FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13595, 15 May 1908, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

ENGLISH TEA)! AT IIOBART. • Press Association-Bv Telegraph-Copyright HOBART, May 14. The English Rugby Union team for New Zealand were passengers by the Athenie. They were welcomed by the local Association. A FAIR TACKLE. SYDNEY. May 14. The Rugby League inquired into the injury received by Heniie<*sy in Saturday's nuitch between Australia and New Zealand, and unanimously exonerated Johnston, who was ordered otf the ground, from any blame in the matter.' YESTERDAY'S MATCHES. The rirst round of the *eni<»r competition was completed yesterday, and the other grades were each advanced a stage. The? attendance at the Athletic Ground was about equal to that of the previous week, despite the counter attraction at the Plumpton. In the- first grade> Temuka and Pirate* played » draw—a penalty goal to a try; and Star beat Timaru by u> potted goat to a goal from a mark. The points for the round are as follows: Won. Lost. Drn. Pts. Temuka 2 0 1 5 Pirates .... 2 0 15 Star .-. 12 0 2 Timaru ... 0 3 0 0 Details of the various games are given below. SENIOR. Temafca, 3 points; Pirate?. 3 points. (Referee, Mr G. Strachan.)

Temuka. won the teas and pfayed with a light breeze from the eastern end, and their return of the tick-off went oat at their 25 flag. Cotes brofc* away at once and forced JD. Scott, to kick out at the corner. Darcy got. the leather out to Bradley, and Kirby, tie I atter dropping a pass in front of the poets, Temuka getting out to the 25. A free kick shortly saw the Blacks back near the line, and Waif lest a nice chance through not taking a- high pass from Coles. The last-named quickly made another opening and nearly let Kirby in r and immediately Darcy started another rush, the ball going to Coles and Bradley; the latter shot for goal but missed, and G. Wail following last beat the opposition for pace and scored- Carlton's kick went wide. s—o. Williams got down smartly on the dropout, and kept Pirates outside the half-way, and from some passing Mihaka made a great run for the line, being pushed out at the corner. Pirates were forced. D. Scott tried a shot from a penalty, but the kick was charged, and a lot of scrum work slowed up the game for a* time. A. Scott went to the Blacks' 25, and his brother made a good attempt at goal from a free kick. I'be drop-out left play in midfieid, from where Darcy, Coles and Bradley ran to Temuka's territory; offside against Ker sending them bock. Turner and Rodgers were next gaminest j a the loose, but Pirates iosVfhe ball in a promising boot of passing, W. Scott and Hooper working; out. Coles and Darcy got on another decent rush, but the Temuka pack swept right away till an infringement brought them up. A. Scott and L. Grant put Pirates on the defensive. and Smith headed a rush which got Kane into trouble. Temuka were looking dangerous, till Spiliane lost ground by running back. Pirates were clearing their line, till Turner gave away a free kick for off-side, and G. Spiliane landed a pretty goal from a fair distance. 3—3. Bradley ended a passing rush initiated hv Darcy through getting in front, but another penalty to Temuka gained no ground, neither side making much headway till just on half-time, when Mihaka jot in another strong run. Directly play was resumed, G. Spiliane had another shot at the posts, but F. Wall blocked the kick, and a free to Pirates, followed by a dribble by O'Brien, left Temuka in their 25. and Coke went on to the line, the Pirates.* vanguard following fast, but eventually G. Spiliane got his side out *>f trouble, and Kirby failing to stop a rush headed by Sullivan, Temuka were in a fair way to score- Off-side work lost the advantage, and the leather hung about the centre for a time. Ker came through with the bait, and G. Spiliane started a pussing rush for Temuka. Coles, cut in in great style, and Wall sent tiie oval oat at the corner Kirby. Coles and Bradley made a combined "dash, the lastnamed being thrown out in the corner. After a force by Temuka, Bradley and Wall narrowly missed scoring from a loose dribble, another force being registered. Ker came' back again after* the kick out; then Sullivan nipped into some Pirate, passing and kicked to midftVld. A good kick by Kan** sent Temuka back, and during some hot work Carlton and Bradley had tries at goal, the latter's at- , tempt being a good one. Coles stopped a rash splendidly, and a mark by Darcy kept Temuka penned in. but D. Scott got out of a bad place in tine style. Bradley twice ended likely rushes by getting offside, and a warm rally between Ker and Mihaka, F. Wall and D. Scott left mat-

ten as they were. Fitzgerald and Carlton got to work again, bat coald make no impression on f>. Scott, and the IVmuka vangnard went right to Kane with a. fast rush. Two nsefnl kicks by G. Wall kept them at bay, and good tackling checked several onslaughts by tho Temuka Tear dhisiotu Fitzgerald and Cartton were instrumental in putting Pirates

on the on*cn>i\»> again, and a fine rally took pto»>" rn 'lVmuka's line on <nll «>f time. Pirn Us 3. Tniiuka 5.

Star, 4 points; Timaru, 3 points. (Referee, Mr H. Walker.)

Started on the Caledonian Ground at 3.56 before a very small attendance, and in a cutting wind from off the sea. which made the whole arena terribly cold.

Star kicked otf from the south end. nm\ play settled down in Titnaru 25, where it remained for quite a long spell. At last, Bain cleared the line and Star had to bo very smart in their defence. Scrums v tit numerous until at last play settled in neutral territory. From a penalty Star just saved, and in the following rush, Smith got away very fast, and passed to Auld, who was thrown out at tho corner. From the line out Fraser made the pace very fast and as he was nearing the Star goal kicked to Mollison who fell and lost, the bail. In the scramble among the forwards the ball came out aloft and was marked by O'Leary in front of the Star floats. He took the place kick himself and registered a goal. This piece of Dlav was clever and very smart. Some rather weary play followed, until Smith got a mark near the centre, and taking a shot ; a low-Sight kick ended in Timant forcing. On resuming Star attacked in very strong style, but free kicks and good passim? among the Timaru backs, averted danger. Star still ddermined renewed attack after attack, and Timaru -were aeain forced. Play had hardly been resumed when Star swept down to the corner flag, and the ball getting among their backs from tho line out- Scott got his hands on it and -with a coolness and judgment which did him credit, potted a beautiful goal. Almost immediately the spell ended. It was expected that the »econd spell -would be well worth seeing. With the exception of the I wings the Timaru backs were taking the bail weh\ and the Star were getting it from the scrum while their backs were showing shocking form in handling but tackling very deadly. However, the few onlookers-were disappointed, for the rest of the game was practically confined to the forwards, with intervals'of long kicking, scrums and scrambles on the 100 thai, became wearisome. There were two exciting flashes, Timaru once rushinir down and what looked like a certain score was spoilt by Hertnon fumbling, and Star dribbling along to a finish where Smith picked up but iiad no one to support him and the pass was intercepted. Tho. forwards it must be said worked like demons, with Star having the best of it on attack, and Timaru saving all they could by kicking, all their efforts with elevation being nullified by the strong north-east wind. Star played with 14 men, and a most determined game ended in their favour by 4 to 3, with neither line crossed.

JUNIOR. Zingari J. v. Timaru ll.—(Referee, Mr T. Jordan.) —Tli» game was rendered a trifle slow in the early stages owing to frequent breaches of the rules. E. Darroch was prominent in staving, off attacks by Timarn, but in the last half of the first spell Zingari held the upper hand. Xo score had been registered at half-time. The second spell was much 'brighter, and fur a. while Timaru more than held tbeir own, drawing first blood—a good goal kicked by Darcy from a mark by White.house. R. Darroch equalised the scores almost at- r>nee. scoring a try from a loose rush, bnt hvs brother failed "with the kick. Darcy made another good attempt from a mark, then Zingari tet up a hot attack, and after just failing to cro.*s the line on

two occasions. Mcllrny registered the winning points for tbem from another forward rosh. K. Darroch added the extra points, and time was called with the total—Zingari 8, Tirnaru 3. Celtic 11. v. Pirates ll.—(Referee—Mr Bennett). —Played on the Caledonian Ground, and as the Pirates could only field ten men. Celtic won very easily by 22 to nil. The winners played a very nice game throughout, the pu-ssing at times being so g')od and unselliib that it was a treat to watch. At times the forwards of both teams got so tied up. that the scrambles were very amusing. In the first spell. I\irby got across twice and h'ullivan converted one; of the trier; and kicked a goal from a mark. In the second spell Houlihan got a very pretty try, under tlie bar, and C. Walters neatly converted.

Later on Gas. Bradley and Kirby added a try each, but no conversions followed. It was quqite an afternoon out for Celtic, who practically had no opposition when the Pi rates* forwards were swept away.

Geraldine v. Pleasant Point. Referee- Mr. G. 0 lover.) This latch ought to have been played t 2 p.m. but as the Point team did "not

.itrive trll 3.30, the game had to be taken after the Celtic matd:. and the stt-ond

spell was played in tremi-darkikss. The teams were about equal and a good game was seen In the first .-pel! Washer scored a try for Geraldine, and Bridge a penalty gfial. In the second kSjH.ll Gvialdine kept their visitors on the defensive. I*. Reid scored a try. which Bridgo tike.! bub failed to convert, and the match doxed, Geraldine 9, Pleasant Point 0. THIRD GRADK.

Celtic v. Geraldine. - iß«f<.i...Mr G. Glover.) ThLs match, played at Geraldine yesterdav. was

a rather one: - sided game. Celtic had an advantage in weight, and played a better game throughout. In the first half, free-kicks and line-ouis were common features. O'Kane for Celtic kicked a penalty gf>it. but it was no score, there being a man in front. shortly after Dick

scored a try, O'Konc just mis-ting the conversion. " The spell resulted—Celtic 3, Geraidine 0. In the second spell .Albert and O'Kane each scored a try, neither of which was improved, and the match ended, Celtic 9. Geraidine 0. FOURTH GRADE.

Teuiuka s—Zingaris—Zingari 3.—This match was played at the Saltwater Creek. Grounds, and was a fast one throughout.. After a very hard tussle, Williams (Temuka), just before half time, scored a try, which was converted by Coira. For Zingari Couper placed a goal from a free kick. Titnaru IV. v. Celtic IV.—(Referee— Mr J. Pearce). —This was a willing game, but Celtics showed better form throughout than their opponents, and deserved their 12 points. The following were the scorers—Jubb, Allen, and Burns; the latter also placed a goal.