SENIOR GRADE MATCHES. Kaikorai v. Pirates.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 57

SENIOR GRADE MATCHES. Kaikorai v. Pirates.

The return match between tlie Kaikorai and Pirates was played at Bitihopscourt, there being a good attendance ol spectators. Kaikorai won the toss, and Pirates kicked off with the gradient of the ground against them. The Blacks soon invaded the home team's quarters, but a free kick relieved the pressure. The visitors' forwards, however, again asserted thenv.alves, and Priest had a shot at coal from a mark, but nothing came of it. The home team carried play to the Pirate?' twenty-five, and from a scrum Sinclair sent the ball out to Duncan, who ran to within a few yards of the Blacks' line and then transferred to Wilkinson, the latter scoring near the corner. Tlie last-named player made an excellent though futile attempt at goal. A wretchedly poor kick by a Piralc back allowed Kaikorai to mark in a good position, smd Wilkinson's kick again went clcs lo goal. Pirates transferred play to the Kaikorai twenty-five, and an illdirected kick by a Kaikorai back gave tlite Pirates a splendid onporlunity of -scoring, which was, however, lost by fumbling. The Blacks 1 forwards sustained the attack, and being awarded a penalty kick. Priest, by a fine effort, landed the ball on the crossbar, and the leather went over. Eacli team attacked in turn, but nothing of note occurred till half-time. Oa resuming the home^team attacked strongly, ai:d Ronald waa^ithin an ace of scoring. The Kaikorai continued to be aggressive, and Booth had an ineffec-

tual shot at goal from a free kick. Give* and-take play ensued for some time, but eventually hostilities centred in the Pirates' twenty-five, where Duncan, picking xip smartly, ran straight through the opposing backs -and scored near the posts, Wilkinson converting. The home team were now called upon to defend their line, and Fisher made a poor attempt at goal from a mark. From this out play remained in neutral quarters, the score at the call of time being : Kaikorai ... 8 points Pirates ... 3 points. Alhambha v. Southern. This match was played at the Carisbrook grcund, which was in very fair order, considering the recent "wet weather. Alhambra yon the toss, and Southern kicked off from the pavilion end. Play was at once taken to the Alhambra twenty-five, the dribbling lushes of the Southern forwards proving very effective. The Reds' forwards relieved with a fine dribbling rush to the Southern line, and the latter were forced through too hard kicking by Bennet. This mistake wa3 repeated shortly after by the Reds' centre three-quarter, and Southern again forced. The Alhambra continued the vigorous attack on the Southern lines, but any advantage they momentarily gained was at once discounted by off-side play, the Southern clearing their linen time and again by the aid of free kicks. Southern now had a look in, and Neil made a darling run from the centra to the Reds' twenty-five, and pas3ed to Olson, the ball then going to Allen, who scored. Olson failed with the kick at goal. Give-and-take pay followed, bad passing by the Alhambra backs nullifying several good chances ; and half-time was called with the play at the centre. On resuming play was taken to tho Southern quarters, and the " Borough " were forced twice in succession through too hard kicking on the pprt of their opponents. Alhambra still hotly rtlacked, but the fine cellaring of the Southern backs prevented a score, and hard kicking by Knowles shortly after resulted in Southern forcing once more. Southern were awarded a free kick at the centre, but the attempt at goal was unsuccessful. The Alhambra then took the play right to the Southern's lines, and for the next 10 minutes the Southern had a very busy time. A couple of free kicks to Alhambra were unproductive of any score, and finally Casey relieved with a fine kick to the centre. The Southern forwards broke away fiom the line-out' with an irresistible rush, and the ball being mulled by Stephenson, v/ho was playing at full back owing to an injured leg, Christie secured it and registered tha second try for tlie Colours, the kick at goal proving fruitless. Hard kicking was instrumental in Southern being forced on the kick-oul, and shortly after the whistle went, with the ball in the Southern quarters, and the score Southern ... 6 points Alhambra ... Nil. Dtjnedix v. Union. The above teams met on the Caledonian giound, which was very heavy, in consequence of a match having been played previously. Dunedin won the toss, and Union kicked off from the harbour end. For tlie firr.t 20 minutes the Maroons had the best of Ilia game, but the Dunedin backs by good kicking kept them in check. Harris had a shot at goal from a mark by Armstrong, but tha ball fell short, though he made an excellent effort, Dunedin forcing. The same player tried to register a goal from a free kick a few minutes afterwards, but without result. The Dunedin forwards, playing with more dash than their opponents, held their own till just on half-time, when, from a fccrum near the Dunedin line, the Maroons initiated a passing rush, which resulted in. Gow scoring near the corner. Harris failed to convert. On changing ends the Maroons put the Dunedin on the defensive for about 20 minutes, but the Blues gradually worked their way near the Union line, where a series of scrums ensued, the Maroons saving by forcing down. The Blues then had a. shot at goal, but the ball went wide, and they narrowly missed scoring almost immediately afterwards. Towards the fini3h of tho game Dunedin set up a determined attack, but another force-down was the only re.-ult. From this out play was even, and the game ended: Union ... 3 points Dunedin ... Nil. ZINGARI-RICHMOXD V. ~ UNIVERSITY. As a result of the previous night's rain, Tahuna Park was somewhat moist oh Saturday, when the above teams tried conclusions. Smith kicked off for Zingan-Rich-mond, and play immediately became deadly in earnest. Tne 'Varsity forwards, headed by Dive and Fisher, took the ball to within a few feet of the Colours' line. Offside play by Zingari-Richmond gave the Blues a free kick, but the attempt at goal was a failure, and Zingari forced. The Zmgan forwards then took the play well into 'Varsity territory, bvit a combined rush of Blue forwards shifted play lo the centre, where Dive got nossession and single-handed dribbled the ball over the Zingari line, scoring first blood for 'Varsity. Uttley succeeded in adding the major points. This reverse aroused the Zingari, and their forwards dribbled down into 'Varsity quarters, where Ihe play remained for some time. The Blues"* forwards came away with another rush, and kept the Colours defending until Fish relieved with a good kick to the centre. Tho next item of interest occurred when White, by fast following up, dribbled the ball over the l ; ne, and scored the second try for the Blues. Macdonald landed an easy goal. Play remained in midfield for some time, but eventually tlie Zingari set up an attack, and at half-time play was in the Blues' territory. On changing ends the Zingari - Richmond forwards attacked strongly, but Uttley relieved with a good kick to the halfway flag, where a great deal of line-out play took place. The Zingari then set up another attack, and took the ball over their opponents' line, but were unable to score. Their efforts were at last

Tewarded, however, as a passing rush initiated by Mason ended in King scoring between the posts, Mason converting. Shortly afterwards the Blues broke away, and from a loose scramble Neill and Hotop added another try to their score. Macdonald took the kick, and made no mistake. Noithing of note occurred after this, and when time was called the score stood: University 15 points Zingari .„ 5 points. SECOND GRADE. The match between the Union and Peninsula resulted in a win for the former by 4 points to 3 points. The Kaikorai and Port Chalmers played a drawn game, each side scoring 3 points. Alhambra claim a win by default from ZingaTi-Riehmond, the latter team failing to appear at Montecillo. The Taieri Rovers and High School met at Mosgiel, the same ending in a win for the former by 9 points to 3. For the Rovers, J. M'Fadden, J. M'lvor, and A. Sinclair scored tries ; and Fletcher was responsible for the School's score. Ravensbourne and West Taieri met at Ravensbourne, and after a fast and interesting game Ravensbourne won by 15 points to 5 points. For the winners, J. Collins, L. Page, and J. Grant scored tries, R. Mahs converting one. J. Grant also potted a goal. For the Taieri, M'Kellar scored and converted the try- Mr Glover held the whistle, and gave every satisfaction. The match Dunedin v. Pirates resulted in a win for Dunedin by 16 points to 6. Hutcheson, Teesdale, Gollan, and Lawson scored for Dunedin, Teesdale converting two of the tries. Clark and Sparrow scored for Pirates, neither of the tries being converted. The game was fast and open, Hutcheson, Halligan, Gollan, Teesdale, and Pringle playing well for the winners ; while Clark, Sparrow, and Denniston did likewise for Pirate*. Mr W. Ross held the whistle, and gave every satisfaction to both sides. THIRD GRADE. Keen interest was taken in the meeting of the Alhambra A and Zingari- Richmond B teams, which took place on the Caledonian ground. Good football was exhibited by both teams, considering the greasy state of the ground. Alhambia eventually won by 6 points to 3. M'Hardie and Bamford each scored for the winners. Mr W. Wilkinson made an efficient referee. The match Alhambra B v. Pirates B was played at Opoho Park, resulting in the former winning by 14 points to nil. Mr Wilson held the whistle. POSITIONS OF THE TEAMS. The following table shows the positions of the teams engaged in the Senior and Second Grade contests: —

SJiflXl .UK. Club. taikorai .» „ .. k.lhambia .. Southern 'ingari-Richmond .. jmon .. .. ». Jiiiversity .. .. 'irates .. .. Duuedin T3 s 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n o 7 5 4 3 4 8 '2 0 o _) 1 2 3 2 4 4 4 8 Points. 0 57 19 14 1 75 24 11 1 37 28 9 3 28 40 9 0 45 33 8 1 46 52 7 2 19 35 6 0 11 87 C

Second C Grade. llharnbra .. .. 9 Port Chalaiers .. 9 iaikorai .. ..8 -lavensbourne . . 9 Caieri Rovers .. 9 Prrates .. *» .. 9 Jnion . . • . . • 9 West Taieri .. .. 8 singar:-Ricliniond .. 9 Peninsula .. .. 8 Jniversity „ . . 7 Southern . . . . 8 Dunedin 9 ligli School .. .. 9 8 0 6 1 6 1 6 2 5 2 5 4 3 4 3 4 2 5 2 5 2 4 1 4 1 6 0 8 1 107 19 2 56 20 1 53 20 1 66 29 2 G9 25 •0 50 65 2 SI 40 1 22 80 2 27 29 i 18 73 1 31 42 3 12 27 2 33 Go 1 11 43 11 i< li i; 15 k ! ( .7 A .3 .3 .2 .0 c 4 1