FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 18969, 16 June 1923, Page 12 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL

(By “On-side Mac.”)

Star's first defeat. Marist’s passing wins again. Coakley’s try a brilliant effort. Winton win first senior match. Club scrum work and half-back play poor. Both Wills unable to play through injuries. J. Ryan breaks and dribbles well—and passes. Main strength methods discredited last Saturday. Pirates will be considerably strengthened to-day. First Test, Maoris v. New South Wales, this afternoon. Half-backs all want standing passing practice badly.

Secretary Compton’s “Big Clash” duly arrived on Wednesday. Blues’ Wednesday senior team contained 10 junior players. Hazlett, Gilmour, Johnston and Ccckroft down to play for Pirates to-day. Kennelly will be behind the Waikiwi pack to-day, with Blee in as five-eighth. The Maori team will play its second Test against N.9.W. next Saturday. S.RF.U.’s stage manager smiles again— Wednesday's takings were satisfying.

Referees’ Association president wants to see Shieffelbein join up with some town club.

Agnew’s long pass to Brown from the end of the line on Saturday was a fine effort, well meriting the try that was scored. Considerable amusement in Wellington where one of the players ordered off recently was a member of the Referees’ Association.

Star scored two tries in play following hard kicking on the break-away by the two All Blacks, who, however, controlled the ball in an improved manner. Rugby Union considering floodlighting of training area. But what’s wrong in meantime with painting the ball for night work.

Mr T. Meredith’s estimate of club back play a few weeks ago, which was questioned in certain circles, was proved correct on Wednesday. Is it too much to say that it was a test of practical work v. theoretical knowledge, with the former a good winner? Not only did Shand and Lilley distinguish themselves in their swopped places last Saturday in the game against Waikiwi, but Brown took a turn on R. Oughton’s wing, while the latter went to centre amidst encouraging comment from the side-liners. Both did quite well. Ex-Southland rep. hooker, H. Brown, will be leaving for Tokanui shortly. They are keen on the game out the Seaward Bush line and Brown should be a big help to them to get the game on a proper footing there and get a sub-union going. “The best referees for the best matches” is a very necessary slogan in the modern game in which anticipation, advantage rule application, and physical fitness are prime essentials in whistle-blowers. The two famous Welsh clubs, Newport and Cardiff, have met four times last season, the first two occasions being pointless draws, the third a win for Cardiff, and the fourth with exactly the same result as the first two.

The Waikiwi pack played well on Saturday, but the exhibition of their backs was blue murder. It is perhaps too much to expect correct passing movements from every set of backs without long and exacting effort, but if backs can do nothing else they can at least tackle. The Waikiwi backs consistently refused to do so. The work of the Star backs lacked finish, and as a general thing play was rather ragged. Strang was the outstanding forward on the Star side. On the line-out he and Lcggatt did especially good work, while both dribbled well in the loose. Agnew, who has taken Bell’s place at wing-forward, has found a position that suits him—he is not the pack forward he used to be —and he played rather well there, being quick to seize openings.

R. Oughton was as busy as a bee in the backs, and accomplished a great deal of useful work. It is, however, noticeable that he is not getting the chances he had last year, and consequently not the practice, which is a serious matter for him when so much of the season has already gone by. Brown played soundly, but was scarcely as sure as in the previous match. White and Richardson, as usual, were the mainstays of the Waikiwi pack. The side-liners may not have seen White as frequently as usual, but they can rest assured that he was doing his work right—when he broke away he did his best to keep the ball near hiS feet, with the result that Melhop, Acton and Murray got the benefit and gave the opposing backs a great deal of trouble with dribbling runs. Fresh from his fine work on Country Day when associated with Shepherd, Abton put up another excellent performance with McGill in the front row and if the Star backs had been given all the chances their opponents had the result would probably have been a record score. Melhop showed his best form this season, and should keep going with the dribbling game. • Kennelly, who came on in the backs to replace ±*. Wills (dislocated wrist) gave a promising display and although he was usually unable to pass out without running out a few paces from the scrum, he showed distinct possibilities. The opening he made for White and Richardson to get away and score w'as a very nice effort. Cross ran well when he got the ball and in a decent back team would probably develop into a good I scoring man.

Getting the run on early, the Marist backs completely baffled Blues by combination on Saturday and up till half time the defenders hardly saw the way they went. It was another fine win for the passing game against a side that exploits the other style ot play for all it is worth, with reverse passing, cross-kicking and intelligent combination by the forward division playing their part in a victory that the old Britannia Club (forerunners of the style of play adopted by the Greens) would have found pleasure in, even in their palmiest days. In the second half the more seasoned Invercargill pack tackled a 17-point deficiency in fine style, but the bunched dribbling rushes of the Green forwards proved a sound antidote to their massed South African like attacks per medium of the line out, while often they lost the advantage by hard kicking, of which Coakley’s powerful punting took heavy toll. Tneir telegraphed back attacks across the field were even more easily dealt with by a side which is used to operating on a faster system of play. The feature here was the manner in which Falsh dropped the mainstay of the Blue attack again and again by going for the feet without hesitation and thereby completely nullifying that player’s powerful fend. Coakley was the bright star of the Marist back constellation. His passing was beautifully timed and no pair of wing threequarters in Southland get more openings from their centre than Holz and Kelly. When he made the judicious variation of going on his own, the opposition were made aware in no uncertain manner that they were up against one of the speediest runners in Southland football. His pace changes were excellent, and his welljudged kicking both on attack and defence was of the highest standard. He anticipated as few players have done since the days of Norman Stead, and perhaps the best thing he did all day was when he went through with Walsh when the latter suddenly cut in and ra nto the ful Iback. This incident was of far greater importance than it might have appeared at first sight. For years past the province has had men of the type of Gilmour,'Shand and Walsh who could make openings inside—the great feature of the New Zealand style of Rugby —but how often has one seen them get clean away to the full back and then find no one to pass to?

Holz backed up Coakley’s play faithfully and well, and duly reaped the benefit. His goalkicking is improving. Kelly also played soundly and his short, low kicks across field and straight ahead are a model for other players to give attention to. Walsh has come to stap—he is improving all the time and uses his head.

J. Ryan and Shepherd were outstanding in the forwards, anil it is a thousand pities that the latter broke his collarbone, as a result of a heavy tackle catching him’off his balance and bring him down on his shoulder. Mahoney and C. Ryan were not far behind the first two, and the pack as a whole worked well together. The Invercargill pack was very evenly balanced, with V. Fraser, Burt and Smith working solidly and thoroughly throughout. Burt has grown bigger and heavier since he used to play with the Woodlands team and the indications arc that he is going to develop into a valuable, man. Lopdell, Johnstone and Davidson were the best of the backs. Johnstone, however, would improve his play considerably even if he took the drastic decision of making up his mind never to run out from the scrum before passing for, say, two or three matches on end. His association with country football has unfortunately had a bad effect on his play. Running out from the scrum is better than shouting to the opposition which way the passing is going. The system of play adopted by the Marist first fifteen which is different from that of any other local club was submitted to a further test on Wednesday, and those concerned have every reason for gratification at the result of as searching an examination as it would be possible to obtain. Almost it might be termed a triumph, for it represented the victory of a young team against a veteran side which has made •

special study of dealing with passing, and which has changed but little in three years of successful competition for the Galbraith Shield. That the system of play favoured by the Greens should win out in such circumstances should provide considerable food for thought in circles where its value had not been previously recognised, and in a few plain words it may be summed up as the win of a coached team. It has been said that it is impossible to coach a team, and it would be interesting to hear what supporters of this antedeluvian idea have got to say about Wednesday’s match, and similar results which have followed it at regular weekly intervals for some time past. There was too much at stake to make the match what might be termed a brilliant one, but for the expert onlooker it was a game calling for his keenest attention from start to finish. The winners were palpably nervous at the start, an excusable frame of mind in veiw of the issues in the balance, while it soon became apparent that matters were seriously amiss near the scrum where a crippled player was acting as the connecting link between backs and forwards. But the first try must have gone a long way to restoring confidence in the methods pursued—a dribbling rush into the 25, a smart heel from a line-out bunch, and fairly correct passing to Coakley, who came up on the run and shot straight through to the posts for the score. Till half-time the Greens never looked back and clean breaks from the line-out by Cosgrove and J. Ryan might quite well have increased the score, had not the pass been dropped at the critical moment. I do not know why Marist lost confidence in themselves at the interval, but it is certain that for the greater part of the second spell they played a game, that was altogether foreign to them, and if the Star passing had gone right or those two usually reliable kickists, Agnew and Lilley, had been in form, they might have paid very dearly for it. In years gone by Southland has had reason to repent similar decisions to tighten up the game after securing a useful lead in the early stages, and it is safe to take it as a sound principle to continue with tactics that are proving successful. A game is not won until the referee gives the final whistle. The Greens were fortunate in coming out of this as well as they did, and when they got the dribbling and passing going again for Lee to cross the line they must have realised their mistake. For a long time Star were almost continuously on attack from near the Green 25 line, but the insides did not handle at all well, and then the real blunder was committed when the half and wing-forward began to run out from the scrum in the mistaken idea that they could make up fer the weak handling in the five-eighth line. What they did was to tangle up the passing and the time R. Oughton lost a try through offside passing was directly attributable to cramming the short side with more men than could reasonably be accommodated there. Outside of the club interest, most attention was given to tfie duel between Coakley and Brown at centre. Coakley was unquestionably the winner, his speed, cleverness and all-round resource being too much for the plucky and determined showing of his rival, who lacked Coakley’s finish and judgment. That he was the key to the Marist attack and would be more than ever a marked man after his first try was correctly realised, and it was noticeable that the breaking of the Star line was concentrated elsewhere, with Coakley always un hand to back up and help on the attack and defence with the object of providing the scoring opportunities for players better situated than he. His long ranging kicks were as helpful as ever, and his defence sound and reliable. Holz did some great work in that long second spell, marking, coming across to save, and showing ability on tiefence that gained him more admirers than before. He was carefully watched in the first spell, and as many as three men went for him on one occasion when he got the ball. His long punting saved his side again and again and he was a battler to the finish. Kelly took the field in spite of a bout of influenza and was not as prominent as usual. Walsh had one of the hardest jobs in the team, the slowness of the passing inside giving him little time to do his work, but he acquitted himself admirably, tackling well and cutting-in unhesitatingly when the time arrived. Cosgrove had not the easiest of tasks and he did pretty well, although he has a good deal to learn. Chief of these is that a pass taken on the stand slows down an attack, and forwards are entitled to be annoyed when they get clear in u dribbling run and their first five rushes in and delivers a wild kick at the ball, thereby transferring possession to the other side. It would be unfair to criticise O’Halloran, as he was competing under disabilities that should really have kept him out of the game. Fogarty, at full-back, anticipated play and took the ball very well, and once got into a passing run, a fact which reflects credit. He is a promising player, but his kicking is weak and he wants plenty of practice in this respect. J. Ryan was again the outstanding forward. That break through on the line and his great dribbling run with the ability to pick up and start passing is going to mean a lot to him when players are being sorted out later on. Forwards must get the dribI uhng game off right—it has tangled up • northern backs not used to going down again and again. Mahoney gave him splendid support and this young forward will go a long way if he keeps on at the present rate. Roche realised the ambition, of his life and the veteran has every reason to feel proud of the part he played in the victory—he made his great effort and was on deck till the finish. Splendid assistance was given by the rest of the forwards, who all worked solidly from start to finish.. In the Star backs Brown, R. Oughton and Lilley were the outstanding players. Shand, Murray and James Oughton were below form, although for the latter it has to be said that he was doing what he believed best for his side. Shand’s try was bad.y needed to help retrieve a sadly-dinged reputation. His passing was not good, and the opposition concentrated on taking advantage of this known weakness in his play, with the result that the Star passing went awry here again and again. The forwards have every reason to* feel satisfied with their play— they packed well and put up a great performance in the second half when they gave their backs every chance to swing into action. It was hard to differentiate in an evenly balanced septette, but Smith may be given first place ior his extra efforts in the loose, while two of the promoted second-graders, Padget and Lohrie, confirmed the good impression formed of their play in second grade m atches.

The game was badly controlled. A very poor knowledge of the advantage rule was displayed, and while excessive severity was shown over tiddlywinking infringements, offside play round the scrum and other forms rf illegality were allowed to go unchecked. Although* it means a lot of additional time and trouble for members, the Southland Referees’ Association have furnished referees week after week for Central District mutches and find great encouragement in the appreciation of their efforts shown by players and officials in that district. The president (Mr A. H. Stott) reported to Tuesday’s night’s meeting thf.t ne had controlled the Heddon Bush-Wright’s Bush match the previous Saturday. “It is really a pleasure to referee these games.” said the president, “and if the town players took a leaf out of their book and put the same amount of spirit and vim into the games there would be no such thing as people leaving the ground before the game finished.” There is a matter in connection with the Star-Marist match which requires some plain speaking. A great deal of obstruction was indulged in against Marist players, shepherding, cutting across the bows of an opponent going for the ball, waiting offside and illegal tackling being some of the offences reierred to here. The Star is not a popular team, and while to a great extent this may be attributed to the fact that a team preserving an unbroken mastery in club competition over a number of years often loses popularity, this does not entirely explain why the great body of the public are up against them. Off the field the Star are the ideal of what a football club

should be, but on the field some of its players are guilty of tactics which are only dragging the name of the club into the mud.

Wanganui Chronicle refers to an exSouthland representative:—“The surprise packet of the pack was Wright, one of their wing threequartera of last year. This player played his second forward game against Kaierau a couple of Saturdays ago, and showed considerable promise, but last Saturday he simply revelled in the fray and hag evidently at last found his right place. When he gets used to forward work he should be a big acquisition to Old Boys.” A prominent member of the Referees’ Association at Tuesday night’s meeting wae emphasising the need for developing country football and the part the referees could play by going out to referee games in the country. In supporting these remarks, another member, who had taken a match in the country, told the story of a player who was called on to reply to the toait of Country Football at a social function after the match, and who said: ‘You can do without lawyers, politicians and parsons, but you must remember the Country Football is the backbone of the country*

One of the pioneers of Southland Rugby passed away yesterday in the person of Mr Walter Smith who had been in bad health for some time past. He was a member of the first team to represent Pirates F.C., and being probably the smartest forw on his side as runner, dribbler and anticipator. He was selected to represent Southland in the first team ever picked to represent the home province, away back in 1887 the year of the establishment of the S.R.F.U., but illness prevented him playing his part. He was the life and soul of the original Pirates F.C. and many fine players were associated with him, amongst whom may be mentioned: —A. Galbraith, T. Gallagher, T. A. Williams, D. and G. Morrisoh, W. and E. Hawke, O. and V. Ekenstein, S. Cockroft, F. Ripper, C. E. Borne, R. Mentiplay and others whose names do not readily occur. The Invercargill F.C. waa the only club in existence in this town for many years and then Pirates F.C. came into being and few of those who witnessed the first beating administered to the team led by R. Galbraith by the black clad Pirates, with the little white skull and crossbones standing out in relief on their breasts, will forget the congratulations that were extended to the late Walter Smith and his jovial comrades, for they were a merry band, indeed. In presenting his report on the Wright’s Bush Heddon Bush match on Saturday to the meeting of the Referees’ Association, Mr A. H. Stott said that Shieffelbein played well and was the makings of a real good player. “If he could be got in to join up with one of the Town clubs he would go a long way in the game,” he remarked.

The semi-final for the French Rugby championship between Toulouse and Biarritz was marked by a great deal of rough play. The French sporting papers are not sparing in their comments on the match, which is described by one journal as an “example of street fighting.” TJje referee ordered four players off the field, and three retired hurt, Biarritz ending the game with a team of 11, and Toulouse with a team of 13. An equal share of blame is given to both teams. “It is time that the directors of French rugby consider energetic measures to prevent such grave incidents,” 'writes the Auto. “To postpone any longer the application of penalties would constitute a very grave menace for rugby football.” The Echo des Sports congratulates the referee on his firmness, which enabled the match to be brought to a close without the occurrence of still graver incidents. The contest between Bayonne anti the Racing Club, on the other hand, was an exhibition of magnificent play on the part of both teams.

Of the 70 points scored by the New Zealand Universities in their five matches on the Australian tour, Diack was responsible for 39, made up of one try, one potted goal, five penalty goals, and 7 conversions. Playing rover for the Maoris against Waikato. Southlander R. Bell was conspicuous throughout the game and the Waikato Times writer, “Dropkick” has some good things to say of his performance. One of the most sensational features of the New Zealand Universities’ tour in Australia was their great recovery in the second test match after being down 3 to 18 at the interval. In the second half the forwards showed much better form and sent the ball out well, with the result that the three-quarter line consisting of Macdonald, Murray and Diack swung into action again and again and by their brilliant passing gradually overhauled their opponents, New Zealand running out winners by 26 to Is. In the final match New South Wales turned the tables, winning by the big margin of 37 to 11. The Sydney Referee commenting on the play of the New Zealanders says:—“The visitors were without Stevenson, who is still limping through an injury sustained against Manly, and Skipper J. B. Jackson discovered during the week that he had broken a finger in the same game, though he had played in the second Test in the interval. As Murray, their ablest back, was hurt towards theclose of the first half, they were not favoured by luck.” After attending at Rugby Park on Wednesday, a local football follower reached his home and was turning to go inside, when he noticed his neighbour, who took a keen interest, in the doings of the Star, digging in his garden. The l.f.c. went over to the fence and informed his neighbour that Marist had defeated Star. The latter questioned that such a state of affaire could happen and offered to lay a wager. Before he could be convinced as to the correctness cf the information and the extreme peril his good cash would have been in if the l.f.c. had taken him at his word, the lady of the house, who was also an ardent supporter of the Star, came on the scene and was also informed and convinced of the correctness of the information

“Those Wednesday half-holiday shop keepers,” was the lady barracker’s emphatic explanation of the situation. An interesting lecture on the control of Rugby was given to the Canterbury Referees’ Association on Monday evening by Mr W. G. Garrard. The Christchurch gentleman referred to is well-known all over New Zealand, and it is sufficient to record two facts in connection with his long and successful connection with Rugby football in Maoriland--he van an All Black selector on a number of occasions, and in 1899 when Mullineux's British team visited Australia he went over to Sydney in response to an invitation to referee the Test matches and other important matches of the series. During his remarks Mr Gar rard said he had not the slightest heaita tion in saying that the control of the game throughout the Dominion was much better than in the clden times. Anyone they could get to act got the games then. The improvement was due principally to the formation of referees’ associations. He thought players would realise that referees endeavoured to be as efficient in their control of the game, as they tried to be efficient in playing. He would like to see more of the wider spirit introduced and less heed paid to the technicalities. He advised his hearers to pay more attention to the vital points and control their game more on the principal of equity.

THE MEANS TO AN END. The two main strength teams were duly massacred by combination on Saturday—it was ever thus on the long journey from the Dark Ages of football to the pretentday intensively developed art which may be described in a word or two ss the modern Rugby game. The mangled remains of many greater exponents of forceful football "than the Invercargill and Waikiwi first fifteen are strewn by the wayside, representing the milestones of progress and the triumph of science over brute force. Some excuse can be found for the Waikiwi Club which has been placed in the position that may be best described by the pharse “necessity knows no law,” but for the Invercargill Club and those that have directed its play there is little or nothing to be said in extenuation. Since this club elected to throw overboard the passing game a season or so ago it was entitled to forfeit the sympathy of all who desire to

see this province take an honoured place in Maoriland Rugby. From the time referred to, the rip and tear style of football it adopted has twice recorded outstanding success for the club, first when it slashed the laggard Pirate front division to bits and overwhelmed its back attack and second, when it fought a draw with the undefeated Star a few weeks ago. Keen observers have noted in these tremendous physical efforts an emotional wave that temporarily transformed players into a blind fury and affected all but the most hardened onlookers, leaving them with little chance of forming accurate impressions of the undeniably stirring spectacle before them. It was not till the reaction came that they could form a correct appraisement of the standard of play, and the results, if they had been honestly obtained, could not but have astonished the onlooker who had been roused to wild enthusiasm a week or so before. The Star Club, too, in days happily past were not free from the indictment presented here, but their present scheme of play, although lacking in several important respects, is far and away ahead of thosg woeful days. Invercargill felt the reaction on Saturday when the style of play they chose to embrace was shown up in all its weakness under the glare of scientifically directed effort. If the* Marist Club has proved to its defeated opponents that their brute •trength methods are retarding the Rugbygrowth of a province whose people have shown themselves deeply susceptible to anything for the improvement of a game that has almost become a religion, then it has achieved a great deal more than what its victory is worth to a side that will be greatly improved and encouraged by its successful showing. It is the province that matters: the clubs are pawns in the game,, the means to an end. Speed and cleverness in back attack, forwards who will take an intelligent interest in their relationship to the scoring division in the rear, meanwhile tenaceously holding their own in front (they cannot hope for more), these are what Southland must press for before a heavy representative season opens. In hard facts the position is that losses and removals and necessary reliance on veteran players make it too much to hope for anything more than a forward division that will bunch and hold on the lineout, will get tight down to the ground in set scrum, and meet the weight and strength of the powerful forwards that wrought such havoc last season with pace and cleverness of foot in the loose, all the time bent on transferring the attack to the division behind which must set its mind on winning out by superior cleverness and speed of attack. The things that matter are: in front, incessant scrum building, line bunching, and dribbling insisted on in loose play; behind, accurate and quick passing on the run with variations that all aim at the one object which is the keynote of what has been written here. The team as a whole may be reminded of the Ranfurly Shield year and the value of unerring tackling.

(By “Torchy”). THE SECOND GRADE FINAL. The Invercargill team might consider, not without justification, that they were unfortunate in not winning the second grade competition. They certainly kept Pirates on the defensive for the greater part of the game. At the same time it must be said that there were certain grave defects in the Blue team. On paper their team of backs was particularly strong, while the Pirate rearguard had one or two obviously weak links. Marshall, at full-back, was more or less hopeless. In the first place he was far too slow, and in the second place he invariably hesitated. Early in the game he gave Blues a try, which they should never have got, through speculating wildly and kicking the ball behind his own line. Again, Roberts, the Pirate centre, was quite unfitted for his position, and should have been in the forwards. For the whole of the first half he kept Blee starved, arid whenever the ball came to him he plunged into the opposing forwards and was collared down. The Blue backs on the other hand were a strong team individually, but they did not work well together. McCallum, at half, was specially worthy of notice for the smart way in which he got the ball away, and rood up to the spoiling work of the Pirate furwards. Dalgleish, at first five, played a good dashing game, but • he failed to get the ball away promptly when he was crowded and was too frequently tackled in possession. Brown, at centre, was also inclined to be selfish, and failed to give Deaker sufficient opportunities. The latter was perhaps the fastest back' on the ground that day, but the ball seldom reached him. A gratifying feature of the match was the fast following-up by forwards of both sides. The scrum work was also of a high order, and the front row men of each team gave a good exhibition. The hooking was as a rule clean and the ball did not linger in the back rank.

If Pirates had realised as they should have done what the game was going to eevelop into, they would have moved Blee in to centre five minutes after it had started instead of at half-time. When a team that has its back division working on the defensive is playing a weak centre snd a still weaker full-back, trouble is round to arise. The score that was secured by the Blue centre, Brown, almost as soon as the game started, showed this clearly. The Pirate centre fumbled the ball badly in a passing rush, letting Brown through, and the Pirate full-back finished matters by losing his head. WINTON v. INVERCARGILL.

It s fairly evident that the Wednesday competition will resolve itself into a fight between Marist and Star. On their present showings neither Winton nor Invercargill will be in the running. The Blue team is exceptionally light, and includes twelve second grader. Winton have a good pack that plays well in the loose and dribbles well on occasions, but as is usually- the case they invariably kick too hard in moments of excitement. The backs, however, are m a deplorable condition. The full-back Kames might be excepted, considering that he is a member of the Referees’ Association. But the rest are quite incapable of either fielding, handling, or passing the ball with ° f “ eo ” c s r - Blu <* were not m iht h th “V r ‘5^ rCTul ‘ of the might have been different.. They should have allowed the Winton backs to get the ball and then profited by their mistake.-. There was no object in making it a forward game where Winton had every advantage, but on the other hand the Winton back division was quite incapable of defence as was shown more than once during the play. R

The Blue full-back, Sutton, deserves special mention for his play in this match and in the second grade final. His kicking and tackling proved unimpeachable, and the Winton forwards found it very hard to get part him in their loose rushes. His placekicking, however, has gone off lately, and he is not as dependable as he was at the beginning of the season.

The promising Bluff five-eighths, Norris is now playing first five for Blues, and scored a fine try on Wednesday. W. Ejerton, the Winton wing three, is a dangerous scoring man, and a good kick, but did not get many chances on Wednesday.

JUNIOR FOOTBALL. The High School were a much faster combination than Blues on Saturday, and played with more dash, Blues had the advantage in weight both forward and back. For the losers, Gardiner and Thompson were the phk of a fine lot of forwards while Latham played a fast game in the rearguard. Ottery ’w the best back on the ground and fully deserved both his tries. A solid player, Ito plays with great dash throughout. Page md Connelly shone out against their heavier opponents. Thompson, a first-year bey who played on the wing appears a little nervous as yet. In the forwards Sheehan •u;d Graham were a hard-working pair. ’Die goal-kicking on both sides was not i repressive and if High wish to win the l?c?ondary Schools’ Tournament this year they will need to be stronger in this department.

The Star third grade team appear to be experiencing difficulty in getting a full team. Last Saturday they could only muster ten players, while on the previous Saturday six only turned up. On each occasion, however, the gallant few played against full teams with the result a foregone conclusion. Some amusement was created in the Marist and Star third grade fixture, by the encounters of two rival players to whom the spectators applied the names of “David” and “Goliath.’’ "David” a diminutive fifth-grader, who turned out to assist the Marist team and “Goliath” a towering forward on the opposing side. The Marist third grade team possesses two fine players in Hislop and Halpin, a forward and the fullback respectively. Hislop is a small well-built forward of a dashing type—a real worker in the loose and in the scrum. Halpin played well last Saturday, repeatedly picking up under the feet of the Star forwards—a cool player.

EASTERN DISTRICT NOTES

(By “Scrummer.”)

Wednesday’s results:— Senior: Mataura 2, Pioneer 6; Albion 25, Edendale 6. Seconds: Mataura 9, Seaward Downs 5; Pioneer defaulted to Pukerau. Thirds: High School 12, Mataura 3; Albion 36, Pioneer 0. Back play very weak everywhere. O'Kane’s generalship very valuable to Pioneer. Murray played much better than usual, and put in some good runs. His score was worth while. Telfer played a solid defensive game, but is better in the five-eighths line. Pioneer got very little ball from the scrums. Pry de was the best Red forward, doing a lot of useful work. As usual, the Mataura forwards dominated the game. R. Brett was conspicuous all through. J. McAlister leads the Blue pack as well as ever. The Mataura forwards lost one or two good chances through not knowing what to do with the ball when they got it. Whenever they do a good break-away, with little or nothing to stop them, they lose their heads and do something foolish. Maley, at full-back for Mataura, had a lot of work to do, and generally did it well; Duncan, at centre, did not always handle well. Robertson, full-back for Pioneer, has come up from second-grade, and is shaping well. He fields as well as any of them, but his kicking is weak, and often ineffective. Davidson got few chances, but is worth watching. The tackling is still weak. .Sherwood did well in this respect on occasions. The backs require a lot of practice in fielding. Waiting for the bounce is fatal, and a back who cannot take on the full is not worth his place. The E.D.S.U. seven-a-side tournament has been fixed for Wednesday, July 4. It is to be hoped that the fixture will be favoured with'better weather this year. The opinion of the senior clubs of the district was sought by the Sub-union on the question of the Sports Protection League Banner, and there appears to be a strong feeling against the present form of the competition. The Mataura Club, which has every prospect of winning the senior grade this year, states that it will not participate in the Banner matches unless (1) the team’s expenses are paid, and (2) the Sub-union gets a share of the gate takings. There is no doubt that in the past there has been a great deal of dissatisfaction over this competition. The announcement that the takings on Country Day w ill be divided equally'among the Sub-unions is good news, and is an indication of the changed spirit of the Southland Union. Carry On! The position of the teams in the senior competition is now as follows:—Mataura— Played 7, won 7, points 14; Albion—played 7, won 4, drawn 1, points 9; Pioneer— Played 7, won 2, drawn 1, points 5; Edendale—played 7, won 0, points 0. Second grade competition:—Mataura 9 points, Seaward Downs 8, Wyndham 7, Albion 4, Pukerau 2, Pioneer 0.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NOTES.

(By “Guncase.'’)

Last Saturday’s results:—Heddon Bush, 14; Wright’s Bush, 5; Otahuti 8; Calcium, 3. Shield Points.—Heddon Bush, 8; Otahuti, 4; Wright’s Bush, 4; Calcium, 0. Central v. Western—June 30. Refereeing very satisfactory this season. We have to thank Referees’ Association for support. Selectors pleased at the response made by players on June 4. Otahuti backs improving; Sheffelbein on the wing plays well. Heddon Bush look like retaining the Shield. Cairns the most improved forward this season. Galt and Coakley playing as well as ever. Catto deserves a place in the next rep. team.

WESTERN DISTRICT NOTES

(By “Dido.”)

On Saturday, Orawia met and defeated Nightcaps at Orawia by 8 to 0. It was a very fast and interesting game, and very evenly contested. The play was marred to a certain extent by too much talk, mostly done by Nightcaps. This team spoils its play by indulging too much in this bad fault.

Soon after the start of the game, Orawia began to press Nightcaps, who got relief on several occasions by free-kicks. After about 10 minutes’ play Nightcaps forwards took a hand and made a good dash into Orawia 25, where a hard kick spoilt their chance of scoring, and Orawia’s full-back (Cook), gathering the ball on the run, went right into Nightcaps’ 25 before sending to D. Mac Gibbon, then to Chamberlain, who crossed. Soon after kick-off Orawia forwards commenced a loose forward rush, which ended in W. Mac Gibbon scoring well out. Cook goaled. There was no further score, although on several occasions Nightcaps looked like scoring. A splendid passing rush by Orawia, in which forwards and backs took part, ended in T. Chamberlain being pulled backwards when within inches of the line. Time sounded shortly ’after, with play in midfield. Mr R. Wyeth gave a first-class exhibition with the whistle. D. Mac Gibbon improving every game. Cook, D. Mac Gibbon, and T. Chamberkft Nightcaps gasping. “Jimmie” Ryan and J. Wells playing for Orawia. Both played splendid games, both m defence and attack. Otautau defeat Riverton 9—5; another surprise. Competition promises to be very interesting. Orawia defence too good for Nightcaps. Orepuki will require to keep up training. ” ells is a great defensive player. Ryan would get in front of a train if necessary. Town would not have had an easy tiiuo if the selected team had taken the fieM on June 4. Cook unable to play owing to a ricked ankle. Eave Mac Gibbon was suffering from a fractured rib. Billie” Fowle should not be overlooked next time. Callaghan (Riverton) is some full-back. Clark and lerguson (Orepuki) going strong. Nightcaps and Orepuki at Nightcaps on July 14. Don t miss it. Nghtcapa surprised at Orawia. Orawia, 8; Nightcaps, 0. Lucky it wasn’t bigger. Nightcaps players talk too much. Orawia forwards further weakened by loss of G. Findlay, who was severely burnt by exploding petrol and now in hospital. Orawia’s first win. Cook playing full-back last Saturday. This player can fill any back position, but

should be placed on wing three-quarter. Would like to see him with Marist this year. W. Chamberlain is coming on. A good man in the loose. “Billie” Fowle was best forward seen on Saturday. Duggan played his usual dashing game. Jaggers is a good boy getting spoilt. Don’t argue with the ref. Nightcaps first five-eighth was caught evety' time with the ball. Should try and let it/ out. Dixon will be a good man with proficient coaching and training.