SOUTH OTAGO FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21723, 15 August 1932, Page 10

SOUTH OTAGO FOOTBALL

SOUTH OTAGO

SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT The ,8011111 Otago Rugby Sub-union’s seven-a-side tournament at Balclutha on Saturday was played under perfect weather conditions. Thirty-five teams, comprising 12 Seniors, nine Seconds and 14 Third Grade, were entered, and from the opening of the Third Grade series shortly after 11 a.m. until the two First Grade finalists fought out the issue shortly after 5 p.m. the competition was run off without interruption. The arrangements for the tournament, which were under the control of the president of the sub-union (Mr E. Moore) and the secretary (Mr R. W. Culbert), with whom was associated an energetic baud of assistants, were all that could be desired, and, when at the conclusion of the day’s play the cups were presented to the winning teams, the captains were unanimous in their praise of the organisation and the treatment accorded them.

The weather conditions, as stated, wore perfect, and the three grounds which were in use were all in good order, the main ground on which the finals were played being in particularly good condition. There was a large attendance of the public, which followed the various games with the keenest interest, the finals being played amidst continuous cheering. Teams were present from as far afield as Waikoikbi, Roxburgh and Mosgiel, these long distances in each case being

travelled by Third Grade players who provided some of the brightest football seen during the day. The total entry was the largest which the sub-union has received for this annual tournament since 1929, the last occasion upon which a primary schools’ grade was included, and it is understi >d that had it not been for the fact that an important final match was being played in the Western District a number of teams from that locality would have been present.

The winners of the First Grade competition were the Star team, which beat Owaka in the final by 13 points to 3 after a fast game which was not nearly so one-sided as the scores would indicate. The Third grade was won by Waikoikoi, who in the final beat the A team of the South Otago High School by 3 points to nil in one of the best games of the day. Probably the biggest surprise of the tournament, however, and one which jyas very popular with the crowd, was the success of the Coast A team in the Second Grade. This team is drawn from a, small district on the seaward side of Milton which has at its disposal only 16 football players. 'Despite this fact a team was entered this year for the first time in the sub-union’s Second Grade flag competition, and on Saturday the seven leading players formed the winning combination in their grade. It is only fair to state that most of these , had played football with teams in various parts of the country previous to this year, but the Coast team’s victory in the tournament is none the less meritorious and a matter for congratulation on the part of the enthusiastic coach. At the conclusion of the day’s play silver cups were presented to each member of the three winning teams. ■ The following were the results : THIRD GRADE. First Round. Roxburgh High School beat South Otago High School C, 10—rO; Waitahuna beat Toko High School, 6—o; Waikoikoi beat Toko, 16—0; Crescent A beat Clutha, 3—o ;• Mosgiel High School, South Otago High School B, South Otago High School A and Crescent B byes. Second Round. Mosgiel High School beat South Otago High School B 11—3; Waikouaiti beat Roxburgh High School B—3; Waitahuna beat f ..'cent A 13—0; South Otago High School A beat Crescent B by default. Semi-finals. Waikoikoi beat Mosgiel High School 13— 0; South Otago High School A beat Waitahuna B—o. Final. Waikoikoi beat South Otago High School A 3—o. Following a sortie by Waikoikoi early in the first spell, Spittle picked up and dashed over well out. The kick at goal failed. Bisset broke through the Waikoikoi defence, and ran almost to the latter team’s goal line before being pulled down. The High School set up a hot attack, but Reid cleared with a long kick to touch. A period of even play at half way followed, and Waikoikoi had once again broken into South Otago territory when the spell ended. Following the change over, High School attacked, and Guest missed when he attempted to pot a field goal from a handy position. The High School continued to attack, and Middlemiss sent Bisset away on the wing, the latter brushing off several tackles and getting almost to the corner flag. Waikoikoi shifted play to the opposite end of the field, and Crook almost had his side in trouble when he kicked back over,his own goal line. R. MTvenzie was hard on his heels, and he and Crook raced for the ball, the latter just getting there first. In the closing stages of the game South Otago High School made desperate attempts to score, but the defence of their heavier opponents was sound, and the game, ended with play at half way; - The names of the members of the winning team were as follows:—A. Spittle, Reid, Dynes, J. M‘Kenzie, R. M'Kenzie, Bruce, and G. Spittle. SECOND GRADE. ' First Round. Waitahuna beat Union B 11—0; Coast A, Waihola, Toko, Union A, Coast B, Clutha, and, Clutha Valley byes. Second Round. Union A beat Coast B 22—0; Coast A beat Waitahuna 3—o; Clutha beat Clutha Valley 3—o; Waihola beat Toko 3—o. Semi-finals. Coast A beat Clutha 6—o; Union b?at Waihola 9—3. Final. Coast A beat Union 5—3. Shortly after the kick off Mattingly, the full-back for Coast, dashed up the touchline, and K. Ridley carried on the movement, which ended at the Union twenty-five. Union relieved and turned defence into attack. Coast being able to force as the result of hard kicking by the attackers. Union was (quickly back on the Coast goal line, and Moffitt crossed in a taclde well out. The kick at goal was a failure. Early in the second spell, from a scramble at midfield Andrews passed to Stoddart, to L. Ridley, who ran nearly to the Union line before being grassed. The movement was carried on, and the ball went over the line with half a dozen players on top of it, the referee awarding a try to Coast. Mattingly converted. During the remainder of the spell Union were mainly on attack. Mattingly was caught with the, ball, but Stoddart kicked to touch in the nick of time. Coast were forced a minute later, and the game ended with a first-year team winners of the competition. The Coast team was as follows: Mattingly, K. Ridley, L. Ridley, Andrews, Stoddart, Watson, S. Ridley. FIRST GRADE. First Round. Clutha A beat Clutha Valley A, 15—0; Orescent beat Clinton, s—o; Clutha Valley B, Owaka, Toko, Star, Owaka B, Clutha B byes. Second Round. Toko beat Clutha Valley B, 5—3; Star beat Owaka B, 12—0; Owaka A beat Crescent, 8—0; Clutha A beat Clutha B, 14— Semi-finals. Star beat Clutha A, 3 —o; Owaka beat Toko, 11—3. Final. Star beat Owaka, 13 —3. Owaka attacked from the kick off, but Botting kicked downfield, the ball going into touch at the halfway flag. From the line out Walls secured the ball from his forwards and sent his backs away, M'Donald racing down the centre of the field to score under the posts. Middlemiss converted. Richardson, Barrou and Botting were associated in a bout of passing which gained a good stretch of ground. Play swung across the field, and M'Donald put in a good run down the line, getting close to the Owaka line before he was stopped. From a scrum Walls passed out on the blind side to M'Donald, who handed on to Richardson, the latter crossing for a neat try. The kick at goal missed. Smith (Owaka) fielded the ball at halfway and broke down the line, brushing off a tackle and transferring play to the Star twenty-five. Play swung across field, and Jackman picked up from a scramble, putting in a great run to go over in a tackle at the corner. The attempt to convert was a failure. Early in the second spell Barron dashed through the opposition and passed to Anderson, who threw infield, but the pass went astray. A scrum was, formed near the line, and M'Donald kicked the ball round the blind side, following it over to score at the corner. Middlemiss converted. Jackman put Owaka on attack with a good run down the touch line, but Star were soon back on attack, and Anderson just failed to get across near the corner, the final whistle going

with play resting at the OwaSa twentylive. The Star team was composed of the following players;—Middlemiss, M'Donnld, Botting, Barron, Walls, Richardson and Anderson.