FOOTBALL.

Southland Times, Issue 18970, 18 June 1923, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

NEW SATURDAY COMPETITION OPENS. CONDITIONS AGAINST GOOD PLAY, j PIRATES AND BLUES WIN. The new week-end competition was inaugurated on* Saturday under depressing conditions. The afternoon was cold and chilly and the grounds very heavy after the rain. There was a small attendance at i Rugby Park, where Pirates defeated Waikiwi after an interesting contest, in which some good play was seen on occasions, despite the slippery state of ground and ball. The game was a pretty even one, the vigour and dash of the big Waikiwi pack being neutralised by the good combination of the Pirate backs. Pirates were lucky to win by the margin they did, as the movement producing the first score was started by an offside player and another was made possible by the Waikiwi full back being obstructed as he went to get the ball. At Bluff, Invercargill defeated Bluff by nine points to six after a solid game, in which a large number of penalty kicks were given. Bluff went in for spoiling tactics against the Blue backs, who showed improved combination, despite the unfavourable state of ground and ball. PIRATES (91 v. WAIKIWI (3). Black and Gold. Red and Black. Pirates—Backs: Stevenson; McEwen, Gilmour, Train; Hazlett, Preston; Johnson ; forwards: Smith, Thomas; Cockroft, Johnston, Archer; Watson, Kingsland ; Ashley. Waikiwi—Backs: Boraman; Cowan, Cross, McKenzie; Jenkins, Dick; Blee; forwards: Croad, McGill; Richardson. Rua, White; Melhop, W. Clark; Edginton. Waikiwi kicked off, facing north into the sun. There was no wind. A bout of long range kicking followed the kick off, the advantage going to Waikiwi. A dribbling rush, headed by Kingsland, put Pirates on attack, but Boraman saved twice ■with marks. Pirates continued the pressure and Gilmour took a mark some distance outside the Kiwi 25, but the shot at goal went wide. White and Richardson relieved Waikiwi with a good dribbling rush. Working the open and short side with passing runs, Pirates regained the ground and Waikiwi were penalised near their 25 line, but McEwen's kick went outside. Pirates continued the attack and, from a scrum inside the 25, Johnson passed out on the short side to Preston, to Prain, who nearly sent Preston across with a return pass. Richardson relieved with a long kick, but a passing rush, with Gilmour and Hazlett prominent, returned play to the Kiwi 25. A free kick for offside play gave McEwen a shot at goal from the 25 line, but the kick, after hitting the post, went outside for Boraman to secure. The fullback ran out and punted to half-way, but Pirates rallied and returned to the 25, where Preston had a shot from a penalty, which went outside. A well placed cross-over kick by Johnston enabled the Pirate forwards to secure and carry on to a good position, where they heeled to the half, who, however, was too slow in getting the ball away and a forward pass pulled up the movement. A powerful kick by Richardson sent Waikiwi to the Pirate 25, but a free kick against Edginton for offside play relieved Pirates, enabling them to work back to the Red and. Black 25, where McEwen had a shot from a penalty, but was unable to get the heavy ball to rise and Waikiwi cleared. Bunching well, the Kiwi pack transferred play from one end of the paddock to the other in solid ground rushes. In the twenty-five a Kiwi passing rush broke down, enabling Pirates to clear to midfield, where the Red and Black forwards again rallied and took the ball back to the Pirates 25. In forward play Watson broke clear and hoisted a big kick downfield. A brilliant following run and tackle by Gilmour caught Boraman near his own 25 before he could clear aiyfe gave Pirates the advantage of a good attacking position, but Waikiwi rallied promptly and play hung in midfield until half-time, which came a minute or two later.

The Waikiwi pack dashed into the fray in great style from the kick off and forced their way to the posts, but the heel back to Blee was too slow, resulting in the half being swamped as soon as he apt the ball, and Johnston, Watson and Kingsland headed a clearing rush to midfield. Solid forward rallies followed and then a Pirate forward, who was offside, started a long dribbling rush which took play from one end to the other, Ashley finishing off the movement by picking up and running over for a try near the posts. Gilmour took the kick, and as he was starting to run, a Waikiwi man charged. The kick went wide and the referee rightly awarded another, which missed the posts also. Pirates 3, Waikiwi nil. Play settled in midfield and then ' a loose rush by the Pirate forwards travelled across to the north-west corner, where Watson passed out of the ruck to Haslett, who crossed for a score wide. Stevenson’s kick went outside. Pirates 6, Waikiwi nil. The suburbanites rallied and White broke away to the Pirate 25 flag, but his efforts were neutralised a little later by a break from a line out by Archer. Pirates looked dangerous in a passing run, but a scrum for mishandling stopped the movement. White, Edginton and Richardson broke away in midfield, but an infringement by Pirates pulled the play up for White to take a shot at goal. It was a good kick, but the distance was too far and Gilmour secured and punted past quarter way. In a midfield scramble, Preston received and cut through, but hung on too long and lost a great chance. However, the Pirate forwards took advantage of the opening and aground kick bounced into the twenty-five. Boraman was interfered with as he went to clear and McEwen fielded the ball and galloped across unopposed. His kick, from a good position, went outside. Pirates 9, Waikiwi nil. The kick off brought little relief to Waikiwi, the Pirate forwards breaking away from midfield, McEwen and Kingsland handling near the line for the latter to cross, but a five-yard scrum relieved Waikiwi and enabled them to clear to midfield. Cross broke away and put in a great run, dodging severa[ opponents, until he got within a yard or two of the line, where he passed to Edginton. The latter, however, was tackled by McEwen and both sides rallied on the line. Waikiwi heeler!, but Gilmour intercepted an overhead transfer and ran clear, passing to Prain, who cleared to midfield. Pirates pressed on to the Waikiwi line, but the defenders bunched and relieved and then Edginton broke away, White dashing in to take charge and carry play to within a few yards of the Pirate line, where Stevenson went down and saved. In loose play in the 25, Pirates were penalised and Richardson goaled. Pirates 9, Waikiwi 3. Pirates secured from a line out past half-way and all to McEwen handled, the latter putting in a good dash, but Boraman saved with a force. A fine bout of in and out passing between Gilmour and Hazlett was pulled up when a score looked certain by an offside pass, and the game returned to midfield, where little of further moment occurred till the final whistle blew, leaving Pirates winners by 9 points (three unconverted tries/ to 3 points (a penalty goal). Bro. Anastasius controlled the game. INVERCARGILL (9i. v. BLUFF (6/ Blue and Black. Red and White. Invercargill—Backs: Cheyne; Kenwood, Lopdell, Davidson; Johnstone, Dalgleish, McCallum; forwards: Rice, Wilcox; Todd, Burt, Leckie; Deaker. Bluff—Backs: Swale; Craig, Soper, Finnerty; Ford, R. Harris, Crawford; forwards: Budd, Gilroy; Tall, Murphy, McKenzie; W. Harris, Cooper; Long. Bluff forwards took charge from the start and took play to the Blue twenty-five, where a penalty was awarded to the home side. Swale failed with the kick. Bluff forwards attacked, headed by Tall, but Lopdell relieved well, and bad handling by the Bluff backs kt Blues through. John-

stone narrowly missed goaling from a pen- ! alty. Budd and Gilroy headed a passing rush into the Blue twenty-five, but their backs lost the advantage. From a scrum in from of their own line Bluff were penalised for offside play and Johnstone goaled a fine penalty. Bluff forwards carried the I play back to their opponents’ twenty-five, j but hard kicking enabled Cheyne to clear. Bluff were again penalised for offside play and Johnstone narrowly missed goaling another penalty. Play hovered round halfway for some minutes, Blues getting the ball from the line out, but spoiling work by Budd prevented them from doing anything I with it. A hard forward rush by Long and Budd saw Blues in difficulties and they forced twice in quick succession. From a scrum the ball went to Ford, who dived for the line. A scramble ensued, resulting in another force down. From the twenty-five kick McCallum secured and sent his backs away, but Lopdell was collared in possession and Ford and Soper came through with a fine dribbling rush. Cheyne forced. Rice dribbled through from the kick off and Soper was penalised for offside play. Johnstone missed a long kick. Half-time sounded with Blues still attacking. Blues started the second spell by attacking strongly, but their backs could not handle the greasy bail. Tall and Long came through with a good dribbling rush, but Cheyne sent them back with a good kick. Bluff forwards continued to attack and, from a scrum near the corner, Long secured and dashed across. Swale missed with the kick. Bluff 3, Invercargill 3. A fine passing rush by the Blue backs put Bluff on the defensive. Blues were awarded a penalty, and McCallum missed with a fairly easy kick. Bluff were penalised for lying on the ball and Johnstone goaled. Invercargill 6, Bluff 3. Bluff forwards came away well and Blues wore penalised for obstruction near the corner. Budd narrowly missed with the kick. Craig put in a good run down the side line, but was collared. Blues were compelled to force. Blue forwards attacked and the referee awarded a doubtful penalty for lying on the ball. Lopdell missed an easy kick and Bluff forced. From the kick off Ford secured and dashed down the line, beating Kenwood with a short punt. Swale and Soper dribbled across, the latter scoring. Swale failed with the kick. Bluff 6, Invercargill 6. Blues made a strong effort to score, but Bluff kept the play close and McCallum was unable to get his backs away. From a line out five yards from their own goal the Bluff forwards were caught napping. Kenwood threw in short to Rice, who sent the ball back smartly. Kenwood scored at the corner. Rice failed with the kick. Invercargill 9, Bluff 6. Time sounded immediately after. Mr J. Dey controlled the game. SECOND GRADE. WOODEN!) (6) v. PIRATES (6). Red and Blue Black and Gold. Woodend—Backs: R. McCallum ; Bathgate, P. Glozier, S. Glozier; H. Duston, M. Lilley; Jennings; forwards: Sutherland, G. Lilley; Gibbs, H. Lilley, F. Dus- { ton; Ferguson, M. McCallum. Pirates—Backs: Dykes; Moyle, Boyd, Burtenshha-w; Pay, Mills; Thomas; forwards : Roberts, Bull; Irving, Marshall, McStay; McCallum, Galt; Vial. Considering the state of the ground and ball some good play was seen at times in the match, although for the most part the forwards dominated the situation. In the first spell Dykes kicked two good penalty goals for Pirates, making the score 6 to nil at half-time. , Woodend fßit considerable keenness and energy into their game after the interval . and passing by M. Dilley and W. Lilley enabled the latter to cross for a try, which was not converted. Then G. Lilley gave P. i Glozier a pass in a good position and the latter, who had been playing well; equalised the scores with a second try. It was not ednverted. Both sides rallied and play went up and down the ground at a fast pace, but the scores were unchanged at the finish of a drawn game. Mr J. Durham controlled the game.

Star defaulted to Makarewa at Biggar .Street. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. A clean, sporting exhibition of football was given in the Bluff and High School match on the High School ground. Bluff could not make up a full team and relied on some fourth-graders to help them. From the outset High took play down to the Bluff line where Connelly secured from a scrum and a passing rush ensued but Ottrey knocked on. A prolonged bout of kicking ended in Sherriffs taking a penalty for the school team but he tripped before reaching the ball. High again attacked, Geddes being prominent in two solo dashes, the second of which met with its reward. Graham failed with an easy kick. High were now realising theeir great advantage they possessed in speed and began throwing the ball about in fine style; play which was soon rewarded by Harrington outpacing the opposition and running round to score between the posts. The kick failed. Shortly afterwards Murray “rabbited” over the line, but this touch down was disallowed. Shortly afterwards High again scored through Harrington. This time Sherriffs converted. After a long spell of defensive tactics Bluff attacked. A penalty failed and the High full-back spoiled a promising forward rush. Bluff lost confidence and High secured two tries in succession through Geddes and Page. Neither were converted, making the halftime score 17 to nil. * i Bluff resumed with more confidence and for a long time play was fairly even, Williamson, Cross and Campbell appearing to advantage in the Bluff forwards. But the superior combination of the High team nullified their good individual play, and High again scored with an unconverted try by Harrington. Before long Ottrey added to the score with a fine penalty. Then unexpectedly McQuarrie broke through from half-way and scored for Bluff. Williamson failed with the kick. With renewed confidence Bluff took up the attack and Vella put in a fine run to add to the Bluff score. Phillipeon converted a fine goal from a long way out. Bluff were now keener and strove hard to add to their scoring account, but despite good forward play, High took up the offensive by -resuming their passing tactics. After a good run Geddes passed to Thompson who scored well out. Ottrey was again successful with the kick. Play ended with the scores 28 to 8 in favour of High. Mr T. Henry controlled the game. THIRD GRADE. Invercargill defaulted to Southern. FOURTH GRADE. Invercargill defeated High School on the latter’s ground. At the end of the first s[>ell Blues led by 9 points to 3, the result of penalties by Ward and Law and a try by Shields for the victors and a try by McCurdy for the School team. In the second half Blues continued to press strongly and piled up the points, the game ending to their advantage by 20 points to 6. Tries were secured by Philpotts, Frampton and Millan while Ward converted one. Play throughout was marked by flashes of good individual effort and both teams should greatly improve with coaching. On the Blue side Frampton played a clever game while McCurdy worked hard for the opposing team. Mr T. McCarroll was the refereed. CENTRAL DISTRICT MATCHES. Heddon Bush defeated Calcium on Saturday after a good hard game on the latter’s ground by 14 points to nil. Tries were scored by Cairns, and Forde, who also converted a try and kicked a penalty goal. The Heddon Bush backs were the deciding factor in the game. The Heddon Bush forwards also preserved an advantage in the first spell, but the home pack rallied in fine style in the second half and in the last ten minutes went close to scoring on several occasions, but the bad handling of their backs proved too severe |

a handicap. The Heddon Bush backs played splendidly. Mr J. E. Winsloe was the referee. Wright’s Bush defeated Otahuti by 5 points to 3. Mr G. Withers was the referee. IN OTHER CENTRES. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 16. Petone 10 beat Marist 6. Athletic 9 beat Oriental 6. Poneke 21 beat Wellington 3. Old Boys drew with Berhampore 13. Varsity 28 beat Hutt 6. CHRISTCHURCH, June 16. Marists 21 beat Varsity 5. Old Boys 35 beat Albion 4. Merrivale 21 beat Linwood 8. Christchurch 21 beat Sydenham-Lyttel-ton 0. DUNEDIN, June 16. Alhambra 6 drew with Zingari 6. University A 31 beat Dunedin 3. University B 33 beat Union 11. Southern 8 beat Pirates 5. Kfcikorai 51 beat Taieri Rovers nil. TIMARU, June 17. Zingari 17. beat Celtic 3. Old Boys 30, beat Star 6. Waihi 8, beat Temuka 0. AUCKLAND, June 17. Marists 11 beat Grammar School 0. Grafton 6 beat University 3. Ponsonby 27 beat Newton 5. College Rifles 38 beat Eden 3. Shore 11 beat Suburbs 0. WELLINGTON v. TARANAKI. WELLINGTON. June 16. The following Wellington team has been selected to play at Hawera:—Backs— Walters, Faber, Svenson, Hickling, F. Tilyard, M. Nicholls, H. E. jNicholls; forwards —Calcinai, Rogers, Pringle, Thomas (’Varsity), Mcßae. Moffitt, Osborn, Swan. Emergencies—D. Nicholls, Thomas (Petone). ENGLISH AND N.Z. UNIONS. ALLEGATIONS OF STRAINED RELATE S. DENIAL BY MR DEAN. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, June 17. Replying to comments in the English press alleging strained relati' ,'s between the English Rugby Union and the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the latter body, when questioned by your representative made the following statement: “So far as this Union's relatix. s with the English Rugby Union are concerned, there is not the slightest justification for saying that they are in any way ‘strained.’ We do feel that the time has arrived when there should be a conference between representatives of all the different territories where the Rugby game is played in order to give a full con-' eidferation to any amendments to the laws of the game that may be proposed and in order to preserve, as far as possible, uniformity of ruling and interpretation for the Rugby game wherever it is played. The Rugby Union was constituted for the government of Rugby football in England when the game was unknown in othter parts of the British Empire or in other countries. Now the game i sof international importance and an occasional meeting of all parts concerned would undoubtedly go to remove any misunderstanding that there may be. Furthermore, much good may arise out of such a conference, apart from the most important factor of obtaining and for a lltime maintaining throughout the Rugby world entire uniformity of rule and ruling.” MAORIS BEATEN. CLOSE AND BRILLIANT GAME. ALLEGATIONS OF ROUGH PLAY. SYDNEY, June 16. (Received June 17, 5.5 p.m.) Fifteen thousand people witnessed the first test between the Maoris and New South Wales rugby teams. After a brilliant exposition, the home team, won by 27 to 23. The game was marked by many regrettable instances of roughness in which the Maoris were the chief offenders. The game from the outset was very fast, New South Wales leading at half time by 13 to 10. The Maoris played with renewed dash in the second spell and carried the game to New South Wales territory, but the local defence enabled them to withstand the attacks. Notwithstanding the big scores the game was one of the most brilliant of Rugby Union displays seen in Sydney for a long tjme. Tries for the visitors were obtained by Gemmell, Pot aka (two), Walker and Keeps and Twireia converted four. For New South Wales, Nothling got three penalty goals, Mingay three goals from tries, Raymond, Sheehan, Grossman and Elliott tries.

Mr T. Parata declined to comment on the match, but said that some of the referee’s rulings were altogether foreign to him and his men. • THE SECOND TEST. WIN FOR NEW ZEALAND. SYDNEY, June 16. (Received June 17, 5.5 p.m.) New Zealand defeated Australia in the second test by 3 goals to 2, Campbell net- . ting all three for the victors. The first half was not a scientific exhibition of the Association code, the ball being too much in the air. At the interval New Zealand led by 1 to nil. The second spell was evenly contested. To the delight of 12,000 spectators Leonard equalised, but Campbell immediately responded with a fine shot from loose play in front of the goal mouth. From more scrambling play Gilmore brought the scores level a second time, but Campbell once again rose to the occasion and found the net. The second spell was fast and determined, but New Zealand’s win was due to Campbell’s wonderful opportunism, though the whole team in this spell gave an exhibition well night faultless. As the match was played on the Cricket Ground, it is estimated that a large number of spectators of other codes were present. 1110 officials hope that the display will be effective from a propaganda,, standpoint. LEAGUE FOOTBALL CHRISTCHURCH, June 16. Addington 28 beat Linwood 10. Sydenham 9 beat Hornby 0. Kaiapai 10 beat Woolaton 0. WELLINGTON June 16. Country 23 beat Town 12. AUCKLAND, June 17. Marists 15 beat City 5. Newton 23 beat Richmond 9. Ponsonby 13 beat Devonport 5. SOCCER. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 16. Watersiders 1 beat Diamond 0. Welgasco 1 drew with Marist 1. Karori 4 beat Y.M.C.A. 3. Hospital 5 beat Thistle 0. Brooklyn 1 drew with South Wellington 1. Swifts 0 drew with Y.M.C.A. 0. AUCKLAND. June 17. Brotherhood 3 beat Shore 0. Harbour Board 4 beat Ponsonby 2. Northcote 3 beat. Y.M.C.A. 2. CHRISTCHURCH, June 16. Lyttelton 4 beat Villa 2. St. Albans 4 beat Thistle 1. Nomads 6 beat Ashburton U Sunnyside 8 beat Rangers 1. , TIMARU, June 17. Rangers 5 drew with Hearts 5. Rovers 4 beat Watersiders 3.