Football.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 93, 31 July 1908, Page 4

Football.

Nehiaehir.ui (6) v. Te Kuiti (3)

The deciding game for the premiership of the Maniapoto Rugby Union was played last Saturday_hetween the two Te Kuiti teams. Considerable interest attached to the game as the teams had met twice previously, the first occasion resulting in a win for Te Kuiti while in the second game the Maori team proved victorious. A fair number of spectators assembled to witness the game, and Mr Phelan, of Manunui, was referee. After the kick off play centred for a time the Te Kuiti forwards having rather the best of matters, but the line kicking of the Nehi backs equalised matters. A succession of scrums and line work was somewhat relieved by a good Te Kuiti rush in which Boles, Cotter and Cleaver were prominent, but danger was averted by J. Hetet who gathered the up and sent it out near half-way. More scrum work followed until, from the loose the ball was taken through the Te Kuiti vanguard by Warihi and kicked hard to the full back. Toki, following up fast, had Graham in trouble, and securing the leather fell over the line and scored lirst blood. J. Hetet's attempt at goal proved fruitless. From the kick-off Te Kuiti rallied and the forwards worked the ball down to the Nehi 25. Strenuous efforts were made to break through the defence but the Maori backs kept finding the line in excellent style. A fine kick by F. Kerr saw the ball out of bounds close to the line, and from the throw-in Poole secured and fell across the line scoring an unmistakable try. F. Kerr's attempt at goal went wide. Half-time was called shortly afterwards with the scores even.

Upon resuming, play was for a time in Te Kuiti's 25, but a good forward rush threatened danger to the Nehi line. Rou Rata proved equal to the emergency, and with a fine kick sent the leather out at half-way. Another forward rush from the lineout was stemmed by Harris, and J. Hetet, by means of a useful kick removed the scene of play to the Te Kuiti side of half-way. Loose play ensued and Duke Hetet sent a long pass to his backs. J. Hetet snapped up the leather and transferred neatly to Grey who outpaced the opposition and scored behind the goal posts. J. Hetet failed to improve the score. With,a deficit of 3 points Te Kuiti rallied and keeping the play close, kept the opposing backs busy defending. The battle waged fiercely close to the Nehi line, and strenuous efforts were made by the forwards to force a passage across. Once a kick by a Maori back sent the ball to F. Kerr, who had a great chance of running in and scoring a try, but elected to take a mark. The kick at goal went wide and a force resulted. The Te Kuiti forwards charged back with the ball at toe, but a hard kick enabled J. Hetet to race back and save. The situation was eased somewhat by a good kick by Grey, and the game ended shortly afterwards with the scores: Nehinehinui 6 points, Te Kuiti 3 points.

Notes on the Game. For the winners Rou Rata at fullback played an excellent game. Neat and effective in all his work, he evinced no hesitation in going for the ball and got in his kick on every occasion, and proved a tower of strength to his side. „Of the three-quarters J. Hetet showed to most advantage. His line kicking was good, and he handled the ball really well. The opening he made for Grey to score his try was a clever piece of play. Grey performed creditably and his pace in running round the opposing backs was a revelation. Tuheka has played better games, but had few chances in attack. His line kicking was good at times. Harris, at five-eighths, did a deal of rush stopping, and was kept very busy, a remark which applies to Duke Hetet. The Maori forwards were overmatched by their opponents but stuck to their task very gamely, and played hard to the finish of the game. Toki on the wing was always to the fore and was rewarded with a try for consistent following up. For the losers Graham, at full-back shaped poorly for a start and, by failing to field the ball cleanly, was responsible for Nehinehinui's first try. He improved greatly in the second spell, and put in good work. The three-quarters had little to do and lacked combination in attack. F. Kerr fielded and kicked well. H. Vause, at half, played his usual solid game, but his attempts to set the backs in motion were not supported. The forwards all worked hard and probably deserved to win, but they lacked the scoring element behind them. Boles, Cleaver, Pitcon and Cotter were prominent in the rush.es, and Poole did excellent line work. Ids try being well obtained. Taken altogether Te Kuiti had the better of the game, and with one or two scoring backs would probably have increased their score considerably. On the other hand the Nehinehinui backs showed infinitely better football than their opponents, and demonstrated the value, from both a defensive and attacking point of view, of a little combination and ability to take advantage of openings. It was backs against forwards, and on this occasion the backs came out on top.

The tour of the Anglo-Welsh football team, so far as the Dominion is concerned, terminated on Saturday last at Auckland, when die New Zealanders defeated the Britishers by 29 points to nil. The team have played 18 matches, of which they have won 10, lost 7, and drawn I.