account of insufficient funds. The A.Pj&E.A. [have practically promised to send a team north this season.