FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 33, 7 June 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Te Kuifi (.3) v. Opai-ure (22)

Saturday afternoon last, at Te Kuiti, saw the first defeat of the season for the local men, but, igiving all praise to the Oparure team for the excellent exhibition of football, it was unfortunate for Te Kuiti that several of their best men should have been absent. However, instead of football falling a bit fiat in local circles, it has now taken a turn, and as Oparure and Te Kuiti are'equal in points in the Union matches the interest has considerably increased, and the next contest will be awaited with keen interest by the lovers of the game. Oparure kicked off and though Te Kuiti had the advantage of down-hill play, had the sun in their faces, and which, during the early part of the game, was very strong and dazzling. In returning the kick off Te Kuiti took the ball down the field and Oparure forced. Play remained in Oparure's 25 for some considerable time and again, within a few minutes, they found it necessary to force to save Te Kuiti from scoring. From a scrum in the Oparure 25 the visitors made a short passing rush, but soon lost the ball, it going to the Te Kuiti backs, who mulled, and for some off side play Oparure obtained a free kick and attempted to place a goal, but it fell short. Play was centred for a time and F. Kerr securing the ball went near scoring and Oparure forced again. A pass from Boles gave Moir an excellent kick, and Te Kuiti, following up well, worked the ball into the Maroon's 25, but they soon returned the leather, and play was again centred. Oparure were shortly afterwards penalised for an infringement, and Moir, who took a kick at goal, kicked a little too low, the ball striking the bar and rebounding into play. Oparure made a good rush but were eventually stopped by the Te Kuiti backs who were awarded a free kick, • the ball finding the line. One of the Oparure men made a neat kick from the field but it fell short of the bar and Te Kuiti marked. 'Several. opportunities were here missed by the Oparure men, in not judging their passes. Being decidedly the strongerteam they began to press Te Kuiti very hard, and eventually scored their first try, the kick at goal being unsuccessful. Oparure'3, Te Kuiti 0. Very fast play was the order of the first spell, and during a loose scrum Pavitt met with a slight accident. Taylor securing the ball made a splendid kick, but it was quickly returned by Wilkinson, who saved his team time and again with his "heady" kicking. Te Kuiti -?again got' into Oparure's-25, and play went. right across the field and F. Kerr securing the leather made a neat little dash and scored for Te Kuiti. Taylor's kick did not increase the score and the first spell ended : Oparure 3, Te' Kuiti 3Te Kuiti kicked off and Wilkinson returned quickly, and the Oparure men following up well, gained possession in the ie Kuiti 25, when from very clean passing/' they scored within a few minutes. Harris took the kick but did not add to the score. Oparure 6, Te Kuiti 3- After a little play in the centre of the field Oparure, who were attacking very strongly, made another effort to score but were stopped by their opponents, the ball going 1 out at the 25 flag. Harris secured the ball from the throw _ in and made a capital dash for the line and scored again. Wilkinson taking the kick added the major points, the scores being Oparure 11, Te Kuiti 3. A considerable amount of line play then ensued, and Oparure, who were playing a winning game and also using great judgment, soon had their opponents in trouble and scored again, the kick at goal failing to add to the score. Oparure 14, Te Kuiti 3- Te Kuiti were now playing two men short, Guilford and Wharihi having left the field of play. Though the local men were now short, they made some very determined efforts to increase their score, but Oparure who seemed to have all the sympathy of the snectators, rallied to every call and so u hud their opponents hard pressed. Several kicks wero quickly returned by both sides, and Pavitt, making a nice mark, found the line and thus relieved Te Kuiti for a little while. Oparure again attacked their men with great force, the ball going into the Te Kuiti backs, when F. Kerr saved his side by quickly finding the half-way flag. For a while Te Kuiti were able to defend their goal but the combination of the visitors was too good for them, and they had to suffer another score against themj Wilkinson took the kick, but was unable to put the ball over the bar. Oparure 17, Te Kuiti 3. Oparure were soon in possession of the ball again, and gave a very pretty exhibition of their passing capabilities, the leather eventually going to Harris who again crossed the Te Kuiti line. This time Wilkinson converted, the scores standing : Oparure 22, Te Kuiti 3. From the kick off the ball was sent back to Taylor, who made a short run and found the line about half-way. From this out play was confined to the Oparure 25, but the visitors easily prevented their opponents from scoring and thus won an excellent game as above stated. Mr N. B. Lusk officiated as referee, while Messrs McCardle and Elliott took the line flags. Notes on the Play. The improvement shown by the Oparure team was considerable, and this, combined with a dry ground, enabled them to give the best exhibition of football witnessed this season, though during the first spell the forwards kicked far too hard, and did not give their backs the chances they should. In the backs they had a strong combination, and they only required the ball to give an excellent display of their powers. Wilkinson, Cleaver and Harris were undoubtedly the pick of the backs and played capital football, while the forwards, who were very strong, all played well. Te Kuiti had to play a beaten game from the commencement, and with the absence of one or two players, and the retirement in the second spell of Guilford and Wharihi, had rather a bad time. As well as having a hard game to defend, Te Kuiti showed lack of form, and the combination in the

backs was poor, though Moir, F.Kerr, and Vause ihowed up well., Messrs Pavitt, Keeioy and Boles were the pick of the fc rwards.