FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 194, 27 September 1909, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The King Country-Maniapoto fixture on Saturday last brought the football season, so far as Te Kuiti is concerned to a close. The Maniapoto Union has now been three years in existence, and we are pleased to say that a decided improvement and advance has been made each season and the Union this year completes the season in a stronger position, both in players and finance than ever before. However, improvement can still be made. We are strongly of opinion that the Eugby game in the district will never reach its best until one body controls the game from, say, Otorohanga to Taumarunui. This move should be easily accomplished. By having one Union to be known as the King Country Union wtih equal representatives the present Unions not overlooking any new blood such as Otorohanga or Ongarue, should they fall in with the idea. Then two sub-committees to control each end of the Union: the Northern end from Otorohanga to Managpehi, or Ongarue according to the facilities afforded by the railway to enable teams to travel and the Southern end from such point south to Manunui. After the completion of Club rounds the winning team from each end play off for the premiership. I can see no difficulties to be overcome. With regard to the play during the season on the whole it has been satisfactory. Perhaps in the opening matches the play was not of a very high "order, but the improvement has been most marked as the season advanced. Added to this the assistance given by the Southern end of the district greatly assisted and strengthened the locals. Taking the representative fixtures as a criterion of improvement: The first mtach v. Hamliton was lost after . a hard game by 11—8; the next v. J Auckland 53 —3; the third v. King j Country 8 —0; the fourth, assisted by j our southern friends v. Auckland. 16 —0, a vast improvement as in Auckland we met the best team available minus five or six of Auckland's cracks, who were away in Sydney with ike Ponsonby team, but in "l e Ku:u vv met the team that had defeat-d Wellington the previous Saturday: tke fifth match a return with Hamilton, which v.-as a complete walk eve- :cr would not be out of place. The selcc- . tor has had great difficulty from time j

to time with one or two of the players in getting them to attend and apparently these players had no V2l;i reason for refusing :o play. A; to :ne cause blame if in future years they are drrp- ! ped in favour cf rr.er. who nave always j "played the came." On the other ! hand, and -h- pleasing part to us is the number ox who have- shevn themselves to be true snorts. ;• . n who at great inconvtni-.-nee and less have always been r~a::y to a ;;r-aeh. go anywhere and play any—here. V.'e want them ad. It is no: necessary tc mention all but among ttters oe nave to thank men hhe Rothery. Blach. Innes Kerr, who did r:t miss a game, and Kee'ey, Williams and To the latter mentioned three great credit; is due as they were other, called :n at the last minute and came tt smiling. Another player we should lihe to mention is Tuheka. K= v.-as always to the fore until meeting with a r.asty accident at Taumarunui while - laying which deprived the Union of his services. As this player was she vino a great improvement in every ram- ids loss was greatly felt and we car. try say we hope to see him again at It 1 s best at the start of next season's foctball. Mr Young, the president, and the Union officials all worked, hsrd ■ especially the former to rr.ahe the Union a success. Several ou .sidetr.e Union gave great assistance, and IP , Standish deserves special mention, | The secretarial duties naturally lt- ! creasing greatly, have beer, carried . out most ably by Mr Grcsham. "Vltit may be termed a successft-1 s ascn has , closed, and we can l::i: f.rwarii to j having a most prosper .-us sensor, next , year. I ———