FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1559, 15 September 1905, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE POVERTY BAY REPRESENTATIVE TEAM’S TOUR.

(Notes by “ Observer.”) -The Poverty Bay representatives arrived in Napier last _ Thursday morning and played their first match on Saturday against the Hawke’s Bay representatives. With the exception of one man (Michison, threequarters), the home team consisted of members selected from the three town senior teams, Ahuriri, City 1 and Scinde. _ In the first spell the piay was fairly oven, with the honors if anything in favor of the visitors, whose forwards showed better all-round form than their opponents, and although Hawke 8 -Bay crossed over with a lead, of three "points ; it was merely the re’sult of the game that McVay succeeded in placing a goal from a penalty kick. i i Soon after the opening of the second j half the Poverty Bayites pulled themselves together, and working the sphere inside the home twenty-five made things hum for about seven minutes, during which they fairly_got all over our boys, and crossed the line three times. Both backs and forwards had an equal share in the very vigorous attack, and the ball rattled abouu in a manner which quite hit the taste of the large crowd of spectators who enthusiastically applauded the tine work put in by .the visitors at this period. The visitors’first try was a rather soft one, Sherratt receiving the ball from a throw-in near the corner, and dropping over m the softest manner possible. The next one was the result of first-class passing by Wi Friday. Bobinson andßowe, the latter twisting and turning, and eluding practically the whole of the home team. Next, the ball came out nicely again, and reaching Wi Friday that player shot through his opponents like a flash. This highly productive effort of the visitors‘.appeared to take most of the vim out of them, as hereafter the home team asserted itself, and but for the very sound defensive P lft y the Poverty Bay backs, must have turned the tide of victory. A clever try was scored by Munro, after which the visitors were mainly defending, aud' the: issue being in the balance till the end, when Smith secured a mark, and the referee calling a “ no-charge owing to over-eagerness on the part of one or two of the Poverty Bay forwards, much excitement prevailed as McVay carefully prepared to kick for goal.’ i But he failed to rise to the emergency, and the victory of the visitors was declared amid mu ch enthusiasm. The winners style of play exoited very favorable comment, the team proving itself an even and solid combination. Of the backs, Wi Friday, Kobinson, and Rowe were the pick, and frequently kept the home players busy when passing rushes were Initiated. Shraeft, wing threequarter, created a favorable impre3 Sion, and could have been given more to do. Delemere appeared, lost on the other wing, but his kick-m was frequently serviceable. Bowe wen, up to centre in the second spell, and played a fine game, whilst Hay shape well at full-back. Skeet and Sharp did a lot of good work on the wing. Wepiha was much in evidence during the first spell, but was not prominent in the second half. Of the others Brooking, Leydon, Pirn and Sherratt were perhaps the best, although the whole pack put in a very solid afternoon’s work.

THE HASTINGS MATCH'. A decided surprise was expected by the Hastings Sub-unions’ team, when they lowered the colors of the visitors, The game was a very fast and interesting one. During the first half the Hastings hoys went at it “eyes out,” and as the result of some excellent play among their backs, scored three good tries, one of which was' converted. "During; tho spell the play of . the

I Poverty Bayites was oxcoodingiy slugI gish. The men appeared to bodeI cidedly off-color, and quite incapablo I of a vigorous effort. On crossing ovor, I however, they shook themselves up, I and aftor a short period of give-and-take, assumed the aggressive. Making I the play loose, and throwing the ball about freely, two good trios woro seated, one by Kobinson, and the other by Kowo, from one of which Wopiha I placed a fine goal. During tho last five minutos Hastings were very hard pressed, but rather bad generalship was shown by Robinson in failing on several occasions to claim marks

I within good range, there was a reasonable prospeot of landing a goal from at least two of these chances, with the further chance of success resulting from smart following up. However, the opportunities were not taken, and Hastings were returned winners of a really willing contest. On the whol< the play of the visitors rear-guard wai more ragged than on Saturday. Rowe at half in the second spell, shapoc well, as also did Delemere, who wenl into the five-eighth position, Newton taking the wing (he was very poor at full-back in the. first spell) and Hay dropping to full-back. Robinson was not in form, in the early stages, and frequently hung on to the ball too long, but showed much improvement towards the close. Shraft was con- • spicuous also in the second half. All the forwards worked hard _in the second spell, and had .they displayed the same vim in the earlier stages of

the game,' the result would undoubtedly have been different. The visitors have been well-treated by the local union, and will, notwithstanding their loss on Tuesday, return home with pleasant memories of their I trip. They have certainly won golden opinions by their quiet. and_ gentlemanly behaviour during their short sojourn in our midst.