FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 May 1910, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE MAOIU FOOTBALLERS' A OSTIiALI AN M. AI'CHES.

The following programme has been arranged lor the tour of Australia, by the Sew Zealand Alaori team :— Saturday, Juno 11. -- Against

Queensland, at orisbane. Wednesday, -Juno 15.—Against Northern District, at Newcastle. .Saturday, Juno 18.—Against Now South Wales, at Sydney. Wednesday, June 22.-—Against Western District, at Jiatlmrst. .Saturday, Juno 25. — Against American University, at Sydney Wednesday, June 29.—Against Central and Southern District, at Goiilburn. riaturdjiy, July 2. —Against Combined team at Melbourne. XOTRS. The colours of tho Maori team will bo black jerseys, with an eight inch red band round the chest, rod 'land round sleeves, white collar, fern leaf on left breast, black pants and stockings. Tho half-back of the team is M. Piki, of tho Merrivalo Club, Christ'■hurch. who only turns the scale at '.) stone. Tho forwards of the team are considered to be on the light side. Mr W. T. Varita kis been appointed manager for tho tour. Mr H. Poananga. of Auckland University, has been appointed lion, secretary and treasurer.

At tlie social and dance in eonnootion with tlie Levin-Wanderers football club last oven ing, Mr J. G. Hankins made allusion to tlio tour of the Maori team, -and his remarks appear in the report of the fiiiiic , - tion. TEAMS FOR SATURi^Y. Kia Ton Seniors.—Xehu, G. Cook, Taylor, I'irimi, >S. Cook, J. Hakaraia", 1 ,, . Cootes, H. Knocks, M. Skipper, M. Cootes, I). Cootes, R. Cootes, G. Armstrong, K. Hakaraia, F. Wilson.. Emergencies: A. Bevan, Utiku, J. Ropata. Levin-Wanderers Seniors.—Everett, Hopu, Xopia Winiata, Lewer, Neville "Winiata, C(K>te, Ilanna.n, Thorne, Jos. Saxon, C. Saxon, P. Winaata, Close, Wilson, Dixon, and \tciis* Tainui Juniors.—Bell, McCall, "Wilson (2), Grindrod, Carter, Ferguson, Davis, Maim, Woods (2), King, Winferbimi, Smith, Bailey. FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

(By "Dropkick.") A complaint wns made by .tlio secretary of the Kerern Club on Saturday at the laxity of the powers that be' in not notifying his club that tlie junior fixtures wore to bo commenced. ~, . , The match between Hui Mai wand Levin-Wanderer last Saturday proved the team to bo pretty evenly matched, and competition between senior teams this year should bo verv keen. The Hui 'Mai pack werb too good for their opponents in the tight, and (their hookers got possession of the ball in nearly scrum.

Hunter, Waka, and Bob George were the pick of a very even lot, and Ropata played a fair game on the wing. Although the Hui Mai backs were not brilliant they played a very safe game and showed some solid defensive worck. '

Martin played well aib full-back, but 111 ado tho mistake of trying to beat too many men. The ball <liid nob got away from tlio scrum too well, so very liittlo passing was done by the other men in the rear division, but they kicked and tackled splendidly. The Levin-Wanderer backs were like their opponents in regard to passing, and played the defensive game in fine style. Stuckey is improving every game and on Saturday his kicking was splendid. Hopu and Lower were very safe, whilst Nepia Winiata'a kicking was a feature of the game. Martin AViniata and Coote played their usual good games, and Neville did all that was required of him. Thome was no match for Ropata, and should have been replaced by Close, who is a great scoring man besides knowing the wing-forward game. The forwards do not seem to pack at all well, and it seems that if Saxon wont into Close's place an improvement would be effected. They are a. fine lot in the open work and very fast. Shannon are to be congratulated upon their victory over last year's winners of the bajinelr, for Ithey played the game in the proper spirit from the kick off till thb call of time. Tt is unfortunate that the south train does not arrive earlier at Otaki, for it is impossible to finish games played there before darkness falls even by playing the shortest, spoils. Tho game on Saturday last ended in vbrv bad light, 'and at times it was difficult for the referee to distinguish the players. Play in this match was very medioeorc, being more of an individual character than concentrated effort. Tinnns played easily tho best forward game on the ground, in fact the writer considers it tho finest Tame lie has seen Timms play. He tvns right on the job from start to finish. .<*ll tho Shannon pack oraftod well <uul i+. was owing to tWir efforts fltof •fliU.ij. si.rl" .t-opiired the victory. Ki.i To,a did not geit going til' the hi«t twenty minutes when they shook things nn a hit, and caused,their nmnn< i nt<! many anxious moments, j TavW in tho back division r>la ,r--od a. sound game, and with a littTe move pace would prove a valuable man to his side. As a link man he did good service feeding tho men behind him on every opportunity. Ki.l Toa, commenced play with only thirteen men, but had so many willing volunteers that within five minutes seventeen were doing battle for their side. A barr acker may do more for liis -idio than may be thought by many, is instanced in tho match ait Otaki. V Shannon back was putting in a good run near the line when a spectator stepped into the field of ■llav and neatly tripped him up, 'ind then dodged back before lie •ould be identified by the referee. The trick just referred to would ni'ove expensive if a visiting team were in an attacking position, for without doubt a referee would a■vard a try against tho home team who are responsible for the ground arrangements. The Levin-Wanderer A'—Kerern natch, tlioucrh the former were de■idodlv handicapped through a lack ■f backs, was a very fair exposition 'or an opening game. The Kereru rear-<iuard went in -or pome passing, which, considering he grensv state, of tho ball, was 'orv good. Of course thev had nractically no opposing backs to •nn up nrrninst. but, nevertheless, f thev stick to the passing game hev will tako some heating. A slit on is a. solid nlayov. nnd sol'oiii missed a catch. His pasing 'W> wao verv god. Howell, who scored all Kerem's 'enr trie':, was easily tho b«<rfc lf<j nrinter" en the g'-ound. This V-ivor oufht t.'i lia nlnviiin; cmiin;' h'vvtlv. when ho will undoubtedly ,i "flino for himself. "Dreadnonp-ht" is a bit on tho heavy side for a .-junior, though ho s a trifle slow. On one occasion he <roh clean away and it looked as 'f a. try was assured, but tho Levin nen after looking on in dismay, 'nvo chase. .Tack Monroe eventually bringinp" his man down a few 'pi'dc from til' l line. Fov Levin, Afnsnri-nve stood ont.bv himself. He had misfortune tr» 'in nut out of actio" and pl-iva-l 'ulLln/.1,- fov n p 1"" time, in wliifh tn.ai'finn lip. performed more than lifnl.lv. Til'inl.-ltuvn i-vl'ivp'l \v»n nnd Bh'ive'' n-Hh Monroe hut net manv «p«"lifllll!fi'ftO nn-,yio tile''' W.OV. T'"i J,OTI'I_AV°"'II>VOV TC tnnin nvn 'o bo congratulated on winning heir first mateh. When the team 'eft it was thought Shannon would iiavo an easy win, but it is tho unixpecetd that happens. Cyril Bartholomew is in charge >f this team, and on Saturday the "little skipper" played a good game ior his side. Beta also played well in the backs. Tn the forward duvisilon Pukiu was the pick, his line-out play being •cry attractive. "Dropkick" wishes this enthns■*asf*'c team every success, and bv 'he way. it will take the L-W A's til they know to beat them. Ferguson, half for the Tainui 'earn, is reported to have played a M-oat game on Saturday against the Tiii Mai juniors. As there is not » v really good half-back in any of the enior tenuis this year it is to bo '•(vped this vonng player will soon 'ie siven a push up. Says the Otaki MailAt a general meeting of tho lua Toa Club oil Monday night considerable interest .vas evinced, and last Saturday's same was discussed. It was dec'id-

•d to prevent a repetition mud organise forces so that in futuro a Mill fifteen would take the field at •lie appointed time of .starting. Other matters wore discussed, and it is now thought there will be no occasion for the CI ub disbanding. A row new officers have been, elected, iiid it is to bo hoped the appointments will be beneficial. I notice G. Cook's .name amongst llio names of players to represent the Kin Toa club against Levin on Saturday. He will be a welcome addition to the Otaki team, as well as to the reps. The secretary of the Horowhenua Rugby Union informs me that lie has received a protest firom the Flui Mai Club on behalf of their .junior team, claiming the match against Tainui. The subject of the protest is that Tainui played Bailey, who the previous week 'had acted as a substitute for Kia, Toa. The referee, in the match lias also forwarded to the Urn ion a letter stating that this was the case, but that the captain of the Hui Mai team had. agreed to Bailey playing. The matter will be dealt with at the next meeting of the Union.