FOOTBALL.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11951, 3 June 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. There wer9 no less than ah matches set down for decision on Saturday, three being played at Nelson, and three across the Bay. Perfect weather [prevailed, and the grounds were in splendid order. Owing to the late arrival of the steamer at Motueka the third-class match Iluia, v. College, which was playod after the Rival - Riwake Junior Cup fixture, was finished in semi-darkness, two spslls of twenty minutes each being played. At Nelson the chief attraction was the SENIOR CUP fixture .Rival v Huia, played at Trafa'gar Park, where there was only a moderate attendance of specatators. The game resulted in a win for the Rivals by eleven points to nil, all the scoring being done in the first spell The Huias played two men short, but if the backs had played up to the form displayed by the forwards, the visitors would have given the Rivals a very warm time. As it was they more than held their own in the second spell, and had hard luck iv not being awarded a try after a meritorious piece of work by the forwards, the ball being touched down out of bounds. In the early part of the game the Rival backs played with fine combination, the passing and following up being almost perfect. As the game progressed the opposing forwards, with the Huia shipper, spoiled the back play to a large extent. The Rival forwards, with one or two exceptions, were not so good as usual. Shortly after the kick-off a fine passing rush, io^. which .Stapp, Chapman,, Christie and Johss participated, resulted- in the latter gettiDg over. The same player - easily converted. A few minues later the ball was sent out on the other side, and passing between Stapp, Chapman, Louisson md Christie, ended in the latter scoring. Jones made an unsuccessful jffort at goal. The Rivals continued ;o press, and Jones, from a free lick, brought the score up to eleven joints. The Huiaa then livened up, md maintained a stubborn defence mtil the close of the spell. In the racond half both aides missed scoring »n several occasions, chiefly through •vor-ansiety on the part of the forwards, the Huias particularly being infortunate in respect to the inciient referred, to above when Jackson ouched down out of bounds.. The luia forwards got on seme .fine ushes, and generally obtained the all from the scrum, but the backs, kllan excepted, failed to make good se of their opportunities, Stapp, lhapman, Jones and Christie were he best of the Rival backs and [annigan, Brown and Park were the ick of the forwards. The veteran