FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 145, 1 July 1901, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

WEST END v, lIUIA.

WEST END, 14 ; lIUIA. 8.

Note* by "Tub WimrLE.' The weather on Saturday afternoon last v.„, ideal from a footballer’s point of \kw. The temperature was sharp and bracing. and a eold southerly of no great strength blew up the ground, which served to fan the cheeks of the heated players. There was but- a moderate attendance of spectators present at Tucker's paddock to witness the senior contest be- j tween the representatives of iiuia and. West i'.nd districts, and only A'i fc od was taken at the gates. When the teams took the held, it was seen that there were several unfamiliar faees among the ranks of both teams. Caulton ithe liuia captain), Swan, McGrath. and I)lair were absent from the Ituia side, who took the held three men abort ; while the West End team included new men in itungi (j'ulli, and Erckana • (ccntre-threequarter), both Te Ante players, and also were greatly strengthened by the inclusion of JL’otaka. 1 Icimcit, and Williams (a promoted junior), in tiic forward ranks. Mr Li. Crawford acted as referee, and controlled two spells of forty minutes’ duration, while Messrs 11. Cole and A. W. lives carried the touch-flags. Ik. .Sherrill' (West End) won the toss, and dofeuded the seaward goal, and Semes Kicked oil for liuia against a stiff breeze. The game opened sensationally. Baker secured possession from a line out a few minutes after the commencement, and made a great run from the centre of the held, outpacing Brown, Clarke, and Baugh and raising the enthusiasm of the spectators to a high pitch at the very outset of play !>\ racing across the line, and scoring i close to the posts, thymes placed a nice goal. Taylor kicked oil', and Ilakawai, 1,. Sherrill', Wcpilia, and Brown were on Leah before he could return, and the West End forwards tool-; the ball with a great rush well past the liuia quarterniark, where Ball saved by kicking out. Shortly afterwards, Bail failed to take a high kick from Erckana, and the West End forwards, who were playing with great dash, were on the ball like a llash, and swept it right on to the liuia line, where Brown dodged over, and scored amid hearty applause from all parts of the field. Erckana kicked a splendid goal, and the score was 5 points all within ten minutes of the start of the game. This phenomenal opening naturally caused the spectators to hope that the game would be an exceptionally fast and open one, and this expectation was fully borne out by the subsequent play. The game was certainly the best exhibition of football which has been provided at Tucker’s paddock this season, and was particularly fast. Both teams played really well in the first spell. liuia had the advantage behind the serum, but the superiority of the West End forwards more than counterbalanced tins. The black forwards packed promptly, and put some weight into the scrum, and heeled the ball out cleanly to Watenc in nearly every instance, while they followed up well, and their work in both foot and passing rushes was lirst-elass. They also -ignaily defeated the liuia men at lineout work, and Ilakawai, L. Sherrill, Wcpilia and I’otaka secured the ball time and again from the throw-in. The liuia backs were kept busily defending for the first half-hour’s play, and Baker and Te lleina did good work in intercepting the passing between Watcne, Brown and Erckana. The iiuia team seemed to have a number of loafers among the forwards, who put scarcely any weight into their scrumwork', and one or two were always to be seen hanging outside the pack. W. Sharp was about the most serviceable forward they had. This was his first senior j match, and lie showed up repeatedly. He is particularly fast, and was on the ball continually. Ngawini and Witters also worked conscientiously and well. The game was fast throughout, and the ball travelled up and down the field at a great rale ; but the dash, pace, and weight of the West End forwards generally caused play to hover in front of the liuia goal. Met.'redie, Baker, Gibson, Te lleina, and Leah got on a few passing rushes, but they did not get the ball often, and when they did the collaring of the West End men was sharp and sudden. Before the close of the spell Wepiha and I’otaka both scored clever tries for West End, which Erckana failed to convert, and Witters scored a well-earned try for liuia, which Symes did not improve. The spell ended with the score ; West End, II points ; liuia, 8. The second spell was also fast and exciting, and the interest was sustained right up to near the close of the game, when Wepiha scored another try for West End, .and placed the issue beyond all doubt. Ilakawai failed to add the major points, and West End left the field victorious hy a goal from a try and three tries (14 points) to a goal from a try and a try (8 points). The win was a thoroughly well-deserved and most popular one. This was the first game West End had won this season, and they were heartily congratulated by numerous spectators, who could not but admire the plucky maimer in which this team has borne up in the face of repeated defeats. The forwards undoubtedly won the game for West End, and they have sterling men in Wepiha, Ilakawai, L. Sherrill', I’otaka, and A. 1). Sherrill, while Brown and Erckana, of the backs, are class enough for any average club team. G. Nolan played his first senior game in this match, and did splendid work at wing-threcquartcr, which should secure him a permanent place in the fifteen. Williams (forward) is also worthy of regular inclusion in the team. The liuia players will never meet with success until they learn that combination is the art of football. Their backs arc good enough, but a quarter-lino of Studdarts would be of iittlc assistance to a side if the forwards never gave them the ball. About half-way through the game, Taylor sustained an injury to the back, which prevented him taking further part in the play, and his place was tilled by A. Hepburn. The usual farce was gone through on A’o. 2 ground on Saturday, where the West End juniors were to have played Haiti. West End took the field, and Haiti forfeited the match to them.