FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 176, 26 July 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

- —-• ♦ - Maniapoto v. Otorohaftga. On Saturday last the Maniapoto team travelled to Otorohanga te try conclusions with the chosen of that township. The weather being glorious and the ground in first class condition » ttond game resulted. The teams lined up as follows: — MANIAPOTO. Full: Howarth; threequarters: Rett Rata, Tuheka, F. Kerr; five-eighths: Moir, Turei; half: Black; forwards: Pratt, Keeley. Dan Grey, Thompson. Glasgow. Sullivan, Williams, J. Kerr - -wing. OTOROHANGA. Full: P. Termer: tbreequarters: Tat Clarke, J. Clarke. B. Clarke; fiveeighths: Tarrant; half Tiara; fcrwards: S. Turner, W. Clarke. D. Turn cr H. Gray, M. Anderson, T. Emery, Hokfen, Symes, Willis. Otorohanga kkked off with the sun in their eyes which proved a handicap. Shortly after the start of the game Turei marked and with a fine kick Dan Grey landed a goal. From the kick off the Maniapoto forwards got possession and compelled Otorohanga to force. From tbe klek off Otorohanga retaliated with a strong rush down the field, but Howarth marked and relieved matters, and an exchange of kick* between the opposing hacks was followed by some bard scrum work in the centre of the ground. The Maniapoto forwards getting possession, made a strong rush and . Otorohanga were exnpelled to force. At this stage Tiwaand Tarrant were conspicuous for solid play. The local forwards getting possession rushed into the Maniapoto territory, but Re* cleared cleverly with a fine line kick. A forward tush by the visitors was well stopped by B. Clark. Shortly afterwards Otorohanga looked danger- , ous, but Moir marked and gained ; ground with a kick into touch. The Maniapoto forwards carried the play into the local 25> and looked like scoring but some sound play on the part of the Otorohanga backs prevented a score. A fres kick being awarded to Maniapoto Dan Grey made a spleftdfct attempt at goal, only just fairing, Ihe ball passing over ©na of the posts. Tarrant was again conapicoona for pluckily saving a forward rush. Tfc» Otorohanga* forwards getting uobm-*-iion carried play into the visitors 1 ' 15, and from a forward rush P. Clarke got possession, and passed to J. Clark, who scored, R. Clarke failing to add the major points. Form the kick off the Oto. forwards aga?n got possession, and a stsong'nwb was well stopped by Tuheka. Shortly after half time was called with play wmid-fieM The majority of the play in the second half was confined to the forwards, and from the kick off the leather was carried op and down the field by a series of forward rushes, which ended in the Maniapoto forwards compel ling Oto. to force. Some tight scrums followed the Otorohanga men show tag great superiority in not only getting possession of the ball, hot also in heeling oat. An Oto. rush was smartly stopped fey Howarth, bat the Oto. men wet* not to be denied and again getting possession looked dangerous* and were only prevented from j scoring by a splendid save by Moir. Shortly after this M..ir snapped up the leather, passed to Turei, who passed ; to Black, the latter scoring a fine try. Dan Grey failed in the attempt at goal. Soon after play began the visitors compelled the Oto. men to force. Scrum work in the Otov 26 followed.and Turei getting possession passed to Roo Rata, who scored, and Moir landed a fine goat. The Oto. forwards now got to work in earnest, and compelled Maniapoto to fere*. A rush on the part of the Maniapoto forwards was nifped in the bod hy P. Turner who with a good kick found touch. The Oto. forwards again looked dangerous, but Black marked, and Dan Grey with a good kick relieved. Otorohanga for some time kept the Maniapoto penned * up in their 25, and looked dangerous on several occasions, breaking away * with the ball at foot. The Maniapoto's carried the bail to the Oto. fall who was not found wanting. Give and take ptay followed for some time, and the Oto. forwards carried the ball into the visitors' 25, and compelled them to force. With the play in midfield the whistle blew with the score: Maniapoto 11 points, Otorohanga 3 points. Mr N. B. Look efficiently carried out the duties of referee. Notes. In a game like this when all are triers,it is almost Invidious to particularly mention any player for special brilliancy. The game was a keen one from start to finish.and the fact that a club team shoutd put up such a good fight against a Union team speaks well for the standard of Otorohanga football. Tbat th j Maniapoto's wore triers to a man, is certain, seeing that they *«■ were playing under the eyes of their selector, who was looking out for the best men to include in the representative team to play Auckland on Saturday next. The game though ajfart and keen one, was played in a thoroughly friendly spirit, as all good games of football should be. From apartkolarly

good lot of forwards I would mention the following aa being especially prominent: In the Maniapoto team, Glasgow, I. Kerr, and in the Otorohanga team. R. Symcs and H. Grey; in the Maniapoto backs Moir and Black w«re always sound and Howarth at full very safe. In the Otorohanga hacks P. Turner at full was a stumbling block i to the opposing team, while Tiwa at half, J. Clarke threeqoarter, and Tarrant at five-eighths were possibly the most noticeable of a good back division. There is no doubt tbat io getting possession of the ball in the serums, and heeling out, the Otorohanga forwards completely outclassed the Maniapeto* pack, and tbat the practising of these two absolutely essential qualities will have to be assiduously attended to hy the Maniapoto pack, In view of the game with Auckland is equally certain. Mangapehi v. Nebineainoi. The Managpehi footballers journeyed to Te Kuiti on Saturday Isat to meet the Nehenehenui team.and an interesting game was fought,the Nehenehenui team eventually winning by 8 points to 3 points. From the kick off the Nehe team made things interesting and carried the hall to their opponents' 25, where • good deal of line work was indulged in. From a tine oot Mangapehi gained possession, and Donkin with the ball at toe took the ball down the field, and a score looked certain but want of form on the part of some of the Mangapehi forwards in following up lost them the try. Some scrum work in the Nebc 25, saw O'Neill break away but Brown stopped the rush well, and with a nice line kick relieved. Grey obtained possession, and streaked for the Mangapehi line, but slipped and strained his ankle. From a scrum the- visitors got possession and carried the ball to the Nehe 25 where Donkin snapped up and carried the ball across the line. The kick at goal proved fruitless. The Nehe team then made things lively and looked very dangerous at times, but the defence of the opposing backs was sound. Temetera, the Mangapehi crack threeqoarter then put in some good work and gaining possession took the ball into the local danger zone. After some give and take play the whistle sounded half time.

On resuming play the NeV team , showed more combination in the forwards, and getting to work quickly seen had the visitors in trouble. Hira. who was playing th« gam? of bis life. got possession and made a big try tr> j score but was collared near tbf line. | Hikaka then gained possession but was f thrown out of touch a couple of yards ; from the tine. Sam* smart play by Johnson, Tcmetare and O'Neill got the Managpehi out of danger and with a good forward rush the visitors took play into the Nebe 25. From a line oot the visiting forwards got possession hot kicked too bard and Peter Wi. forced. The Nehe's took the ball at toe down the field.and Wallace gaining possession of the leather made a good run and passed to Hira, who scored. The shot at goal failed. Shortly after play began the Nehe's again obtained possession and from a pass Hikaka got the leather and streaked over the line. Hira converted. From this out the Mangapehi men showed op to advantage and had they bad a couple of scoring men would have turned the tables on the Nebes. Temetera made some fine runs but the collaring of Taylor and Brown was very deadly. From some loose play Temetera snapped up the leather, but was grassed near the line. Johnson got possession and kicking high followed up and with the ball at toe looked dangerous. Shortly after the whistle with the scores Nehenehenui 8 points, Mangapehi 3 points. Mr Cottelt had charge of the whistle. : and got through bis duties as referee I in an efficient manner. Maniapoto Rugby Union. A meeting of the above Union was held in Mr Falwasser's office on Saturday evening last. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A lengthy discussion ensued in connection with the protest entered by the Mokauiti team in the Mokauiti-Nebenehenui match. Mr Nicholson proposed that as no word had yet been received from the referree in the Mokauiti-Nehenebc-nui match, that the consideration of ; protest be postponed until the referees report be obtained, and that the referee be requested to attend a meeting of the Union to be held on Saturday August 7th, and tbat both teams be inI strueted to have their evidence ready by that time, seconded by Mr Young and carried. In reply to a request from the Union's Secretary, Mr Gresharo, that reserved carriages and reduced fares be acceded to the Maniapoto representatives when travelling to Auckland on i Saturday neat, the Acting District Traffic Manager replied that, travelling by the express, no cariages could be reserved and no reduction of fares given. Mr Young proposed that the letter be rejected. Mr Moore proposed, and Mr Howarth seconded that the Minister forßail- '■< ways be written to in connection with

the matter.—Curried. Mr Moore proposed, and Mr Nicholson seconded, that an A and B match be played on the Domain on Thursday afternoon next, the charges for admit- ; tance to be one shilling, and that the i proceeds be ban Id to the Domain ! Board.—Carried. Mr Howarth proposed, and Mr Moore seconded that the representative team should travel to Auckland by the 10.50 train on Friday morning, and that the secretary of the Auckland Rugby Union be written to to tbat effect, so that arrangement i will be made re accommodation.—Carried. It was decided that the following players from the out districts be requested to remain in Tc Kuiti during the week, in order to go in for a course of training:—Moir, Pratt, Dean, Smith, Mangu, Dan Grey, Rou Rata, Sullivan. Resolved that Mr Rothcry be appoined as coach to the team during their week's training and practice. Proposed by Mr Yoang, seconded by Mr Moore, that the out district players who are remaining in Te Kuiti daring the week should be put uo at Mr Kerr's bqardinghouse.—Carried. The following is a list of those who are asked to go into training:— Howarth, Ro- Rata, Gr*iy Poutawcre, Spragge. Tuheka, Moir. Turei, Black, H. Rotbery, Pratl, Glasgow, Dean. Smith, Mangu, Innes Kerr, Thompson. Dan Grey. Keeley. The B team will include the following:— Burned. F. Kerr, Hikaka, R. Hurley. Vause. liira. Sullivan, Whare Bell. Houghton, Wallace, Peehi, Williams. Emergencies: Brown and Torora.

A short meeting of the Maniaiwto Rugby Union was held on Thursday evening last in the Arcadia Dining room. Mr J. B. Young. President of the Union, occupied the chair, and there were present delegates representing Te Kuiti, Nehenehenui, and Mokauiti clubs.

A letter was read from the Secretary of the Nehenehenui Club requesting permission to play the Mangapehi team on Saturday next. Some dicussion endued on the matter, and the Chairman asked the Nehenehenui Club delegate whether the players from bis club that wire chosen to play against Otorohanga intended to make the trip tor play against Mangapehi. Mr Moore said be understood the players intended to play against Mangapehi. Several of the delegates spoke on the subject and urged that permission should be given to play against Mangapehi. but pointed out that the players picked for the representative team should make the trip to Otorohanga. Eventually it was resolved to accord permission to play Mangapehi and to write to the Secretary of Ihe Nehenehenui club irtimntirg that all players who were picked in the representative tearcr. wh> failed to join the team for Otorohanga and played against Mangapehi would be. debarred from taking part m subsequent representative fixtures.