FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13903, 14 May 1909, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION COMPETITIONS

Beautiful weather favoured the games yesterday, and tlie attendance at the .vtuietie Grounds, u Here the CelticPirates match was played, was much larger than usual. lhe takings at the gate amounted to more than i' 9. SENIOR, Pirates I. v. Celtic I. (referee, Mr A. Shirieliltej.—llns match had aroused a good deal of interest, and the best game ot the season resulted. Celtic lUroen.) wuii tlit tots and sent Pirates (iilackj to face the sun. A maru. and liner by Jiradlcy gained hrst advantage tor lirates, hut iveatmg quicKiy started a rush wnicii was going sti'ong until ••becked by Hrauley. The Celts held the ground gained, a couple of penalties assisting them: then fast following placed tne Blacks on the attack, and Bradley had a snap snot at the posts which tailed to h>t the ball. Celtic lust a good chance through pottering, and a mull by Kane saw Bradley miss the goal-line by inches. A free kick gave temporary relief, but the Black forwards itiiewtu the pressure, and from a pretty mark by Bradley Smith put the ball over the bar after ft had struck one or the posts. 5} —0. G. Fitzgerald initiated a good rush for | the Celts, and Smith getting offside, Kane had a shot from near the touchline. The kick • was charged down. Another tine Celtic rush was cleverly stopped by Bradley, and Smith and Mottett shifted play to the other ,•;end. Good forward play, backed up by a nice kick by Darcy, let Celtic out. Campbell and Moflett were soon back again, and-JDavey. missed a pass- from Williams in a scoring position. A penalty kick to Celtic was enhanced by a liner from Darcy and several scrums took place in Pirates 25. Kane found touch /near the corner, but Williams made good with a lucky spec. A rush and counter-rush . resulted in a great rally in mid-ficid, during which Clark injured his sliouider and had to retire. A kicking bout left Celts in the opposing 25, and Pirates narrowly averted trouble just on half time through Moffett taking Hall's ball. Pirates 3—'o. A slight advantage to Celtic was soon reversed by Campbel and Hegarty, the Blacks' position being improved by Rodgcrs and Smith. Indifferent passing by Pirates enabled the defenders to clear their line,, and a lot of kicking slowed up play for a spell. A cross.kick bv Williams for Wall came to nothing, i but a fine dash by Pirates' backs saw Davey pushed out just on the corner flag. A series of scrums ended in another narrow shave for the Greens, Bradley 'getting to within a foot of the coveted line, and from a line-out a minute later the rush of the • day was opened 'up.*. : Smith, Bradley, Williams and Davev handled in* turn, .- nd; the latter scored", a fine try. Smith's attemp't,. though good, -went outside. 6"—o. Williams in the rush sustained a similar injury, to that of Clark and retired. Neat- footwork 'by J.Fitzgerald left-Pirates defending after the dropout,-' . juntil a combined rush of the; Black forwards- and offside againstO'Malley compelled the Greens to force. : This reverse'put theru on their mettle,; and by the agency of a trio of penalty. -i"k* they -invaded Pirates' territory. Niall and Courtney were responsible for some play, and Hnll had to take a hard'mark to stop a.dangerous rush. A. .Celtic forward was warned at this juncture for rough play. Smith, Hegarty and Davey were responsible for another assault on Celtics' goal, a good opportunity being lost through Davey holding on too long. Kirby ran back to midfield and a fast rush took the Green pack to the 25, offside checking them, and a decent rush by Dalton Was nipped by Bradley. Hertnon put in n smart run which was not terminated j until';' near the goal-liiie, and Kane had a resulifcless shot from a free kick. - A loose rush from a line-out with G. Fitzgerald and O'Brien in the van. gained the Greens a stretch of country; then Rodgers slipped through and Ker went on to Celtic's 25, where a free for obstruction was .awarded to Pirates, Smith did not manage to increase the score, and time was sounded immediately. Pirates 6, Celtic 0. • Temuka v. Star (referee, Mr D. M. Rodgers).—This match was .played at Temuka yesterday on Victoria Park grounds, in the presence of a fair number of spectators. The weather was ideal for the game, but the .ground was very slippery on.the pavilion side, which spoiled to a certain extent some of the play which tooK place on that quarter. It must be said that the game was rather disappointing;, now and then the quality vf the play brightened a little, but on the whole it was tame from the spectators' point of view. The score, which was five points in favour of the northern "team, just about represents the difference between the two sides, for there is little doubt that the back division of the black and whites-was at times tooimueh for the visitors. Temuka won the toss and took up their- station' to the north, playing with the sun at their backs. For the first live or ten minutes little resulted, but Star, pressing strongly, kept the home team on the defensive, and once or twice • i,t looked as if a score was almost a certainty for the visitors. T'emuka's defence was always just good enough to avert this, however, and they generally managed to relieve the pressure in time!" 'lt was then'the Blacks' turn to make things lively for .. u ,ir, and they rushed the leather down the field in good style to past half way, where a, lot of give and take play took place. Time'after time a likely passing rush was spoilt by the player who had the ball' at the moment -slipping on tlie greasy surface of the grass and spoiling his chance, but at length Star, who had gradually forced Temuka back, just failed by a fraction, the home team forcing. The next-ten- minutes' play was of an uninteresting character until a long kick and follow up by Temuka brought the Blues into dangerous ground again, and a score by Temuka was averted by a timely line kick by the Star back. Then came the most exciting piece of play of the day; G. Spillane got the ball from a mciee in the Star 25, and keeping his feet well did a dodgy solo run and grounded the ball behind the line. The same player took the kick and very neatly auded the major points. No further score resulted.' and the spell ended Temuka 5, Star nil.

On resuming,' Temuka returned tlio Ikill well down, and line-out play all in Tcinuka's favour followed. Several times did a score seem imminent, hut in : _every ease either the opposing side or an infringement- of the rules stopped anything of note taking place. From a free awarded to Temuka for an infringement, Spillane too a shot at goiil hut missed very hadlv. Star were foreed twice in about ten minutes, and plav was-stopped'for a little.time to !>llmv- a Temuka man (Marshall) to recover from a knock-out, which he did nft<»r vigorous application of the footballer's- usual, remedy, viz., forceful friction applied to "Little Mary."'From then on nothing very exciting happened, both teams were showing signs of wear and tear, and were obviously tiring. About- ten minutes from tn'c call of time, Temuka attacked vigorously but fruitlesslv, and . the. game ended Temuka 5, Star 0. • "JTJNIOK. Athletic I. v. Celtic 11. (referee. Mr A.-Dunn-).—This game was'played on N"6. 2 Athletic Ground. Celtic* had :a. good deal the better of the play, and won by 12 points to 7. The winner's score was made nn of four tries, secured by M. Houlihan, J. Kirby (2), and Leigh. Lyni-h converting" ope. Atbletic's points were all notched hv

Spißaiie,-* who kicked two goals, one fr&.tn a penalty and one a'dropped goal. ./'.Star 11. v. Pirates 11. (referee, Mr W. Raymond).—Pirates began well, and. entered Star's 25 at onee, but a few minutes'" play saw them on the defensive, and" Star kept the upper hand until just on half timo, when Pirates secured two tries in quick succession. The hrst try was obtained by Lock after a dribble by Davey, ami the second was the result of. a good run by liutt. i\ cither was converted. Star had another good spell on the attack on resuming, and Pirates attempting a passing rush under their own goal posts Sehvoocl snapped up the hall and dived over Tor Star. ' No goal was kicked. Pirates gradually worked their wav to nndfield, and a forward rush carried thorn to within striking distance. Lochorc secured possession and scored after a smart run, but again no "oal resulted. Pirates continued to act on tin- offensive.-till time was called, Lochorc adding another try "after a daslring run, and just failing to improve by inches. Pirates 12, Star 3. Temuka 11. beat Pleasant Point 11. by 20 points to nil. Scores for Temuka were made by Woods (2), Day, A nam, Fisher,' Rogers (potted goal), and Woods converted one try. PRESIDENT'S. A match which was to have, been played at Temuka between Temuka and Athletic third-grade teams was forfeited by Temuka. FOURTH GRADE. Timaru IV. could -raise only nine players, and forfeited.to: Zihgarr 111.