FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 982, 31 August 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO DEFEATS HAWKE’S BAY,

Per Press Association. Dunedin, last night. Tho football match Hawke's Bay y. Otago was played on the Caledonian ground Under unfavorable conditions. Sloet, snow, and hail fell at 2 o’clock, and fchero was another shower after play started. This, with tho rain of the previous night, made the ground heavy. Hawke’s Bay played against tho wind in the first half, and held their own very well. They tired in tho second half, and tho local team had a good deal the best of the play. Otago scored a try in each spell, and as the visitors failed to cross the line Otago won by 6 points to nil. Tho local forwards had rather the best of tho game, whilo the backs were a good deal better.

VVAIAPU V. POVERTY BAY. SUBSTANTIAL WIN FOR GISBORNE MEN. The first meeting of teams representing the Waiapu and Poverty Bay Rugby Unions took place at Victoria Domain on Saturday afternoon, under favorablo weather conditions and before a large crowd of spectators, including many Coast residents. Punctually at 3«o’clock tho toams lined out as follows : Waiapu (red and black): Potae, Poki- j hau, M. Murphy (captain), Rangi, G. Reynolds, Hicks, E. K. Murphy, Aorero, Taylor, H. Fairlie, Manuel, Haimes, Bee- I tham, R. K. Murphy, and Brooking. Poverty Bay (blue and black): Russeil, Lear, Symes (captain), Nolan, Te Reina, Poananga, J. Hay, Morrissey, Newton, Mullanoy, Hatea, Holmes, Moana, Wepiha and Wauchop. As tho teams took the field, it was I apparent that the Coast Union had pitted a toarn of powerful physique against their opponents. Thoy were a sturdy set, of whom Hicks and Rangi were the only small men, and their size and weight quite dwarfed the town representatives, who were by no means a light side. M. Murphy won the toss for Waiapu, and at ouce elected to defend the western goal, which gave the Coaßt men the advantage of playing with a fresh breeze and tho sun behind them. Symes kicked off

for Poverty Bay, the ball going out at the Waiapu’s quarter mark. Tight forward play followed the throw-in, and it was early seen that the Coast forwards were more than capable of holding their own. JED- R. Murphy was the first man to distinguish himself, making a long kick to the Gisborne full-back, which Bussell returned, li. B. Murphy shortly afterwards, from a mark, gained a lot of ground with a good line kick, but Rolan shifted play back again with an equally serviceable punt, i Fairlie broke away from the lino, and looked dangerous till he throw forward. Fairlie, Boethum, and Aorero headed a good forward rush, which took the ball to Bussell, who got out of a tight place I cleverly, and kicked out to touch at centre. Monna put in a big punt to Potae, who replied with a high kick, which found the lino well past tho contre. Play here opened out, and a fine passing rush, ini which Poananga, Symes, Te Beina, and Lear were associated, took the ball at. a groat paee up the field, and was only checked on the Waiapu line, whore Bey nolds was cheered for obtaining possession and clearing his line with a good kick. The same player drove the Gisborne men further back with another fine kick. The I Waiapu forwards, who were moving nimbly and keeping on the ball better than the opposing vanguard, came at the line in a solid phalanx. Hay fielded the ball from their toes, and sent a short, sharp pass-to Poananga, who failed to take the ball, and the Gisborne lino was in imminent danger till Bussell kicked clear. Through Bussed failing to field a rolling ball, the Gisborne line was almost at once . again menaced, and Fairlie was prominent in a dash at the trench. The homo' team defended stubbornly, and Pokihau was shoved I to touch whilst making an effort to get over at the corner, Beynolds here made an opening and sent out a good pass to Pokihau, but tho latter throw away a chance by failing badly to take the ball. The Gisborne men then shook their tormentors off, and a fine passing rush by Poananga, Te Beina, Symes, and Lear took the ball from one end of the ground I to tho other. A warm attack was kept up I on tho Coast line for a time, and eventu- i ally Wepiha, tho strong man, secured possession and dashed over with three meijl olingiog to him, but succeeded in grounding the ball before his opponents could get their hands on it. Cheering greeted the first score, and it was renewed when Symes converted the try with a .well- ' judged kick. Poverty Bay 5 points, Waiapu nil. The play following consisted of a succession of long kicks, in which Beetham, Symes, E. B. Murphy, Morrissey, and Reynolds took part. The Gisborne forwards came at the line, and Newton pioked up but failed to pass soon enough and lost possession. Te Beina was handy and sent the bail to Nolan, who made a dash at the oorner, but was bowled over by Bangi. Taylor and Reynolds by good kicks shifted play to the centre, where i Bussell was applauded for dodging out of the clutches of several big opponents and getting in his kick. The weakness of the display thus far was the scram work. The Coast men packed more promptly and I solidly than the town pack, and also put I more weight in, but they invariably committed the error of breaking up imme- I diatoly they hooked the ball, and thus allowed the Gisborne men to come through on to the half, who had no possible chance of getting the ball away. It was very evident there were one or two shirkers among the town forwards, who put little I weight, if any, into their scrum work. I The result was that the ball rarely came out cleanly from the scrum, but dribbled out at the sides, or came out anyhow. Neither Hay nor Hicks, the respective halves, were given a chance to open up passing, and any openings that occurred were purely the result of mistakes by opponents. Lear next made a sensational dash through the Coast men, but slipped in dodging the full-back. Several of the men seemed uncertain pn their feet, and appeared to be badly shod—a serious defect if men hope to hop about quickly. Nolan, Te Beina, Poananga and Lear all lost their feet at critical stages at this period. Probably tho ground was a trifle greasy after the previous day’s ram. Even play followed in midfield for some time. Nolan here dribbled up the line to the quarter distance, where Te Beina passed out to Lear, who failed to take the ball, but recovered possession and sent the sphere to Sytnes. The lattermade a fine run, and was only stopped at the corner flag. The Gisborne forwards rushed the ball over, but a five-yards scrum was ordered. The Waiapu vanguard shoved their opponents back to the quarter mark, where Symes, Te Beina, and Lear took a hand in an abortive passing rash. Nolan then had a dash at the line, but lost his feet and was penalised for playing the ball while he was on the ground. M. Murphy here made a fair catch in midfield, but failed to claim a mark, and waited until tho Gisborne men came up and overturned him. Hatea then showed up with one of his characteristic dashes, and after traversing some distance passed woll to Wauchop, who ran up to the Coast line. After some exciting play, Morrissoy dribbled over and scored a good . try, which Symes failed to convert. Poverty Bay 8 points, Waiapu nil. Shortly after resuming, Poananga had a fine chance of getting the ball out on the open side, but foolishly charged into the ruck, and make a weak miss-kick, which went to Lear, his wing three quarter, who was smothered before he could get the ball away. Beetham then had! a placekick at goal from a penalty. The ball 1 fell in front of the posts, and Te Beina had only time to kick to the line before the 1 Coast men were upon him. E. R, Murphy 1 eame down tho field in a stylo rominosoent 1 of hiß form of six years ago. He wound ■ up a good run by passing to Fairlie, and 1 the latter dropped the ball at his toes and r headed a rush which threatened tho Gis--1 borne line. To Beina cut in, and sent a left-foot kick out on the open side. Bangi and Nolan raced at tho ball, but tho little Coast man .beat his opponent, and eluding , two more defenders scored a fine try, s amid great cheering. Beetham lauded a ; splendid goal, tho ball sailing high over ■ the centra of the cross-bar from a difficult angle. Waiapu 5 points, Poverty Bay 8,

In the few minutes remaining before hal* time was sounded, Hatea started a passinf rush by sending the ball to Morrissey, wh< AY, sent it on to Symes at the quarter dis tance, but the latter failed to take it, anc half time was called when the ball wenl Out. bt. Beetham opened the second spell, and y. V- Te Beina kicked straight up in the ait inian near his own line in attempting to return, ions. Moana came to the rescue, and kicked to and centre. It wall anticipated that Poverty rted. Bay would have things all their own way ight, with the wind and sun behind them, but Bay such was by no means the case. The half, Waiapu men made a few changes in their ;ired team. Hicks was transferred from half to had wing-forward, Reynolds went up behind Sago the scrum, M. Murphy going five-eighths, the while Aorere filled the vacancy on the ivon three-quarter line. The Waiapu forwards had played up finely, and for a time quite outthe classed the local pack, who were playing badly, and showing none of the dash and i vigor which distinguished the pliy of their opponents at this stage. Rangi failed to field a rolling ball, and an attack was made on the Coast line. Symes marked in a good position, but nothing came of Morrissey’s kick at goal, and Waiapu forced. Kicking by Beetham and Poaing nanga saw E. R. Murphy tackled by Lear by close to the Coast line. The Waiapu foron wards, playing as one man, grandly shifted bio play to the centre. From a line Beetham, •ge Haimes, R. K. Murphy, and Manuel broke ist away, and rushed the ball to the Gisborne lino, where Reynolds marked, and Beetham ed had a shot at goal. Symes next stopped a dangerous rush by Taylor, E. R. Murphy ri- and Brooking, and kicked to Pokihau, who U. made a good run, winding up with a kich ■o, whioh found the line near the corner flag, e- The local forwards, with Holmes, Moana, Wauchop and Mullaney in the van, shifted 11, play back to centre, where Reynolds was a, applauded several times for good defensive a, work. The Coast forwards came at the a line again in fine style, and Reynolds made a great effort to cross, but a fiveis yards’ scrum was ordered. Moana, d Holmes, Hatea and Newton got together r and made a fine foot rush to the centre, if but Fairlie, Aorere, Beetham and Brooking y promptly brought play back to the attack, e Symes stopped the rush and kicked to o Pokihau, who was bowled over by Hatea before he could return. M. Murphy next , made a fine run from midfield, which i placed the home team on the defensive. The ball was rushed over the Gisborne i line, but Russell gamely ran out and f kicked to the quarter distance. The i Gisborne forwards then infused some life l into their play, and Wepiha, Newton, i Holmes and Hatea shifted the scene of i operations close to the Coast line. Te Reina ran round and kicked over the line in front of Lear, but the latter was unable to catch up the leather before it reached the dead-ball line. The local men kept up the attack, and crossed the line, but a five-yards’ scrum was the result. The Coast men walked away with the scrum, and a Gisborne man getting offside enabled Reynolds to repel the attack. The local men wore soor back on the attack, and Wauchop smartly passed out from a rush to Hay, who shol the ball out to Te Reina, but the lattoi mulled, and while attempting to recover possession was bumped into by a Coast man and laid hors de combat for a time. R. 11. Murphy was conspicuous for some grand footwook, which took the ball up to Russell, and a hot attack was made on the Gisborne line. Symes cleared the line with a good kick, which Potae failed to take. From a scrum in midfield, Wauchop kiched hard down the field, and J. Hay followed up smartly and was among the Coast backs before they realised a stranger was within their gates. Hay cleverly piloted the ball through them, dribbled it over the line, and promptly fell on it, amid hearty applause, Symes made an indifferent effort at goal from an easy angle. This seemed to be the turning point of the game. The defence of the Coast men seemed to go to pieces, .'while the play, of'the Gisborne men improved." It was not long before a forward rush enabled Wepiha to score his second try. Hay failed at goal from almost directly in front of the posts. Poananga next got away aad made a good run, but threw away a chance of a score by running straight into the arms, of the fullback. Shortly, before the whistle sounded, a good piece of passing between Symes, Te Reina, and Nolan saw the latter race over at the corner. The kick at goal failed, aad ‘‘ no-side ” was sounded almost immediately. Poverty Bay thus won by 17 points (a goal from a try and four tries) to 5 points (a goal from a try). The score by no means; represented the difference on the play, as until within the last quarter of an hour, the Coast men played quite as well as the home team. The Waiapu men are to be congratulated on making such a creditable first appearapee, and it is certain that with a little more experience they will be a formidable side to meet. Mr W. S. MqCredio gave every satisfaction as referee, and Messrs A. W. Rees and R. Cole controlled the lines.