Maniapoto v. King Country.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 186, 30 August 1909, Page 5

Maniapoto v. King Country.

Tlt- Vfaniapoto team travelled to Taomirnmn on Friday last to meet the ,-h,,:•,.■., of the King Country Union en Sl'.lirdaV. Although th« lff«tcb WIS aiinp<w'i to be a representative one it practically devolved into a match b«twon Te Kuiti and Taomaranoi.aa the ,Vl.iin.ipui\> team with three exceptions only, wei-n Te Kuiti men.and the King Country team with two. exceptions Tau'marunui men. The teams lined op as follows:

-King Country—ciurUe. Henare, Rushford. Pewstow. Shaw. Stevenson, Gavin. Bell. Poland. Prune. Warren. Abbott. Guilford. Fuller. Pettit. Maniapoto. Howarth. Tuheka. Hurley. Browne. Rotherv, Turei. Black, Boles. Pitcon, P.vm. Kt-'eley, Harvey, Hira, I. Kerr. Williams.

Maniapoto won the toss and played with a slight wind behind them. From the kick off scrum work in midfieltl followed, the Maniapoto forwards breaking away with the 'bait at toe. hut. Shaw checked the rash, snapping up the ball and finding the line. Botes wast then responsible for a very fine dribble which carried play into the King Country 25. and the blues pressing their opponents dribbled the J&atl over the line and compelled the King Country to force. An exchange of between the opposing backs followed. The red and black with the hnll at toe chased up the field, but Black relieved with a lengthy kick into touch. From a scrum in mid fie Id the hall was kicked out to Black whr> passed to Hurley who transferred to Brown, the latter taking the leather into the Country 25. being poshed into touch. The Maniapoto's for some hTtic time had the King Country men penned up in their 25. A free kick agamst a Maniapoto player gave the King Country team relief. Following up well the up-country forwards had a say in matters and carried the bait over the Maniapoto tine. Howarth touching down. From a loose forward rush Harvey picked up the leather and gained a lot of ground before being grassed. Dean was then responsible for a good dribbing rush. From a scrum Black nassect out to Turei who found touch "with a lengthy fctck. Browne pluck ity checked a strong rush and found touch. From a forward dribble Warren picked op and with a strong kick into touch gained a tot of ground. The K.C. men now had the visitors penned up in their 25. and looked dangerous. A Maniapoto man being offside a free kick wm awarded to the King Country, in a dangerous position Henare took a drop kick at goal but the effort was fruitless. Again the King Country had a free kick given to them. Warren punting high, but Hira received and returned. Henare had another flying shot at gt>at but failed, and Dewstow getting possession, made a good run but tost the ball when nearly over the tine, and a certain try was lost. The up-country play.rs kept the Maniapoto's on the defence for some time. Rothery clearing from a mark with a fctck into touch. A free kick being awarded to Maniapoto Black with a good kick found touch. The visitors now began to make things lively carrying the ball up the field. Botes got possession found touch just outside the King Country line. Clarke cleared, the King Country forwards following op well, but Howarth checked and kicked into touch. Williams, getting possession from the line, gained ground with a good line kick. Half time was called with the game in the King Country territory.

Shortly after the kick off the Mania;wc.ii had play in their opponent's 2"-. but the country forward* broke away Hurlpy checking. Henare getting possession raced for the Maniapoto line but was graaaed by Tuheka, and the visiting forward-* with bail at tee raced up the field. but foond a stombling block in Clarke, who gathered up the ball and cleared with a fine kick into touch. From a mark Rothcry Cook the kick and panting high gave the forwards a chance. Inncs Kerr getting possession. With a good run Kerr gained a lot of ground. Shortly after this Black when nearly over the line passed to Browne, the latter missing the pass and losing a chance of scoring when a try seemed certain, j Rush ford getting possession relieved with a good kick, and the forwards following up carried play into the Rlue'a 'J-">, where a series of scrums followed. Henar* gathering up the j ;,.,!i,,T raced for the line, but when on '.;>,.• point-, of scoring 10-tt the ball. The j •;;j;torn were now hard pressed and] ■■ompelled to touch down. Th" 'ytw -oiintry back division were new i ■;!•-: a big say in matters and repeat- •<■■■■ i uned ground with good passing -•!.:' he*. in one of which Roahford got j os?ession and passed to Dewstow who ill but scored. Rushford again got possession and passed to Henare. who kot over at the corner, the shot at goaf. from a difficult angle failing. Not long after this the red and black three quarters again got going, and a passing rush ended in Dewstow scoring, and Pettit with a fine kick added the major points. The visitors now livened up and carried play into the K.C. 2. r ). but the success was short lived, as the King Country forwards with bait at toe raced the length of the field into the Maniapoto 25. where Toheka pluckily saved. The Maniapoto again carried play into their opponents' 25, but as on many previous occasions failed to get over the line. Time was called with play in midftetd with the scores: King Countryß points, Maniapoto nil. Mr O'Connor gave great satisfaction as referee, his decisions never once being criticised or disputed.