FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13312, 14 June 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

SOUTH CANTERBURY COMPETITIONS; The matches in thu Sooth Canterbury Rugbv Union'* competitions were continued yesterday. 'll* afternoon was dr> though dulV, for the early match*, **<■ rain set in during th* later gam*, tl» grounds very slippery and bnlL, ahedreorr" afternoon also affected -the attendances "considerably. Following are details of the play : SENIOR. . Temuka I. v. Pirates I. (Referee. Mr C. F. Collins).—-More than usual interest was evinced in the second meeting of thes*teams, and despite the cold weather a good number of persons paid for admission. Temuka were rather late in taking_ the field, and the game did not start till Z.oo. the last quarter of an hours* play, taking place in semi-darkness. The game ended in a well-deserved victory for Pirates by two tries to a penalty goal, and this win places them in the (lead for the compitition The first spell was pretty even, but in the second half the following up of the Pirates forwards and the fine handling of their backs told. The game was a very hanl one. and at times unnecessary vigour was imparted into it- (one; or two players distinguishing themselves by "dealing" with opponents after the- bull was out of play). Piay was interrupted nine times to allow men to recover from knock-outs, and a wc-rd of caution from the referee would not have been out of place r.t times. Rodgers, Maben; Carlton and Fitzgerald were the most prominent of a good set of forwards, and Va'.l got- in -a good kick a. times. Bradley wit* the. best back on the ground, 'and Darty. Davey and Davis 'played brilliantlv, their tackling and fielding being of a high order. W. Rodger, was as- safe as usual \V. Scott, Melvir and D. Horgan were the pick of the Temuka vanguard, and K. Korgan was a unod deal the best of their back division Roberts and Grant did a lot- of useful work, but Mahaki was mnrt prominen* for hi* obstructive*propensities. He made oir-j- or two; attempts to score, but th* tackling was too sound to give him a chance. Temuka kicked off from the- eastern goal, and for a time play hoveted at tli-i centre Sutherland prevented Mahaki from gettingin a kick, and Pirates attacked till a free kick gave relief to Tcm=ka. Th.r. Mab.-?. got away, and the country team were hard pressed." Fromi a scrum in front of their goal Rodgers slipped over and scored within u few minutes of -ths start. Bradley faUeil badly with th- kick. Pirate ■_ still. kept, the upper band, and a nice b.t ot passing between Darcy. Coles and Davis took the ball to Temuka's line. A penalty to Temuka sent play to the 25. and Scott and Horgan transferred operations to halfway. The game n<ra.in settled in Temukaterritory, but the inevitable, penalty kick enabled"them to get to tlie other end. Mahaki was penalised for tripping, but tnr free lacks to Temuka kept Pirates on the defensive. Som- watm work followed in front'of Pirates goal, and from a fn.e kk-k ia a fair position E.Horgan equalised th- 1 scores xx-itb a nice kick. 3— l>. Fiom the kick-off Pirates returned to the aUaek. and BradFev had a fruitless pot. Temuka .r«,t a -ood" rush under way. but Bradley £tt in and kicked to the oilier end. and acain an infringement lust- Pirates their advantage. Cailton had a shot at goal from near half-way, but did no good, am! Horgan and Scott took the oval back t<tli;> centre where it remained till Drrcy with a smart kick s.nt it out in Temuka s 25. Mahaki was once more penalised for < bstruction, and Dawy had a :diot but failed to increase the score, and half-tinr was called with tin- totals even.—Pirate:; assumed the aggie.sTve on resuming. I>.:t the Temuka forwards soon returned_ tr hult'-v.-.iv. 'I hen Horgan ::t:.rted a p:tvsi:.:T judi. but Bradley intercepted prettily, ai.d h .iting most ot the opposing team kicked riuhi- uii to Temuka's liu.-. W. I'.vy followed u[> and gathering in the h;d' scored a splendid try. Carlton made a good but futile attempt to convert. T--muka attacked again with S.ott in the lead, but Davis ;ind Bradley stav«-d <.if jh.- attack with go««l kicks. Temuka's backs got on a fine rush, and Booney vwistbrown out just in the nick of time. i>muka kept up the jiressnre for a time, till ihivey got away to mid-field. Mahaki m-xt livi-ned up the game with a stio.ig rfin. but was finely tn.-ki-d by Bradley, and a Temuka ru>h ended in tlu* home f"i,rn fnrrw'r. Temuka had p. b't th- b-tte-«rf the [-lav at thi> >tage. but Pirate- v.;r. guard setl?d down to work and Maben

headed a great- rush and must have .scored easily but for a piece or tlelibeiate obstruction which the bad light evidentiy ob-eured from the referee. Temuka came awav agan, though only momentarily, Rodger;; geuting away fioni a scrum and Sutherland carrying the ball well into their territory. Rodgers made a dash and was only stopped in time; and a free kick once moiv proved Temuka's salvation. Melvir and Scott got away to Pirates 25, and Davey returned to half-way. Then Carlton sent the ball out in the corner, and Temuka had a lnisy few minutes, till bad passing by the opposition kt them away to the centre, and a free kick forced Pirates. From this stage the game wasplayed in a very bad light. From a penidty E. Horgan had a try at goal,- but the kick was- charged down, and Pirates- forwards went right- to the other end, to ba once more checked by an infringement. They came again, howevrr, and Temuka were still hard pressed when the whistle blew, leaving Pirates victors by s—o. Timaru I. v.? Star I. (Referee, Mr A. Cuthbtrt). —Tliis match fediowed the junior gam- on the Caledonian Grounds, and the latter was late in starting, and cha seniors wv.iv also somewhat slow in getting to work,.it was after half-past thre-j btlore they commenced. About half-way through the first spell a light misty rain began io fall, and later grew heavier, so that the final r.tages of the game were played almost in darkness. The rain also 'mad- the field fairly slippery, and the ball grt-iwy, but this did not seem to seriously affect- the play on -either side. The attendance was somewhat small, but thosewho were present, weiv treated to a most exciting game, Timaru winning their match for th„' fiist tima this season by 5 to ?, a scort.- very different from the-ix-oj-i of 15 to nil of th.ir first. mt./Jngwith Star. Star kicked off towards tha nortlrrn goal, and from the return, at once took the ball'down to the li.re. They made a couple of strong rashes from sciuna, which Timaru succeeded in stopping. Star had thus got Timaru into a. vary tight corner, when the ,ball was kicked behind and Priest forced. Following the kick off the Blacks were penalised, •■ and Roddick took a shot at goal from the half way line, but th-j ball fell some yards short. This again forced Timaru back to their own ijuarter, but two fr-;-c- kicks and a mark in quick succession afforded relief for the time being. Star continued ;u force Timaru, and a few minutes of tight work ended in a scrum, from which Timaru worked up to about half way. A short cf scrum work in this, locality ended in a fres kick for Star. Prieit took the ball from the kick, and found tho line about half way, where another 1 seiuru put the ball into the hands of Av.ld, who relied to the 25 line, before Iw was collared. Another scrum followed this-, and Star kicked down the field, Burns marking. From this advantage, Timaru began vo work up the field, and gained a five kick- about torty yards out. O'Leary took a, shot at goal, but a good kick just missed and Star forced. Play hovered about midfiekl for some lime, until Timaru began to work up tha field again, and ih?. 1 backs made a splendid rush for the line, t every man handling it. while Burns who ! ran round and took the ball from the wing, I was grassid just- at the corner by LawI son. 'limaru were, however, driven back from this advantageous position, but rush- | ed back again. The ball was kicked av.ay from the pack, and the Star back markers were -slow in picking up, and Brodrick, Mollison and Murraj; rushed in, and Murray scored a quite unexpected try. O'Leary kicked a good goal, Timaru 5, Star nil. Star livened up at this reverse, but overeagemtss resulted in a force, down. After an exchange of kicks, Timaru had worked well up the. field, and scrums and line-outs in Star's quarter followed. The Bluesgradually forced tlu-m back, but Timaru recovered, and the spell ended with play about midfielil. From the kick-off Star i ushe.l right up to the line, and a score I seemed certain, but Timaru replied with a corresponding rush, and worked back to I half way. Star again rushed up the field. I and a scrum was ordered right in front or tlit- posts. Timaiu were again equal to the uL-c.-iMon. and carried play away \ from th<- dangerous area by a good kick. S Star set- up rushes from a couple of sub- ; : rqu-Mit scrum-;, but were unable to gain much ground by them. Their back.? again made things warm for 'Timaru. and a spell of fast work culminated in a force. Timaru got down to half way. whence Star again rusliid. and were penalised at the 25. the free kick being followed by a mark by Timaru about half way. Timrmi were slowly driven back, and Star gained a free ki.-k for off" side in the serum. Mayo and Auld charged up the line. but. failed to trf' aero---. Star h"ld their oppon.nl> on tiie d. tVnsiw for some minutes, th;- Blacks making a good fight in a suc-

cession of scrums in frontt of ilio goal, and b-Mng imallv relieved by u tore- from a kick behind. Tiinai-i then assumed <>!- (ensive tactics and had the ball in *-"-' vicinity of Stars 25 for some time. Star made an attempt to break away, but rlmrvv&h was stopped by Burns finding the- hu« iu excellent style from a difficult- portion. A few minutes of play at. midiield preceded: a stroutr Tush bv Star, followed in turn bv a free, kick "for the Blues about the quarter line-. Roddick made an attempt atgoal but failed. .Soon afterwards they rushed again,-and D. Clark burst through the pack, .and scored close to the pouw. 1-llis' kick at goal was .a poor attempt, Timaru 5, Star 3. . Star continued the at- • tack, but Timaru bv sound kicking, marking, and free kicks for Star's breaches, stopped any further'score, the game end-, ing, Timaru 5 points, Star-3. ■* JUNIORS. Geraldine I. v. Pirates 11. (Referee, Mill. Walker).—Geraldine arriving late the game was shortened to two 15 minute spells. Geraldine- kicked off and immediately set up an attack. . Pirates rallied for a while, but Geraldine proved too stioil", bringing the ball back to'the Piup a fine passing rush, ending in Wood scoring, the- kick at goal failing, halt time 'being called soon after. The .second spell opened with some very fast open play on both siilus, neither side having an advantage. Mulling on -ilia part of ,Hrat-s k-* Wood secure the ball, and after a good run from half-way he scored the second trv for GVraldine, Jameson adding the major points. From the- kick-off Pirate", made great efforts, to -score, but the Geraldine defence proved too strong, i-iuites . were still attacking when the whistle sounded—Geraldine 8, Pirates 0. Celtic-I. v. Star 11. Weferee, Mr HO. Bennetts).—This gam* was-flayed on the Caledonian Grounds, Star kicking oi- at t'bout- 2.15, with one. man shoi,, wlaie Celtic's full ttam included four emergencies. Celtic defended the northern goal, and from the kick off were preyed back to their own quarter after a >pell of tough line work. They thai broke away, and Star marked. Celtic *tt wreral passing rushes but fumbling among their backs, and Rood, defensive play on the part ot their opponents prevented any score. From a scrum about the 25, the Celtic backs got away again, and all participated-in a fine bit of. passing, which was rendered abortive bv a pots forward close to the line Immediately afterwards Star carried over and from the, resultant- arum Wren cot through about half way Irom ih» corner. A few minutes of up and down plav ended in a dead ball, and, fctar marking "shortly afterwards, worked up

to half wav. Thfv were then penalised, but H man" in froi.t !«pt play in the same vicinhv. Star, 'by hard fighting, reacted the 25 line, and gained a fres kick It. Houston made a good shot, but failed at. goal and Celtic forced. Star continued th- 'attack, and when within about ten yards of the line lost a good chance by kicking behind, and Kirby forced.' .Uitic to break down Star's at rack, and a lino kick took the ball down, to within fifteen yards of tha line. From tha lineout Star's forwards got lb? ball, but Ultic crainsd possvaiion and dribbled through, J. Fitzgerald touching clown. The kick at goal was again unsuccessful. A thort period of fairly even }>lay dosed the spell. Celtic eomrni-i.ced the second spell b? marking the- return from then" kicK off, and then rushect through to the posts, but. lost the ball, and Star forced. Celtic continued the attack, and Star had to force down three- times within a few minutes. They they got down to Otitic iiae, when a line-kick relisved the position. The Gresrs then earri-d the ball right rp the field, but again lost possesion at tha las' 1 , moment, and Star forced. After give and take piay, Star finally got the ball, end Marsh took it to the 25, where h* pa-serl to Wotton, and the latter scored. Thr> remainder of the- snell .was occupied by fruitless rushes by the Greens, and closed just as Star had forced than back to their own territory, the score being, Celtic 6 points. Star 3 point:--. Pleasant Point I. v. Timaru 11. (Referee,,Mr Halstead). —Timaru journeyed to Pleasant Point to play this match and found the horn.? team too .strong for tht'us. A good game of a fairly even character, v itli the onus' of the play on the forwards for thu greater part of die tints- resulted, Booth and Gib.-.on scoring a try each for Pleasiint Point, and Hilton one for Timaru. all attempts; at goal being un.v.:cct:;.i'ul. Ihe game ended in favour of Pka-.-i.nt Point by 6 puii/te to Timaru's 3. After the match, tho Timaru team v.-tre in a most hospitable manner by the Pleasant Point Club, who provided th-m. M-r.h a good tea, and afterwards entertained them at a smoke concert, the kindness bang much appreciated by the visitois.

PBKSIDKNTS. Celtic 11. v. Pirates ITI. (Referee, Mr J. Thomson).—Celtic w-a\s much too fatt and weightv, unci at times show-.d far better combination than th-:-ir opponents, winning bv 26 to nil. In the tirfrt- spell were s."orc-d bv O'Connor (2), Jennings and Alberts an -the result of good parsing rushes between Houlihan, Lynch and Alberts, but none, wtr-s converted. - In tha second half two irif-s were awarded -to Celtic as the result of palpable mistakes by tlie referee, one being cimvtivid. A third tiv was rfco-iiL-ic-d bv O'Connor, who ciuigln the uppoa-.ion capping. 1. Boyle and Warring weio the Ue-t or the n. irae..-:.; team. Cenic backs gavd a mcci • exposition of football, and their forwards alway.s overmatched their opponents. A meeting of the Mackenzie Sub-Union will be" held at Irairhe. to-morrow week, when some, geneial business will be gone through. • The fixture Albury v. Ciicklewoon, which was set down for last Saturday, was po.-tpolled owing to the inability of the Albury club to gather a team. The match has not fallen through, but will b-? played at an earlv date. The following will represent Cricklewood against Fairlie, at Fairiie :D. O'Neill, S. Styles, J. Corbett, S. Nixon, C. Climo, A. McDonald, A- Mcßeath, G- McKay, A. McKay, M. O'Connor, D. O'Connor, Jv Bray,"W. Kennedy, A. Major, B. Wi'.ght, junr Emergencies, A. Curtis, J. Christensen, A. Corbett, R. Nel.-ou. The following will lepresait Fairlie : J. King, B. Jack. G. O'Dovvd. H. Manulon, J. Carroll, Kelman, J. Gilniour, G. Walton, 'l. Burnett. P. Beaton, \Y. L. Hosking, R. Gallagh.r. J. Harnett, L. Z. Spurden, H. Jack-. Emergencie:-;—S. G. Hall, and C. King. THK AUS'iRALIAN TOUR. Per Press Association. WivLLINGTON, June 13. The X--w Zoalaiul Rugby Union has np])ointe.l Mr l-i.igar YV'ylie manager of ihe New Zealand t.un I o iw Australia. Messrs Galbniiih urea-.-iiuvi- of th- Union) and Wvlie will rei)re.3ent- th? Union at- the CoulViMice in Sydney of Auslrulasian I'nions when a new ajriwnient will I). 1 drawn up. II was dec-id d\n -ii!ow v fibers of the tram os per day ; aeh travelling allowance. If possible a maleh will b.' arranged for July 6'h th ■ New Zealand team and Wellington province.