FOOTBALL NOTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15395, 11 July 1914, Page 11

FOOTBALL NOTES

(By "Side-Line.") | POSITION OF TEAMS. 1 J' '5 "o 5 to Ph a !% <n ■ tL -2 £ o S "5 3 5 S- cS J a pi, fe q Zingari ... 7-6 1 Temuka ... 7 4 3 J J i rates ... 7 3 3 1 43 57 7 Celtic ... • fi 3 3 Star ... / Fine weather greeted the restnnptiou of the competition games on Thursdny. Two important senior fixtures were contested, tho principal attraction, which drew a big crowd out from Timaru, being at Victoria Parle. Temuka, where Zingari and Temuka tried conclusions. This game had a most important bearing on the championship, and the result praetleaJly liands over tho Skinner Cup this season to Zingari. They have deserved it and skipper Davis and his splendid team deserve to bo warmly congratulated. In Timaru, Star and Pirates provided a first class- contest, in fact one of the best seen on the Athletic Grounds this season. It was fast' and open, and most attractive to the onlookers from start to finish. After their sensational defeat of Temuka, and their further win at Star's expense, the Pirates team will receive •more public attention. * The. Temuka game was a. splendid exhibition of Rugby. There was no' sensational work from either of the rearguards, but both forward packs furnished a really brilliant- -exposition of tho game. On tho day's play Zingari deserved to win. In* the first spei'l they were, certa'nly overwhelmed by the opposition, but in the final half their rushes Ayerc simply irresistible, splendid combination ensuring them tho victory. Both teams experienced some ill-luck, in the first spei'l Temuka. and Zingari in the second. A good deal has been said in reference to Fairbrother's try, r.nd technically, the referee erred in awarding it. He however, Jet Temuka away .several times without adhering to" the five yards rule from the throw "in. It was* certainly unfortunate for -Temuka, and they appeared dumbfounded at the decision. Latimer's try was also tho occasion for much comment. It appeared from the grandstand that he was held up, and did not force the ball. On Temuka's side W. Henry's try was open to question. Ho was without doubt off-side, and the score should not have been given. Taken things all in all, in the writer's opinion tho scores should have been, Tgmuka 4, Zingari 3. It was, however, very satisfactory that Zingari came out on top. If ever a team deserved to win they did. Temuka astonished tho majority of tho crowd by tho sensational manner in which they com- ! menced. but condition told in the j second half, and the terrific pace they;! maintained in the earlier stages of the' game told its tale, and tbev simply went to pieces in the se.ocnd half. Much of the credit of Zingari's win is dtie to Latimer, .who after an indifferent display :n the first spell., played brilliantly from thence onward. His work behind ' the scrum -was great, and ho fullv deserved the ovation lie received at the conclusion of ,the game. Commenting .on the Zingari team, Munro at fullback played a- safe game. His linekicking wa s certainly nothing cxtra- . ordinary, but he handled the ball well and made very few mistakes. Hampsrm was fair, but he did not display his accustomed clash. B Moore" at centre, took things too leisurely- and cculd have worked harder. After the interval he showed much better form than in the preceding spe'.l. Davis on the- other wing was .very poor, and could not have been'more indifferent. He did not seem at all anxious to go down to rushes, and ifc appeared jis "if his only desire was to get rid of the. ball at all costs. He played h:'s worst game to date, Allen was onlv fair and Harley was a little better.* The former player was very indifferent in the first spell. Latimer, has alreadv been dealt with. In the forwards th*e two best were Wilson and Hainjyn. Wilson lived up to reputation, and played brilliantly. Hamlyn was inclined to be a little too hard on opponents, but nevertheless was a typical grafter, and moreover a "brainy'"' forward. . Fairbrother, at wing forward, a position which enables a player to shine- out more than a member "of the pack/ played fairlv well. W. Moore was very good, wiiilo Home, who has been one- of the silent members of Zingari's forward division this season, came to light with a really creditable performance. Munro also was extremely good, although on the light side. Meehan and Christian were fair. Christian accomplished more had work than what he usually does. Temuka had Gus Spillane and Oldfield absent. Probably the presence oi these two players would have madeall the difference. Temuka had a very youthful back combination, but they were fairly satisfactory. They made a big mistake in attempting to open mp the game a<; they had no earthly chance against the corresponding back division. The-- forwards were splendid in the first half. Langford was- easily the bsst. Throughout the game, he was easily tho best forward on the field. Burke also was good, although he was inclined to play "hard" football, and it was unnecessary. M. Horgan was fair, although he is not within 'coo-ee" of last year's form. W. Scott was good, while the rest were very fair. In the hacks I) Scott was only fair. He has evidently had his day, and it is easy to understand why ho was omitted iroin the. New Zealand team for Australia. Larcombe on one wing was a. surprise packet, and has never been seen to better advantage. He was very "heady,'-' and made ono or two remarkably clever openings.- Aspinall was very fair up to the time of his ii.juny. Heap who replaced him was scarcely noticeable. W. Henry was the. best back Temuka. had out." Ho was nevertheless wasted on ope wing, and the losers could havo '-• aecom.phs'hea much more, if they had played him nearer the scrum. J. Horgan and Crannitch were fair. Throughout the game, the "barracking" of each team's supporters was very conspu-uous, Zingari in particular' having a big contingent of lusty voiced supporters out from Timaru to spur them on io victory. r Pirates and Star.—Commenting on this game- ilio losers' forwards tiiisilv out-played tho opposition. 'ln the backs btar did much better than in previous games, but thev suffered in comparison with the winning team. Frequently flashes of play were witnessed. Th& scoring was a*.little unusual, Pirates notching no less than ten points by goal kicking. Pilules deserved to win, although the margin in po'nts was not a fair re-flex of the individual play. For the winners Cockroft played superbly, and bad a. wonderful knack, of being wherever he was want<*d.. Ho accomplished the lion's thare of the hard work. Monson was brilliancy itself, but, Hind, the other fiveeighths could have done .-inch better. He is the weak spot at present in the Pirate back division, and it would perhaps be advisable to shift him. His chief fault is hanging on to flic ball 100 long. Wade was good at half, while the two wing threaiuarters, Taylor ar.d Webber, were very far. Burns at full was snlendid. and amply rodenisr.'d himself, after his poor show'ng again.it Zingari. In the forwards, Toniploton played a dashing game, and closely following came M. O'Connor, Dcwlnir.it and

Macdonald. Tho others were fair. Coles did not put in an appearanccf. and unless his attendance is a little r ore frequent, ho will stand a good chance of missing a place in the rep. team. Star for the first time this senson had a representative team on the field. They commenced very promisingly, and at the end of the* first spell were in the lead by one point. The backs which season, havo been .% ctic or two man show, performed very creditably. One in particular, Duncan, played the best back game'on the field, that is saying a lot when such riajers as Gockroft and Monson were participating; in the same game. Duncan was consistency itself, and his n!ay all through oould only ho described as brilliancy in its most proii.-nm'.'ed scl&c. Dickson nt wing three-quarter pla.ved splendidly, and further enhanced the excellent reputation he 3ms made, this season. Star should retain him permanently, at wing three-quarter, as he has the makings of a first-class man in thi- prui+ion. Barrie was excellent, while Mannin, Gibson. Clatkson and Logan were good. In the fi n\ ards Budd Mas out en his own. and went a step further in the direction r< p. honous. Gro".*?s and Guthrie also were splendid. The rest of the -Jack lived up to reputation.