LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

TO-I>ArS GAMES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE First Grade. Hornby 10. re do rat S. Sydenham 1-3, Liriwcod 9. Second Grade. « •Sydenham o. Addingtou 3. Third Grade. Addington 16, L-inwood 0. Sdenham B 7. Limvood B 0, Sydenham A 24, Sydenham C 0. HORNBY WIX THE PREMIERSHIP In beautiful football weather, and on grounds that. were in the very, be-st of condition, the concluding round of Senior matches was played this afternoon

Chief interest centred in the game between Federal and Hornby ot St Albans Park, where the lenders of tie l competition (Hornby") had only to play a draw to be adjudged winners of this season's premier honours. In beating Federal by 10 points to c, Hornby secure tho premiership. The issue between Sydenham and Liuwood, on Sydenham Park, was also one of interest, though the result of the game was set ddvrn by followers of the code as a foregone conclusion. As a result of the matches played today the Hornby Seniors win the iru3r?hipFEDERAL v. HORNBY.

Playing with a slight wind advantage bat with"'a watery sun ahead, Federal kept the play in Hornby's territory during the opening stages of a game that was witnessed by several hundreds of interested and excited spectators. The game was played in four spells ot twenty minutes, 'and, so far as t-no finer points of football went, honours rested with Hornby in the first quarter. Notwithstanding that the Federal forwaids secured the, boll from nearly eiery scrum, Hornby held the upper hand, and v.hen the sides crossed over, though no score was registered, the Blacks were showing a worked superiority. Early in the second spell "W. Mitchell (Federal) had: to le&va tlve ground owing to a. n:;sty knock. received through hi? colliding with a Hornby back. Fletcher hero kicked a penalty goal for Federal. When play had progressed about five minute* J. Sanders gathered a. high defensive federal kick. Shaking off two opponents, he raced down the touch-line'and centred with a short kick, which was cleverly fielded by A. CoXj who bounded over unopposed. F. Sanders goaled. At this stag* Mitchell returned to the field. The next development came quickly. Lennox (Hornby) kicked high downiield from half-way, and 1 S. Smith, who followed up fast,, pounced on the* ball as it rolled over the line. F. Sanders again converted. After Federal had had a futile kick at goal from a free kick, half-time came with the score: — Hornby . . . .10 Federal . • 2

Federal scored immediately after the third fioell opened. Porter passed out, to Mitchell from a scrum right in front of the Hornby goal. A long pass to C. Kruse was gathered on the bounce, and, though the latter knocked on bodily, a try was awarded. Fletcher's kick failed, ike ball rebo-uudiiig from the post?. Federal continued to press, and Mitchell. picking up from a, scrum, dodged over. Fl.-: teller's kick at goal again rebounded into iho field. Only two points in arrears, Federal sc-t up a soTies of v assaults,, duriug which excitement ran hisji. Change over came with Hornby on the attack. In :.ho last. &i>ell Federal dominated 'the play, but the Hornby defence was too sound. The game thus ended Hornby . . . .10 Federal .... S Mr J. Stevens was referee. SYDENHAM v. LLWYOOP. Lye*, kicked off, and Lin wood, wit It the assistace of the wind, carried play to the Sydenham twenty-five, a loose rush ending in Hunt scoring at the corner. The try was not. improved. Hodgson obtained from n. passing rush, and n. nice run ended iu liis bbitig stopped on the Greens' line. Matthews obtained possession and scored from the scrum, Smytho failing at goal. A nice bout of parsing by all the fiour.h backs ended in George scoring at the corner flag, no goal resulting.. A rush by the Linwood forwards frustrated the South backs. M'Lnchlan kicking well down field. The eastern suburbs caught Loader in possession, and from a. loose scrum Gearry scored, Hunt just failing to improve. Fa'ulty fielding by the home backs let the G iv..-ns forwards away for Bat em an to score, H'anna failing to improve as half-time sounded. On resuming, \V. King got through and gave a fine opening, which was lost bv O'Connor getting off-side. W. King, Smyth© and G-eorge, wish a.passing bout; reached the Greens half. W. King marked and Srnythe placed a splendid goal. A. Just failed from a penalty with a. sdmiJar eifort. The home backs were fieldinsr bndly and lost several chances. bu» right on the call of time it passing? rush let Hill over, Smyth* converting. Mr Garrard was referee. SECOND GR ADE. Playing on St Albans Park, Sydenham (o) bent. Aldington (S). For thv> winners Foster kicked a penalty goal and Stan Mallard scored a try. Look scored a. try for Addington. Mr Morris was referee. THIRD GRADE. Playing on St Albans Park, Addmgton (16) defeated Linwood (nil). For tlie winners the scorers wi?re:—Hayward (thr?o tries) and J. Fine (one try); Hay ward and Green converted a try en eh. Linwood played only nine men. Mr R. Matson was referee,. Flaying on Lnwood Park', Sydenham B beat Linwood B by 7 points to nil For the winners tile scorers were N. Harvey (try), F. H < :ris and W. Cunningham (penalty goals). Mr A. 11. Brun-den was referee. Sydenham A beat. Sydenham C by 24 points to nil, Ayling (2), Dacorabe, Hodgson. H. Johnson K. Johnstone. scoring tries,, and Dacombe, Ayling and K. Johnstone each converted a try. Mr F. Aylincr wa.s referee.