FOOTBALL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13102, 16 June 1913, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR COMPETITION

I Despite the boisterous weather, there was a large number of spectators at the Domain on Saturday afternoon to witness the senior football matches. KAITI-CITY (9) V. V.M.P. (8). A.s the scores indicate, this was an cvenls'-contested game. These teams occupied No. 1 ground, and were as follows:— ' . Kaiti-City: Full-back, P. Stubbs; threequarters, Sullivan, Walters, Gray; fiveeighths, Doran; half, Skillen; forwards, G. Fromm, Stagpoole, L. Nicolas, Moana, Murphy, Douglas, J. Nicolas, Prickett, and Dooley. V.M.P.: Full-back, Kape; three-quarters, O'Neill, Waata, Kingi; five-eighths, Kokiri and Rukingi; half, Kaipara; forwards, Cruickshank, Pewhairangi, Poihipi, Tureia, McGregor, Whare Carroll, Brown, and Wi Luke. Although there was nothing of a brilliant nature about the game, it was interesting to watch for reason of its strenuousness. Neither side was at its full strength, and the services of several juniors had to be requisitioned. In the first spell City had the advantage of the strong wind at their backs. During the early stages of the game V.M.P. were on the defensive, and it appeared as though City would have an easy win. In fact some of the City • players were evidently entertaining the same opinion, for they were inclined to take matters easy, and it was only when V.M.P. got two points m the lead that the blues woke up to the fact that they had a tougher proposition to deal with than they reckoned on. The blues pressed at the start, and shortly after play commenced Skillen drew first blood by notch- ! ing a try from -a scrum near '• Y.M.'P.'s | line. A few minutes later G. Fromm forced his way over from a forward 'rush. Both attempts at goal were poor ones. The Maoris then began to shake things up, and maintained a determined attack, some nice passing work being indulged m. By following up well Waata scored. Soon after Rukingi, Kokiri, and Waata carried the oval on to City's line, and Brown scored. . Kaipara added the extra points, making the scores V.M.P. 8, Kaiti-City 6. Play was very willing, and chiefly amongst the forwards during the second spell. City opened with a dangerous attack, but V.M.P. defended well, and soon had their opponent's penned m 'their own 25. Both sides came near to scoring several times, the Maoris missing one good opportunity through not following up. Rukingi made a beautiful effort to dropkick a goal, the ball going over the post. Great excitement prevailed during the last few minutes of the game. Cityj made desperate efforts to increase their score, and time and again the Maoris' I cleared their line, each man doing his share. The pressure, however, proved 1 too hot, and just on the tick of time L. j Nicolas scored from a loose rush. Noi goal resulted, and City won by one j point. Towards the close of the game P.| O'Neill (V.M.P.) got a nasty knock on 1 , the head, and was dazed for awhile, andi Doran and Moana came into collision, i the former also receiving a knock onj the haad, which necessitated his retire- < ment. Mr J. B. Brown officiated as re-i feree, and Messrs F. Pudney and C. I Somervell were line umpires. j UNITED (18) V. GARRISON (0). i This game, which was played on No. ; 2 ground, was uninteresting. Garrison! only had 11 men, including some juniors, i and United won as they liked. The i teams were:— . • United: Full-back, G. Pollock; threequarters, Payne, Guthrie, Allen; fiveeighths, Murray; half, Cole; forwards,! Sexton, C. Davis, White, Armitage, Cole-j man, McQuarrie, Carmine, and Eivers. | i Garrison: Full-back, Lloyd; three-quar-ters, Mcllroy, 11. Muir, Somers; five- ; eighths, Gardner; half, McLean; for- , wards, Stitchbury. Donovan, Boyd, Me- ! Ilroy, and Hudson. ' - ( ! United opened with the wind at their j backs, and were soon pressing hard. I Within the first 10 minutes Murray I secured f l'om a scrum and scored; and shortly after another try was registered, ' McQuarrie, Cole, Davis and Carmine all having a hand m it. Garrison held their opponents off for a while, but eventually Cole scored twice m succession, and halftime was called with United 12 points to the good. Garrison did better m the second half, and made bold efforts to score, but they did not meet with sue- ' cess. Considering, their handicap they put up a good fignt. During the second .spell Murray added two more tries to United's score. The latter's goal-kicking was unusually weak, none of the tries j (most of which were m handy positions) | being converted. Mr W. R. Burge con- : l rolled the game, and Messrs W. Hay and Mercer held the line flags. j JUNI.ORS.-'.. X ..'. : X. : ! The first round m the junior cdiUpctition was completed on Saturday., .afternoon. Two interesting games tpok, place, ' both being keenly fought* out to a flriish. On the Domain V.M.P. beat Kaiti-City by 3 (a try) to nil. Mr C. Somervell j was ; referee. On the reserve Matawhero, de- ) feated Garrison by 6 (a try and a pen- ! alty goal) to nil. Mr Turner controlled j the game. THIRDS. The second lot of matches m the thirds competition took place on Saturday. West End, on the reserve, had an easy victory over United, a recently-formed team, by 17 points to nil, and High; School, on the Domain, beat Kaiti-City by ,3 points (a drop-kicked penalty goal) to nil. The latter game wajs keenly contested. Mr W. Hay was referee for the former game, and Mr Mercer for the latter.