FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17902, 3 October 1921, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

ROOPE ROOSTER FINAL,

VICTORY FOR CTTY TEAM.

FAST AND EXCITING GAME.

The final of the Roope Rooster competition under League rules was played at Carlaw Park on Saturday between City and Maritime, After au exceedingly fast and exciting game City won by 30 points to 14. As winners also of the senior grade club competition the City club has established itself as the champion League club of the season.

Popular opinion favoured City for Saturday's match, but the Maritime supporters were confident that the latter would put up a sterling battle. In this opinion they were thoroughly justified, and with the scores even at half time it appeared as though the luck of the game would decide the issue. In the early part of the second spell fortune smiled on tne Maritime efforts, and with the addition of two tries to the score it seemed that the City players would have to show better form than they had yet displayed to avert defeat. The City men proved equal to the occasion and during the second portion of the spell gave a fine display of the League game. They passed in groat style, and the speedy backs proved aitogether too good for their opponents. W. Davidson was in good form with his pla-ce-kicking and added the goal points to the majority of the tries scored. Both teams are to be congratulated on the display given. The game was exceptionally fast and was won by the team that developed the greater paco and combination in the second spell. The crowd that assembled to witness the match was estimated at 10,000, and the fine work of both teams elicited unstinted applause from the spectators. The game was a fitting conclusion to the club competitions of the 1921 season. Run of the Game.

Maritime were the first to attack, a, penI alty placing them on the offensive. Smart I work by the City hacks drove them back, ■ and Harley, intercepting a pass, kicked hard 1 T e w tiie '' J3e - causing Maritime to force, i A Maritime rash took play to the City I twepty-nve. but a penalty sent the invaders I back. A good dash by \V. Davidson looked ! dangerous, but the City threeo. uarter was j compelled to kick, the ball going out near the Maritime line. The defenders got the bah from the scrum, and Brien made a | short dash to the twenty-five line. Peck- ! ham got possession and made an opening. I but B. Davidson failed to accept the pass. j Immediately afterwards Peckham made anI other dash and was tackled near the line. Trie ball was kicked on. but went over the j dead-ball line. City continued to attack. • a bout started by Wetherall being ; stopped in the Maritime twenty-five. Wilson picked ud in the loose and made a dash. ! but Avery tackled well and saved the situation. A good dash by Brien reached the iCiiv fullback, and a short punt sent the I ball on. but Wetherall nipped in and saved. 1 A penalty to Maritime gave Yardlev a shot at goal, but the ball fell short. The : Maritime forwards followed up well, and j m a scramble Avery cot across and scored. j Grey failed to convert. j Keeping up the pressure, the Maritime I forwards penned their opponents in the j twenty-five. Hot work ensued near the line. j and Avery was thrown across the line with | the ball to score another trv. The kick at goal failed. Citv then took a hand and did some good passing. A certain try was lost through Wilson failing to take a pass from W. Davidson, and Maritime cleared their line. The citv backs kept going, and Peckham. gettinc the ball from a scrum, sent it out in a chain to B. Davidson. The latter was tackled by McGregor, but shook him off and scored near the corner. W. Davidson converted. After a period of give-and-take plav Maritime worked (he ball down to the Citv twentv-five. Yardlev took a mark from a kick bv Paki and had a fruitless shot at goal. Immediately afterwards VSardley intercepted a pass and raced for the line. He was tackled bv Paki in front of the goal and the latter was penalised. E. C. Grey took the kick and landed a goal. After a period of give and tajje play Peckham got the ball from a scrum and punted , B. Davidson, following up fast, gathered i the ball on the bounce, and raced for the ! line. He passed to Hawkes. and the latter I was pulled down iust in front of the goal. I A penalty against Maritime gave W. David- ■ son a short at goal, but the ball went outI side the posts. City came back to the atj tack from the drop out, and in a loose ] scramble near the line. Mitchell picked up | and dashed over- W. Davidson tailed to | r-iirnvert- The game for the remainder of the I spell was devoid of special incident, and half tima sounded with, the scores: Maritime. 8; City. S.

. Cfty Assumes the Lead. Immediately after resuming Maritime were forced, the ball being kicked hard over the line by a City forward. A few momenta later Peckham broke away with the ball at his toe, and dribbled over the line. McGregor saving just in time. Maritime then took a hand. The ball went out to Brien at halfway. He punted to the City fullback, who slipped in endeavouring to take the ball. Avery, following fast, snapped up the ball and dashed over, to score his third try Grey failed to convert. Within a few minutes another -' T « went to Maritime, through a mistake by t&e City fullback. The ball kicked back and Harley slipped as he fielded it. He kicked and the ball rebounded off a Maritime forward. Brien, following up fast, got possession, and scored at the corner. Grey failed with the kick. Play hung in the City twenty-five for a time till Wetherall. by a good dash, made ground. fn loose play Wilson picked up and. dashing straight down the field, passed to Hawke-s. The latter sent the ball on to Marine, who passed to W. Davidson, and the speedy three-quarter scored in a good position- The same player converted. The game continued to be fast and open, each side throwing the ball about. Littlewood gathered the ball from a kick, and raced for the City line. B. Davidson overhauled Dim but he passed to Grey, the latter being tackled on the line by W. Davidson City were penalised and Yardlev had an unsuccessful shot at eoaL Immediately after the drop out. a pu.<is::n<r bout by th« Citv backa saw B. Davidson break through. He was supported by Peckham, but the latter failed to take the pa=s. and a certain try was lost. Hot work ensued in the Maritime tw-'nty-five, wh~re the defenders were penalised. VV. David<"'n !ande-d a nice a-oal-

I After a little give and take nlay the City pla7(-»-<> again broke away, Peckham, Hawkf* and Thomas reach ng the Maritime twentyfive. Good woTk by the City backs saw Wetnerall scoop the ball out to B. Davidr:. sr.d the latter ran over nn'mposed W. j David-on converted. From th« dron-out the j City backs opened uo a naming bout. B. ] Davidson punted and. foliowifs no well, I asram got possession, and beating the on-po-j sition. scored near the i-ost*. W. Davidson ! converted. Undaunted by the revrrsp Ma.rij .••--,» iwcnrr into the atta<k. Littlewood : tf-adp a dn»h down the line, but was spot , into to'icb by B. Davider-n. The ball came .-.;,!, to YardVv. who rx.ttod. >>'•♦ f h* ball fe" sht.rt The Cit.v bocks then hroV<= awn.y, and th'- Dav:d-.on b'othcrs ronrhed the Maritime hi'lbdck with <h« bail between them. B. Davidson failed to pb.rs. and a trv went beegins Keerirg iin the pressnre the City forI wards t t ni-d th' ; r opponent"! in the twentv- : five. Harlev -:• ;in in the loose and i rawed or, »,, Hswkea who scc«d undpr the j-.sis. Wetheral! 'Mt»rUid. The Mari'irre 1 : !ayp-r* made ntrenno i * efV-rts to yjvay. and a nasnine Ih.i-» arr.o»>sr th' !•>■!<» fon-nd a breach :r. the <''v d»f»nce Rr»n I r,i--ked uo an-'; ra. ~1 For »he '■„». I».i» •<■», ' V-roneht d.-wn heav.lv by Thomas i n the Pi'v | twenty-five iust as the bell rang to cease ;iia,v with the scores: r-'v . . . . . . i . .. an : Mar:t mo It OTTTFJI MATCHKS. i Taoet Competition nth Company. A, 10 ;pr nts. de'-nt-ed l"- ; . Company. 1 - House Ma! -h. — "'"»'.'>. 13 poims, ,Jc- ; [eatod Clark and Matheson. IS. THE RUOBY CAME. TAIRANCA V. WAIhl. ' : A DRAWN GAMK. [ V IELEOB.AI-U — OS\ N rORH!■ SI'ONPF.NT.] Tal'KAN';a. S:.turd?.y. i"i:e Taiirni. ifr ar;-I Wh; . Ui.vby ifprei>entativim played hrre io-'l.'v T!:>' en me wnj --1 and ln'.erestir.i:. .-:-.r'.!y after the • -i-en.r.;; Tn v. '■ .. .'.i rji na -i. r<"d -.-r T.mranga. ' 1..,t.-r. Br--v. ■ .:,.r.-. -. try for WuiLi. ai,d ' at half-t m<- t - or..- :■.,■■■■ .■•.•.;, ! , ... is .~■ ii. Well i :..-..-£j. tl e third quarter li. ■ .'Tii, '.'.' Sim-'ly r. terwards !;' 1,,-.-:: seenrod she ball i.eur the ci'mre and I -■ -r* :. aMi r a run, *-<> T .tli.-iut: •;.,(> ■■•'•rev. .\n furlhei bcore was rcgisterud and ~ [ tic e -ame enrlwl in a draw. ~\ MATCH KS ON SATURDAY. I Several fiiigl.y matches were played on I Saturday, with the following results- — West End flowing Club d-fealed Atuk- « i land li-owmg C:,,h by :)(.. p.unti- t-, !.: p„ii;i« ; II A. and T. Buit delected the National F.|vC- ! irical Company by 14 to .1. Ani.kland M<-at Company defeated R. ami W. Hellaby, Ltd.. by be to 6 Howick defe:i'...d College Billes j bj 27 to 26.