FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 264, 1 June 1910, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Te Kuiti 33, Tanehopuwai O. j The football season under the Maniapoto Union's jurisdiction opened on Saturday, when there was a fair attendance of the public to witness the match between Te Kuiti and the newlyformed Tanehopuwai native team. Although a full team was picked the local Club took the field with only fourteen men, including several substitutes. This is a point which the selection committee would in future do well to take particular notice of. Competitions are not always won on the post. Wins scored at the commencement of a season count as many points as at the final stages "f the rounds. And had Te Kuiti been less fortunate and drawn a team which had played together before, such as Otorohanga or the Nehe Nehe, for instance, a different tune may have been played on Saturday. Moral: Pick certainties if possible; not a good team on paper. However, with very erratic opposition the local representatives had no difficulty in scoring an easy win. Te Kuiti selected Boles to captain them for the day and Poole kicked off. First-class football was not the order of the day, but it must be remembered that this was the opening match. The game had not been in progress five minutes when Tarrant followed up fast and drew "first blood. Taking the kick himself he failed to increase the score. Te Kuiti 3 —Tanehopuwai 0. From the kick out Kirk returned with a short punt and following up, found the line at half way. Te Kuiti still pressed hard. Tanehopuwai then took a hand in attacking and invaded the black and white's 25. The advantage was shortlived, for Daue returned the oval to neutral territory, where played hovered for some time till from a scrum Feary (half) sent the ball out to F. Kerr who found the line at the visitors' 25. A series of scrums and lineouts followed in quick succession and Feary secured and passed to Tarrant to Kirk, the latter passing infield, a force-down ensuing. Boles returned the kick-out, and had hard luck in not scoring, just missing the leather on the line, a force resulting. For an infringement Te Kuiti were awardedj a free-kick in front of the goal, at whiclj Tarrant took the kick, hitting the baJ and falling infield. Cleaver follower up, however, and had no difficulty irl grounding the ball under the posts.! Boles took the kick and added the! major points. Te Kuiti B—Tanehopu-jj wai 0. Te Kuiti still pressed until a good kick from Frank found the lino for Tanehopuwai. From the throw-in Tarrant secured and returned to halfway. A good passing rush was spoiled by F. Kerr attempting to take a fair pass one-handed, when a score seemed inevitable. A scrum and line-out followed, when the Natives initiated a loose rush and several Te Kuiti players fumbled somewhat glaringly, till Kirk secured possession and carried out at the local quarterwav, where the scene of action dwelt for some considerable time, till Kirk again came to the rescue, and again found the line with a nippy punt. A forward rush by Tanehopuwai looked dangerous, for several of their vanguard came swooping down on the diminutive fullback for Te Kuiti (Jones), but he was equal to the occasion, and saved cleverly with a welljudged line kick. Te Kuiti still maintained the attack and a free kick was given in their favour. Boles had a shot, but the somewhat greasy oval failed to rise and from a scramble three black and white players took the ball over the line and scored near the corner flag. Boles failed to increase. Te Kuiti 16 —Tanehopuwai 0. After several exchanges of kicks a line-out followed and half-time sounded with play in neutral territory. On changing ends Te Kuiti with such a large margin of points in their favour, made some alteration in the position of their men. Jones came up to half and Holt took his place at full. It was the same tale as in the first spell, and Tanehopuwai were not left I many minutes' grace before Feary scored, from which Kirk landed a good goal. Te Kuiti 21 —Tanehopuwai 0. The local team were now playing in a somewhat confident mood and the vistors made, at times, some very gc>d individual attempts to reduce the margin of points, but were unequal to the occasion, although several chances came their way. With a little more experience they would have scored at least three or four times, as several good openings were left them by their opponents. Te Kuiti added twelve more points to their total, Fitzmaurice, Feary, Kirk and Hill crossing the chalk-line, but none of their tries were converted, the game ending—Te Kuiti 33 —Tanehopuwai 0. Mr N. B. Lusk refereed.

The game was played in the friendliest of spirits, and was only marred by what appeared, from a spectator's point of view, a trivial breach of the rules by Fitzmaurice. This player seemed to get mixed up in a melee and in extricating himself appealed to strike an opponent, for which he was ordered off the field. Referees mu it be protected by the press and public, and for our part we will always endeavour to give that protection, yet we feel fully convinced that a caution would have met the crime (if it was one), and not an accident, more especially as there were only a few minutes to play, and in view of the good feeling prevailing throughout the whole match.

It would be superfluous to individualise the merits and demerits of the respective players at this early stage of the season, but suffice it to say, that the local team as a whole appears to give promise of something better on their Saturday's display. All were willing, and nippy, and with a more formidable combination opposed to them in the near future, we should see some very good exhibitions on the local ground for our modest "tanner," when some individual notes will follow. It is to be hoped that in future matches the spectators will have a much finer feeling of Socialism about them and not crowd on to the lines as they did on Saturday. It is as easy to watch a game from a few yards back as by crowding on the line and getting in the way of the players. However, a word in season may prove effectual. The only time taken off for a stop was through this indiscretion on the part of the followers of either team.

(By "Touchline.") "Touchline" would be pleased if secretaries of all clubs within the jurisdiction of the Maniapoto Rubgy Union would forward their teams for prospective matches not later than the Wednesday morning before the Saturday on which the games take place, also any matter relating to the football of the district. A point which the Union should endeavour to impress on the various clubs is the one of having a distinct uniform colour for their players, as on Saturday there was such a galaxy of colour that it must have been difficult for the referee at times to distinguish who the respective colours belonged to. Nothing looks nicer than the players being attired in full football costume, with uniform jerseys and pants, and as it costs no more for this than a line of remnants, as it were, it is to be greatly desired that players make a note of this remark. Even a school boys' team can set the adults a good example in this respect, as they invariably, to a player, line out with a full set of regalia. Otorohanga journeyed to Aria on Saturday ar.d met and defeated the Mokauiti team by 23 to 3. The game was very one-sided, as the scores go to show.

Otorohanga juniors played the Nehe Nehe juniors on the local ground on Saturday, and after a well-contested game, won by 5 points to nil. The following are the results of various matches in other centres of the Dominion on Saturday■ Auckland. —City 6, beat Parnell 3; Marist Bros. 9, beat Grafton 5; Ponsonby won by default from Newton, who could not raise a team. Wellington—St. James' 6, beat Poneke (last year's champions) 0; Athletic 8, beat Melrose 3; Petone 32, beat Southern 3; Orientals 15, beat Victoria College 5; Old Boys 13, beat Wellington 5. Palmer iton North—■ Palmerston 8 beat Feilding (shield winners for three seasons), 6. Kihikihi defeated Bruntwood, by 23 points fr. niL

St. James' v. Poneke, at Wellington, on Saturday, Mr F. R. Hills, whose son was playing for the former team, fell dead in the pavilion. His wife was sitting in another part of the building. Mr Flyger, an old resident of Feilding, also dropped dead during the progress of a match at Feilding on Saturday. New South Wales defeated Queensland on Saturday by 13 to 3. The "Sydney Herald" says N.S.W. is a goo I combination, but will need to improve before the New Zealanders. In the latter team Evans, of Canterbury replaces Hayward, and McKellar, of Wellington, Herring, who cannot make the trip.

Maniapoto Rugby Union.

A -meeting of the above Union was held in the "Chronicle" office last evening. An application was received from the Hangatiki Football Club, asking permission to enter a junior team only, for the club matches. —Mr Rothery moved and Mr Young seconded that the matter be left over to the next Union meeting, when it was hoped delegates from all clubs would be present. Resolved that Mr N. B. Lusk be requested to referee for the Nehe NeheOtorohanga match at Te Kuiti, and Mr G. Elliott for the Te Kuiti-Mokauiti match at Aria.

Resolved that the next general meeting of the Union be held in Mr Falwasser's office on Tuesday, June 7th, at 7.15 p m.