FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 284, 10 August 1910, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

Maniapoto Rugby Union

The adjourned meeting of the above union was held in Mr Falwasser's office on Saturday evening last. Mr Worthington was voted to the chair. A reply was received from the Rotorua Rugby Union stating that they were willing to play the Maniapoto - . rep. team at Rotorua on Saturday, August 27th. The referee handed in his report in connection with the ordering off the field of two players in the NeheneheTe Kuiti match.—After discussion it was decided to caution both players. The referee stated that he was satisfied this would meet the case. A number of Otorohanga and Nehenehe players were granted permission to tour the Kawhia district. The Nehenehe club were granted . permission to play the Huntly club at Huntly on the 20th inst. Mr G. Elliott was appointed manager of the team for the Rotorua trip. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Elliott for refereeing in the Nehenehe-Te Kuiti match, and also for his report on the game. The congratulations of the union were extended to the Otorohanga delegates on their team's success in winning the caps and banner. —Messrs Worthineton and Eveleigh briefly responded. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.

The selectors, Messrs Worthington, Elliott and Matthew, have picked the following team to represent the Maniapoto Union at Rotorua on the 27th inst: — Full-back: Brown. Three-quarters: Tuheka Hetet, J. Clarke, P. Turner. Five-eighths: Feary, Fisher. Half: Sam. Clark. Forwards: Rothery (wing), Holden, Symes, B. C.'arke, D. Turner, Boles, H. Poutawera, H. Cleaver.

Emergencies:—Backs: Hurley, Waikato, Hikaka; forwards: Patton, Devine, I. Kerr, J. Taylor and Sullivan. Any player who cannot make the trip is requested to notify the secretary without delay. It is also necessary that those intending to travel, both players and spectators, should notify the secretary in order that he may be in a position to make arrangements for railway accommodation and also accommodation at Rotorua.

Nehenehe (24) v. Te Kuiti (O).

The above match was played on Saturday on the local domain, under the most wretched conditions it has been our lot to witness, and the union are deserving of the strongest condemnation for having allowed the match to be played, for the ground was fully three-parts under water. Under such conditions it is not to be wondered at that the standard of football was not of a high order. Playing under suchconditions the Nehenehe team did remarkably well, and seemed to revel in the mud and slush, and took the slippey ball and kicked in a manner that was almost incredible, but Te Kuiti showed absolutely no form whatever and were beaten badly in every derjartment of the game. Shortly after commencing it was thought that the pakeha team was going to give their heavier native brethren a good go, but their form absolutely failed to bang out the first half of the game. The Nehenehe forwards were soon attacking and scored six points in the first spell, but in the second they literally ran over their smaller opponents, and added eighteen more points, sixunconverted tries, and scored almost when they liked. With the exception of H. Cleaver and Feary, who both played determinedly right through, the game, the remainder of the black and white team, seemed absolutely demoralised and only occasonally showed up in anything like decent form. To say the least, their display was very inglorious, and it was not to be wondered at seeing the conditions under which they played. The Nehenehe team are to be congratulated on their win, because they train assiduously right through the season in a marked contrast to the Te Kuiti boys, who, are never to be seen down at practice of a Thursday, and scarcely ever meet fcr gymnasium or scrum practice. It was a case of form against no form, and the better team won, and the chances are that on a fine day the natives would also have wen, but, possibly by a shorter margin of points. By defeating the Te Kuiti team Nehenehe gave Otorohanga the banner and caps for the season 1910, because the latter team have only been defeated once this season, by Te Kuiti in the first round. The latter are runners up, having suffered two reverses, one by Nehenehe and one by Otorohanga. During the game H. Ellison, playing for Te Kuiti had to leave the ground having sustained an injury, and his place was taken by McLoed. Mr G. Elliott refpreed very impartially, and had to prdertwp players off the field (a Nehenehe and a Te Kuiti man).

This season last year's champion teams have had to forfeit the title of champions in three unions up to the present, namely Greytown, Feilding and Nehenehenui, while Poneke (Wellington) are not sure yet of retaining the title, but Ponsonby, in Auckland, Jb still the premier team.