LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

COMPETITIONS STARTED. Fine weather prevailed on Saturday, when the League football competitions were started, and the grounds were in splendid condition. In the First Grade Competition Christian Brothers A fielded what was prob ably the strongest side that has ever represented it, and had no difficulty in running up a big score - against Athletic. Two notable additions to the team ar a Pearce and Rich, who are exceptionally fast and clever three-quarters. City had a comfortable win over Kaikorai, and Pacific easily accounted for Christian Brothers B, The scores in the ■ senior matches were:— Christian Brothers A 53, Athletic 13. City 21, Kaikorai nil. Pacific 32, Christian .Brothers B 6. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS v. ATHLETIC. In the match between Christian Brothers and Athletic, which was played on the Caledonian Ground, the latter won the toss, and had the advantage of a very light breeze in the first spell. Chris tian Brothers attacked from the start and after Athletic had forced down B, O’Connor got possession near the twenty five. He made a splendid run, and than passed to E. O’Connor, who scored in a fairly handy position. H. Pearce took the kick, and vent the ball nicelj over the bar. Athletic showed up to better advantage for a time, though the Greens continued to have a slight advantage. Eventually from a scrum at halfway the Christian Brothers’ backs broke away and a tine passing rush ended in Pearee outpacing the opposition and scoring fairly well out. The same player eon verted with an excellent kick. A tew minutes later Athletic took play juspast halfway by means of a nice passing rush, but they were immediately placed on the defensive again. Prom a scramble the ball came out to M’Kewen, , whe kicked across the field to Pearce. Tim speedy , winger dashed across the line at the corner before anyone could get to him. and he gained applause for kicking an excellent goal from within a yard or two of the side line. A little later Athletic got near the Greens’ twenty-five, and after they had been driven back they broke away again, and Frasei kicker, down the line, over which the ball travelled. A great race ensued, but Christian Brothers got there first and averted a score. The Greens immediately rushed play to the other end. A passing rush was initiated near half way, and J. O'Malley, who got possession near the twenty-five, scored a few yards from the corner. Pearce failed with th«> kick. Two or three minutes later Chris tian Brothers broke away again, and Pollock scored near the posts. Pearce converted, and brought the Greens’ scor* up to 23 points. Shortly before ttie interval a inisfield by Athletic enabled Pearce to get possession, with a cleat mu In. To the surprise of all he failed with an easy kick. The Greens kept, up the pressure, and Rich gave a. sample of his speed by outpacing the opposition and scoring in a fairly handy position. Woodhouse took the kick, but the ball went under the bar. Just or, half dm • J. O’Connor (half-back) made a good run for tne Greens, and scored near the posts. Pearee failed with the kick, and at half time the scores read 32-nil in favour of Christian - Brothers. Christian Brothers were penalised near their line at the start of the second spell, and Colston had a shot at goal, but without success. Fast following up by Scoles and J. O’Connor (half) took the ball over the Athletic line, but the latter lost possession, and the referee ordered a scrum. Athletic worked their way to the other aid, and Clark scored after a nice passing rush. Harhrow converted with a nice kick. After a lot of open play Rich got the ball near halfway, and his speed enabled him to clear the opposition and score near the posts. J. O’Connor (half) failed with the kick. The next feature was a fine run by Webber, who was brought down close fo the Christian Brothers’ line. The North-end team kept up the pressure, and Jenkins scored behind the posts. Harhrow converted, and brought Athletic’s score to 10 points. The Christian Brothers backs again swung into action, and after M’Keweta had covered about half the length of the field he transferred the ball to Pearce, who had a clear run in, scoring behind the posts. Pearce converted. Athletic rushed play to the other end, and, from a penalty kick in a handy position, Webber kicked, a goal. For the rest of the game the Greens had the advantage practically all the time. Tries were scored in rapid succession by Pearce and M’Kewen, but the kicks at goal, which, were taken by Pollock and Woodhouse respectively, were unsuccessful. A potted goal by Holloway was followed by a. brilliant run by M’Kewen, who got the hall about halfway, and, after beating three or four men, scored close to the posts. He converted the try, and made the final scores read: Christian Brothers .. 53 points. Athletic 12 points. Mr M’Ewen was referee. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS B v. PACIFIC. The match between Christian Brothers B. and Pacific was played at Chisholm Park, and though it was soon evident that many of the players were in poor training, some really good football was seen. Mattingly, Blazey, and Walls were the most conspicuous players for Pacific, and O’Malley and Deehan put in some clever work for the Christian Brothers. Pacific won the toss and kicked off with a slight breeze in their favour, and, getting possession of the ball from the return kick, Blazey ran through and scored for Pacific within the first 20 seconds. His kick at goal failed. Some lively play ensued, and & scrum near the Christian Brothers’ line was followed by a force ‘down. The Pacific men pressed their opponents strongly, and their forwards were passing cleverly. A long pass from Walls resulted in Mattingly getting over, and his kick at goal was also successful. Prom a penalty near the Christian Brothers’ twenty-five yards’ line, Mattingly had an attempt at a goal, but the ball went wide. Following some brilliant passing, Walls carried the ball right between Christian Brothers’ posts, and Blazey added the extra points. A great run by Mattingly carried the ball almost to the Christian Brothers’ line, but a free kick against Walls for offside play relieved the tension. Blazey secured the ball, and, after n great run, during which he dodged or brushed aside half the opposing team, scored again near the comer. His kick at goal failed. Following this, the Christian Brothers made a strenuous effort, which carried the ball for the first time- almost to their opponents’ line, and Holloway, with a tricky run, opened the score for the Christian Brothers. The kick at goal failed. Half time was now sounded, the score being: Pacific.. 16 points. Christian Brothers.. .. 3.points. Immediately after the kick off, O'Malley (Christian Brothers) made a good run, but fell, when close to the line. Deehan came to the rescue, however, and crossed near the corner. The kick at goal was unsuccessful. Pacific again carried the play to the Christian firo-

thers’ territory, and Blazey scored. Mattingly did not convert. Mattingly and Walls next put in a great passing during which they exchanged the ball three or four times, but were finally stopped by a good tackle by O’Malley, A mix-up on Christian Brothers’ line ensued, during which Lemon (Christian Brothers) had his_ knee hurt and was forced to retire. A scrum followed, Pacific securing the ball, and Butler scored. Blazey added the extra points, hollowing the kick off a similar rush by Pacific ended in Butler again scoring, this time between the posts. Blazey converted. Close play followed, and another passing rush resulted in Mattingly getting over. This time Blazey’s kick failed, and time was sounded. The ™ at< * < r nded wiUl the scores: Pacific 32, Christian Brothers 0, Mr Packer was referee, CITY v. KAIKORAI City and Kaikorai met on the Oval, and provided a fast and open game. City fielded a strong side, and dominated the play throughout, winning by 21 points to nil. The City backs were seen in several fine passing movements. There were some bright individual flashes of play among the Kaikorai players, but the form 01 the team on the whole was much below that of the City men. Kaikorai kicked .off and carried play to City’s line, where the Hill team was awarded a penalty kick for an infringement. Reid’s attempt to send the ball over the bar was not successful. The City backs then broke away with Clydesdale in the van. A strong tackle by eraser m Kaikorai’s twenty-five prevented a certain score. Kaikorai worked back to City’s territory, but the relief was only temporary. Jack secured the ban and raced down the field, with the Uty backs in support, but good tackling by Fraser again stopped a dangerous backs were throwing the ball about in fine style. They came ttown the field in another rush, and Hickey was almost over. When collared he passed the ball out smartly, and it travelled through several hands, but Hunt failed; to send out a clean pass at the critical moment. Mackey was promment in a fine solo run, battling his way past several opponents, but his effort was frustrated by the City backs. Another onslaught by, City carried play to Kaikorai s line, a force down resulting. A few minutes later Hickey made a strong run from halfway, but was brought down when within a short distance of his objective. The ball was then handled smartly by several of the City backs, and Clydesdale out in and scored in a good • position. Bckhoff lawI a w T- 1 *? th - e .i kl S k ‘ Hunt Allowed up a low kick, with Townsend and Jack in support, and the last-named scored near tne posts and converted the try. Kain,r)aitra^'ed ’ and Bangley was responsible for removing play to City’s twentvth° *? ill Payers were sent back to halfway, the spell then ending: City 8 points, Kaikorai nil. r ° f F ushes ' b y both sides marked the opening of the second half. Mackey and Langley followed up a low kick, and had Mackey been successful m picking up the ball he would have scored. The only result was a force down. City came away in another rush, Jack racing down the line until stopped in Kaikorai’s twenty-five. A minute later the ball was sent out to Jack from a scrum, and he scored between the posts, Clydesdale , converted. Again the City backs, led by Clydesdale ond Jack, swarmed down the field. A sortie by O’Driscoll, Werges, and Townsend ended i ,* be kst-named scoring wide out. Eckhoff failed to add the extra points. A struggle then followed on Kaikorai’s line, Eckhoff and Townsend making strenuous efforts to break through but the tackling was solid, and Kaikorai received relief when play was removed to halfway. The City backs again swept, all before them, and Clydesdale scored near the posts. The try was converted by Hickey. Kaikorai again rallied, and Dixon made a fine solo effort from inside halfway, but was stopped by Clydesdale on the line. In the final stages Kaikorai showed to some advantage, getting close to the City hne, but failing to pierce the defence, ihe final, score was:— City .. .. .. .. 21 points. Kaikorai .. .. .. Nil. „, Tlle garoo was controlled by Mr E. Watson. , SECOND GRADE. Brothers 15 beat Athletic AUCKLAND MATCHES^ (Peh United Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 28. Newton 21, Marist 20. Devonport 20, Ponsonby 8. City 21, Kingslaud-Athlctic 0. Richmond 22, Ellerslie 8. -- \ CHRISTCHURCH GAMES. (Per United Press Association ) CHRISTCHURCH, April 27. Addington 15, Waimairi 2. Sydenham 31, Woolston 5. Hornby 20, Marist 13.