FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 124, 5 June 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By “ The Whistle.”] The match between Haiti and Huia on Saturday.last will long be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to witness it. It was one of those games which become historic, and will be handed down to succeeding generations as a glorious contest worthy of the best traditions of the game. In the first spell, the spectators watched two first-class fifteens play a fast and open game for forty minutes without either side scoring a point or gaining the slightest advantage over the other. This spell provided by far and away the best football wc have yet seen in this district, and we should like to see this standard kept up throughout the season. It is a thousand pities that the Huia player who was ordered off the field by the referee so far forgot himself as to strike an opponent. His side was heavily penalised by his rash blow in having to play throughout the second spell a man short. Had Huia had a full complement in the second spell, what a magnificent struggle would have been witnessed. Only those who have played against a crack team can tell wlfat it means to have a man unmarked on the opposing side throughout a contest, and Huia and Kaiti were too evenly matched on Saturday for either to prevail against the other with anything but a .full complement of players. The reason that Rugby football is? encouraged to such a great extent in British public schools is chiefly because it teaches the youngsters to give and take hard knocks incidental to the game with a smiling face, and this lesson is of invaluable assistance to the average man in after life. There is absolutely nothing to justify one player striking another on the field of play. Players should remember that it is just as possible to be gentlemanly on the football field as in the drawingroom, and that' one does not necessarily doff those common courtesies between man and man, without which society would be intolerable, with their ordinary attire when stripping in order to don the jersey and knickers. Mr Rees is to be commended on his firmness in promptly ordering the player off the field on Saturday, and we trust that this will be the first and last incident of this kind which we shall have to chronicle in the history of the game here this season.

G. Reynolds made a first appearance in a senior game at Tucker’s paddock on Saturday last, when he occupied the position of half-back for the Kaiti Club, and gave the best exhibition of half-back play we have seen so far this season. He is exceptionally clever in getting the ball away. His pick up and pass out are one and the same action, and reminded us distantly of an Australian cricketer’s pick up and return to the wickets. Reynolds played a fine gamo, and is a valuable acquisition to his club. All the Kaiti backs played well, and the combined passing between Reynolds, Halbert, Ngatai, aud Porter was a treat to watch. Kirk, on the wing, had the misfortune to generally occupy the “ blind ” side of tho serum, but the grand runs he made proved wliat a dangerous opponent he is. Kirk is very strong on his feet, and takes more stopping than any man on the side. We have already commented on J. Murphy’s display at full, and heartily welcome the re-appear-ance of this fine player. He has years of first-class football before him still.

The Huia fifteen are to be heartily congratulated on the great fight they made. They were overmatched in the second spell with the man short, and were beaten by a superior side, but we would have given much to have seen them with their full team. Symes, at full, disappointed us. His kicking was not nearly so good as usual, and he failed signally to find the line, while his collaring was weak. Te Keina gave a fine display, and called forth applause frequently by his all-round work. Leah, on the other wing, was not seen at his best, and has a bad habit of getting out of his place. Baker, at centre, worked hard and well, and was nearly in on more than one occasion. • His worst fault was fumbling occasionally. J. Gibson, fiveeighths, has probably never put in a finer afternoon’s work, while McCredie, at half, played splendidly, considering it was his first gamo for some time past. His collaring was a treat to see. He stooped down, and gathered a whole armful of his opponent’s legs, and the manner in which he stood big fellows like J. Murphy and Porter on their heads when well in their stride was an object lesson in how to collar. Ball did a lot of useful work, and is a good man both on attack and defence. The forwards all . worked well, but the absence of a front ranker marred their combination greatly in the second spell.