FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 413, 12 May 1902, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF THE SEASON,

WEST END v. HUIA

Notes by “ The Whistle.’

The Poverty Bay Rugby Union made a commencement with the competition for tho Senior Banner on Saturday afternoon last, when West End and Huia met. The weather was perfect, and thero was a satisfactory attendance, including many ladies.

Victoria Domain was played on for the first time, and made a capital playingfield. The grass was beautifully green, and the field of play, viewed from the raised terrace where the majority of tho spectators congregated, looked most attractive. The officials of the Union had been hard at work during the week, and had everything in capital order on the gropnd. The boundaries of the field of play were defined by white lines, which were a great improvement on the trenches which had been employed, at Tucker’s Paddock. Workmen were busy at work erecting a high boardod fence along the Childers road frontage, which shoul 1 be completed within a day or two. A tent did duty as a dressing-room, and, in fact, all the arrangements were most complete. When the teams took the field shortly after three o’clock it was seen that West End had several now men in their ranks, whilst Huia was represented by almost entirely a new fifteen. Burns (Huia) won the toss from L. Sherriff (West End), and Williams kicked off for the latter from Te Hapara end.

The opening passages of the game were

uninteresting, and it was clearly apparent that none of the players were in form.

The work was almost wholly confined to the forwards, and the opportunities the backs did get were thrown away by fumbling, erratic passing, and faulty kicking. Still, the work was willing, and tho spectators were kept interested. West End soon asserted their superiority, and crossed the Huia line once or twice without being able to score. About half-way through the first spell a long kick by Te Beinga was nicely taken by Nolan, who.-got underway very quickly, and raced down the line at a great pace. Beiwai backed up well, and received the ball from Nolan when near the Huia line, and grounded it between the posts before a hand was laid on him. Great cheering greeted the first blood of the season. Waitai placed an easy goal. For the remainder of the first spell West End had all the best-of the play, and kopt Huia busily defending. The blacks lost many chances of scoring through selfishness on the part of the backs. Brown was the worst offender in this respect, and was rightly penalised more than once for hanging on to the ball. The only other score in the first spell was gained by Waitai, who landed a beautiful goal from tho touchline from a penalty kick. The teams crossed over with the score standing: West End, 8 points ; Huia, nil. Tho second spell saw play more open, but there was a lack of anything like combination on either side. Each man who got possession of the leather seemed to have a lone hand, and the work was patchy. Huia had a good deal the best of the earlier stages of the second spell, and might have scored on a couple of occasions had the passes been taken. After a prolonged attack on the West End goal, the blacks cleared their lines, and rushed the ball to the Huia goal, where DeLautour kicked the ball hard in a dribbling rush, and “ speculated ” a goal. Some amusement was caused by the race for the ball after the goal had been kicked, the lucky speculator running his hardest to score a try. Huia worked hard to keep the West Enders out, but it was not long before Beiwai scored again from a scrambling rush, no goal resulting. Just before the call of time Wepiha secured possession, and got on one of his avalanehe-iiko rushes, and made straight up the line. He was pluckiiy tackled by Pilcher and Ball, but bumped them out of the way, and scored near the corner flag. Williams failed to convert, and the whistle sounded “no-side,” with the score standing : West End, 18 points; Huia, nil. Considering it was the first game of the season, it is scarcely fair to criticise too severely; but there Were some faults strikingly apparent on Saturday which should be pointed out. There was too much talking, for one thing ; there was a tendency to play roughly at times; and one or two players so far forgot themselves as to lose their tempers. Players should remember that football is a game, not a war ; and they should take a bump or a knock in a good-natured spirit. If they cannot do this, they should try some other pastime. On the play, there was only one team in it; but-West End were lucky to put up so many points. For the winners, Hepburn, at full-back, kicked well, and found the line nicely. He was about the only man on the ground who did. Waitai, Poananga, and Nolan, on the threequarter line, were not seen to advantage. Of the three, Nolan was certainly the best. The other two had big reputations to sustain, but their play on Saturday did not bear these out. Waitai is a fine kick, and also did some excellent placekicking. Brown, at five-eiglns, was selfish. Last season’s play, when be was the only reliable back on his side, seems to have spoiled him somewhat. He should remember there are men behind quite i s capable of scoring as himself. Watene, at half, played about the best back game on his side. He is improving with each game, and gets the ball away smartly, wh le his kicking is of greet service. Of the forwards, Beiwai was a good bit ahrai of the others. Apart from his two tries, there was a method about his business all through, which showed he had a good knowledge of the game. All the others worked hard, but want of condition was very apparent. For Huia, there was only two men behind the scrum. Pilcher, at centre-three-quarter, did an immense amount of work. He was good in every department, and was the best back on the ground; His collaring was very sure, and the only mistake he made was when he let Wepiha bump him off. Pilcher showed he is fast, and had he been bacKed up when he followed up the kick at goal at the close of the first spell a score must have resulted. This player hails from Timaru, where he. played with the South Canterbury representatives. Ball was the only otoer back to do good work. He played hard ail through, and saved his side repeatedly Burns played well at times. Te Beinga was a spectator for the greater part of the play, the ball rarely coming his way; but he did not show to advantage when he did get an opening. The other backs were not class enough for a junior team. Of the forwards Sherratt, Johnson, R. C. Murphy, and Swan were the best. Sherratt was the best forward on the

ground, and time after time broke away, but was seldom supported. Johnson did a lot of useful kicking, and, with a little more pace, would be a lirst class man. Murphy was in the thick of it all through. The rest of the forwards strove according to their light, but it was dim. Mr Arthur Rees had a busy time with the whistle. Infringements were constant, hand-balling incessant, but the referee wisely let the majority of the lesser faults go unnoticed, and even then had to keep the whistle busy. Messrs Kohere and Cole were the line umpires. Two spells of forty minutes each were played. On Saturday next West End meets the Kaiti-City combination, and will have to play better than they did on Saturday if they want to win.