FOOTBALL

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 894, 18 May 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL

KAITI-CITY (0) v. WEST END (G).

Tho threatening aspect of _ the weather on Saturday afternoon was insufficient to damp tho interest of the public in the cornpotions for tho senior and junior cinrupioi ships, and a fair crowd of spectators lined the terrace at Victoria Domain. The juniors took the held for tne hist time on Saturday, end on the form displayed by tho Haiti-City and Huia teams, junior football will be as interesting this season as it was four or five seasons ago, when the junior contests between To Anti and Turauguruii drew larger than did tho senior fixtures, in the junior match on Saturday, Huia had a lead of Id points t„ nil at one stage, but the Haiti-City team stuck doggedly to their work, and piaytd to such purpose that the record when “ no-side " was sounded was Kaiti-Ciiy if: points, Huia f !

SEN IO H MATCH. The teams look the field a-, foiliows : I Haiti f.'it.V, blue and black: iiu.--.ei:, f). huiierr, W'ylde-Prown, Porter, Hay (capouii i, A. Coleman, J. H.i.v, Mulianny, Jir:;.!it. 'll. K. .Murphy, it- C. Murphy, iia.is.ii, Martin, .Vwtou.

West Kn l, black: ll'pliurn, I'Wiin, Omi.obvif, <i. I: ,'iuJJaiiK-.vi., JW A. U. Imernlf, hkeet, E. r.Kocn/l (capulu), Kinder, Clarke, Wi Kfiday, \V; piiiii, Williams, Muvri.-iscy. i;.-U v • , Air \V. McCrtdk ; line umpires. .M'.-s.-r.-; J£. Cole and J. A. Eaton. Spells,

4U minutes. Louis Sljerriff won tho toss for West End, arid played from the Hapara end, with a helpful bree/.o behind his rneu, arid Martin kicked o/I for Kaiti-City, who played during the first spell with the sun in their eyes. Despite these disadvantages olio Kaiti-City men had all the best of the iisst spell. They played a much better game than did their opponents, who strovo successfully to keep the ball among tho forwards, which made play uninteresting to spectators. Tho Kaiti backs on ono or two occasions livened things up by some smart passing, which showed that they

will bo u dangerous side when onco they acquire tlio combination they now lack behind tho scrum. Tho Blacks played the dogged tight game which has come to bo associated with their name. Wepiha early in the game initiated a passing rush, which should have ended in a score but for faulty bundling of tho ball by the wing three quarter. Securing the ball from a loose rush, Wepiha passed to Louis Sherrill, who sent it oil to Campbell, and the latter made a high, slow pass to Roderick, who mulled with a clear run in bci'oro him. Soon afterwards, L. Sherrill broke away from a lino in mid-lield, and mado a line run, which recalled memories of his form two or three seasons ago, when ho was one of tho finest lorwards in the district. A pass forward to his brother on the line spuilt what looked all over us a score. A period ol hard fought, uninteresting play followed. A lino forward rush, with'iluip'li and Bob Murphy and Martin prominent, touk the ball well into West Bud territory, but Balueavis snapped the

leather up, and made a last sprint to tlio centre, winding up with a good kick to touch. Prom play in midfield, Louis Sherrill' passed to Cumpbcll, who sont a siow pass in ltuderick’s direction, but Purtar intercepted with a last dash, and Newton took the ball by unaided footwork right up to Hepburn on the West End line. From some scrambling play in front of the Black's posts, J. Hay sent the ball to Wylde-Brown, who cleverly beat a couple of men, and passed smartly out to Dulamore, and the latter raised cheers by zig-zagging at top speed through the Blacks, hurdling over a man who attempted to stop him getting behind the posts, and couching down between tho uprights. Ft was the one bright spot in a colorless exhibition, and showed what tho men were caoablo of. Dehtmore throw away a

couple of points by failing to raise tho ball in tho kick at goal. The remainder of the spell was characterised by some splendid collaring by Itussoll, tho Haiti-City fullback, who never failed to upend every man who came at him. The spell ended : Kuiti-Cicy 0 points, West End nil.

It was expected, after having all the best of it with the suu and wind against them in the first spell, that Haiti-City would pi l o up a good many points on turning round. However, they failed, as West End had done, to harness the wind to their aid, and, although they had a good deal the best of the play, West End stuck to their work, and managed to score a penalty goal, kicked by Williams, and a try, scored by Skect, boforo tirno was called. The game thus ended in a draw. West End were certainly lucky in making a draw of it, as they were not as good as ilidr nnnonents on the play.

lmr‘"Kaiti-City Bussell again gave a splendid display at fullback, his collaring being perfect. Porter, Wylde-Brown, and Dehunero made a strong threequarter lino, and each played well. Coleman (iivo-cighths) promises to develop into a smart back. J. Hay was smart at half, and kicked well. Newton, Rob and Ralph Murphy, and Martin woro most conspicuous among the forwards, who did not work the ball in the pack as they should have

p'or West End Hepburn at full was safe, though not brilliant. None of the threcquartcrs showed to advantage. Nolan did nut take the ball surely, and kicked against the forwards more than once. Campbell, at centre, should learn to pass from the hips. Ilis overhand deliveries were too slow, and allowed Holamero and Porter to smother his wings before they had a chance of getting under way. I3alncavis (live-eighths) made one or two lightning sprints, but hesitated on occasions when called on to check rushes, l’oannnga worked like a hero behind the pack, stopping many rushes and kicking finely. Mo was tho only back to play with spirit. Kinder (late Scindc, Napier), Morrissey (late Ahuriri, Napier), and Wi Eridny (To Aute) made a first appearance. Tne latter is a fast, dashing forward, and rendered sreat assistance to his side on

Saturday. Tlio lust-named two aro useful men, but scarcely appear to have got into condition yet. Sheet was shifted trom thrce-tiuy.vler to wing forward, but was not so prominent ixs usual. Wepiha, Siierriff id), and Clarke worked hard. Williams appears among the backs oftoner than a forward should. The referee got a nasty knock on tno mouth, while putting the bull into a scrum on fciat-urday, which knocked his teeth about and e.yt bis lips rather badly.

aOOUi ana e.,w uis> —o • . I’cciim- rail high towards tne close ot the game! A West Etui sympathiser entertained the spectators for a few minutes by hooting the referee from the pavilion for ordering a live-yard's scrum on an occasion when West End crossed the line. The hooter referred to has a wonderful voice. It is good on the middle registci, but the lower notes require cultivation, ft is a pi:v that ho cannot find a nojler use for tbc magnificent vocal gifts lie is blessed with than hooting like on owl or a bittern at a gcmlennm who was unselfishly gnmg his services in the interests of the playeis uad public.

JUNIOR MATCH.

KAITI CITY V. HUIA.

This match brought forth one of those surprises so often met with on the foot a i tipid. Huia started off strong in attack, and ill the first spell put up 14 pomts to nil. mainly tiirough the efforts of Taylor, N'viia, McCullough, Scott, Unstable, and Webb, who were in tfie lead in most, of the forward rushes which led to scoring. Nuin. Taylor (2), and Scott secured tries, 0 ,,!v c.neof which was converted. In the second spell plav was dead until Faulkner 3 cured Kaiti City's first try, Smith convening, From this on LCaitbCity livened U p. and Moore scored twice from passing rushes. Grinlintan was also successful, S'ttffh again converting—Kaiti-City 1(3, Hula 14. Huia livened up towards the tim'sh. but could not increase their score. 1-V- the winners Adair, Webb, and Sceats in the forwards, and Holder, Faulkner, Wi"ock and Moore in the backs were most prominent. For tlio losers Taylor, McCullough, Osborne, Wells, and T. Sharp pi a veil well in the forwards, whils. C. Sharp, Ivinnitncnt. and KtehartlsOU WGI'G the only backs in anything like form, Nev.-tou at full giving a particularly weak display-