FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 282, 3 August 1910, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

Saturday last was quite a gala day in the Te Kuiti football world, three games being played on the Domain ground in quick succession. The first game, which was a very short

one, was played between a number Otorohanga and Te Kuiti boys. Pl-This wa3 followed by the Nehenehenui - Tanehopuwai match, which proved to be a farce. Nehe played with but thirteen men, and proved far too strong for their opponents, and knowing this, the local team treated the spectators to a pantomime display which caused much amusement.

Te Kuiti v. Otorohanga. Shortly after three o'clock the above teams took the field. A lot of interest was centred in this game, as, if Te Kuiti won they would bethe winners of the season's competitions and if Otorohanga won it would be a tie between the two clubs (providing that Te Kuiti defeated Nehenehe next Saturday). Neither team were fully represented, Otorohanga having two of their rep. men away and Te Kuiti were minus the services of four selected men. A good hard game was witnessed, but the Otorohanga forwards proved to be much too weighty for the light Te Kuiti pack. Four twenty-minute spells were played. Te Kuiti kicked off, the return kick carried play into the Te Kuiti territory, and the Otorohanga forwards worked the ball to the line and compelled Te Kuiti to force. Shortly after the kick-off Feary made a splendid run, passed to Tarrant and play was carried from the home 25 into Otorohanga's quarter. Two free-kicks were given to Otorohanga in quick succession for offside play on the part of a Te Kuiti forward. The visiting vanguard were responsible for some good dribbling rushes and kept play well in the Te Kuiti half. A freekick to the black and whites carried play to the Otorohanga 25, but Clarke and P. Turner with a good run gained ground. The Otorohanga forwards kept pegging away at the Te Kuiti line and sound defence by the Te Kuiti backs was responsible for the lack of scoring. Te Kuiti forwards by strenuous play transferred play to the greens' 25, where Tiwa picked up and started a good passing rush in which P. Turner and Clarke took part. The Otorohanga forwards again carried play up field, Kirk clearing and finding touch. When hard pressed Boles and Hill broke away with ball at toe and gained a lot of ground. A free-kick being awarded to Otorohanga Gardner made a fine attempt to goal, and only just failed to score. Shortly after changing sides Otorohanga were again awarded a free-kick, Gardner with another fine kick just missing the posts. Several free-kicks for offside play were awarded to both teams, but no goals resulted therefrom. The Otorohanga forwards with ball at toe rushed over the Te Kuiti line, Patton scoring. From an easy position Clarke landed a goal. Otorohanga s—Te Kuiti nil. From a scrum Patton broke away but Feary cleared. Te Kuiti forwards carried play into the Otorohanga 25, where it remained until the call of half-time. Shortly after resuming play was taken to the greens' 25, Gardner relieving with a long line kick. Te Kuiti backs gained ground with a good passing run from Feary to Tarrant to Kirk. After some forward work Tewipa, getting the ball, dashed for the line and got over but was called back having touched the touch-line. Te Kuiti were now pressing Oorohanga very hard but could not cross the line. The Otorohanga forwards relieved the tension by a good forward dribble to mid-field. Some give-and-take play followed in which P. Turner was responsible for a good run and Densmore for a lengthy line kick. Te Kuiti were compelled tc force. With Otorohanga pressing Boles and I. Kerr broke away with a good dribble and gained a lot of ground. From a strong rush P. Clarke picked up and scored J. Clarke adding the major points. Otorohanga 10—Te Kuiti nil. The ball again being in play the Te Kuiti forwards worked their way into Otorohanga's 25 where Dement, from a free-kick, succeeded in placing a goal. Otorohanga 10■-Te Kuiti 3. Tewipa and Feary were prominent in stopping several Otorohanga forward rushes. When Te Kuiti were pressing a free kick awarded to Otorohanga relieved them. Te Kuiti forwards again got going and Boles with ball at toe raced for the line and looked like scoring, but lost the ball. The Otorohanga backs, with a nice passing run from Turner to Densmore, carried play to half-way, from there the Otorohanga forwards took play to Te Kuiti's line and kept the local men hard pressed. Play was carried to the centre of the field, where Dement got possession and got in a lengthy kick, which he followed up and compelled a force. With play in mid-field no side was called, with the score Otorohanga HI-Te Kuiti 3. Mr H. Johnson, of Hamilton, acted as referee in an impartial and efficient

manner. There is little doubt that on the day's plav the better team won. Otorohanga's well-merited victory was due mainly to their great superiority in weight in the pack, but also the obviously superior condition of the visitors told its tale. The winning forwards all played well, but possibly Patton shone out most brilliantly, the backs at times also showed some nice passing work, but being behind a winning pack they had great chances. p Turner, Clarke, Densmore andTiwa all did good work, and Gardner at lullback played a sterling game all through. One cannot individualise the le Kuiti pack, every man grafted well and against big odds did remarkao.y well Boles and Cleaver played their usual hard game. Among back division Dement played a gcou hard eame his kicking being of a very high J rder indeed, and of great service. Feary as usual played a solid, heady and plucky game, and is a tower of strength to his side. Tewipa and Kirk payed sterling games, Tewipa is a strong runner and a good kick On his olav in this match he should always be deserving of a place in the senior tern* A fter ttie piat( * the

hanga team were entertained at dinner at Kelvin House, and returned home by the 9.15 p.m. train.

Playing under Northern Union rules at Auckland on Saturday, before about seventeen thousand people, England defeated New Zealand by 52 points to 20. The Native team which toured Australia recently, defeated Auckland by 8 points to 6 on Saturday. At Rotorua on Saturday, the American University team defeated the local representatives by 6 points to 3.