FOOTBALL.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11969, 24 June 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S MATCHES, The weather for Saturday's matches was perfect, and the playing grounds vere in splendid order. Keen intterest was taken fin the Senior Cup fixture Eival v. Albion, played at the Park, and the spectators were rewarded for their attendance with a fast and exciting game, which resulted in a win ~Jtov the Rivals by six points to three. It was the first ocuasicn this season that the Albions'have been defeated, and the result of Saturday's match the Senior Uup is a very open competition. A more inconsistent combination of players than the Rivals can scarcely be imagined. In the first match of the season they *ran over the Nelson team, scoring 31 points to six; in their next match against; the the Albions they suffered defeat; a fortnight later they defsated the Huias; playing against the Nelson in the second round they were rather badly beaten by llpoints to nil, and yet on Saturday last they beat a hitherto undefeated team by six " points to nil. The game was hard fought, and well contested from start to finish, and play, especially id the second spell, was very fast and exciting. For the major portion of the first spall the Albion forwards kept play well into Rival territory, but towards the close of t^e spell the Rival backs put the Albions on the* defence, Louiseon almost s coring. a f scrum near the line Stapp dashed over, but lost the ball. A few minutes later, from loose play near the Albion line Walker got over, scoring a good try jus!; at the end of the spell. Jones failed at goal. In the second spell the ball travelled from one end cf the field to the other. Although "the Rivals bad a lead by three points the result was by no means certain, for time after time the Albions swept the field and gave the Rivals an anxious time. The latter's defence was very sound, and they invariaby changed the scene of operations after each attack to Albion quarters, and just before the end of the game Park snapped up the ball and scored from loose play. Jones was again unsuccessful. The Rivals altered their back formation, playing two five-eighths and one wing forward and the arrangement proved wholly satisfactory. The backs all played well, Louieson and Walker showing great improvement on their form in previous matches. Jones, as usual, tackled well, and Neal at full-back, got his side out of difficulties on several occasions cleverly. Stapp played with judgment behind the scrum, and gave bis backs plenty of •" work, besides doing an immense amount himself. Christie also did well, "and on one occasion showed his opponents a clean pair of heels, being .. ultimately stopped by the Albion full-back. Chapman also played a good game, running )and passing well. Of the forwards, Hannigan, Brown. Goodman and Bunker wore the best. For the Albions, Goodman played a sound game at full-back, but with the "exception of F. Nesbitfe, who^ played a hard game at half, the other backs do not call for special mention. The Albion forwards battled hard, and wore better than their opponents, although towards the end of the game they lost the dash that bad characterised their play in the first spell. Galbraith was the pick of a hard-working lot, being always on the ball, while nis line work was nlsobf high order. Stanbridge, Fairey and Whiting also showed up well. Mr Glover refereed.