SENIOR CUP.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10367, 17 June 1901, Page 2

SENIOR CUP.

WANGANUI (RED) v. KAIERAU (MAROON).

- Saturday turned out a fine day for the winter pastimes and .there was a fair, attendance to witness the above contest. Tho recent rains had made the ground very heavy 'in places, and the backs found considerable difficulty in handling^ttie .ball. The game _was a fairly interesting one, but the.forwards had to -bear the brunt of the fray. The Kaieraus played with the sun in their eyes- during the first spell, and this was a big handicap to them. Wangamii had the best of. the firat spell, and managed to put up 5 points. In the second spell Kaierau had the best of the contest, and towards the end of the spell they gave their opponents -some -very -anxious' 1 times; - Their forwards showed great dash, and had their rearguard been able to take advantage of f the opportunities that were afforded them the result would probably have been different. Wanganui managed to add another 5 points, and Kaierau also placed 5 points to their credit, tho game thns ending in favour of Wanganui by 10 points to 5. Kaierau kicked, off, and Stedman returned to touch at the oentre. Stedman was prominent with a smart run, and Diok, following up well, prevented Bullock from getting in hisf kick, and play was in, Kaierau's 25's. Blythe, however,-- relieved "the pressure by- a timely <kick, 'and a free kick to Kaierau .saw play in the Wanganui territory.Houlden and Butler broke away, and dribbled to darken, who sent the leather out at the centre with an exceptionally lucky- speculation. The maroon forwards now asserted themselves, and carried the oval well into the Wanganui stronghold, but a free kick to the latter enabled them to centre the play. Stedman broke away, and kicked to Clarkin, who made a fine kick into touch within a few yards of the Wanganui goal-line. Conttell relieved with a capital dribble, and the Wanganui forwards, following up well, began to Jook dangerous, but Gordon just managed to save in the* njok of time. R.

McLean intercepted a Wanganui pass, but no one backed him up, and no advantage was gained. Another forward rush by the reds, headed by Staekwood, Bobertshaw and Butler, saw Kaierau defending. Clarkin, however, with, another speculator, sent the oval out near the centre. Again the red forwards dribbled into the maroon's quarters, Collins and Butler being the leaders; Clarkin failed to take the leather, and Butler kicked"' over the line and scored. Robinson kicked a goal. Wanganui 6, Kaireau 0. Give-and-take play followed the kick-off, the hacks exchanging kicks in rapid succession. This monotony was eventually broken by the Kaierau back, who got on a> . very nice., passing rush,, but thegrouiia then gained was lost through off-Side play, and Wanganui,! were attacking. The attack was safely repelled by Blythe and Gordon. Stedman, Robinson, and Dick shifted the scene 6f operations into the Kaireau territory, bnt Clarkin came to the rescue of his side with a well-judged kick into touch. Guscott and Ryan were prominent with a capital dribble to the Wanganui full-back, whose kick rebounded, and play was in Wanganui's 25's. Kaierau had a fine chance of scoring, but missed their opportunity through erratic passing, Le Cren and Bobertshaw headed -a Wanganui -dribble past, tho centre flag, where,' Malohe sccufeU • & mark, and kicked to Lockett, and the latter returning well into the Kaierau 25's. the latter were once more defending. Collins dribbled over the line, but Blythe wsa handy, and managed to score. Murray and Morgan - broke away irom the ruck, with the ball and, being well backed up, carried the oval'into WanganuL territory; but it did not remain long here, thanks to Morse and Butler, who transferred the scene of the encounter to the cenfxo, and half-time was shortly after. cSll.ed: Le Cren sent* theUoyal. going. M the i second -bput, Blythe' returning well past midway. Butler broke away, but hard kicking saw Kaierau forced. Kaierau were forced .again shortly after through the ball rebounding off .Le Cren, who had followed up fast. .The maroons got on one or two nice passing rushes after the kick-out, and invaded the reds' lines, and, Craig failing to take the oval, play was in close proximity to the Wanganui' line. The lat.ter's^ forwards',- -however, cleared their line 'from danger, but the relief was only temporary, as another passing rush by tEe maroofis.very' nearly ended in a score, Alderton just failing to iake" the .oval at the critical moment. TH6 Wangaimi-ites were, however, not yet out of danger, Stfd several scrums were formed within a few yards of their lines, but they always managed to safely beat off the' attacks. Eventually Dick broke away,; and kicked out at the centre. The"- maroons, however, still showed they 'had something left in them, and Malone, Morgan, and J. McLean headed s fine rash, and carried the play well .'past the $5 flag. -A passing rush between- Bullock ana Blythe looked all over a score, but Alderton failed to take Blythe's 'pass, find another chance ,'was •lost.-. The red forwards now lad a say,' and swept down the field into the maroon's • quarters, where Bobinson made a good attempt to pot a goal. The oval was not destined to remain, very long in the maroon's territory, as their forwards came along* at a great rate; but all to no avail, as the Wanganui vanguard retaliated in fine style, Butler and Collins being in the- lead, and' they 'managed to carry" the ball right over the maroon's line; and Butler scored his second try ;. Robinson kicked" a- very neat goal. Wanganui 10, Kaireau nil. The maroons buckled on their armour after the kick- off, '.and invaded their opponents' lines, but the attack was safely repelled. Nothing; daunted, the Kaierau forwards'- again' made a dash, and this 'time they were rewarded, B. McLean scoring from a scrambling rush, and" Blythe safely negotiated the 1 oval between the sticks.' Wanganui 10, Kaierau S. From this out Kaierau had by far the best of the- game and were continually in tho Wanganni' 25's, and the latter had some anxious .moments but they managed, right up '-to the end, to prevent tho maroons from getting over again, and when the--whistle sounded, the scores read— 'Wanganui' 10, Kaierau 5. Had the- maroons showed' the samo dash nil through as they did in the laSfc quarter of an hour they might have been returned 'victors, for tho display of their forwards in the concluding portion of the second bout was Al, tatd carried one's mind back to two or three years ago, when the Kaierau vanguard used. to carry all before them. " Wanganui were without Holdworth's services and Lockettrplayed full in the first bout, Craig filling that position in the concluding* spell. St«dman and ' Bobinson were the pick of the* Tear guard. Dick also put in some good work, especially in following up. The winner's forwards showed much improved form, especially in the loose. Their scrum wore was faulty, however. Butler played a slashing game and was undoubtedly 'the best forward on the ground. Collins was not vexy far behind'him, whilst Le Cren played a real good honest game. Bobertahaw and Houlden were often, nrominenfc in the loose, but the latter is altogether too anxious and has a tendency to play offside.

The Kaieraus 'were without the services of Takarangt >and Tregear, of- the back division, and Campbell was absent • from tho vanguard, / The team, however, included J. and R. McLean, Bell, Malone, and Alderton, all of whom, with the exeepti oir of R. McLean made their first appearance -for the season', and. it was no doubt ' the- inclusion of these players that enabled the., maroons to make auch"> capital display. Clarkin, at full-back, was not up to his- usual form, although some allowance should be made for 'him in the first Hpell on account of the sun. Blythe nnd Bullock were the most prominent of thp rear-guard and the former is fast developing into a first-clasa player. Gordon* put in some effective kicking. Amongst the forwards^, -Malone end R. McLean put in "good work on the wing, although the latter had too much inclination to play on the wrong side. - Gusrott, Ryan, and -Morgan' were the most Prominent in the loose, whilst J. McLean was conspicuous on the- lineont. Mr George Brown, officiated ' aa referee.. •

The only other fixture played was that for the Junior Cup between Mitchell's and Pirate.ll., in which tbe former came out victorious by three points (a penalty goal) to nil. There is a probability of a protest being entered by tbe Pirates, on the ground that the referee allowed' the kicker to handle the ball after disallowing a charge. Forfeits were the order of the dayOld Boys forfeited to T.Y.MJ., Kaierau to Waitotara, and School to- Aramoho — all junior matches. • Tho School m. forfeited to T.Y.M.I. 11. in the third class' contest.

The School also forfeited their game to Warerley in the Senior contest, and the White. Stars were unable to raise a team to play the Pirates, and likewise forfeited.