FOOTBALL.

Otaki Mail, 1 September 1930, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

JUNIOR MATCH. j OTAKI (20) v. WANDERERS (3). This eontest took place at Otaki on Saturday and on the whole was a good exhibition, there being, at times, a lot; of bright play. Tho Levin-ites started off at a great pace and Otaki had a deal of defensive work to do. While on attack Pateison essayed a pot for the •northernors but missed, but the advantage Was still maintained. Otaki relieved by a loose rush but Patcrson saved and the ball went out near half-way. Then Merwood, Fafeita, and Kiddie rushed down field at a great pace, and .from the loose play the latter scored a smart trv, which Kuti failed to convert,'3 —0." In turn A. Winiata (Wanderers) had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a free kick. Tho attack was maintained until Bevan, at full, relieved. Another loose rush by Otaki compelled Levin to accept a force, and almost immediately after they forced again. Levin, however, were getting all the best of the serum work but wild passes failed to get the backs properly under way. At niidfield Nicol fooled half-a-dozen opponents, and dodged smartly between them, but gradually Otaki were forced back to the defensive. Tapp then had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Huff, in return, put in a good run, but Winiata saved his side, aud forced Otaki back. From a free kick this player had a shot at goal and succeeded in putting the ball nicely over the bar, 3 —3. Play became more interesting, and Merwood and Kiddie were prominent in a rush. Then came good play by Fafeita and Nicol until Levin forced their way through by a rush. Otaki, however, worked back and a free kick saw'Ryder have an unsuccessful shot at goal. After give-and-take play Levin accepted a force and the spell ended. There was a change in scrum formation in Otaki's ranks in the second spell and Bevan "went into his old position. This enabled Otaki to get more of the ball and throughout the spell Levin were well pressed. Fafeita dummied nicely and scored early, but Kuti failed at - goal. Then Huff crossed the. line but failed to find the bar, 9—-3. Fafeita followed by a strong run, and shortly after Huff seized another opportunity and scored. Kuti failed at goal, 12—3. Otaki continued to outclass their opponents and Kiddie scored, but Henry failed to add the major points, 15—3. Ryder, Kiddie, and Fafeita were next in evidence, and a try was narrowly missed. Then came a rush by Levin and from.a free kick Winiata had an unsuccessful shot at goal. The Otaki forwards at this stage were easily outplaying their opponents, and before the spell ended Fafeita scored, and Kuti converted by a good kick, 20 —3. Mr. Hemi was referee.

The Otaki backs were mediocre, especially in the first half, and' at' times had but idea what to do with the ball. Bevan, however, saved repeatedly in the first half, while Nicol put in some tricky play. The forwards worked hard, and in tho second spell had all tho advantage. Fafeita was repeatedly in the lime-light, his strong running being a feature. Kiddie and Merwood ,put in fine play and received able assistance from their team mates. Tho Levin backs were not seen at their best, and considering thev had the ball nearly all the first half should have done much better. Like the forwards they tired in the second spell and were outclassed. Britain Defeated'. After a game which kept a crowd of about thirty thousand on tenterhooks until the whistle sounded "no side,'" Australia defeated Britain in the first Test by six points to five. Hawke's Bay Beaten. The Auckland touring team defeated Hawke's Bay On Saturday by eight to six before about 4000 people. Auckland v. Waikato. A pitifully weak exhibition of Rugbv ,was given by the Auckland representative side, against Waikato at Eden Park ;on Saturday, the visitors winnin" bv 28 to 3. " * Wellington Defeat Otago. Before an attendance of about 10,000 ,on Carisbrook Park, the Wellington touring Rugby team defeated Otago bv IS. points to S. The ground was very sticky and the ball greasy, condition's which were aggravated by rain which -fell for most of the first spell. Wellington forwards hooked the ball with monotonous regularity, and the Ota") backs saw little or nothing of the ball from scrums. Several plavers were injured. Cooke and Oliver were the pick of the visiting backs, while McLean was easily'the best forward on the ground. Brandanovich and Fookes did well for Otago, and Christie and Sonutag were always useful in the forwards. Otate v. petone. Arrangements have been completed lor a friendly match between Otaki and Petone, to be played at Otaki on September 13th. ■':*

Rough Rugby,

i Under the heading of "Disgruntled i Grey town" the Carterton paper justifies the roughness attributed toCarterS ton in the match against Greytown last : Saturday week by stating that the booing of an All Black forward came from the number of Greytown supporters present., The writer, who evidently was not watching the game very elijse- ; lj,. states their supporters were' strangly silent when an Ail Black forward ; playing forGreytown dealt out a "rabbit killer" to Trapp, a Carterton back. The.;£o.r^&«J.i,?y3 l o tackled Trapp was not an lAll-'Black. He is a player who clean record to Ms credit. The paper adds,that in Stringfellow's case there was no hint of roughness, it was pure misadventure. tOf course it was. If Trapp was dealt a "rabbit killer" then Stringfellow was dealt it "bullock ■killer." The evidence was left on Stringfellow ?g throat and the deep cut in his tongue shows the force in which jhis jaws eaine together by pure misadventure: - That is' .the delicate way' Carterton has of asserting its superior knowledge of tactics, to the use of i which they can ascribe their victory; -Probably* the Carterton paper will ca;lighten its readers upon the taetics enlI ployed to counteract Puller's aptitude 11-for kicking goals. The taetics worked well and of course assisted the'better team to It is not losing the game that hurts Greytown. but the tactics employed by Carterton to win.—Standard,!-, ...'.' "■ .:<■.- ... .■■■•■■ ■ ;