FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18216, 9 October 1922, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

UNDER LEAGUE RULES. CHALLENGE SHIELD MATCH. CITY DEFEATS PETONE CLOSE lAND EXCITING GAME. , The first match of the season for the New Zealand Ku.b, Footb.l, shield was played on Saturday Park between City, the holders, and Peton . Wellington League. Ka J" \ " lly p l ay throughout the game, and natural was confined mostly to the forwards Petone put up a splendid fight, their forwards holding their own in the loose and havmK a little the better of the scrums. Their backs might have made . t ball, Nunn particularly indulging i much kicking, but under the weather conditions it wafl hardly to be e.pected that combined movements would be the th A lie'll of midfield play characterised the opening of the game. From a . K ?™ ded L City twenty-five a forward rush, headed by Hawkes, saw Balks kick over Bis | tp pave. From the scrum Nunn broke away, but B. Davidson stopped him. A fin by Balks wa« taken by Wetherall. who took play to Petone line. Buks forcing. continued to press, but the greasy spoiled any attempted passing bouts. A fine, dash by Hadley was Just stppped nea the Petone line. A minute later Mitchell slipped, when, looking all over a ECOr "' forward rush by Petone was well stopped by Wetherall, who found touch at the Peto twenty-five. Balks transferred p.ay Wi fine kick, but from a scrum near the City line Mitchell sent the ball out, and it travelled along the City backs to G. Davidson. The latter kicked ahead, but just failed to reach the ball near the Petone line. Good wotli by the Petone forwards took play to the City twenty-five, Crowther stopping them finely. From a scrum Mitchei sent G. Davidson away, but bis P a £3 to Verrail was forward, spoiling a^o° d c hance for a score. A spell of strenuous midfield play ensued, until £ fine kick by Riddel] put Petone on the attack and Ca jv om just tackled on the line by Harley. From a free kick for offside against City. Ridde 1 missod an easy shot at ifoal. Petone con tinued-to press, keeping City penned on the line, until offside gave City rehef- Play was of a very scrambling nature. forward rushes, until a free kick for off-side asainst Petone saw Crowther kick a good goal. From the kick oftt the Petone forwards rushed the ball to the City ln , e the City forwards changed the scene of operations with a fine rush to the other ead. Balks forcing to save. A forward rush by Petone was well stopped by Harley making. Balks fielded the kick and potted unsuccessfully at goal. From a scramble near "the City fine Kruse dived over _ for a try. Riddeli failed to convert, the whistle sounding immediately after for half-time with, the scores. — Petone City " ' 'From the kick out after the interval the ball went to Stanford, who found the line at City's twenty-five. From a ecrum Mitchell set the backs moving, the ball travelling from Crowther to Bv Davidson iujji on to G Davidson, who kicfffcd and raced for tip ball. Balks just beating him for. the touch. Petone rushed play to the other end. bu» a fine break away by B. Davidson was just stopped near the Petone line. Goo(r *ork by the Petone forwards took play to the City line until of&flid© gave relief. Petone were soon back again. Balks having.an unsuccessful shot at goal. Play settled in midfield. both Rets of forwards putting m . some gruelling work. PJay now was more m the-, nature of a mud scramble, combination being at a disoount. A fine passing bout by the City backs saw "B. Davidson just tackled on tbe line. City continued to Mess and from a scrum the ball went out to Crow, ther and on to B. Davidson, who sent Wilson over in the corner. Crowther missed the kick at goal. From .the kipk out Stanford snapped up the baU and looked all ov&r a scorer, but Harley brought him down in fine style. The game likened up after City's score, both sides playing, up in fine style, Wethera-11 brfcke through and almost-scored, but Balks stopped him just in time. G. Davidson had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty, and a minute later Wilson broke through in fins style, but his pass was mulled. City were now having the best of the play, but a rush by Petone forwards changed' the vfnu». The remainder of the game was foueht out in the City twenty-five. Braca almost scoring in the last few seconds. The final whistle leaving the scores: _ City . . 5 Petone .. .. 3 JUNIOR . GAMES. Second Grade.—Mangere, 9 points, defeated Devouport. 3: Jiewton. 11, and Ponaonby, 11, played a draw. THE MORRISON SHIELD. Combined Printers, 6 points, defeated Clark and Matheson. 0. The winners will play the final game for the shield against the Herald team on Saturday. HAMILTON SEASON ENDS. tBX TKLEGBAI'H—OWN CORRESPONDENT } HAMILTON, Saturday. The Rugfry League season was brought to a close to-day, when the seven-a-aide tournament and inter-clu!> sports were held on beddon Park. Ihe vre&ther was boieteroue, but the ground was in good order. ' The final of the seven-a-side tournament resulted: United, 11; Frankt'on, 3 The runn.ng events were a 3 follow: — llOYds Junior Handicap.—Chapman. 1; I rosser, 2. IOOYds Junior Championship.—Spencer, 1; Chapman, .2; Prosper, 3. A" great race, in hes separating the placed men. 680 Yds Handicap.—Woods. 1; Frosser. 2. IOOYds. Senior Handicap.—Whelan, 1; Munce, 2. , IQOYds Senior Championship.—Whelan, 1; Cliffe, 2: Munce, 3. A good race, Whelan winning by a yard.

THE RUGBY GAME. THAMES * CHAMPIONSHIP. [BX TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THAMES, Saturday. A match for the club championship was played to-day at Parawai grounds, and resulted in a win for Pirates from College Old Boys by 8 points to 5. This makes the result for the championship a tie between City and College Old Boys, and the deciding rnatdh between them will be played next Saturday.

SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMPIONS. TRANSVA AL WINS CURRIE CUP. The Currie Cup. is the blue ribbon of Sbuth African cricket and football. The Transvaal haying won the Association Football Currie Cup, supplemented the achievement by winning the Rugby Currife Cup at Durban on Saturday. August 19, when it defeated Natal by 7 points to 0, The eeven points represented a dropped goal and a i penalty goal. There was abnormal interest in the game, which was not surprising considering that the Rugby log stood immediately prior to the commencement of the match, with the Transvaal and Western Province holding 11 points, Natal 10 points, and tha remaining teams nowhere. The Western Province had completed its matches *n the tourney, namely seven, while the Transvaal and Natal had each another match to play. The position therefore when play commenced was, that the Transvaal would win the cup if it either won or drew the match, and Natal s position was that if it won the match it also won the cup Between MOO and 10,000 people were attracted to Lord b Ground. Durban, to witness the deciding struggle. It was a finely-contested game, though Kennedy s cleverly dropped goal for the Transvaal within five minutes seemed to point to anything happening. A penalty goal was the only thing, however, which subsequently occurred. The Natal threequarter line was' the better of the two but it was few opportunities The only consolation the Natal team had was that their line had not been crossed and accordingly they had hard luck m 'being beaten. " Baby ' Michau; who was in New Zealand last year with the " Springboks " captained the winning team. '