FOOTBALL.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 756, 17 July 1894, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

Waiau v. Kaikoura.

Latter won by 11 to 3.

Better weather (a little bleak for spectators) could not have been wished for than that which obtained on Saturday afternoon, when the first match of the season|between teams representing Waiau and Kaikoura took place on the Northern Recreation Ground. The field of play proved to be in better order for the game than was expected, seeing that only a very short time since it was nothing but a rough, uneven, shingle patch. To Mr Close great credit is due for the wonderful improvement effected in the ground, which should, in a few years time, if similar attention be paid it, become a capital one for football, if not cricket as well, as it can be made a fast, dry ground. It is still a little rough in places, of course, but its order surpasses the expectations of the most sanguine of those who have all along held that the ground can be made a good one for football and other athletic sports. It now labours under the disadvantage that spectators can at present witness contests taking place on the ground without entering the enclosure, and thus save paying for admission. Even though the charge made on Saturday was but the small sum of sixpence, only about 40 out of the 150 male adult spectators paid for admission, the bulk of the remainder occupying ‘ free seats’ on the public road ‘stand.’ Even some who went on to the ground did so by crawling through the fence; sportsmanlike, very I As the gate money is to assist in improving the ground, some, at least, of those who ‘ saw without paying ’ should have contributed their mite —it would have only meant one * refresher ’ less. However, when the trees —of which a belt has been planted inside of the fence, parallel with the road—grow up, and they are doing very well, people will not be able to see much without entering the enclosure. The Waiau team were, unfortunately, minus at least two of the best of their me n—Widdowson and tLinnell, who were prevented coming through—while other two of the chosen 15 failed to put in appearance, and only 13 men arrived here. Two substitutes were picked up in F. Monk and B. Monk, who, though quite out of practice, did very well considering. Kaikoura lost A. Maxton, who met with a slight accident to his ankle on Thursday. His place was, fortunately for Kaikoura, taken by A. Flower, being who, well fed, did signal service for his side. Alex Davidson won the toss for Kaikoura from Rich. Whittle, and elected to defend the northern gaol. As the Waiau team entered the field of play they were heartily cheered by their opponents, who returned the compliment with interest. The Kaikoura team was seen to be of a more even character, for while the Waiau 15 included four fine, stalwart, young men in the Mullane (3) and E. O’Malley, to say nothing of two or three others, yet their weight was largely discounted by the lightness of half a dozen of the remainder. Waiau got rather the better of Kaikoura in the first half —that apart from the score though towards its close the home team began to prove much more aggressive. In the second half the Kaikoura reps had decidedly the pull over their opponents. When the game was made a tight forward one the visitors more than held their own, but when altered to fast and open the home team got the better of the play. Neither side exhibited combination to any appreciable extent. Kaikoura certainly should have shown more than thev did, and unquestionably greater than Waiau, having practised more than the other side. The Waiau men had really not obtained any practice this season together—nor for that matter, had some of the Kaikoura men in the situations in which they

were placed. For some on both sides it was a case of ‘ first time under fire,’ and they stood the ordeal very well. One very pleasing feature of the game was the general good feeling exhibited throughout—the play was a little rough once or twice (as a visage or two testified) but nothing to speak of. So far as the spectators could hear there was a total absence of objectionable language on the part of the players, even under the most exciting conditions, ; while another point notice was the prompt acceptance of the Referee’s verdicts. Any player cavilling, in the slightest degree, with that important functionaries decisions was at once silenced by one or more of his own side, the Waiau men being slightly readier to bow. One or two of the players, on both sides, talked rather more than was necessary, but others again attended to the game without saying a word.

There was more off side play than we had anticipated seeing, Kaikoura men being the chief offenders ; they were also guilty of a good many infringments in other respects, taking the ball out of the scrum, etc. The fact that Waiau obtained a considerable number of free kicks (about double those awarded Kaikoura) showed that some members of the home team were chargeable with more frequent infractions, in various forms, of the laws of the game than were their opponents. The Referee was at one time heard saving, every few minutes, ‘ Free kick for Waiau 1’ ‘ Free kick for Waiau !’ The Kaikoura men who thus penalised the play of their own side should be more careful in future.

The teams (Kaikoura, cardinal and blue ; Waiau, dark blue with a red Maltese cross) were as follows, vie :

WAIAU : Full-back: E. O’Malley. Three-quarters: R. Whittle (captain), D. J. Barron, E. Mullane. Halves : W. Lecocq, A. Muir. Forwards:

Jas. Mullane, John Mullane, C. Derrctt, A. McGaskill, Allan McGaskill, A. Creed, H. Sharpe, F. Monk, B. Monk.

KAIKOURA : Full-back : J. Washington. Three-quarters : D. Haswell, A. Davidson (captain), A. Flower. Halves: F. Ritchie, E. Prince. Forwards:

P. Morris, F. Cox, J. Veitch, J. Sutherland, Fk. Renner, A. Gray, J. Mclnnes, G Turnbull. M Starkey,

The g'eneral features of the game, and the incidents of it, were, in the main, as follows. All being ready Whittle kicked off for Waiau with the wind. The ball was well returned, and within five minutes Waiau were forced down. The 25-kick transferred play to Kaikoura territory, but a game of see-saw followed for some little time, in which Barron, Lecocq, Allan McGaskill and John Mullane on the one side, and Turnbull, Flower, Morris and Prince on the other showed up prominently. Kaikoura became aggressive and invaded Waiau quarters, but the southern forwards relieved the pressure and the play was again transferred to the Kaikoura territory. Both sides worked hard, first one member then another exhibiting energy. Kaikoura had to force down, but from the 25-kick the game was worked to midfield. *An infringment gave Waiau a free kick, but nothing much was gained as Haswell relieved the pressure by a timelv and good kick well up out of touch. From the line out Whittle got possession and streaked.through his opponents, getting to within a yard or two of the line before Washington collared but did not stop him. and a try was obtained amid general cheering. The conversion was entrusted to O'Malley, who made a good but fruitless effort to increase the score. Kaikoura woke up. but found Waiau tough, Alex MacGaskill and

John and James Mullane putting in good work. Flower took a long pass well and made a fine run, but was not supported and John Mullane spoiled his effort. From a scrum Waiau worked the ball back, but Davidson showed up and made a fine kick which was followed up, but O’Malley nullified by a rattling good return out of touch at midfield. Kaikoura got the better of the line out. and Renner made a serviceable kick, but first E. Mullane and then LcCocq were prominent in improving things for Waiau. Morris showed np again, and, together with Ritchie, Starkey, Flower and Turnbull carried the play to Waiau quarters. Whittle, Alex MacGaskill, Lecocq, Derrett and J. Mullane made a combined and determined effort for their side, but a free kick awarded against them relieved the pressure and Flower showed up prominently. When collared be passed. Lecocq soon after got through like a shot, but the threequarters spoiled him. Haswell got the ball and made a fair run, ending with a good kick. Give and take play followed, until Davidson got a mark which Flower went near improving. Waiau again invaded their opponents’ ground, Jas. Mullane, Alex. MacGaskill, Derrett, Sharp, F. Monk and Lecocq showing up well. Wash- | ington proved equal to the emergency and saved a score. From the return to midfield there was some good play. On Waiau’s side Muir, Creed, Fk. Monk, Barron, John Mullane, Sharp and Lecocq appeared to the fore. For Kaikoura Prince, Ritchie, Starkey, Flower, Turnbull, Veitch and Cox were the more particularly noticeable. Davidson then singled himself ont, and made a good run well towards the line, but he was stopped by three of his opponents just as he kicked out. From the line out Allan MacGaskill put in smart work, but he was cleverly spoiled by Prince. Waiau, however, got through, chiefly owing to good play by Lecocq, the brothers Mullane (all three), Barron and Whittle. But the scene of play was immediately afterwards changed to Waiau territory. Some good play was shown by Flower, Ritchie, Prince, Starkey, Gray, Sutherland, Veitch and Cox. Lecocq, Muir, Creed, Whittle and E. Mullane were vigorously defensive, but they were unable to withstand the attack and play continued near the corner flag. All at once Mclnnes showed up and endeavoured to score. He carried the ball across the line, but, stumbling, lost possession and, thus, a certain try, Waiau being forced down. From the 25-kick the ball was returned to near the former scene of play, Flower, Cox, E. Prince, Morris, Sutherland, Renner and Turnbull putting in good work. Lecocq was playing a rattling game for his side, the brothers Mullane and MacGaskills well supporting him. With Waiau penned near the line the whistle sounded, and half-time was called with Waiau 3 points, Kaikoura 0.

From the opening of the second half Kaikoura played together better, but on the other side there was some equally determined play, and the game was made faster. On Kaikoura s side Flower was the more prominent, Lecocq on the other. Kicked off, the ball momentarily hovered above midfield, but was soon carried into Waiau territory. The forwards, as a whole, made the game faster, the halves being hampered a bit by some of them. After some open play in Waiau’s ground, Flower obtained a try by a very smart piece of work, though Waiau questioned its validity. Kaikoura were jubilant at the score being even. Flower made a good effort to increase it, but, though he made a capital kick, the ball just fell short. Waiau next appeared aggressive, but did not get far into Kaikoura territory before Staikey brought ‘ down the house ’ by a grand kick, and the visitors were put on the defensive. Davidson obtained a mark in a good position, and Flower converted. Scote : 7 to 3. 1 his roused Waiau, and they made a determined effort, which Cox nullified. The Mullane’s and McGaskills tried again,

but Veitch, Cox, Turnbull and Starkey stoutlv opposed. Then E. Mullane got through, but he was well tackled and brought down by Renner. Play in midfield went in favour of Waiau, and Barron, supported by MacGaskill, got on a nice dribble which Cox spoiled. Gray next showed up well, with Morris and Sutherland. Free kicks were frequent, after which Mullane got on a capital dribble, but he was unsupported and Haswell saved his side by kicking out and well up the field. From the line out Flower got ip possession and transferred play to Waiau ground, nearly getting over. For a few minutes Waiau got back to Kaikoura quarters, and Starkey pul his side in jeopardy by a wild pass, which Whittle and LeCocq took advantage of, but Washington relieved, and thereafter play remained pretty well in Waiau territory, where the game was stubbornly fought. The ball was driven across at the corner flag, with Cox and Turnbull well on it, but O'Malley cleverly saved the score and forced down. From the kick out Flower again showed up, Prince also doing good work. Next the apparently impossible occurred. From some close play, well in front of Waiau's goal, Veitch went in for unorthodox, but successful tactics, and placed a surprising addition to Kaikoura’s score, most unexpectedly, by potting a goal, amid a round of cheers. Score : 11 to 3. Waiau was nothing daunted. LeCocq, Whittle, Derretr, Mullanes, O’Malley, McGaskills and Creed playing up well. On Kaikoura’s side Prince played artfully, Davidson, Ritchie, Morris, Gray, Sutherland, Renner, Mclnnes, Cox, Turnbull, Starkey, Veitch and Flower all on the ball. Waiau momentarily gained an advantage but it was fruitless, and ‘ No side ’ was called with the visitors invading Kaikoura territory. Cheers and counter cheers were given for the respective sides and captains, and a joint one for the Referee, whose decisions, generally, pleased both sides. Messrs H. Schroeder and W. Walker acted as line judges. In the evening the visitors were entertained by the home team at a dance in the Masonic Hall. Some three and a half hours were most enjoyably spent in a sociable manner, and before dispersing (at 11. 30) Waiau cheered Kaikoura, and Kaikoura Waiau, with an all round cheer for the lady who had kindly supplied music gratis. Light refreshi ments were provided, the supper being ( a very nice one. The Waiau men left ; for home next morning, Kaikoura voting them ‘Jolly good fellows.’