YESTERDAY'S SPORTS.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13931, 13 July 1917, Page 8

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS.

SUGBY UNION COMPETITION.

JUNIOR FLAG MATCHES,

The first round of,this competition, was concluded yesterday afternoon. Tlia sun was in evidence, and the attendance of. spectators at King George's Park ,was well up to tho average. The ground was greasy, and in some parts very wet. Chief interest centred in tho game between the Old Boys and the High School A team, but tho heavy going considerably militated against anything np j proaching spectactular play, besides being a strong factor in the downfall of the hitherto unbeaten High School team.

ATHLETIC (10) v. TELEGRAPH GALLERY (3). The sun being very bright when the teams took up their positions in the field of play, it was arranged to contest the game in four spells of twenty minutes each. After the ball had been set rolling, play went to the Athletic sido of the half-way mark; MeCombie, Nicholas and Mansell drove the .invaders back to their own quarters, and! up to the Gallery line, but off-side play by a Maroon lost the advantage. Cartwright headed another unsuccessful attack, but the spell ended without score. On ehangiug ends, Athletic took up the offensive, and a pass from the. scrum by Smart to MeCombie, enabled the latter to make it an easy thing for Mansell to score between the posts, and the latter had no trouble in adding the additional two points. A few minutes later Nicholas commenced a rush which ended in Diroen scoring, Mausell again sending the ball over the cross-bar. Early in the third part a fine kick by Roderick compelled the Maroons, who were tiring, to net on the defensive, Gallery keeping their adversaries busy defending. The Maroons being penalised for lying on the ball, McGregor's resultant kick secured a goal for the Gallery.

During the last twenty minutes Gallery made good efforts to further increase the score, but without result, Final score: Athletic If) Gallery ,", Mr M. K. McCulloch was referee.

OLD BOYS (11 j v. HIGH SCHOOL A (7). From mid-field the School forwards by a stories of short rushes took play lo tin 1 Roil territory, Kerr getting his backs in motion, Ifazlctt, Mill, Kpit, and MeQuin participating in some bright play, but some minutes elapsed before MeQuin could liml a weak spot in the defence, a try being got wide out. The shot was not successful, Orchard responded to the kick-out with a beautiful return, which found the line a few feet from the corner (lag,, A couple of penalties against the School for off-side and lifting in the serum stemmed the onslaught for a few minutes, After another strong attack by the School, instituted by Mill, had been repelled, play went to near mid-field, By this time the ball had become very greasy, which quite precluded handling it with accuracy. A lot of uninteresting play near the 'centre, during which there was frequent unavoidable infringements by both sides, was succeeded by a Red sally into Blacks' quarters, and the ever alert Macpherson getting an opening, promptly registered a try for Old Boys. Robertson added the extra points with a nice kick. On re-starting, Blacks rushed the ball to Reds' end, and Hazlitt brilliantly kicked a goal from amidst a number of opponents, placing his side in the lead again. A few minutes after the resumption Old Boys' forwards— Cooney and Fleming being conspicuous —propelled the ball to Blacks' end, and Mursall kicked a penalty goal, the spell ending:— Old Boys 8 High School A ........ 7 After changing ends, School attacked with vigour, the bookers getting the ball frequently out to Kerr, whose confres were unable to manipulate the greasy ball with any great amount of success, Reds' 'forwards using their weight and keeping ulay as closo as possible, worked the ball to the School end, the attack being sustained for a fair length of time, and Rooncy securing another try, which was not converted. From" this right on to call of time the Blacks made, many gallant attempts to regain the lead,-but the Reds took.no liberties, keeping the game tight, while the backs utilised the line, Robertson's defenco being very strong. Old Boys were loudly applauded by their supporters on leaving the paddock. The final score was:— Old Boys ~. .. 11 High School A 1 Mr A, King was reforee, EXCELSIOR (14) v. HIGH SCHOOL B(5).

The match between the above teams was played on the High School grounds under fair conditions, though the field was greasy. Play commenced fairly fast, the Excelsior forwards soon settling down to work.' For the major part of the first spell, the field was traversed repeatedly without any score being registered, the Beds strenuously opposing all attacks of their heavier opponents. With several open rushes tlio ball was carried into the region of the Beds' objective, ami Excelsior hero being twice penalised School essayed two kicks at goal, which were resultless. Excelsior then asserted themselves, and when near half-time scored, Gibson converting. The whistle was blown with play in mid-field, and the seoro: — Excelsior .. ~ . 5 School .... ~ .. .. .... 0 ' School opened the second spell favourably, but the greasy nature of the ground -was evidently handicapping fhem, ami the ball was carried into their quarter..; From a scrum and a line-out ' adjacent to the School's line. Excelsior scored' two tries, neither of which was converted. Excelßior seemed to tie in

their training, soon ■bore fruition in several :goo\t>passing rushes, vyliLcli enabled them ( to score: again/ ■Tilts' kielc'at goal■ failed'. School then rallied'in it.heroic endeavour to 'retrieve their-. fortunes, and several scrambles were- indulged in near Excelsior's line, the superior weight of the lntter.'s forwards nullifying any efforts of School. However, some open play gave School a chance, aiul>a score re- v suited. Kibblewhite converted. Of special mention was the work of the School half-back, McGhie, who played a good game throughout. For Excel-' sior two tries were secured by Hopley, and one each by Winsley and Gibson. When time was called the scores remaiued at':— Excelsior 14 School 5 Mr V. E. Doran was referee.

LADIES' HOCKEY MATCH. NORTH OTAGO (5) v. GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL (3). The annual match between the North Otago Ladies' Hockey Club ami the WaitaM Girls' High School was played at the Show Grounds yesterday, and resulted in a win for the North Otago Ladies' team by 5 goals to 3. The weather conditions were ideal, but the recent rains had made the field somewhat greasy. The game however was made very keen and interesting and both teams were responsible for a good deal of dash. The School team were much smaller than their opponents, but what they appeared to lack in stature they made up for in speed. The game was pressed vigorously throughout, and though at the* conclusion the North Otago ladies had a margin of two goals, the School team was at no stage of the game in any sense outclassed. School faced the snn in the firse spell, nt the end of which the score was North Otago 2, School 1. On changing ends the School teams made a vigorous attack and within a couple of minutes of resuming had equalised the scores, For the remainder of the game both teams played vigorous hockey and when noside sounded North Otago had 5 goals to the School's 3. For the winners, goals were shot by Hisses It. ITorman (2), (!ooney, Benrdsmore, and Robertson each one, while for the School goals were shot by G. Barkley, E. Williams and Hall. Mr A. Aitken was referee.