FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 122, 3 June 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

HUIA v. KAITI. '

HUIA MEET THE IB WATEBLOO.

[By “ The Whistle.’’] The expectation of witnessing a first-class exposition of Bugby football- by two strong teams on a beautiful afternoon was sufficient inducement to attract a large crowd to Tucker’s paddock on Saturday afternoon last. Huia and Kaiti were the contesting clubs, and, as neither side had suffered a reverse up till Saturday last in the competition for tho Poverty Bay Bugby Union’s Senior Banner, speculation had been rife all tho week as I to the chances of the respective teams, and groups of enthusiasts were to be observed at the street corners on the morning of the match animatedly disrtiiHainr* ftirt ormrnnohinrr rnnfcfisL At 3 1

o'clock, there must havo been upwards of 300 on the ground, including a large number of ladies, and the Hon. Treasurer of the Union (Mr W. B. Miller) informed us that tho surn of £6 11s had been taken at tho gates. This constitutes a record for the season thus far, and is tho largest “ gate ” taken for a club match for many soasons past. ' When the teams took the field, the . Huia supporters were delighted to see W. McCrodio and J. Gibson in black-and-white jersies among the backs, and A. Richardson and Ngawini with the forwards of their club; while the large numbor of Kaiti enthusiasts among the spectators heartily welcomed the appearance of J. R. Murphy and G. Reynolds among the back division of the blue-and-black club. It was agreed to play two 40-rninute spells, and the large crowd was gratified when Mr A. W. Rees came out In r»nnf,ml f.hn rm.mn. AfAccirc* C). TJVaay*

Li) control ino game. messrs u. rieer and C. Taylor acted as touch-judges.” Kirk won tho toss from Caulton, and decided to defend tho town goal, and Blair kicked off at 3.20 for Huia from the seaward end, and Halbert sent the ball out at tho contre. From tho throw-in, M. Murphy and Newton started a forward rush, which McCrcdio cleverly stopped at the quarter-mark. Open play followed the scrum, and Porter mado a strong run across tho ground, but lost the ball on being Ball and Gibson, and Blair, Caulton, Swan, and Ngawini made a great dribbling rush well into Kaiti territory. Ngatai took tho ball splendidly off thoir toes, and mado a fino run to tho twenty-fivo. Fast play followed the throw-in, and somo really attractive football was played. Tho forwards on both sides wore playing well, and it was difficult for thoso who had witnessed tho ICaiti forwards in thoir two previous matches to beliove that they ! woro watching tho samo pack at work. First ono sido would heel out, and thon I another, and McCredie and Itoynolds, the respective half-backs, were whipping tho ball out boautifully to tho backs ; but tho tine tackling prevented either side gaining material advantage. Tho ball hung about mid-field for somo considerable tiruo, but tho play was fast and open all tho while, and was tho nearest approach to up-to-dato football wo have seen in Gisborno.

Eventually, J. Murphy, at full-baclc, markod a kick by Symcs, and mado a great drop at goal, which forced Huia. Caulton punted out, and tho reforeo ordorod another kick. Symcs kicked out, and Kirkcd marked, and sent tho ball out at tho Huia twenty-fivo. A scrum followed tho throw-in, and tho ball came out to Itoynolds boautifully, and ho sent it out smartly to Halbert, who kicked to touch.

From a scrum tho Huia forwards heeled out promptly to McCredie, who started a protty pieco of play by sending tho ball on to Gibson, and after a good run thisplayor sent tho ball to Bakor, who in turn passed to To Itoina, who kicked out woll into

Haiti’s quarters. On tho throw-in, the ball travelled up and down the fiold at a great pace, and somo protty passing was indulged in by the backs on both sides, whilo tllo forwards woro working grandly. Halbert intercepted a pass from McCrcdio to Baker, and got woll away, but was overtaken by Gibson and upset. Ball puntod high, and J. Murphy, instead of returning tho kick, started off down tho fiold with a strong run, but was grandly collared by McCredie when woll on to tho Huia lino. A number of kicks woro oxchangod boro between tho backs, but tho inability of tho backs to find tho line prevented advantage, until Te Beina sent it out with a nice left-foot punt. Eaton came through a scrum with the ball at his foot, and Bobinson, Nowton, McKollar, and Brown took tho ball woll down tho fiold, but Symcs sccurod and put iu a good kick to the centre.

Eaton was penalised for putting the ball unfairly into tho scrum, and Symes kicked out nt tho Kaiti quartor-mark. Tho play following this was fast and exciting. Blair, McGrath, Ngawini, and Swan being conspicuous on tho Huia sido among tuo forwards, and Bright, M. Murphy, Golobourne, and Newton for Kaiti, whilo tho backs on both sidos wero playing splendidly, attacking and defending equally woll in turn. Blair, a Huia forward, was at this stage of the game ordered off tho field for striking an opponent.

On resuming, Gibson intercepted a pass from Halbort to Ngatai, and passed out to Leah, who made a grand run well into Kaiti quarters, but was well stopped by Portor. Balter took the ball well on to Kaiti lino with a nico run, but his vis-a-vis, Ngatai, brought it back to the quarter-mark with a fino dash and kick, ltoynolds secured from a scrum, and, dodging round, boat a couplo of mon, and get off up the field with a great run, being only brought down when right on the Huia lino. McCredie, Gibson, and Baker by combined foctwork and nico passing cleared tho line, and McGrath, Ball, Sharp, and Harris helped to take it to the centro. Some nice passing between Beynolds, Halbort, Ngatai, and Porter should have resulted in a score, but tho lattor knocked on at tho critical moment. J. Murphy was rendering invaluablo sorvioo to his side at full. Several times, ho came up with the ball from his position, and took a hand as an oxtra threequartor, getting back to his place in timo ,to return. His kicking was a treat to watch, and ho played throughout with sound judgment. Ball showed up with a strong run along the line to the centre, and tho whistle sounded half-time.

Thus far there had been nothing what over between the teams, aud many old players on the line, whoso judgment merited respect, emphatically declared that tho spell had provided the best football they had ever romembered to havo seen on a local ground. Ngatai opened tho second spell, and Gibson took a nieo run aud sent tho ball out past the half-way Hag. From a scrum M. Murpny passed to 'Ngatai, but Gibson smothered tho pass, and Bakor and Leah took the ball right down to tho Kaiti line. Kirk secured from loose play, and rnado a strong fending run to the centre, but Caulton, Swan, Baker and Gibson brought the oval back in front of tho goal with combined footwork. Kirk again made off up the field with a grand j run, and was not upset till he reached tho Huia lino, where a scrum was formed under the Huia posts., From loose play Leah went down with several opponents on top of him, and was penalised for hanging on to tho ball. The ball was placed for Ngatai, and he piloted it fairly between tho uprights, amid great cheering from tho Kaiti supporters. Tho kick-out saw a Huia rush toko the ball well down tho field, Caulton, Sharp, Ball,. Gibson and Te Reina being prominent. _ A looso kick sent tho' ball towards the Kaiti line, and Gibson and Porter raced for it. Tho former secured possession, but was grandly taokled on tho line by Porter, and a scrum was formed. The Huia forwards got the ball out well, and pretty passing between Caulton, Gibson, and Baker was spoilt by tho latter fumbling. Reynolds got away finely, and beat several men by feigning to pass, and took the ball well on towards tho Huia line, and Ngatai was nearly in a few moments later. Kaiti now hotly attacked, and some beautiful passing was done by M. Murphy, Halbert, Ngatai, and Porter, but McCredie grandly upset the latter. Kaiti continued to hotly attack, and from a-scrum in front of goal Reynolds sent the ball to Ngatai, who shot it out to Porter, who was collared by Baker on the line, but his weight took him over, and he scored. Ngatai made a weak kick at goal. Kaiti, 6; Huia, nil. On the kick-out Huia became aggressive, and took the ball with a combined (rush right down to the Kaiti line, and

shortly afterwards swept over the line, but Kirk kicked tho ball dead with a speculator. After the kick-out Huia continued to hotly attack, and some beautiful passing between McCredie, Gibson, Ball, and Baker, landed the ball in Te Beina’s hands, and he cleverly beat Kirk, and scored near the corner. Symes failed to j place a goal. Huia, 3 ; Kaiti, 6. The gamo had not been long re-started, when Baker made a grand run, and was thrown out at the corner flag. From the line the Kaiti forwards took tho ball up to tho Huia 25, and from a throw in Bright took the ball well and got away, passing sharp and low to Coleboume, who bolted [ over the line, and raced right round behind the posts, amid cheers. Ngatai placed a goal. Kaiti, 11; Huia, 3. From this out Kaiti had tho best of it. Huia greatly missed Blair’s absence, as there was always a Kaiti man unmarked, and Kaiti’s condition stood them in good stead.

Kirk made a magnificent run through the opposing side, and Symes made a weak attempt to stop him, but he scored between the posts, and Ngatai placed another goal. Kaiti 16, Huia 3. From this till call of

timo it became so dark that individual players were almost indistinguishable. However, no further score took place, and Kaiti won a splendidly-fought contest by 16 points (two goals from tries, a try, and a penalty goal) to 3 points (a try). I The game was a grand one from start to finish. The scores by no means represent tho difference in the strenth of tho respective sides, though there is not the slightest doubt but that the best team won I on Saturday’s play. Whilo the battle royal was being fought out on No. 1 ground on Saturday, an equally great fight was being fought out | on No. 2 ground between the West End andHuia juniors. Both sides were strongly represented, and a most interesting game rosulfcod, some really fine form being shown. Potaka scored a try for West End, and Foaton piloted tho ball between the posts, but it touched a Huia player in transit, and no goal resulted. Just before tho close of the game H. Gibson scored a try for Huia, and Sharp placed a goal. Huia thus won by 5 points to 3. Nolan, Boderick, and Potaka for West End, and Tapu, Gibson, Sherratt, Heaney, and Cookery for Huia playod best. Mr W. Howard gave entire satisfaction as refereee.

At a mooting of tho Poverty Bay Bugby Union on Saturday evening, the following dates were fixed for tho second round of tho senior contests :

June 8 : City v. Huia June 15 : Kaiti v. West End June 22 : City v. Kaiti June 29 : Huia v. West End July G : West End v. City July 11 : Huia v. Kaiti

Mr A. W. Bees, the referee in tho match between Kaiti and Huia, reported that ho had ordered a Huia man off the field for striking an opponent, and suggested that the Union take no further action in tho matter, as he considered tho player had already beon. sufficiently punished. The roferoo’s suggestion was adopted. Saturday’s match concluded the first round, and the following is the position of the clubs :

Matches Played. Won. Lost Points P’nts Banner . Pol'. Ag’nst. Points Kaiti 3 3 0 44 18 6 Huia 3 2 1 46 19 4 City .. 3 1 2 19 41 2 Wst.End 3 0 3 12 43 0