FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 175, 5 August 1901, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

WEST END V. KAITI.

HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN. [Notes by “ The Whistle.”] The second round of Poverty Bay Rugby ' Union senior fixtures was completed at Tucker’s paddock on Saturday afternoon last, when the thrice-postponed match between the West End and Kaiti Clubs . was played off. The conditions under which the contest took place were not of the best. A strong nor’-wester blew across the ground throughout the afternoon, and tho weather was bitterly cold. There was an average number of spectators, including a good many ladies, present, and £2 7s was collected at the gates. Two spells of 40 minutes each were played, and the game was controlled by Mr W. S. McCredie, while Messrs A. W. Rees and T. Watkins-Baker ..acted as touch-judges. When the teams took the field about 8.30, it was seen that neither side had their full strength, and both teams were short-handed. A number of juniors wore impressed into both teams, in fact so great was the change in the personnel of the Kaiti team that followers of that club almost failed to recognise their side. L. Sherriffj West End (black), won the toss from J. Eaton, Kaiti (blue), and

decided to defend the town goal, which gave his men the advantage of the wind and sun. From the kick-off’, it was apparent that there was only one team in it. Kaiti lacked combination of any kind, either back or forward, and West End had none too much of it either. Soon after tho opening, a West End forward rush took the ball down to the Kaiti line, and Brown scored, Featon making a good attempt to convert. The black forwards made tho best use of their advantage in weight and

height in the scrums and on the line, and the forwards had play pretty well to themselves, When tho backs handled the ball, the passing was wild and erratic, and the back play generally was confined to individual dashes by Brown, of West End, who played a sound game at five-eighths throughout, and Reynolds (half), Ngatai (centre), and Halbert (wing), of Kaiti. Considering the fact that the rep. match is looming ahead, and that the men should now be in form, the display was disappointing. L. Sherriff, Weipha, and Hakawai were to be seen in tho forefront of all the rushes, and the first-named played his best game so far this season, and also worked his team well. The spell ended in favor of West End by 11 points to nil. L. Sherriff and Watene both scored tries, and Featon improved tho latter.

Tho second spell was a repetition of the first, and the wearers of the blacks uniforms put up a furthor nine points. Some better play was witnessed in this spell, but combination was not seen among the backs of either side throughout the afternoon. The blacks forwards undoubtedly won the game for their side, though thero were one or two among their number who were too fond of hanging about for chances instead of doing their share of honest toil. Nothing can be said of the play of the Kaiti men. Of scientific combination the side lacked even the faintest scrap. G. Reynolds, Ngatai, and Halbert did a lot of good defensive work, and also made some fine runs, but failed altogether to back each othov up when on the attack. G, Roynolds, in particular, put in a fine afternoon’s work. M. Murphy was misplaced at threequarter, and would have been of greater service to his side nearer the scrum. Young Witty, at fullback for Kaiti, did a lot of useful work, and kicked and collared well. But the West End forwards, with Brown behind them, generally had the ball somewhere near the Kaiti line, and Hakawai succeeded in crossing the Kaiti line twice in this spell, and Clarke made a sprint towards the close of the game whioh let him in. Featon failed to improve any of the tries, and the game ended in favor of West End by 20 points (a goal from a try and five tries) to nil. The game was a most uninteresting one to watch. The strong wind had a great deal to do with the bad play, but there was an entire absenoe of any combined play among the backs, which is so essential to attractive Rugby. Saturday’s match concluded the reflond round of fixtures, and the following table shows the positions of the clubs : Matches Points P’nts Banner Played. Won. Lost. For. Ag’nst. Points

Huia G 4 2 67 39 8 Kaiti" 6 4 2 58 44 8 Wsfc.End 6 3 3 52 51 6 City.. 6 1 5 25 68 2