LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19803, 31 May 1926, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SENIOR COMPETITION. The Rugby League competition was advanced a stage further on Saturday under favourable, conditions. Two matches were played on. the Caledonian Ground, and the spectators were treated to some excellent football, especially in the game between Christian Brothers and Kaikorai. ■ Christian Brothers have improved very much since the beginning of the season, and on their play on Saturday mijat be regarded as one of the best teams playing the League game. The match between City and Kaitangata produced some bright play, but the former team did not reach the high standard for which they have hitherto been noted. On the Oval, which was in a sodden state, Athletic had a comfortable win against Pacific after a game that was as fast as could be expected under the conditions. The games resulted as, follows : Christian 8r05... 29 Kaikorai ... ... 2 City 24 Kaitangata ... 0 Athletic ; 17 Pacific ... ... ... 3 ' POSITION OF THE TEAMS. The following table shows the position of the teams engaged in the senior competition:—

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS y. KAIKORAL The match between Christian Brothers and Kaikorai was started on the Caledonian Ground at 1.30 p.m; in the,presence of a fair number of spectators. The former set a fast pace from the start, and gave a really good display throughout the game, quickly assuming a commanding lead as the result of effective team work, in which both backs and forwards took part. ■ Christian Brothers swung' into attack right from the kick-off and spectacular passing took play tc the Kaikorai twenty-five, where Walker momentarily spoiled a promising movement by holding .to the hall too long. Christian Brothers got possession again, however, and Cusaqk dashed over the Kaikorai line at the corner. Bennetts made a good, but unsuccessful, shot at goal. Kaikorai attacked for a few minutes, but Christian Brothers gradualjy worked play to the other end, where Quinn missed a good chance of scoring by failing to take the ball. Immediately afterwards Cusack scored in a handy position, and the same player converted with a nice kick, giving Christian Brothers the lead by eight points to nil. Good following up by Fitzgerald put Kaikorai on the defensive again, but the hill team averted trouble by forcing down just in time. A brilliant passing run by Christian' Brothers a little later was spoiled by selfish play, arid just afterwards Hansen was brought down within a couple of yards of the Kaikorai line. Kaikorai had a force down a minute later. Soon afterwards Christian Brothers broke 1 awaj again, and a strong rush ended in Cusack scoring near the corner. The scorer failed to convert. Kaikorai had the upper hand for a while, but. they .failed to get within striking distance of the opposing line, and a series of clever passing rushes put Christion Brothers in an attacking position again. A- passing bout by the backs was finished up by ,P. Blackledge joining in and scoring behind the posts. Bennetts sent the ball over the bar, giving Christian; Brothers a lead of 16 points. Kaikorai then attacked strongly,. and. a fine effort was almost- rewarded with a score. Just afterwards Kaikorai got a penalty kick a fair distance out, and Crossnn kicked a nice goal, making the scores 16—2 in favour of Christian Brothers at half-time. t Kaikorai set up a strong attack at f he beginning of the second spell, and some keenly contested play was witnessed on the Christian Brothers’ line for a good while, but the hill team could not break through the defence, Christian Brothers gradually worked their Way to the Kaikorai twentyfive, where a brilliant passing rush ended in- Cusack- outpacing the < opposition arid scoring near the posts. - . Bennetts converted with a nice kick. Kaikorai then set up an attack, and Loeffler had a shot at. goal, but the ball fell short. Play was transferred to the other end almost immediately, and another clever passing bout by Christian Brothers resulted in Qulrin scoring in a good position. Cusack took the kick, but the ball struck the crossbar at its junction with ■ one of the uprights. This made the scores 24—2 in favour of Christian Brothers. A brief attack by Kaikorai was easily checked, and then Christian Brothers broke away again, but a good chance was thrown away by faulty passing. In the last minute a passing rush by Christian Brothers ended In Cusack scoring In a good position, Bennetts converted with a splendid kick, and the game ended:— Christian Brothers .. 29 points Kaikorai .. •• •• •• 1 2 points Mr Underwood controlled the game.

ATHLETIC v. PACIFIC. A fast and attractive game was played between Athletic and Pacific on the Oval on Saturday, afternoon, before a gt>od attendance, of League supporters. Athletic won by 17 points to 3. The game was very strenuous at times, and some sparkling individual play was witnessed. It was one of the most interesting games played between senior teams this season. Although Athletic proved their superiority, the team met a side which is fast showing improvement,: and several times. the solid defence put up by : the Pacific players could not be pierced by the more hefty Athletic men. The Pacific team as a whole played a fine game, and it is quite evident that the tuition by the recently-appointed coach is beginning to bear fruit., For the winners M‘Kay, Thomas, "Webber, Sullivan, MTlroy, and Vorrath were the most 'prominent. while for Pacific Sims (forward). Keen, G. Davies, and Bryan played sterling games, especially Keen, who showed great dash and. initiative. Pacific kicked off, and Athletic carried play to their opponents’, twenty-five. A free kick to the Beds cleared the danger zone. Immediately afterwards Athletic were awarded a free kick, and Vorrath made a good but unsuccessful shot at goal from half-way. Athletic again became aggressive and looked dangerous, but Fraser gathered in the ball and raced down the field. He was not supported, and was grassed by the Athletic full-back. Almost immediately afterwards Webber secured- and passed to Sullivan, who sent the ball on to M‘Kay, the last-named scoring behind the posts. Vorrath converted. The Athletic backs were set in motion by Thomas, who, sent the ball out smartly to Sullivan, but a certain score was lost through a knock-on. Pacific again worked their way into Athletic’s territory, but Sullivan cleared with a solo dribble. Athletic continued to press strongly, and alter penning Pacific in their twenty-five tor some time, MTlroy secured and passed to M‘Kay, who sent the ball on to Thomas, the last-named scoring wide out. Vorrath failed to convert. ■ • . Pacific then carried play to their opponents’ corner. After a senes of scrums almost on the line, Athletic secured relief by forcing. Pacific were awarded a free kick, and Keen had a shot at goal, the ball going just outside the post. Pacific were on the defensive immediately afterwards, until the forwards came away in a fine dribbling rush, but they overran the ball. From a free kick Keen had another shot at goal, which was unsuccessful. After some loose play Pring secured, and passed smartly to M‘Kay, who dummied, beat the opposition, and scored near the corner. Vorrath’s kick went wide. The half-time score was: Athletic 11, Pacific nil. Pacific dominated the play on resuming. Keen secured, smartly side-stepped, and made an opening for G. Davies. . who scored a good try, which Keen just failed to convert . Both aides were now showing great vim. Athletic curried play to Pacific’s twentyfive, but could not break through the defence. Keen then broke away and when hemmed in kuked well down field, thus giving Pacific relief. Play stopped f° r some minutes owing to W. Davies_(Pacifics wing three-quarter) receiving an injury to his left hand. He left the field and was roplnced by Wall. After pressing strongly Vorrath dashed away and passed to MTlroy, who was grassed on the line, a force-down resulting A fine passing movement oy -,ho Athletic Hacks .ended in Sullivan hemg

cellared on the line. Thomas then made an opening for M'Kriy, who raced down the field, hut he was grassed - by Keen when within an ace of scoring. Almost immed’ately afterwards Vorrath secured from a scrum near the line and forced his way over. Thomas failed to -convert Athletic continued to press, and from a scrum near the line Webber dived over to score. MTlroy’s kick at goal was unsuccessful. Athletic were attacking strongly when lime was called a minute,later., Final scores: Athletic ...17 points Pacific - .3 points Mr J. Leggett was referee.

CITY v. K AIT AN GAT A. The match between City and Kaitangata, played on the Caledonian Ground although interesting, was marred by faul y Ivmdline by both sets of backs. Uty opened out with a fine displayofpass.ng right at the start, and had Kadangata in difficulties -ithm a c 9 u P ! e A passing rush ended in Connolly g ting the ball and dashing over the line for a good try. Clydesdale 8 kick, but failed to conyert. Kaitangata showed up for a few minutes, but ward pass spoiled the attack, an hoff, Connolly, and Hunt chiefly sponsible for transferring pi y , end The country team soon shittea ine scene of operations to the City twenty-fi. but Cameron, Connolly, and/. w»cKey took the ball back to midfield. Kaitan gata had two shots at. K° al ,J, r t ° kicks in quick succesßion. bnt MitoheU efforts were very poor, the ball to leave the. ground on each occasio. . Scrambling play was witnesSd for a time, ten Icktol XT,* on a nice movement, which to °a Pl a y ™ the Kaitangata line. Oliver made a nice run for Kaitangata, but was grassed. For a time give-and-take play followed, and then the visitors’ forwards Earned boim ground by good dribbling. Passing by Cameron and P. Hjckey took play to Kaitangata’s twenty-five, but weak hand ling stopped the movement. A good break-away by Rogers put 8 on attack, but lack of support let him down. Connolly and M'Cabc, with some good passing, carried play once more to the visitors’ twenty-five, but the do fence was too strong, Shortly afterwards the spell ended with the score; City 3, Kaitangata nil When the second spell opened Kaitangata immediately set up an attack, but City turned defence into attack, ana Watson, playing the extra three-quarter game, passed to Connolly, who scored. Watson failed to convert. _ City 6, Kaitangata nil. The nextincident of note was a breakaway by Eckhoff, but Kai tangta started a passing movement, in which Oliver was prominent, but which was stopped by Clydesdale, who made a fine tackle. Then Eckhoff. Hunt, and Cameron started a good passing rush, which ended in Cameron outpacing the opposition and scoring a fine try. Cabe converted, making, the score: City ■ll, Kaitangata nil. From a penalty to Kaitangata Oliver made a good but unsuccessful attempt to kick a goal. Flay remained- in the centre for a time till Oliver made a run which put Kaitangata on attack, but a good kick by Watspn relieved matters. A, movement by Watson and Cameron took play to their opponents twenty-five, but an infringement spoilt the movement. City came again, but T. Crook stopped the rush: with a mark. _P. Hickey and M'Cabc started some passing, which threatened the Reds’ line, but a force brought relief. City would not be denied, and shortly after Hunt received the ball from M'Cabe and scored a good try. M'Cabc converted. City 16, Kaitangata nil. During an attack P. Hickey attempted to pot a goal, but the ball fell just under the posts. Then Hunt and Fox started a dribbling rush, from-which Hunt scored. Eckhoff converted. City 21, Kaitangata nil. Shortly after M'Cabe made a good run, and left the opposition standing to score a good try. Eckhoff failed to convert. Once more Hunt, who was playing a great game, just missed scoring, a Kaitangata man beating him to the ball. Kaitangata were attacking when the whistle sounded for time. Final scores:— City .. .. .. .. 24 points. Kaitangata .. .. Nil. Mr Devercux acted as referee.

Second' Grade. City 8, Pacific 5. Christian Brothers 13, Kaikorai 6. -!tN OTHER CENTRES. : AUCKLAND COMPETITION. (Peb United Pbess Association.) x AUCKLAND, May 29. The following are the results of Saturday’s Rugby League football matches:— Kingsland 21, Parnell 8. City 33, Grafton 10. Ponsonby 10, Richmond 3. Marists 12, Newton 9. \ , CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES. (Pbb United Pbess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. , Marists A 32, Sydenham 3. Waimairi 8, Marists B 0, Addington 06, Woplstoh - 15. OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. •- The following team. has been selected to represent Otago against Canterbury at the Caledonian Ground on Full-back, E. Watson (City); threequarters—L. Connelly (City)-,, D, M*Kay (Athletic), P. Hickey (City); five-eighths —J. M'Cabe (City), B.’Eckhoff (City); half, R. Cusack (Christian Brothers); forwards—D. Fitzgerald (Christian Brothers), P. Blackledge (Christian Brothers), F. Rogers T. O’Connor (Christian Brothers), M. Cameron (City),,H. Thomas (Athletic). Emergency backs—R. Oliver (Kaitangita), B: Jacobs (City); emergency forwards—D. M’Rae (Athletic), M. Quinn (Christian Brothers), OTAGO v. WEST COAST, In view; of the approaching match between Otago and the West Coast on June 12, the following players have been instructed to keep in . strict training:— Backs—D. Crossan, D. Sullivan, W. Vorrath, W. Clydesdale,- C. Walsh, J., Forrester, Davis: forwards—L. O’Connor, A. Sullivan, P. Hickey, A. Hunt. ■ All the above plawrs are requested to meet at the Caledonian Ground to-night at 7.30,

P. W. L. D. Points F. A. F.P City .. . 4 4 0 0 137 12 8 Athletic ... ... , 4 3 0 1 ■ 78 18 7 Christian Bros.., ,4 2 1 1 62 66 5 Kaitangata 4 1 3 0 .25,66 2 Kaikorai ... ... . 4 1 3 0 .19 96 2 Pacific ■' ... . 4 0 4 0 18 91 0