FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 192, 20 September 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

Maniapoto v. King Country The last senior match of the season was played on the Te Koiti ground en Saturday last. The match was supposed to be a union one, but the Maniapoto team consisted entirety of Te Koiti men, no outside players be in* available, and the King Country team with few exceptions consisted of Taumarunui players. The local team was considered to be far from a strong one, b»t as has happened before the players seemed to rise to the occasion with astonishingty good result. The King Country kicked off and for some time the play was uninteresting. being confined to scrum work in midfieid. Black with a good line kick carried play into the Knig Country 25, where it remained for some time. The Maniapoto forwards dribbled over the line and Dan Gray fell on the ball and registered a try. The shot at goal failed. The Maniapoto forwards kept up a strong attack, Frank Kerr getting possession and dashing for the line, but when within a yard or two of the country line was poshed into touch. The local forwards kept pegging away and compelled the visitors to force. The Maniapoto's being awarded a free kick in a good position. Black had a shot at goal; the kick was an excellent one, but the referees gave the verdict "no goat." A strong King Country forward rush was finely stopped by Brown, who getting in his kick found the line. The visiting forwards again looked dangerous and a score was nnFy prevented by sound defensive work on the part of the local backs. Black taking the kick from a mark by Dan Gray gained a !ot of ground and found the tine. A dribble by the visitors was welt stopped by F. Kerr. Rnlhery and Innes Kerr were responsible for a fine dribble, carrying play into the Country team's territory, where. from a forward rush. Turei snapped op and scored Maniapoto's second try. the kick again proving fruitier. The Maniapoto forward.* were preying their opponents very hard and it was only the sound defensive ptay by the K.C. backs that prevented a score being registered on several occasions. The visiting forwards with Harvey and Abbott in th* lead gained ground with a good dribble. Black getting possession passed to Kerr who kicked over the line. Grey Poutawcra made a good rum and had he passed to hi* w ins tbrcequarter a score should have been registered. Just before half time was called the local forwards with E. Kerr in the lead carried play into the visitors' 25.

Almost immediately after resuming play Shaw got possession and raced up the field, and passing to Dewstow, the tatter player scored a fine try, but thp shot at goal failed. A strong Maniapoto forward rush was piuekity stopped by Shaw. The visiting pack when looking dangerous was repulsed by Pitcon who with a good line kick saved the situation. Again getting to work the visitors lost the chance of scoring by kicking too hard, the hall going out of play. Pitcon gained ground with a good dribble. Brown the Maniapoto full back marker! in a goo! position, the kick being entrusted to Dan Gray who, bare feet notwithstanding,, landed a beautiful goal. The K.C. forwards livened op and kept the local men on the defensive. Dewstow getting possession made a splendid dodgy run and scored, the kick taken by himself being unsuccessful. Shortly after this time was called with the score Maniapoto 9 points, King Country 6 points. Mr N. B. Lusk officiated as referee, in his usual competent manner. Though neither side bad their full strength in the field yet the game was a fast one and at times some good football was witnessed. The match from start to finish was played in a roost friendly manner, and anything in the way of disputing or unpleasantness was entirety absent from the game. For the local team every man did bis share of work, the smothering tactics of the forwards being particularly noticeable. H. Rotbery played bis usual bud game and was always in the thick of ft doing good work; Black waa equally brilliant in attack and defence. Innes Kerr and Pitcon played fine games, and Brown at foil back w«e very safe. 1b toe visiting team Shaw and DewaUm among the backs were always •ale, the latter being a very clever play tr, and when near bis opponents' line a decidedly dangerous man, bis swerving runs being bard to stop. Harvey and Abbott worked bard in the pack. Warren one of the visitors' best forwards played in the three quarter line and was not able to do himself Justice his services hi the pack being undoubtedly missed by bis t«un, foe, having a thorough knowledge of the game when to the pack he is able to keep bis men together, whereas from his position in the threequarter line he was unable to do this. Auckland City defeated Sydney University on Saturday last by 27 point* tot petets.