FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 118, 29 May 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

[Notes by “ The Whistle.”] - BANNER PINT GRES. Senior. May 30 : City v. West End June 1 : Kaiti v. Huia J I'.VIOll. Juno 1 : West End v. Huia June 8 : City v. West End June 15 : Kaiti v. Huia Lovers of the game of Rugby football are to bo well provided with entertainment this week. The Rugby Union, when arranging the fixtures, decided to play one match ill the first round on a Thursday afternoon, to allow those who secure the half-holiday oil that day an opportunity of witnessing a senior game. It will rest with the public themselves whether any further matches will be played on Thursdays; so they should show the Union to-morrow afternoon thata better gate can be secured on Thursday than on Saturday, by attending the match between the City and West End Clubs in force. This match will decide which team takes the “ spoon ” for tho first round, as neither have thus far scored a win, and an interesting game should bo witnessed to-morrow.

On Saturday, the battle royal of the first round will be played, when Huia and Kaiti meet to decide which takes premier place, aud a great game should result. Both clubs are endeavoring to put their very best fifteens in the field, and the public can confidently rely on witnessing a fast and open game. It Is not often that two clubs meet which both play the samo gamp. In the generality of cases, one club endeavors to play a forward game, while the other is vainly trying to make it open. But on Saturday next, both teams can be expected to make play open from the first sound of the whistle. At the time of writing, we hear that Huia are likely to lose the services c£ Swan, Cockery, Te lleina, Tuhoi, and Leah, who intend to leave by the Taieri on Saturday morning, in order to bo present at the Maori celebration of the arrival of the Loyal party at Rotorua. Should Huia lose the services of these men it will certainly weaken the side ; but with men like J. Gibson, Riddell, Witters, and M‘Credie to fill the vacancies they. will have a team in the field which wilHako Oat olbeatiug.

Kaiti will, on the other hand, have its best team in the field. Halbert, who has quite recovered from the effects of his recent spill off a bike, will take a place among the backs, and they will also be greatly strengthened by the inclusion of M. Murphy and Reynolds. The game on Saturday last was well worth witnessing. There was no donbt that the best team won, but the West End team is by no means weak, and should have scored more than once in the first spell. Their chief weakness lay in the want of combination among the backs. The men were too far apart, and there seemed to be no concert between them. On more than one occasion we saw Vincent look round in vain for a man to

pass to. A very noticeable fault with the backs on both sides was the tendency to run across the ground. Backs particularly should remember that their objective is the opposite goal-line, and not the touchline. A short dash of ten yards straight down the field is of more service to a side than a great run of 60 yards across the ground, which perhaps calls forth the cheers of the uninitiated, but does not gain a foot of ground. Huia has a couple of fine forwards in Blair and McGrath. One never hears a word from cither of them, but they are in the thick of the work from start to finish, and thoroughly understand any particular bit of work they happen to have in hand. Ralph Murphy struck us as being another good man. There was a cleanness about his work which stamped him as a first-flighter, and ho lasted from start to finish.

A feature of last Saturday’s match was the speed of the Huia men. The manner in which Ball, Cookery, Swan, and Caulton came down on the West End half made it extremely difficult to get the ball out, and yet Wateno managed to do it cleverly many times. The West End team to play against City to-morrow (Thursday), will bo chosen from the following players L. Nolan, E. File, Roderick, Vincent, Brown, Watemu Wepilia, A. D. Sherriff, L. Sherriff, Cnway, Hakawai, Davitt, Woolwright, Taylor, Opotaka, Peacock, Evaufc, Hepburn, L. Williams. The juniors showed good form on No. 2 Ground on Saturday. The City had a marvel in defensive play in Chris. Rynan. lie revelled in it, and called forth cheers from the crowd frequently by his grand collaring. His club might try this player with advantage among the senior backs. The'juniors have a“ guide, philosopher, and friend ” in Mr Walter Howard. It is not every man who is a keen enough sport' to sacrifice the pleasure of witnessing the senior matches Saturday after Saturday in order to devote his attention to the juniors, and yet this is what Mr Howard has done. The juniors are fortunate in having a man of Mr Howard’s ability willing to devote his time and attention to them.

Two zealous press representatives were among thoso who were “ fired ” outside the rails by'the Union officials on Saturday last.

Wo are pleased to hear that a Referees’ Association has at last been started. A mooting was held last night to inaugurate the Association.

Next Saturday, an extra attraction will be provided in the meeting of the Huia and "West End juniors. Neitherside have been defeated so far, and a really good game can be expected.