FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2090, 27 May 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Press Association

PLAYERS’ ACCIDENT FEND. A meeting of footballers was held in the Masonic Hotel on Saturday evening to discuss matters of interest to players in general. Mr. AV. Miller presided. . The Chairman said that the Union had passed a resolution debarring unfinancial members participating in club matches after June 5, the Union to ’have power to examine the books of any club at any time. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. L. B. Sheriff, it was decided to establish an Accident In- ' sura nee Fund for the benefit of players injured during matches. Any player may register in the Fund upon payment of one shilling, provided he is a financial member of his Club. The fund was started during the _ meeting, a large" number of players * *• registering. „

WEST END V. KAITI-CJITY

The opening match of the senior championship under the auspices of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union took place on Saturday last at Victoria Diomain, when West End mot Kaiti- - The weather was fine, with a cold bracing wind blowing which, besides being rather disagreeable for the onlookers, was most disconcerting to the side playing .against it. iheie was a good attendance, and both teams had a good following, the “barracking” being most pronounced, especially during the concluding stages of the game. The game was controlled in an efficient manner by Mr j> (; Hallamore, and Messrs. Olsen and Bines held the lino flags. . The tennis lined out as 'follows. West End : Tate, Forbes, Henderson, Roderick. Brown, W> Friday, Pleke, Mutn. Hakawai, 0. Hepburn, Stuart (Captain), Turner, Riwai, I’ine and y: 1 Jay) Ihou'gliton, Pnflett 'ols-n. Robinson, Rowe, Crinlmto„: Parsons. Nicolas. Winter, Lowe, Hansen. Bright. Grant, Williams. Kaiti-City won the toss -and playe with a rt IT mi wind and the sun at their hacks Hakawai set the ball , u motion. .Robinson found the line a centre with a good return Gm and take pm.v ensued, West End hav g the advantage of weight m the pack, hut being held in check in the nnen Puflett gained a lot of ground a fme kick which went out at his opponent’s 25 flag. Kaiti-City pressed hard,. Brown and WJ Friday P«ttiue iu some good defensive work, the latter sending a quick pass to Brown, whose kick failed to find the line. Puflett secured and outpacing ns • opponents gave Broughton a clear run but tho whistle sounded for a forward pass. Puflett and Brown cxehaimed kicks. Play centred. A dash"hy Brown was checked by Roni„.son. who grassed h.s man prettily Kicolas broke away with the hall at llis toes and Rowe gaining posscsison made a great dash for tlio goal-line, being pushed out of touch at tlio corner Stuart and Ellison were inrtruLiental in relieving the pressure. Bright, Lowe and Nicolas wore conspicuous in tho front of w de» rtls h by Kaiti-City, which compelled AVest End to force. Puflett, who was shaping well at centre made an open- > jng and handed the leather on .to Olsen, who passed at random, and Stuart intercepting turned defence into attack, and being well assisted by liis forwards, rushed the ball ovci the Kaiti-City line, a scoro being narrowly averted. Fast play ensued m midfield. Griiilinton and Rowe passing well, but Robinson was not so Accurate in his deliveries. The, piny of the West End rearguard was very patchv, it' being apparent that tlie men were not used to each other s play. Tate played well at full and iclieved his side on several occasions with good lino kicks. A good piece of play between Brown, Henderson, Mutn and AVi Friday, forced KaitiCity. Hansen broke away from the lin’o-out : and .Brown relieved with a i flue line kick. A fierce onslaught' on

West End’s base was almost successful, Lowe losing possession when a

few yards from the lino. Pino, Brown. Wi Friday, Henderson and Forbes were responsible for somo good defensive work and eventually succeeded in clearing their line. Brown marked in his opponents’ territory and Turner nutdo a good attempt at goal. Hoke, Haknwai, Pino and Ellison headed a grand rush which Broughton, relieved in tlio nick of t'imo. West End at this period wove getting the hall from every pack, but their backs

were making little use of tho advantage thus gained. On tho other hand Kniti-Citv nuulo the utmost uso of thoir openings, and whenever it came from tho scrum tho hacks throw tho leather about with a will. Two splendid passing rushes which passed through the hands of all the Kniti-

City backs, should have resulted in scores, but faulty handling of the leather nullified the attempts. Halftime was called with no scoro on either side. Upon resuming play was fast. Grinlintoh received a heavy fall and Rowe took his place at half.

Turner who was playing a good game at wing-forward broko away with the

ball in bis possession and passed to Brown who transferred to Roderick who kicked out. Following up their advantage AVest End forwards, who were showing great combination rushed tho oval across tlie goal-lino, Riwao scoring a good try. Brown failed in tho attempt at goal. West End 3 points, City nil.

West End returned to the attack. Henderson and Forbes being conspicuous. Hav got his side out of danger with a serviceable punt which -.vent out at his own 25. An overhnrd kick by Brown allowed Hay to

force. Play centred. Robinson gained possession and made a finrun. He jinked cleverly through the forwards and, heating the five-eighths and three-quarters, was tackled close to the line but succeeded in grounding tho ball over the chalk lino.' Puflett kicked an easy goal. IvaitiCity 5 points, AVest End 3. Fast, and exciting play followed, both sides being forced in a short space of time. Pine and Brown were playing splendid games for West End, proving a thorn in their opponents’ side. Wi Friday initiated a passing rush, sending the leather to Brown, to Turner, to Roderick, to Turner who was splendidly brought to earth by Grant. Hay relieved with a good kick. _ A rush by Kaiti-City was frustrated by Brown who was playing brilliantly. Henderson .and AA’i Friday also put in good work. Nicolas, Bright, Lowe and AVinter were associated in a piece of fine footwork, compelling Tait to force. Brown and Puflett exchanged kicks. AA’est End worked the ball back into neutral territory. Robinson stopped a. dangerous rush and put in a nice screw kick. AVi Friday made one of ' liis characteristic dashes, and running over a couple of the Kaiti-City backs almost scored, being up-ended by Rowe. Brown had a dash at tlie line but met a stumbling block in Robinson. From a scrum AA’est End got possession, the ball passing from AA’i Friday to Brown who sent the sphere on to Henderson, who piloted it with a splendid drop kick fairly between the uprights amidst the applause of both partisans. AVest End 7 points, Kaiti-City 5.

Rowe, Robinson, Puflett, and Olsen participated in a splendid passing run, carrying play well into their opponents’ quarters. From a loose rush Lowe picked up and sent tho leather on to Bright, who raced over and scored A good try. Puflett again proved equal to the emergency and kicked a good goal. Kaiti-City 10 points, AVest End 7. Kaiti-City 'continued to press their opponents and Lowe, who was working like a Trojan, made another fine run. At' this stage of tlie game play was stopped for a few. minutes owing to Pine being laid out. Upon resuming Bright and Hansen led Kaiti-City, using their feet cleverly. AA’i Friday relieved with a good run, and the AA'est End forwards, Taking a hand, rushed the ball down the field, where Mutu picked it off his toes and forged across the line scoring-a fine try beneath tlie posts. Brown was entrusted with the kick at goal and added tlie extra points, amidst loud cheering. AA’est End 12 points, Kaiti-City 10°

The whistle then colluded no-side. For an opening game the play .was of a very high standard. The forwards on both sides worked well together and showed good combination. The backs handled the leather nicely and when they . get used to each other’s play Mionld give a better account of themselves. Many good chances of scoring were thrown away on either side, by faulty, passing and handling. For the winners Tate played iiis usual safe game at full. Henderson (a new man) at centre-three-quarter played well, and when- he gets used to his companions’ play should prove a valuable ■ acquisition to his side. “AVeka” Roderick on tlio wing did what came his way safely. Forbes -on the other wing did not shape so well. Brown played brilliantly at five-eighths, and was well assisted by Vi Friday behind /the pack. The forwards all worked like Trojans and West End’s victory wasduo to their efforts. For KaitiCity, Hay, at full, took the ball and kicked .well, but would have done bettor service near the pack. Olsen, wing-three-quarter, made his first appearance hero, and when ho strikes form should give a good account of him Broughton on the other wing played well until ho received a kick on thankle. Puflett, at centre, gave tl best exhibition he has given for several seasons. He handled tlio ball -.veil and passed nicely-, and his tur of speed adapts him for the position His kicking was of great sol-vice to his side. Robinson and Rowe, boi played splendidly, and were responsible for the fine passing .of the Kai City backs. Their defensive work was sound. Grinlinton played pluclvily behind the pack. He was roughly handled by the West End vanguard Lows, Nicolas, and Bright were the pick of the forwards, who all worked hard.

Press Association

TROUBLE WITH A REFEREE DUNEDIN, last night.

The Referees’ Association considered a letter sent to the Rugby Union, complaining about the ferceing at the Dunedin ’Varsitymatch. It was unanimously resolved that the Rugby Union.be asked to call upon the University' Club for a withdrawal of the club’s letter, and at the same timo demand a written apology to the referee Mr. H. White, and to the committee of the Association; failing such apology being made, the Association will decline to appoint referees for future matches played by the Lmvcrsity Club.

AUCKLAND PROFESSIONALS. WELLINGTON, last night. No Auckland players are included in the North lisland team, those nominated having declined to sign the necessary affidavit concerning their amateur status; All the other players in the North Island, except two at Petone, signed as required. Tlioso players who have declined to sign will not be considered for the team to visit Australia.-.

NORTH ISLAND TEAM. WELLLINGTON, last night'/ The following players have _ been selected to represent the North Island in the North v. South Island match: Full-back, G. Sponcor (Wellington); three-quarters, Wallace, A. Mitcliinson (Wellington), Dive (Taranala); five-eighths, Hunter and Mynott (Ta-

rnnaki); half, Roberts (Wellington; wing forward, Coleman (Taranaki); forwards. AA'ilson and Spencer (AA'ellington). McNao (Mannwatu), Bailey (Hawke’s Bay), O’Sullivan (Taranaki) Hogan (AVnngnnui); emergencies, O’lionry (AA’ainirapn), Guscott (Wanganui).