FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18844, 6 April 1931, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

HOLIDAY MATCHES. INTERESTING GAMES ON SATURDAY. Splendid weather prevailed on Saturday for the first football matches of the season. As is usual on Easter | Saturday, teams from Christchurch contested annual fixtures with local clubs, the games attracting a large attendance of the public. The ground was in splendid order. In the first match, Star v. Sydenham, play was of a high standard for the commencement of the season, both teams giving a creditable exhibition. The second match, that between Zingari and Linwood. was not so open, but was keenly contested from start to finish. Celtic and Fairlie played a friendly match on No. 2 ground. STAR (18); SYDENHAM (13). The opening stages of the game were even. Sydenham then moved to the attack, which was frustrated. Star were penalised, but French failed to make use of the advantage. King then set the Star backs moving, but Murray was hemmed in. Star gradually worked down field, where King had an unsuccessful attempt from a penalty. A few minutes later Wells also missed from an easy position. Sydenham were in a favourable position for a time, but Adkins broke through the ruck, transferring to Seaton, who found touch. King again opened up from near the visitors’ line, but Boys’s cross-kick was forced. Play remained in mid-field : for a time. King eventually making an opening which carried play to the visitors’ 25. Sydenham secured from a line-out. Serra giving his backs possession. The ball travelled along the line to W. Brown, who was brought down before going far. The Star forwards, headed by Seaton, broke through from half-way, but G. Brown carried the ball into touch in goal. The Sydenham backs then indulged in a pretty pass- | ing movement, carrying play to the Star line, where a hot tussle ensued. F. ! Britt picked up off the feet of the Star forwards as they broke through, j and sent a long pass to H. Brown, who j outpaced Stewart to touch down in the j corner. French failed to convert: i Sydenham 3 Star o j Sydenham were soon on the move { again, a likely movement being frus- ; trated by Meikle. Star regained the lost territory, chiefly as a result of good j work by the forwards, but a penalty | spoilt a good chance. From a scrum at ] half-way, Seaton dribbled through nicely. The bounce favoured him. and I he side-stepped G. Brown to touch down in a handy position. King added the extra points. Star .. 5 Sydenham 3 | A few minutes later Star staged a i pretty piece of play in which King, Boys, Underhill, Miller, and Underhill again handled. the latter scoring a well-deserved try. King missed with the kick. Star 8 Sydenham 3 Play was in favour of Star for a time, and then L. Brown intercepted a pass, going away with Britt and Hazlehurst in support, the latter finishing off a good rush. He converted his own try. Sydenham 8 Star 8 Sydenham further improved their position a few minutes later, Smith scoring an easy try under the posts for Hazelhurst to convert. The half-time scores were:— Sydenham 13 Star 8 The opening stages of the second half were very even, play for the most part being confined to the centre. Eventually Dr Wells broke through from the

«ftw « tight, but he was unsupported. Play ranged on the visitors’ line, where Crockett was penalised for off-side, but Seaton’s kick dropped short. Sydenham then swept right down field in pretty in and out passing, W. Brown just failing to reach the line, the leather rolling into touch. King then opened up a back movement, but Miller’s kick was fielded by Brown, who found touch at the centre. The best movement of the day was then staged by Star. Opening up from the loose, King sent out to, Meikle on the blind side. The wing centred on being blocked, but Sydenham kicked through. Boys then picked up and threaded his way through several opponents, sending on to Seaton, to Murray, to Miller, who scored near the posts. Meikle converted, making the scores: Star 13 Sydenham 13 Play for a period was confined to Sydenham's line, Dr Wells diving across from a scramble. Meikle converted with a fine kick: Star 18 Sydenham 13 The teams were now beginning to tire, the pace set in the first session having taken a heavy toll. Time was called without further score. Mr J. Feeley was referee. LINWOOD (10); ZINGARI (8). The Linwood backs commenced to open up play in the first few minutes, throwing the ball about in lively fashion. One mpvement penetrated right to the Zingari line, but a faulty pass resulted in a sure try being lost. Zingari. following a penalty, penetrated to the visitors’ territory, but a penalty pulled them up. Linwood cleared to neutral territory, where Whiteford broke through the centre, gaining fully twenty yards. The Reds were not long in working back to the centre, Christmas figuring in a good solo run. The Green forwards set up a determined attack, Herman just failing to get across. The same player again had bad luck in not scoring in the next three minutes. Linwood possessed more combination than their opponents, and play for the most part was confined to Zingari territory. From play in the Red’s 25, Whiteford picked up and crossed in a handy place. Edmonds converted: Linwood 5 Zingari o Within a few minutes the visitors had again scored. Creating a fine opening, McAlister centred nicely, and following up fast, Herman was awarded a touch down in a scramble. Edmonds again converted: Linwood 10 Zingari o Finding themselves on top, the visitors commenced to throw the ball about freely, and for a time Zingari’s defence was sorely tried. The green forwards broke through to the line, but Robinson managed to force in time. Securing from a line-out. Loader broke clean away, but lack of j support saw a fine chance thrown away. Half-time sounded with the I scores: [ Linwood 10 Zingari 0 | Zingari livened up somewhat on resuming, taking play to the Linwood I 25. Picking up in the loose. Ives sent j a long transfer to McKeague, who I cut in and sent back to Ives, who | crossed for a good try. He failed to j add the extra points: Linwood 10 Zingari 3 | Zingari were now holding their own, the forwards playing much better in the loose. The Greens were hardI pressed, but McAlister effected a good save. The Linwood forwards were penalised for coming round a scrum 5 too smartly, but Ives made a poor 1 attempt to goal. Linwood turned defence into attack, but Munro brought ! off a nice save. Fortune fluctuated | rapidly in the next few minutes, first Linwood and then Zingari having the I upper hand. I Linwood attacked strongly, but j Robinson again saved well. Securing wide out, Munro kicked high to the centre. The bounce beat Linwood, and Solomon, picking up, ran in under the posts. Ives converted: Linwood 10 Zingari 8 At this stage Wilson (Linwood) retired injured, being replaced by C. Murray. The Zingari forwards were doing the greater share of the work, and in this session they were superior to the visiting pack. Excitement ran high as the Yellows worked to the visitors’ 25. and time sounded with Zingari fighting hard in the corner to cross. The final scores were:— Linwood 10 Zingari 8 Mr N. Phillips was referee.

CELTIC (11); FAIRLIE (3). The Fairlie forwards started off at a great pace and rushed play to the Celtic line, where B. Buckley snapped up the ball and dived over for an easy try about three minutes after the start of the game. Forrester missed the kick: Fairlie 3 Celtic 0 Celtic then started to wake up, ana there were some fierce scrambles in the Fairlie 25. The score was almost evened when Cole closely followed up a long kick, Black Just beating him for the ball as it rolled over the line. The territorial advantage continued to be with Celtic, and from a scrum on the line P. Roper worked the blind for F Roper to score wide out. Fairbrother converted: Celtic 5 Fairlie 3 Scrambling play followed and halftime found no change in the score. The heavy Farilie pack was pushing the Celtic forwards in the scrum, but the nippy Celtic backs were kicking with judgment and tackling hard. The game was very even and neither side looked much like scoring until with five minutes to go, Kyle crossed at the corner after a passing rush. Fountain missed the kick: Celtic 8 Fairlie 3

Fountain crossed at the corner aftei a passing rush which started from a | scrum on the Fairlie 25. Delury missed the kick. Time was then called and the final score was: Celtic 11 Fairlie 3 Mr D. Johnson was referee. THIRD GRADE GAME. In a third grade game played on No. 2 ground, Zingari beat Star, 9-0. TIMARU OLD BOYS v. CHRISTCHURCH OLD BOYS. The annual matches between the first and second fifteens of the Timaru and Christchurch Old Boys’ Clubs were played in Christchurch on Saturday. In the senior game, Timaru were successful by 11 points to nil, but the junior game was won by Christchurch by 11 points to 9. STAR v. SOUTHERN The following team will represent the Star Football Club against Southern at Waimate on Easter Monday (buses leave Westport Coax Co. at 1 p.m. sharp):—J. Millar, W. Falconer, J. Boyes, K. Parker, N. Ede, A. Meikle, R. Taylor, G. Adkins, J. Grant, A. Provan, G. Underhill. R. Berry. T. , Smith, S. Dewar, G. King, M. Lillico. SPECIAL FOOTBALL BOOT. This season the "O.B.” football boot will be worn more extensively than ever. Players are now alive to the protection afforded by the patent alu- \ minium plate which evenly distributes the pressure of the studs over the whole sole and also keeps the inner sole level and smooth no matter how wet the ground. “O.B.” football boots are also noted for their correct grip of the ankle and instep with just the right , pliability. Reduced price this season 23/6 a pair and worth every penny. If unobtainable in your district write M. : O’Brien and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, for ; i nearest retailer