FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 40, 26 July 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

King Country (9) v. Maniapoto (0). The first inter-union match to be contested by the Maniapoto Rugby Union was played at Manunui, on Saturday last,.against the King Country Union. The Maniapoto team proceeded to Taurnarunui on Friday evening, and were hospitably received by the Union officials of that centre. Considerable interest was taken in the game by all the surrounding districts, and special train were run to and from Raurimu. Until mid-day on Saturday the weather, though dull, was promising. Just as the team was preparing to leave for Manunui however, the rain began to fall and a succession of smart showers were experienced till after the game had been got going. There was a large attendance of spectators the proportion of ladies among them being very noticeable. The teams took the field punctually at 2.30 p.m., the home team being led by D. Thorn and the Maniapoto by J. Moir. The King Country representatives were seen to be a weighty looking lot, and must have averaged a stone all round the heavier. The home team won the toss and Maniapoto kicked off, the return going into touch past half-way. Give and take play followed, until Thom by a good line kick transferred play to the visitors 25. A succession of scrums followed and to the surprise of the majority it was seen that the visitors were holding their own in the forwards. From loose play the ball came out to the home backs, and after a scramble Tuki got across the line and scored first blood, Hodge made an excellent attempt at the goal, but was unsuccessful. Forward play followed the kick off, and for an infringement the visitors were penalised. Thom placed a magnificent goal from nearly half-way. The Maniapoto then took a hand and the forwards breaking away in good style carried play to the home quarters. Good line kicking on the part of Thom, however, drove them back and a forward rush by the home team was only stopped by Connell at full back. Loose play ensued and the ball comming out to Thom near the goal line, he dived oyer and scored the second try." The attempt at goal was a failure. King Country 9, Maniapoto 0. From this out for the remainder of the spell there was little excitement in the game whiph was mostly confined to the forwards, and the spell ended without further score.

Immediately after resuming the game, it was seen that the Maniapotos were playing with greater dash, and

the forward?, by means of good rushes, kept the home team busy defending. However, the defence of the homesters was very sound, and though severely tested throughout the whole .of the second half, the backs came through the ordeal with credit. Thorn, b3 r means of his line kicking, was responsible for a great amount of the work, and time after time drove back the opposition. Towarks the finish the Maniapoto backs began to get in some work, and with the leather passing between Moir, Hetet, and Coburn, the maroons at times looked dangerous. Taylor broke through on one occasion, ann only had to pick up the ball to make an almost certain try, but the oval was knocked on. Cob urn was thrust into touch several times close to the corner flag, and some fine forward rushes were splendidly stopped by Campbell, the King Country full-back. The home team rallied at times, only to be driven back, and were never really dangerous in the second spell. However, the visitors could net break through the defence, and had to suffer defeat by 9 points to nil. Mr Brown officiated as referee.