LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Northern Advocate, 9 August 1929, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

THURSDAY v. SATURDAY REPS,

SATURDAY WINS, B—6,

A good match was witnessed yesterday at Hikurangi Recreation Park between the Thursday and Saturday reps; the last-named winning by eight points to six,” after a strenuous game in which the Thursday team outclassed the Saturday team in every dop!&tment, except hooking. Steers, the Saturday hooker, was a long way better than Wilkinson, and got the ball to his half at leqst nine times out of ten.

The Thursday, team '.hud all the worst of the luck, |aa : \ they had . their opponents defending right on their line no fewer than 11 times, only to -commit some infringement and have a penalty kick awarded against them or perhaps a serum from which the opposition hooker invariably raked the hall to allow a relieving kick. Thursdays also kicked two posters, thus missing four more points by‘the narrowest of margins. On top of this 1 Birch grounded the, ball on the line for a try, .but was ruled |o have been short, although the ball was in the line furrow until the player rose. To cap all, several onlookers checking the time made Saturday’s drat score just over time and their second score nearly six minutes over. Thursdays were also somewhat nonplussed over the rulings of the referee which, although quite right, were hard to follow.

The best back on the ground was Parkes with Beesley an v easy second. Hughes and Raisbeck were good with several others on a par. Among’ the forwards, Steers was brilliant with Payne, Einlayson, Birch, McMasters and Irving also well in the limelight. ; The Thursday backs were miles better than their opponents, but were badly starved owing to not getting the ball.’ , The teams were as follows:

Thursday,—Bauman, Lacey, Smith, Parkes, Love, Beesley, Scott, Main, Wilkinson, Birch, Irving, Payne and Dempster, i Saturday.—Hirtzcll, Mcllroy,. Wilson, Gardner, Hughes, ‘ Ruddell, Raisbeck, Meyer, iSteers, Hodkinson, Einlayson, McMasters and Crump.

The game had been in progress some time before the first score was notched. During this time Thursdays attacked almost consistently and were five times within a few inches of scoring. Birch once fell a foot short, and another time crossed, but was ruled to have come round the serum offside. Bauman- and Parkes alsp kicked posters. Finally, Parkes opened to 'Smith, for . a try. Smith failed at goal. Thursday 3, Saturday 0.

The next score was made some time after half time when Parkes gat possession and cut in/ side-stepped and dummied his way through six opponents to score alongside the post. Bauman made a poor attempt at goal. Thursday 6, Saturday 0. The next score was made by Crump, who, with a solo effort, took the ball at toe for 25 yards to score near the goal. Raisbeek added two points with the kick. Thursday 6, Saturday 5. Just before the final whistle, a Saturday player took the ball 20 yards in front of his full-back, who had kicked it. A serum was ordered at the spot and the Saturday hooker getting the ball out smartly, it was passed to Wilson who knocked it on, recovered it and went on to score in the 'Corner. The kick at goal was not suecH&sful, Saturday 8", Thursday 6. Mr Wotherall was referee.