FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13909, 21 May 1909, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THK COMPKTHIONS. The Rugby I'nii>n competitions were advanced another staj-.e yesterday. In the senior grade Nt.ir and Timaru Iil:iyi-iI a drawn game. I! :.ll ; Tcinuka beat Celtic to 0. ST.N'IORS. Star I. v. Tintaru I. (referee, Mr J. Deans). —Star mailt' the !i r~.t move, but an in!riiigemciit nullified their effort. and line Kicking Ity Main ami () Leary gave Titiiarn an advantage. Titbb shifted |>i:iy liaelc again. and Houston put in a smart run t.i the corner. holding on too long ami being pulled down. J'rn-st dribbled back to midfield. only t:i sic Signall let tile Star pack through again. Bain was I equal to the nci-asi i:. and another ! attack by Star ended in a useless kick forcing Timaru. >tar continued to force the play iinr:i U Leary placed a penalty kick on the chalk mark outside half-way. Good footwork by the Blue forwards t/mk them to Stars' line, but a penalty sent them out. again, and smart marks by O'Leary and Jlanning left honours easy. Smart passing by Holderness and Priest ended in Hardy retailing [Hissession too long, and Timaru were forced by a long kick. O'Leary and Signall made a dash to Star's line, the advantage being lost through illegal scrum work, and a fine o|X'Jiing made bv Hftlderness. O'Leary and l'riest was lost by slowness on the i outride. Houston and Atdd chipping in and gaining halt the tield for Star. Hardy came back again, and an answering rally hy Star's vanguard was cheeked by Signall. Robinson dribbled eut, and Smith Followed to the centre flag, where play still remained after a neat exchange netween the lull backs. Bain and flfttma. Auld put Titiwru on their mettle hy a out in, and the siege was not raised until good following by Ala ben and .Morrison transferred operations to neutral ground once more. O'Leary carried war into the fno'iiy's quarters, and Star were defending on to half-time, Bain missing a shot from a free just before the whistle blew.

Infringements hy Timaru kept them inside their 20 on resuming, anil from a penalty for obstruction Ellis tried his luck at the posts. The kick was charged down, and Rrodrick opened up a rush which ended in Hardy being pushed out near the goal-line. Hardy had a fruitless pot immediately afterwards. Timaru's backs made great efforts to open up the game, without much success, and a fine dribble In Green and Bttdd was looking dangerous when stopped by Withell. Auld took a mark in a nooil position, but Ellis' kick was a poor one. Holderness checked an awkward Star rttsh, and aft-.-r some kicking Hardy and Withell beat Roberts and cleared Timaru's line. Priest and Mahcn cut into some Stai passing, Roberts checking their progress smartly, and a null spell followed. Eventually the lllue forwards invaded Star's quarters, and alter some tight play O'Leary threw right across i'oi \\ ithell, the latter gathered the ball anil raced over lor a good try. O'Leary failed with the kick. 3—(l. Liveh play followed, Star -reaping a big harvest of free kicks, and Timnru throwing away two chances by hard kicking. O'Leary and ithell almost repeatet. their previous performance, the pas; being by foot instead i.f hand, ana Withell was pulled down by Hanna in the nick of time. A series of forward ruslu-s landed Star in Timaru's 25, a hot attack Doing set up on the goal. Hohterness tooK a mark on the rui. with the ball going away and saved an awicward situation, but Priest was not so fortunate in taikng a risk to stop a rush, being penalised right in front. Houston equalised the scores with a coo! kick. A kicking duel foiiowei. the kick off, then Timaru made a determined eltort to secure a win, a passing rush by Holderne-.s, O'Leary, l'riest. Hardy and Signall ending in a centre kick, and the blues were in a likely position. Uhiring off-side h\ .Miuth and \\ ithell saved Star, anu Mayo to half-way as time was signalled. 1 imam 3, ."star 3. leniuKa v. Celtic (Ketei'ce, Mr A. Shu IA-imu) —ill is luateu was tlio onlj

oc.nol* jIKIAuU OIL liUi \iscei uny and a large liumUei ol spectators, .some attracteii no doubt uy luc liucucy, witnessed the piay. t.iiicu piuvvii to he one ol tile oc-st ga.i.vs oi tiie Season so lar. It was at ..rat agreed that the duration of the game .Mioulcl ba two thirty minute ..jM'il.s, as J emuka were very late getting on the held, but subsequently the second spell was lengthened by five nun litis. Celtic elect, d to defend the western goal and the bail was kicked oil at tiv e minutes past four. The score shows how close the play was all through and both teams Mere very evenly matched, though Temuka's back division shone a bit more consistently than did the local men. After the kick-off and return a few minutes even play ensued, when in the home territory G. Spillant marked and then took a shot at goal. The kick was a long and difficult one and Spillane nearly, hut not quite, succeeded in obtaining the first score for his side. When the ball had been in play a minute or so, Celtic marked and almost immediately after Temuka returned the compliment and following up the kick gained a good deal of ground before the ball went out. Some line out play followed not much to either sides advantage, when Celtic, making an onening. took the leather right across the field the rush being lieatlv stopped by Grant who carried the ball right into Celtic's 23 before he was More line out work ensued, Temuka gradually working up into the home territory and a likely chance of a score was stopped in the nick of time by an infringement of the rules by the visitors. Returning the kick Scott, the Tenntka back, found the line with a splendid half way kick. So far the work of the two teams had been of a fairly even character, the visiting pack was lighter than the Celts-on an average, but in spite of this they seemed to get their share of the ball, and it was not until a good deal later on in the game that they showed that they were able to annex the leather nearly every time. Temuka then pressed strongly and after one or two attempts at passing lushes were nipped in the bud. they g"t going in fine style, only t;> fail after gaining seventy or eighty yards. Celtic retaliated and a very dangerous few minutes ensued for the visitors, but one of th" C"'tic players »>i"ked up badly and the Bhi" : ---

on liini- Like ail avalanche, effectually spoiling the home teams chance. This was the first time Tennika's '2o liafl liepn crossed during tlie match. The whistle then blew i'or half iime with no score on either side. A few minutes after resuming Kean. Grant, Smitli and G. Spillane initiated "a splendidly accurate passing rush which eventuated in the last-named crossing the Celtic line amidst loud cheering. Soillane took the kick hut failed to add the major points. Another fine Tpniuka rush was bv an infringen'fnt. and then Celtic •'fit together and rushed the hall up the field but failed to penetrate thevisitors defence. A whole lot of •■•"••iniMc -ii'.fl.ti.- rrvilicV .<iido of the field then took pl-ico and S«»illane had a futile pot. The plav then hncame verv strenuous and exciting. It was not far from time, and f'nltic set, their teeth and plaved up for all they N-ero worth. keeping Te-

muka busily engaged' in defending. The bail was by this time close to the visitors line and timfc and time again it looked as- if a Celtic score was inevitable. Being awarded- a penalty the home team took a pot at goal but Mertnon missed.' and after an intensely hot- liit <it work '! emuka managed to clear their line and then play gravitated to the centre of the '.Hold, and a hot rush by Teninka caused Celtic to force. It.' was now rather dark ,to see the play properly and the whistle Wciir with 110 change in the score. jrxiOßS. Zingari v. Athletics. (Referee. Mr Rodgcrs). —in this game the forwards were very even, but the Zingari backs were too good lor their opponents. A few minutes niter the start Mcllroy erosseil lor the visitors, and Darroeli converted with a line kick. The local pack now workid play to the opposing line, but Darroeli cleared. Shortly after Zingari were awarded a free kick near the goal, and Darroch was again successful. Immediately after resuming the second half, Moore scored front a forward rush. The Athletic forwards now pressed the visitors, and Sullivan crossed the line. Near the finish Zingari broke away from- loose play, and McWhirter scored, Darroch again increasing the score, and the game ended, Zingari 1(>, Athletics 3. Celtic v. Temtika (Referee, Mr A. Dunn). —This game was very, even, and confined to the forwards most of the time. Celts losing the tuss opened up with the sun iii their eyes. , Following up well they kept the ball in the local 2;> lor some tinu-, but the '1 emuka forwards gradually worked them hack. During the first half the play was just the same; the ball going up anil down the field in forward rushes, both back teams hardly touching the ball. During the second half Temuka had slightly the best of the play in the beginning, and missed a couple of good chances. Towards the end, however, Celtic had it all their own wa.v. Headed by 1). Doyle and Leigh, the forwards kept the play on the opposing line till the finish. Four or live times the pack c cosset I. but were brought back for some infringement, and >he game ended in a draw. (ieraldine I. having withdrawn from the first round, Timaru 11. won by default. THIRD GRADE. Zingari 3rd v. Celtic 3rd (Referee, Mr W. Raymond)— These two teams tried conclusions on the Athletic Grounds and after a well fought game Celtic were the winners by 8 points (2 tries, one converted,) to Zingari's nil. Wall and Sugrue scored for Celtic, ipri H"rtnon converted one try. Temuka ITT. won from Pirates Til. hy default, and had their journey to town for nothing. FOURTH GRADE. Timaru IV. v.' Star IV. (referee Mr Moore). —Timaru played three short, and were defeated by 14 to 3. Tries were scored for Star hy Cook ('J), Clarkson, and Latimer, Clarkson converting one try. . Cameron crossed the • line for Timaru. ZiiK'ari 4th v. Celtic 4th (Referee, Mr Allot) —This match was played on the Athletic Grounds and resulted in a walk over for Zingari. When the A'histi;' blew f'ie seoi.s were, /.liigan '2l points. Celtic 5.

A practice of the Pirates will be held at the Stone Stables this evening. All players are requested to he present. Timaru Club teams for 7-aside tournament: —Seniors. A —Priest, Cvilpin, O'Leary, Hardy, Robertson, Smith, Brodriek; B. —B. Withell, Bain, Signall, Sinclair, Howie, J. Withell, W. Maben. Juniors. —Harold, J. Dalgliesh, Blackie, Mason, Bruce, S. Anderson, Boauchamp. Fourths. —J. Anderson, Coxhead, Wood, Burns, Baird, Cameron, Fielding.