FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13336, 12 July 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

YESTERDAY'S MATCHES.

The South Canterbury Rugby Union's competitions were continued yesterday. The afternoon was bleak, but the attendance at the two main grounds was good. The senior games were the centre of interest, and speculation was rife as to the final result of the competition, the general opinion beingthat next Thursday's games would result in a tie. Temuka secured a win over Pirates by the narrow margin of 6 points to 3, while Star defeated Timaru by 16 points. The position now stands: Temuka 10 points, Pirates and Star 8 points, and Timaru 6 points. The President's Trophy teams, concluded their first round, and Zingari (who had a bye yesterday) have the lead with 15 points, Waimate 14 points,' and Celtic and Temuka 11 points each, being next. The following are the results of yesterday's play. SENIOR. Temuka I. v. Pirates I. (Referee Mr J. Heiean). —Temuka assumed the lead in the senior competition yesterday, defeating Pirates by two tries to a try. The country team deserved their win, which was achieved mainly through the greater consistency of their forwards, who gave about their best display of the season. \V. Scott stood out from, a very even pack, and D. Horgan was good on the wing. .Twemey was the king-pin of tlie Lack division, and made some good openings, but a great many of them were lost through poor work behind' D. Scott made only one mistake at full-back. Pirates forwards did not make sufficient use *of their weight and dash; they could always manage to get the ball from, the scrums when defending, but never gave their backs a chance of doing likewise when on the attack. They missed R. Rodgers 1 opening up work, and it is a distinct loss to South Canterbury that the player will not be available for representative games. Fitzgerald and Carlton were the best of an uneven lot. The loser's backs played a fine defensive game, but were given no opportunities for attacking. Bradley played another faultless game, his tackling and stopping being splendid; Darcy also was as good as usual. The game was a decided contrast to the last meeting of these teams, and though play was hard and vigorous, the players were never allowed to get beyond control. Temuka played from tbe southern end, and an exchange of kicks put them on the offensive. .With a smart line kick Darcy si lifted play to Temuka's quarters, where he started a good rush, which ended just under the posts. A hard kick forced Temuka. Even play followed till D. Horgan kicked to Pirates 25, and a good passing rush initiated by Twomey was spoilt by Grant. Several scrums followed, and from one of these a nice lot of passing ended in Grant giving Mahaki an easy chance of scoring, andf he got over -near the corner. E. Horgan failed to convert. Close play followed in Pirates 25, but good kicking transformed operations to Temuka's ground. Temuka worked out, but were sent back by a beautiful line kick by Bradley, and from <a> penalty Carlton had a fruitless shot at goal. Coles came back again, but Temuka's pack broke away and were going strong till Bradley got in their way. A free-kick brought relief to Pirates, but the opposing forwards came again, only to see their good work undone by poor passing among the backs, and a strong Pirate rush was only stopped by an infringement. Smart kicking by Davirf kept them busy, then Temuka's backs; got away to Pirate's territory where Bradley intercepted and ran to half-way. Immediately after he cut into another passing rush by Temuka and sent the ball out near their line. Another Temuka forward attack was checked by Davis and the sitell end«*d. Mahaki retired hurt at hall-time, and Temuka were allowed to take another man on. The second spell opened sensationally. Wall followed up smartly from the kick-off and blocked Scott's return, and the ball rebounding he went on and scored at the corner. Carlton's kick hit the post. Temuka then assumed the aggressive, till a passing rush was stopped by Bradley and Davey returned to half-way. D. Horgan feinted through atid looked go«.-l for a. score, but was prettily tackl-'d by Bradley. Wall was penalised for off-side, but made amends by neatly mark tug ;!ie free-kick, and another exchange nf kii-ks brought no advantage to » :thcr side. Then Temuka set up a hot attack, and though checked by nice runs of Darcy they kept up tbf pressure, and from serums Tuomev sent the b.ill out nicely, but E. ll»n:an

huiig on too long each (time and no good was done. A free-kick and an exchange of marks, improved Pirate's position temporarily, but Temuka's vanguard came away again. Twomey continued to send the ball out nicely, bufc the other backs failed to take advantage of their opportunities. The forwards then had a try themselves, and from some scrambling play Roddick scored in a good position. E. Horgan did no good -with the kick. The rest of the game was more ■ even, each side being forced in turn. Temnka< lost some cliances by hard and ill-judged kicking, and Pirates looked like equalising tlio score when off-side play ruined their chance. Two strong Temuka rushes were stopped by Davey; a good Pirate rush was checked by D. Scott; and a force was registered" against each side. Temuka had «i good deal the better of the second half, and the whistle blew with the score standing in. their favour 6—3. • Star I. v. Timaru I. (Referee—ilr C. F. _ Collins) —The touch-lines at the Athletic Grounds were crowded with spectators for this match, which though somewhat one-sided was most exciting at times. Star kicked-off ,defending the western goal, and by sharp following up prevented Hertnon getting his kick in. This gave Star an advantage.: the game commencing almost within Timaru's territory. ■Timaru forced them back a little, and from, a scrum, J. TSudd got down itato Timaru's territory. Star gained a freekick in a very good position but Auld's kick was tipped, and taken by Priest who found the' line well up the "field. Marks were exchanged and from a scrum at the 25, Star rushed down to Timaru's line. AnoQier scrum w.is ordered here and Star's forwards sent the ball out to Tubb who dashed for the line but was picked up before he reached it. A free-kick gave temporarily relief, a- poor kick finding touch on the wrong side of the 25, aud Star drove Timaru back again. -Then a mark enabled Timaru to get into neutral territory, .only to fall back once more after a. few minutes play near the 25. Two or three scrums in which Star showed a veiy apparent advantage, were followed by strong dashes for the line by the Blue and Black backs, who were unable to break down the opposition. Timaru then broke away ,but Griffiths kicked into touch well down the line. Timaru once more succeeded in relieving the siege, and for several minutes play hovered between half-way and Timaru's 25, Star finally charging again. Scott stopped this attack by marking, the return.kick \rent behind and Timaru forced. Soon after resuming Star were penalised .but a knock-on by Timaru equalised this advantage play returning to the 25. Timaru began to work up towards Star territory, .but an infringement lost what little ground had been gained., and Star were soon well into their 25. The pres.nire was eased by a mark securer! by Hertnon, an exchange of kicks being succeeded by a scrum about fifteen yards out. Star's hookers served them in good stead, and Hunt dashed for the line, but lost tlio ball to Lister who marked. His kick was a iioor attempt. St;ir were driven back, and after a further scries of scrums, a Timaru rush took play out of tlio danger zone into neutral territory. Star replied with a determined rush, and Timaru were only saved by a free kick right on their line. A mark stopped another dash, and from the line out Star got possession, and sent the leather out to Clark, but Priest stopped forward progress. Timaru, thus started, charged up the field, only to ba immediately driven back. Once more an infringement by Star gave relief. A pretty exhibition of passing took play back to Timaru's territory, Lawson being thrown out. A free kick enabled Timaru to reach half-way, but the Star attack returned the scene- of activities to the Tiniaru quarter, when a lucky kick sent the ball out well up the line. A free kick and a mark by Manning assisted Star on their way :tn Timaru's line, and from a scrum close down. Tubb and Ellis rushed for the line, and Ellis rcored. Roddick's unsuccessful kick closed the spell, with the score 3 points in favour of Star. During the whole of tliis spell Star had been on the attack, and Timaru only reached half wav by occasional dashes. Star made good use of "their backs*, to their great advantage, while Timaru's game was mainly forward. Star's consistent attack throughout the spell, thoropglilv deserved the points :.;c----ctired on the (nil of time. Til:* second sjK-Il opened with scrums a I. mid-livid, and Star began to work up the li-.!d. to bo stopped by a. Timaru mark. Star rushed anil some mat passing bv Thoma.s, Budd, lloddick and Auld ended in Auld scoring

between the posts, thi:co (uiniii ck, after play commenced Ellis converted with a neat kick, Timaru next got a fret kick ne<u- half way, and Coker made a good bub unsuccessful kir-k t»t goal. A smart run by AuM assisted by a bit of neat dribbling by Manning, took play to half way. Timuru got back to half way, and then rushed, but Coker lost the ball at the crucial moment lloddick's kick-oif was- missed by Scolt, Heitncin secured a : mark a moment later, and Timaru rushed' lo the 25, and gained a kick. (Joker's luck was out, and Griffiths forced: Another spell of even play gWe 'Liinnru it free kick, and Coker took a shot ■with .the ball on the half way line: A splendid kick just missed by inches: A rush by Roddick pttt Timaru on the defensive, and after a few minutes' plav Wtar kicked up the. field. Hunt followed up, but Timaru forced in the nick of .time. From a scrum at the 25, Roddick. Tiibb, Husband and Griffiths tarried play well up the field, and from another scrum the .same combination overcame Timaru's defence, and Roddick scored between the. posts, Ellis adding the additional points. Star returned to the attack, and Griffiths made a good though unsuccessful attempt to pot a goal. From a subsequent scrum Lawson got right away, and passed to. Husband on the line, the latter scoring. A spell of even play ensued, this being broken up by a rush by Priest and Boys, •whose attempt was frustrated by a neat line kick jbv Tubb. From this on to the end of the spell, about ten minutes, Star kept up a sharp attack, and though Timaru succeeded in getting away now and again, no further score resulted, Star leaving the field responsible for the biggest score in a 'senior game this reason—l 6 points to nil. JUNIOR. Temuka v. Celtic (Referre, Mr R. Cuthbert). —In the hrst spell play was very even, and just on the close SpilLane (Te-. muka) potted a goal. la- the second spell, the play was excellent. Celtic got a. mark and E. Sullivan kicked a very good goal. Later on Gillespie got across for Temuka and a- goal Ivas registered from the try. Temuka won by 9 to 3. Star v. Geraldine (Referee, Mr .T. Deans). —Star went out to Geraldine. In the first spell O'Connor, R. Lawson, and L. Coira scored tries for Geraldine. Two tries were also gained by the home team iu the second spell, that by P. O'Connor being excellent. The game ended—Gcriildine 14, Star 0. Timaru 11. v. Pleasant Point I. (Referee Mr D. M. Itodgers).—The High School grounds were allotted to this fixture, and Timaru -winning the toss, elected to play down-hill. Throughout the first spell they had a decided advantage, but succeeded in getting through Point's defence on one occasion only, ■when Stracliey scored. Anderson converted with a neat kick. During the second spell Timaru, playing up-hill, maintained an advantage throughout ,and though .severed, chances of scoring were lost by both sides, no further points -were secured, Timaru winning by 5 points to nil. PRESIDENT'S TROPHY. . Temuka 111. v. Geraldine 11. (Referee, Mr Cook). —Temuka travelled to Geraldine, ;uid, a veiy even game resulted throughout. Half time was called with no score, and no advantage to either side, shortly after resuming Surridge (Temuka) succeeded in crossing the line, and though Geraldine made a strong fight they failed to equalise the points, Temuka winning by 3 points to nil. Timaru High School I. v. Timaru 111. (Referee, Mr J. Thompson).—This game was played on the mam field of the Athletic Grounds, preceding the senior game. High School secured an easy win over Timaru, who attempted'to win with only nine men. Tries were secured by Dalgliesh (2), Maze. (2), Warring, Serpell, and Eraser, one each ,six of these , being converted, -while two penalty goals added a further six points, leaving High School victors by 39 points to nil. Wa.imate 11. v. Celtic 11. (Referee/ Mr O'Callagkian).—Celtic journeyed to Waimate to play this fixture, and met defeat at the hands of the southern team by 12 points to nil. Waimate had a slight advantage in point of -weight, but Celtics kept the game comparatively even and some interesting play was witnessed. Forwards and -backs on both sides divided the play fairly evenly between them. Brown "was responsible for Waimate's points, none of the tries being converted. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. Press Associatioj-By Telegraph-Copyright , SYDNEY. July 11. The Warrimoo, with the New Zealand footballers, arrived at 5 o'clock this morning. The s.s. Warrimoo experienced stormy conditions during the first two days of the voyage, and throughout the trip had to battle against, head winds. The team suffered considerably from seasickness, all but one keeping their berths for the first day. Only two were, sufficiently recovered to" get about on the second -day, and some were about for the first time only yesterday. One or two are rather weak from the effects of sickness, otherwise all landed in good condition. , There was a large gathering at the official reception of the team at the Rugby Union rooms .at noon. The president of the Union was in the chair, and speeches complimentary to the visitors' prowess were made. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 11. The Now Zealand Rugby Union lias undertaken to guarantee the Wellington Union against any loss it may be occasioned through preventing Mr Baskiville the organiser of the professional team from entering any' football grounds under the Union's jurisdiction.