FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17039, 25 June 1917, Page 8

FOOTBALL

SOLDIERS' TEAM v. OTAGO,

WIN FOE, THE FORMER

An attractive and decidedly interesting game of football was played at Carisbrook on Saturday afternoon between a team representing the Twenty-eighth Reinforcements and an Otago Fifteen. There was a very fair attendance, but many wore doubtless kept away by the erroneous impression that football has deteriorated to Buch an extent that it is not worth witnessing—a most mistaken idea, and ono that was entirely refuted by tho fine exhibition given by both teams on Saturday. True, tho majority of the players engaged were young men, but it was distinctly gratifying to think that this province could place in the field a band of youthful footballers who could give such a good account of themselves. As tho teams filed out on the field and exchanged tho customary courtesies— tho local_ men cheering their opponents and tho soldiers responding with a Maori warcry—it was noticed that they were fairly evenly matched as regards physique, weight, and size; and the early promise thus given of a close contest was fully borno out, the match being interesting throughout and the final result always being in doubt. Both sides at all times did their best to make the play bright, fast, and open, and, considering the heavy nature of the ground and the difficulty of handling the ball, they succeeded m a high degree. ' The first score came with startling suddenness. The Soldiers kicked off facing tho eun. In less than n> minute their opponents were penalised for oiisidc play by an Otago forward, and F. Hutchison landed a fine goal from a point near the side line and beyond Otago's twenty-five. Half way through the spell another infringement gave the same player a further chance, and he kicked a second goal—this time irom an easier angle. At a later stage of the game , Matthowson (Otago) sot his backs in motion, and the ball travelled out to Thomson, on tho wing, but this player was blocked and was forced to kick. Cuff, the Soldiers' full back, obtained possession, but the ball rebounded off an Utago player, and Thomson, by fast following up, scored in the corner. No goal resulted. In the second spell Otago forced the play and did most of the attacking, their backs being untortunate in not scoring on more than one occasion. At length Fox got over in a fairly good posit.on from a strong forward rush, but ,the score was not improved. After this play became of a more give-and-take nature and at times was quite exciting. Towards the end of the, game two free kicks were awarded the Soldiers in succession, and from the second of these Hutchison kicked his third goal, thus practically assuring his side of victory. The Soldiers' team failed to cross the Otago line, and, on the whole, it must be admitted that they were rather favoured by the fortunes of the play. Their opponents had perhaps more opportunities of scoring, but they did not make the most of them. The final scores were.: Twenty-eighth Reinforcements 9 points. Otago 6 points. For the winners King, Kibblewhite, andj at times, Cuff glayed well amongst the backs, whilst Newell and Hutchison wero the most conspicuous of the forwards. Of the Otago backs, Hawke, Hariey, and Holmes perhaps caught the eye most. Thomson showed a good turn of speed, but did not get a fair chance. Matthewson did some good service behind the scrum in f the first spell, but in the second half he showed a, regrettable disinclination to part with the ball. Amongst the forwards Mitchell, Hannigan, Cameron, and Smith were the most prominent. ASSOCIATION. A Grade. The relative merits of the senior teams engaged in the present round are as follows: — . ill ic "P I Momington ... ... 3 0 0 13 4 6 Northern ...... 2 0 1 11 7 5 Southern ... ... 1 1 1 5 8 3 Green Island ...320592 Old Boys ......... 1 2 0 5 7 2 Christian Brothers 0 3 0 6 10 0

Green Island v. Christian Brothers.—Both pointless, Green Island and Christian Brothers at the Oval each strove to leave the other at the foot of tho ladder. After an interesting contest, Green Island succeeded in mounting' the step, leaving Christian Brothers to follow later. Green Island won by long shooting with greasy ball at a goalkeeper whose fingers seemed slippery. Christian Brothers held an advantage of I—o"at1 — o"at the call of half-time, Toomey being the scorer. Green Island, who in the first half had been over-eager, and consequently erratic before goal (when tho players discard big kicking in favour of placing they will form a team to be reckoned with), showed better passing methods in tho second half, and worked nicely for the goals obtained. From a free-kick by M'Allan,. Duncan dashed in and goaled. Next Blackwood shot a nice goal, and presently a.shot from Duncan slithered through, the goalkeeper's hands. From a defensive position Green Island worked ,\vn the left, and Duncan's finishing effort was again successful. Meanwhile Christian Brothers had lost several chances by reckless shooting, but just on timo Toomey, with a good effort, scored again. Mr Robinson was referee. Green Island, 4 goals; Christian Brothers, 2 goals. Northern v. Southern.—Southern covered themselves with credit at Culling Park. Indeed, Northern may consider themselves fortunate in escaping defeat, which they just averted by a goal from a penaly kick 10 minutes before tho close of the game, while during the course of play Southern had just missed scores from two shots, which struck the uprights and glanced outside, and one which hit the crossbar and went over. Major Fleming was referee. The game was open and fast, the ground was good, and there was .no wind. Some fine corner kicking was witnessed. Banwell opened the scoring for Southern, and Dunn drew even before half-time. Banwell again pierced the defence after resuming, and Barron followed suit, giving Southern a s—l lead until Dunn shot successfully and decreased Northern's deficit by one. Then came to Northern a penalty kick, which Dryden piloted safely past Scott, whoh ad been playing a fine game. Northern 3 goals, Southern 3 goals. Mornington v. Old Boys.—-At Mornington Ground, where Mr M'Callum had: charge, Mornington romped over Old Boys during most of the first spell, and at the end of 30 minutes of play had four goals to nil M'lvor opened with the hat trick—three goals in succession. Tho first was from a scramble, the next a header, and the third he secured by finishing off a corner-kick The next goal was Sutherland's. Therel after Old Boys developed more reliability especially in the half-back division, which' had boon weak, and the score for the remainder of the game was 2 goals each. Before half-time Aitchison made good froni a. scramble, and the score stood: Mornington Then minutes after resumption Aitchison again scored, and the score remained 4 —2 in Mornington's favour until the final 10 minutes, during which Sutherland scored, and Mason finished through a shot from Sutherland which had slipped from the goalkeeper's fingers. Mornin"ton, 6 goals; Old Boys, 2 goals. C Grade. Northern A beat Mornington by 4 goals to niL