FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. SECONDARY SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT. (Special to the “ Star. ”) DUNEDIN, August 20. The fact that the secondary schools of the South Island are not allowing the high standard of their football to deteriorate was demonstrated at Carisbrook to-day, when the opening games of the High Schools tournament were played. The first game was between Southland and Timaru, a sparkling exhibition ending in a draw, the scores being 16 all. In the second match Otago and Christchurch were the contesting teams. The visitors were too good for the homo team and they won by 16 points to 9. The draw an the first match has upset arrangements and it has been decided that the team with the best record in the previous tournament, wilj meet the Christchurch team on Thursday, the second day of the tournament. CHRISTCHURCH V. OTAGO. In the first spell of the ChristchurchOtago game the local team had slightly the better of the play, the half-time, whistle going with the score 9 points to 5 in favour of Otago. The home forwards were in fine form and infused great dash into the play. They were about a stone lighter than their opponents. It was mainly due to their efforts that the visitors were kept busily defending through the first spell, and the Christchurch pack was outclassed in the loose. The second spell was marred by rain, which fell continuously and made handling difficult. The Otago pack continued to hold their own, but the weight and pace of the Christchurch backs stood the visitors in good stead. They dominated the game in the second spell entirely, and in spite of a greasy ground, provided a really interesting exhibition. The hojne team made desperate efforts in the last stages of the game, but the defence of the visitors was exceptionally good. Grigg, M’Cleland and Escot were the pick or the .Christchurch backs and Pease was the most notable forward. The Otago backs that stood out were Nicholson, Moloney and Salt, the forwards being a uniformly hard-working bunch. The teams were as follows>■— Christchurch—JEscot; White, Grigg. M’Cleland,; Vincent, Gaskin: Ussher; Pease. Goodhart, Harris. Cloade. Mackenzie, Malcolmson, Fountain, Bowes. Otago—Nicholson; Ibbotson, Moloney, Salt; Miller, Wilson; Garden: Bews, Hunter. Stinson, Drew, Gilray, Chapman, Jolly, AV. G. K. Miller. The first score of the game came late in. the first spell, when Jolly broke away in the centre of the field and passed to Drew, who outpaced the opposition and scored at the corner. Moloney's kick failed. The score was increased to six by a fine penalty goal kicked by Moloney. Otago scored another try before the visitors opened their account. Salt on the wing dashing over at the corner to score an unconverted try. Grigg was responsible for Christchurch’s first try. After being grassed once, he returned in a clever run and hroke clean away, passing to White in time for the latter to score almost, beneath the posts. Vincent converted. At half-time the score was: Otago 9, Christchurch 5. In the second spell Grigg made a clever cut-in and passed to Mackenzie, who transferred to M’Clela.nd, who went over at the corner. Vincent’s kick failed. Otago 9, Christchurch 8. The next try came when M’Cleland secured at his own twenty-five and dashed over to score well out. Vincent again missed the kick. Christchurch 11, Otago 9. Soon after, at the end of a fine passing rush, M'CTeland again got possession and scored a good try, which Escot converted, the ending:— Christchurch' 16, Otago 9. TIMARU v. SOUTHLAND. In the Timaru-Southland match the standard of play was better than in the la,ter match. In the first spell the speedy Timaru backs held the whip hand in spite of the good play of the Southland forwards. The half-time whistle went with the South Canterbury team holding the advantage, the score being 11 points to nil in their favour. There was a marked difference in the game in the second spell. The Southland backs began to see more of the ball and when they got going properly they were too good for the northern team. The pace became too hot for Timaru and it seemed as if the southern team must win. but at the call of time the scores were even. Mitchell, the fourteen-year-old Southland full-back, was outstanding, and Watts and Hawke also played flue games. The forwards worked well throughout. Palmer played in dashing style for the northerners, and King, the wing-forward, was always in the picture. Timaru got their first points when Palmer picked up smartly and dived over, Duke converting. Timaru 5, Southland 0. Two unconverted tries followed very quickly, one by Cox and the other by King, making the score at haJftime: Timaru 11, Southland 0.

The second spell had just begun when Ferbie found an opening and scored a try for .Southland, which Murray converted. Timaru 11, Southland 5. Timur u replied' with a fine try by Laing, •who beat the opposing backs cleverly and scored in a handy position, Duke converting. Timaru 16, Southland 5. southland backs were now getting more of the ball, and it was not long before Watts took a long pass from Smith and scored near the posts, Murray converting. Timaru 16, Southland 10. Hawke and Davidson scored the two unconverted tries for Southland which equalised the scores and time was called before the vigorous attacking of Tliharu could bear fruit. INTER-COLLEGE TOURNEY. AVON BY CHRIST’S COLLEGE. Per Press Association. NELSON, August 20. The inter-Collegiate tournament concluded this afternoon in beautiful weaAVanganui easily accounted for Wellington by 24 to 6. Wanganui played pinch better than on Saturday, although the opposition to-day was not so great. Tries for the winners were scored by Geison (2). Mackenzie (2), and Bethel, and a penalty was kicked by Geison, who also converted three tries. For the losers a try was obtained by Griffiths and a penalty was converted by Te Moona. In the final Nelson met much bigger and heavier opponents in Christ’s College, but put up a splendid fight and did creditably to l*e beaten only by 11 to 6. The local forwards played a fast game, while the tackling of the whole side was deadly and prevented the fast Christ's College backs from making the score much heavier. Christ’s College threw the ball about delightfully and put in some thrilling movements. Bean and Aitken scored tries for the winners. M’Hardy kicked a penalty and Lumsden converted a try. Newman kicked two penalty goals for Nelson. OTAGO TEAM. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN. August 20. The following team lias been selected to represent Otago against Canterbury on Saturday:— Full-back—Stevenson. Three-quarters—M’Clymont, F. Donnelly, Webb. . Five-eighths—Matheson, Bradanovitch • Half-back—Holden. Forwards—More, J. Stew-art, Dunne, SOnntag, J. Donnelly, Findlay, Marslin, Davis. HIGH SCHOOLS TOURNEY. CHRISTCHURCH BEATS OTAGO. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN. August 20. The High Schools Rugby tourney commenced to-day. Timaru and Southland drew, 16 points each, and Christchurch heat Otago by 10 to 9. The tournament will be concluded on Thursday, Chrisethurch meeting Timaru, and Southland meeting OtagoWELUNGTON V. WAIRARAPA. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 20. The following team has been selected to represent Wellington in the match against Wairarapa at Carterton on Wednesday for the Ranfurl.v Shields—-Cum-ming, Mackay, Ramson, Brown, Chaney, Mackenzie, Coman, Porter, Jessup, CoulStoll. BJaeker, J. Shearer, Sly. B. Wilson. O'Regan, Emergencies—-Backet Peter-

son, Pickering; forwards: M’Pherson, Graham. With the exception that. Porter replaces Edgar, who was injured on Saturday. the tea.m is identical with the side that defeated Auckland. THE LEAGUE GAME. THE ENGLISH TEAM. EXHIBITION MATCH AT INA T ERCARGILL. The English Rugby League team will be engaged in an exhibition game against a New Zealand team at Invercargill to-morrow. The third test,, to be played at English Park next Saturday, will be the final match of the tour. The first test was won by New Zealand, and tire second by England. For the third test t.he Englishmen, and those who played for New Zealand In the second test al Dunedin, will arrive in Christchurch on Thursday evening. The Englishmen will stay at the New Railway Hotel and the New Zealanders at the Cafe de Paris. W. Le AVarne, who was stated as likely to be included in the team for the second test, leaves for Invercargill today to take part in the exhibition game. FOURTH GRADE TEAM. The following fourth grade representative team has been selected to play against Akarana (Auckland) on Saturday, at 12.30 p.m., at English Park:— Full-back, J. Moran (Sydenham) ; threequarters, H. Hurrell (Sydenham), T. Baker (Hornby), J. Pearce (Hornby); five-eighths, A. Campbell (Addington), R. Scott (Addington); half-back, P. Burns; forwards, H. Standeven (Hornby), A. M’Gregor (Hornby), J. Crowe (Addington), G, Bruce (Addington), L. M’Gregor (Hornby), J. Faher (Hornby). Emergencies—Backs: M. Mooar (Addington), Falgar (Sydenham); forwards: Scott. (Addington), Jones (Sydenham).