Football.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3875, 18 May 1906, Page 3

Football.

(by scrum half). FIRST CUP FIXTURES. EXCELSIOR V. WOODVILLE. The first championship fixtures were got off on Wednesday. The local senior match was between Excelsior and Woodville, which resulted in a win for the home team by 3to ml. Woodville won the tose, and elected to pl»y at the western end of the ground with the sun at their backs. From the kick-off Excelsiors ran the ball into Woodville territory, and for about ten minutes kept their opponents on tbe defensive. The ■plendid work of Boyd and Walker, however, saved tbe line, and c\eulually broke the opposition, play moving further down the field. A number of scrums gave little advantage to either side, the packs being about even in weight. Pritchard and Crawford were booking splendidly, but Wilson was stopped from getting the ball away by the clever tactics of the Excelsior wing, who got round the scrum in fine style. 'Within ten minutes of tbe finish of the first half, from a line out, Crawford secured tbe ball and carried it over tbe line a few inches from tbe corner flag. Henry took the kick, but missed by a few inches. Nothing of note occurred till the whistle sounded half-time.

Giles sot the ball in motion for Woodville, and the black and whites were straight away in trouble, the home team serving up particularly hot stuff. Only for the line-kicking of Drink water, who was a tower of strength to his side, Woodville would have been home several times. From a loose pack, Giles, Crawford, Herlihy and Ebbett rushed down the field with the ball, but were stopped from scoring by the proverbial hair’s breadth. From the kickoff Woodville were speedily on the attack again, and from a loose rush Crawford got over the line and grounded the ball. He was recalled, however, for an infringement of the rules, Shortly after this, Excelsiors were penalised for off-side play. Boyd took the kick and registered a poster. Tbe Excelsiors at this stage made desperate efforts to tarry play away from their 25, and once succeeded in running play up to Woodville line. Bartlett made a fine sun, but was collared by Woodville’s full-back. The Excelsiors were kept on the defensive until time was called. * * * *

Henry, at full-back, played a good game, and his line-kicking was all that -tould be desired. Boyd and Walker were the most prominent of the local backs, and the forwards all played up to form. Play was principally confined to the forwards, and in this division Woodville had all the best of it. The basks missed several splendid chances of scoring through not pushing the attack. Mr Dwyer was an impartial and efficient referee. WOODVILLE JUNIOBS V. PAHIATUA. The first of the junior fixtures for the local team was played at Pabiatua on Wednesday.' The game was of a very even nature throughout, and raised very little excitement or enthusiasm. The slay was mostly scrum and line work. The backs gave a disappointing display, bet this was probably owing to the slippery nature of the ball. The game •nded'in a victory for Woodville by 5 to nil. The irv secured by McDonald in the first spell was a feature of the game, He secured the ball at the half-way flag, i and facing round four or five of his op- i penents, who made desperate efforts to j Damp him, got borne in a very pretty ( position. McDonald took the kick him- i ■sit, and added the major points. Wood- t ville was within an ace of scoring on another occasion, but the pass was misjudged and a sure try lost. ( Ellice Humbling, O'Brien and Bright- i well were the pick of the local forwards, ; end McDonald and Burlace played best in the backs. 1 should like to say a word in reference to the local wingforward, F. McCormick. He was repeatedly off-side during the whole of the game, and his team suffered in consequence. I should suggest to tho selection committee that they play him in the pack. Mr Carston efficiently refereed. i * * * Dannevirke v. Pahiatpa. The Pabiatua seniors proved victor- . ions in their match against Dannevirke, the latter team showing a sad lack of combination. The scores were s(a goal from a try) to 8 (a try). Mangatainoka v. Dannevirke. This junior match ended in the disastrous defeat of the Dannevirke team by 16 to 5- The home team ran over their opponepts, but there is this to be laid: that the Mangatainoka team should be classified as a senior team. *•••■■*. * v * I have been requested to say that the Management Committee of the Woodville Clnb intend taking vigorous steps to deal with barracking and hooting from onlookers. Several young fellows at Wednesday’s match seemed to take it as their privilege to insult the {players, and make nasty remarks regardng the play. I might name one or two if I desired, but will give them another •banco.