WEST END v. KAITI-CITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11127, 29 July 1907, Page 1

WEST END v. KAITI-CITY.

The final round of tlie senior competition was entered on on Saturday afteri noon, when the above teams met for the - fourth time this season. There was a - very large attendance, considering the inr clemency of the weather — in facj, it was t the first wet Saturday experienced by I footballers this year. With tine thfee clubs on- equal terms, great interest was . attached to 'the game, and the play was followed very closely by the spectators. - Both dubs put strong teams in the field, - but Kaiti-City were unfortunate in losing . the services of H. Bright, who was unable to play, and A. Hogg took his place ■in the front rank. The playing arena was heavy, especially where the new crioket pitch -is situated, and combined •with the slippery ball made matters very uncertain. Naturally, it was expected the game would be a. slow one ; out a pleasant surprise was in -store, for the contest produced fast and exciting play, # ond much above the standard looked forward to. West End (black) won the toss, ' and elected to defend the western goal, having the benefit of the wind. Wintei kicked off, and Brown returned to Grinlinton, who sent out of play. West End | carried the first scrum, and for offside play by Kaiti-City (blue), were, awarded at free kick, which took hostilitiel into the blues' 26. Despite the slippery ball, the blades, started throwing it about freely, and coming from a scrum, Graham sent it out nioely ; a fine passing run between tlie backs ensued, the ball ' going tlirough half-a-dozen hands with beautiful precision, ultimateljTfinisluii^ 'by S. Eoderick taking and putting in a neat kick, which Wilkinson took and sent out. Warm play ensued near Kaiti's goal, the blacks) playing' with*- great vigor, evidently relishing the heavy going.. From loose play, tlie ball went to Stuart, who passed put, but a knock-on occurring, a good opportunity to score was lost. Winter and Lowe headed their forwards in clearing the line to the .25, but : Brown retaliated with a strong dlash and pass to Roderick, who was brought down. Kaiti-City were all, at sea against the determined onslaught of the blacks', their backs being quite unable to sepure the oval— quite the reverse to West End, who fielded the leather in good style. Rowe secured a mark from a line-out, and sent out at the 25. Sailor Roderick, who was playing a pretty game, took a pass from Brown and kicked ; Hay failed to, take, and the forwards were on him like lightning, things Spoking very gloomy for the blues. For several minutes West End stopped in the vicinity of their opponents' .goal, until Robinson gained, relief by finding the line at the 25. West End forwards once more got near the coveted goal, Hay saving by bringing down his man. Wilkinson obtained ana sent up field. The blues' were awarded a. free kick, and 'Weka Roderick failing to take, Kaiti were enabled to take play past half-way for the^ first time: Another free»kick enabled them to put West End on the defence, but not for long, Mutu securing a mark from a line-out and sending to centre. Robinson passed out nicely to Grinlinton, who kicked; going to Graham, the latter failed to hold,- and Kaiti, forwards got' dangerously near the line. Graham, immediately rectified his mistake by clever play, and West End, carrying the scrum and assisted by a. free kick, cleared their goal of danger. The forwards worked to centre, Witty saving by sending out. Rowe obtained nicely from scrum and transferred to Robinson, who kicked, Roderick marking. Assisted by a long kick, the blues' again get near tho line, but West End's forwards were too superior, coming away finely. Robinson, failing to get in his kick, allowed the blacks' to get on to him, and play centred. A free kick to Kaiti was followed up well by Lowe and Nicolas, who prevented its return.^ West End, however, put in a determined protest, and weak play by Hay enabled them to get near the blues' goal, Witty just managing to. come to the rescue in time, and Wilkinson securing sent out. Shortly after the blacks' kicked oVer the line, and Hay narrowly saved. On resuming, Kaiti-City, by a fine forward rush, took play past centre, Witty assisting at the finish by smart work. West End heeled out to Graham, who came away on his own, gaining a lot of ground. Nicolas and) Winter started a. fine ruslr and got into the blacks' 25, where Kaiti attempted a passing run, but being on the worst part of: the ground, it wag almost impossible to make progress. For obstruction, West End were awarded a free kick, and Pine, following up fast, was within an ace of scoring, flay again saving in the nick of time. From the kick-out,. Brown and Roderick (2) indulged in passing, but gained "little ground. Immediately after Brown ran and passed to S. Roderick, who took beautifully ; a score looked likely, but Kelly failed to take, and play went out in the blues' 25. Graham secured a mark in a good position, and Brown was successful in steering the oval between the uprights. West End 3, Kaiti 0. The blues' had slightly the best of the game on resuming, but a long kick down field by West End was followed up smartly by Turner and others. Hay, the only man handy, rushed to save, and gamely went down and stopped the rush, Turner coming over him 5 the result was Hay had to' retire, having hurt hisshoulder severely, whilst Turner was rendered hors de combat for a minute or so. A.. Bright took Hay's position at fullback. Half-time was shortly afterwards called, with play in neutral territory. Without doubt, West End had had all the best of the deal, and their display came as a great surprise to even their most ardent supporters. Their forwards played With fine dash, and in scrum work were streets ahead of their opponents. Kaiti-City's goal was in danger on numerous occasions, and it was indeed strange that the blacks' failed to get over the trench. The Kaiti forwards played for all they were worth, but failed to follow up and get on to their men, as in previous games. The backs were indeed weak, and oould hold nothing, quite in sorry contrast to the excellent work of their opponents, who hardly made a mistake. Therefore, things did not look very hopeful 'when they took the field again to. resume hostilities. But the ball had not been in motion long before it was seen they still possessed a good chance, for going at it from the jump they assumed the aggressive. The 'ball coming out to Puflett. the latter attempted a pot at goal; it was a fine try, the ball hitting the post and rebounding into the field of play. Nicolas and Witty followed up tlie kick, and were just a moment too late, West End getting it away. Continuing the attack, Witty put in a pretty run, but instead of going on with it, he threw behind him at random when on the point of being tackled. Luckily, Puflett was handy, and took play to West End's quarters. The blacks' forwards, with Mutu, Ellison, and Pine prominent, transferred play to past centre, where Lowe took beautifully from the line and worked back. Fast, loose play by the blue forwards followed, Hepburn saving by a clever kick out. Kaiti again got near their objective, but their opponents, principally by fine play by Graham and a penalty against Kaiti for picking out of a scrum, transferred to past half-way. Stuart kicked -to Bright, who saved nioely, and a hard struggle ensued, the forwards on both sides working like demons. A good rush headed by Winter saw play in neutral territory, where it remained for awhile. At last Brown put in a high kick, and Mutu obtaining made a strong dash for the line; being collared gamely by Bright, h e passed to Pine, who ran in and scored between the posts. Brown converted. West End 8, Kaiti 0. On resuming, Kaiti put forth great efforts, and from a high kick by Puflett, followed up well, had hard luck in not scoring. Hansen took from the line-out and passed to Rowe, who transferred to Puflett ; the latter, finding he could not get away, stopped short and took a pot at goal, landing a beauty, the ball touching the cross-bar in gliding oyer. West End 8, Kaiti 4. Winter, getting offside, allowed West End to invade, but not for long, as with a great rally Kaiti forwards came right away and over the line, West End benig lucky in being allowed a force. On resuming, Kaiti again attacked strongly, Robinson putting in a nice run and kick. Aided by a kick by Brown, and from a scrum by Graham, West End worked to Kaiti's 25, where fast and exciting play ensued for a> few minutes. A kick by Brown saw play in close proximity to Kaiti's goal, but Lowe saved the situation by coming away from the line with the ball at his toes, Witty improving matters by picking up in the mire in fine style and sending out at West End's 25. Puflett had another shot at goal, but luck was against him, the ball striking the upright. From this out the blues had all the best of the play, but although thej forced West End to save, Avere unable tc increase their score, and the game endec in a win for the Westenders by 8 points to 4. Mr J. O'Connell refereed. ' JUNIOR MATCH. In the "third-grade match, West End v. Takitimu, a good game resulted in the former team winning by 14 points to 8 Tries were secured by E. and W. Whit field, Douglas, and Muldoon, one of whicl Wi converted. Sceats and Morell scorec for Takitimiv, Campbell converting one Mr Cecil Somervell was referee.