FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14237, 1 July 1910, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THURSDAY MATCHES. Fine weather favoured the continuation of the ilugby Union competitions, and most of the grounds were in fair order in spite of the rain in the early part of the week. At the Athletic Grounds, Pirateß seniors won from Timaru by C to 3, and Celtic defeated Star by 14 to 0. At Temuka, the homo team vanquished Zingari by 29 to 0.

SENIOR. Pirates I. v. Timaru I. (Referee, Mr A. J. Dunn). —.Pirates won the toss and Timaru had to face the sun. WigIcy mudo the first conspicuous dash, but Sinclair railed to take a high ball and a loose rush went into the Blue's corner. A passing rash sot on foot by Jones came undone, and Hardie got the tonchline outside the 25. Wigley went on to midfield, and marks by Harley and O'Leary kept Timu.ru in a good position, and a. passing bout was finished off by Hardie kicking well into the opposing 25. Coles worked through from the tight, and another essay at passing by Timaru let Pirates right out, nnd they were not checked until AVitholl marked in the Timaru 25. A bad spec, hy Sinclair put the Blues in an awkward position, and .Tones breaking away on the blind side of a scrum transferred to Jackson, who scored in the corner. B—o. Offside against King let the Blues out. past half-way, then Withell by a similar breach gave Jones a shot at goal which failed. Coles made a good opening for his backs, but weak passing wasted it, and O'Leary. found touch near the Blocks' 25. Jones dribbled down field again, and Wall transferred to Hall in a good position; the pass wan miesed and Daljrteieh /•vr-ted the dancer. A high punt by Wall was muddled between Clark an'l Dalgleish, and though Morris secured possession lie dropped the hall, and Wall touched down near the nosts. Jones missed an easy kick, and Pirates led nt half-time, by 6 —o. Timaru shaped much better in the second half, 4ind their forwards started off with a good rush which was followed by a neat solo run by Harley. O'Leary from a mark planted the ball ■ near Pirates' corner flag, and passing j lietween Dalgleish, O'Leary, Harley and Sinclair saw the last-named take a j low pass cleverly, onlv to be tackled by Percival near the line. A spell of even'play was followed lr>-_a stronc attack bv Timaru!, but nothing resulted, find a. Black passing rush into th« Bln« 25 was cut into by Hardie. who kicked •well down the line. After dropping a fiass he recovered find mat th« touchine into the comer. Colen relieved the strain, but Wigley beaded a. rush to near the lino, "nd a, nmurt piece oT back work saw Hardie take an awkward pass from Morris and score a pood try. Morris failed to convert. 6—3. Tin's livcrifd Pirates up again, .jind n mull hv Clark !,->+ them into Timnru's territory, from wher« Jones and Campbell had fruitless shots at goal. Lively piny p.nnnied in the Blues' 25, and Coles gave Hall another chance which he failed to *.a.ke advantage of. After Jones had make a good attempt nt goal from a. loin? drop. Timaru cleared their lino, and nothing of moment happened until the ball rang, except a long-range drop-kick by Morris

which went close to the posts.- Pirates 6, Timaru 8. Celtic v. Star (Referee Mr J. A. Valentine) —Being a close and fairly even game, the match Celtic v. Star, played on No. 2 Athletic Grounds does not merit much description in detail. The only features .that served to liven up the gßme, and make it interesting from a spectator's point of view, were the occasional passing rushes by the Celtic backs and the defensive kicking of two or three of the Star players. Often well-intentioned movements were spoilt by the slippery nature of got within striking distance, well-direc-passes were responsible for straggling half-way play. Celtic at the outset failed to settle down with their usual determination, and though they twice got within atrikng distance, well-direc-ted punta sent them back, hot-foot, to neutral territory. Hertnon was reMpan.siblo tor one* smart effort, but his JoriuKt dash, and the Star vanguard carried the leather cleverly inwi iiult'-wiiy. Aided by the fumbling of several oi the Celtic backs, the Blue and blacks bunched' together, but M. Houlihan met them on the twenty-five lino, and an accurate kick put the leather back field again. Here play of a ragged character followed, numerous scrums and line -outs occurring without appreciable- advantage to either side. About twenty minutes of the spell had gone, when the' Celtio backs swung into action, and_ scored a fine try. Darcy sent the 'oval out swiftly from the scrum, and after W. Houlihan had made a brilliant opening, Hertnon, O'Malley and D. Houlihan received in turn. The last-named raced along the side-line, and crossed in a fair position. W. Houlihan failed to convert. Star answered bravely, but another scrum saw the opposing hacks agaiu in possession until O'MalJey was brought clown heavily. Houston, Rollinson and Gibson, stemmed a j forward rush, but this only served to t put the Celtic pack on their mettle, and a minute late*- Feeley, scored, af tor some good -dribbling. W. Houliliun got tho elevation correctly this time, and sent the ball safely over. 8 —0). Star had changed defence into attack when the gong sounded for half-time. The opening of the second spell was dull, with unvarying forward play, the ' Celtic backs having to show their rush- stopping abilities. Partly as the result of one sweeping Star rush, O'Malley received a bad kick on the side of the head and had to bo assisted off the Held. Tho pace, rather a strenuous one so far, had killed the dash of a few of the Star players, but the rest, the fit ones, stuck gamely to their guns. Celtic were not having such a soft time after all, though they steadily improved their position as the'time went on. A Star forward made a bad infringement, and Hertnon piloted the ball over the bar from the' free-kick. (Celtic 11—0). Repeatedly after this success, Celtic showed up dangerously, but ignorance of a few of the j fine points, and a teridecy to kick bard when right on the defenders' line upset promising opportunities. At last Ben Fitzgerald set out after a twisting high kick and as it rebounded close to Star's posts he dived across with .the ball in his arms. Niall's shot was not a close thing. The only other incident of note to occur before the final gong went, was Keating's ordering off for alleged deliberate striking of Morgan. The game therefore ended with the score—Celtic 14, Star nil.

Temuka I. v. Zingari I. (.Referee, Mr H. H. Eraser). —Started at 3.30 p.m. on Victoria Park, Temuka., on a sodden ground and in very cold weather. Spectators were comparatively few, and not many lady enthusiasts were present. The mateh was remarkable for tlie openness of the whole game, and the merry manner in which it was played. Alter the opening breather, the result was never in doubt, and though on changing ends Temuka led by but 6 to.o, the second spell was a heyday of scoring for them. Temuka kicked off with a low sun on the lino of sight, and Zingari returned to the centre, penned the local men in the pavilion corner, but Grant and Maze got going along the line and shifted play to the Zingari base. From a liot Bcramble near the north-east corner, Spillano got over cleverly. The kick went wide. After out, play hovered about the centre, then from side to side, and opening out and passing freely, Temuka once more swept down and M. Horgan got across and ran behind, a really easy try. Spillane failed from right in front, From a succession of frees Zingari had several shots, but Fortune did not :smile upon Darroch, although the attempts were excellent. A series of passing rushes, among all the forwards, led to halftime. It was noted iip ;to this that the younger club wei'e doing well against the heavy and ' experienced black and white, who were getting the hall almost every time. The second spell opened with fast clean play, a treat to watch, and Grant getting'possession sent it on to Maze, who was collared just on the line and his speculator failed to be taken. For the | minute Zingari cleared, then Maze < gained possession and got a splendid j try. Ted Horgan missed an easy fsoal, j but made all amends a minute later I by drop-kicking a pretty goal. On resuming Teluuka still opened out, and

after another lino bout of passing Joo ; Roddick got across. . No.goal foljowed, but on getting under way again Zin- \ gari could not turn aside' the onward rush, and King got over, Scott placing a' splendid goal. Tins score was quickly followed by Ted Horgan getting over twice in succession, the second time cleverly from a ball on the fly. Just on the close Gliddon from a. dodgy rim was grassed on the line; the bail shot out from the serum which followed, and Maze was over the. line like a flash. Still no more goals and a good-houmoured game ended Tenraka 29 to 0. Thy winners took many liberties, some of which were warranted, i and played with abandon pretty well till through. JUNIOR. Celtio 11. v. Pirates 11. (Referee* "Mr |R. M. Littlejohn).—The play in the j, first spell was of a. fairly even eharacl; ter, and the only score was a try ob},tained by Mitchell (Pirates) as the out. H come of fast following. Celtic mor* j; than evened matters in the second half. jj J. Houlihan landing a goal from a | penalty after the ball had struck a B post, and Kane finishing ur> a passing J rush by scoring a try which Houlihan j converted with a fine kick. Celtic 8, Pirates 3. THIRD GRADE. I Zingari 111. v. Temuka 111. (Referee, Mr R. H. Rockel).—This game was evenly contested, and play was interest- • ing throughout. Cole and Hunt (backs) and Condon (forward) were responsible \ for some good work for Z'ingari. for ■ whom Griffiths (2) and Hutcheson ■ (scored). Zingari 9, Temuka 0. ' FOURTH GRADE. f Celtic IV". v. High School 11. (Rej j feree. Mr A. Shirtcliffe). —This mateh> L i was played on the Rectory Ground, and ' resulted in si. win for Celtic. McGrath ' (2), J. and P. Fitzgerald, and Dennehy ' scored tries. McGrath converting one. ' Celtic 17, High School 0. ' ENGLAND V. SOUTH AFRICA'. * PKss AspocJation-Bv Telec/raph-Copyright \ LONDON, June "29. 5 At Association football, England v. 5 South Africa, the former won by. 3 to f nil.