FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 369, 14 June 1911, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION. The results of matches played in the competition for the senior championship honours under the Maniapoto Rugby Union on Saturday last places the various Clubs in the following position:—

TE KUITI v. MANGAPEEHI. These teama met on Te Kuiti Domain. The weather was bad and the ground in a sodden condition, which made the ball heavy and hard to handle Te Kuiti kicked off, and for some time kept Mangapeehi jn the defensive. A free kick awarded to the visitors relieved them. With ball at toe, the local men raced for the visitors' line. Kirk snapped up the ball and scored. The shot at goal proved fruitless. The kick off was well received and returned by Hurley. Te Kuiti again had the visitors penned in their 25. A free kick awarded to Mangappehi helped them out of a tight corner. Allan made a good run and gained a lot of ground. The Mangapeehi forwards carried play in to Te Kuiti's 25, where a mark by Hurley relieved the pressure. Play was carried into the visitors' territory. Hurley marked, and Dement made a good though unsuccessful attempt at goal. Sam Clarke getting possession raced for the visitors' line and was pushed into touch when nearly over the line. The Managpeehi forwards carried play into the local 25, where Flavell scored from a forward rush. Clarke took the kick, but was not successful. Half time was called with Te Kuiti pressing. In the second half, give and take play was indulged in for some time. Play was eventually carried into the Mangapeehi 25, when a free kick awarded to the visitors again cleared their line. S. Clarke and Hurley gained a lot of ground for the local men by good runs. At this stage, Kirk with a dodgy run again crossed the line. The shot at goal again failed. Te Kuiti being awarded a free kick in close proximity to the visitors' goal added three more points to their score, Raku landing a goal. The Mangapeehi men carried play to Te Kuiti's line, and should have scored but for the forwards kicking too hard, and a touch down. In the last spell Mangapeehi had the local team on the defence for some time. Cleaver and Garth broke away with ball at toe and carried play to the Mangapeehi line where Allan scored. Raku had another shot at the goal but the greasy ball proved too much for him. Time was called with play in the Te Kuiti 25, with the score Te Kuiti 12 points —Mangapeehi 3 points. Mr N. B. Lusk gave every satisfaction as referee.

NOTES. Considering the state of the ground, the game was a good and keen one. One point particularly noticeable was the very large number of free kicks awarded to both teams for off-side play. One or two of the Ku'ti forwards were great offenders in this respect and it will be well if they will realise what serious trouble they may cause to their team by this offence. Another point which should be remedied without delay is that teams should be compelled to turn out in their proper club colours. In Saturday's match jerseys of all shades and colours were worn. Not only does this look bad from a spectators' point of view, but it is utterly unfair to the referee and makes it extremely hard for him to distinguish between the respective teams. If the Union would make a rule that players not turning out in their respective club colours would be debarred from playing, it might have the desired effect of geting uniformity in colours. Mr Mackie, of the Auckland Referees' Association, has been in Te Kuiti this week, and has put several members of the local Referees' Association through an examination. The referees feel that Mr Mackie's visit has done a great deal of good to their Association, and they found him to be an enthusiast in his work, and also most willing to assist them with advice in every way he possibly could. Six members of the Association stood for the examination, and several others were unavoidably prevented from attending.

OTOROHANGA v. OPARURE. With the rain coming down in torrents all the morning, things did not look too hopeful for the above match, but shortly after midday the weather cleared, and a fair number of spectators turned out to watch the game. Smartly up to time, the teams lined out, and the personnel was was follows:—Otorohanga.— Full-back, Tal. Clarke;three-quarters, Harris, Miller, S. Ellis; five-eighth, Jno. McColI; half, C. Edwards; wings, R. Symes, B. Clarke; forwards, G. Clarke, R. H olden, W. Fatton, D. Turner, T. Emery, N. Prime, A. Mexted. Oparure.—Full-back, T. Paul; threequarters, J. Hardstaffe, Tawaki, Hera King; five-eighth, N. Joseph; half, Atutahi; wings, W. Nui, T. Titi; forwards, Tu Rora, Herikuro, Turri, T. Itutahi, Taka. Tu Rora kicked, for Oparure, Harris returned, and found the line. Following the throw in, play was give and take, and then from a scrum, Prime scored the first try for Otorohanga near the corner flag. Bert Clarke converted from a difficult angle.- Following open play, Hardstaff marked, and Tal Clarke returned by starting a loose rush, which Joseph stopped. A minute later McColl relieved a movement initiated by Hardstaffe by finding the line. From the throw in the ball went over the line,

and Oparure forced. Exchange kicks were followed by Obrohanga forwards getting a combined rush on, which Hardstaffe stopped, but through his holding the ball too long a scrum followed. Atutahi got the ball smartly,but the wings smothered him. Harris, Ellis and Clarke started a nice run, but a faulty pass by Harris ended lin a scrum. Another rush and a good run, and McColl was pushed out. From the throw in, Hardstaffe go the tball, but was nicely stopped by Ellis. From a throw in Muller got over and scored the second try for Otorohanga. Bert Clarke had a shot, but failed to add the points. Loose play followed the kick off, and Otorohanga were penalised for holding the ball. From the scrum Patten got through, and the advantage of his length enabled him to fall across the line and score the third try. At this time the rain again commenced in earnest, and although there were no pools of water lying about, the ball became very heavy. From a knock on a scrum followed in front of the goal posts, and Edwards claimed a merit from a short kick, but no whistle went, and play ended with a free kck for Oparure. From open play across the field, Harris neatly took the ball, but was run out. From the throw in the ball went across again. McColl picked up and transferred to the fast-running Ellis, who got over and scored again for Otorohanga. Tu Rora kicked off. Hairis caught the wet ball and was run out after making a lot of ground. T. Paul and Hardstaffe stopped another rush by the Otorohanag forwards, and a scrum followed, after which Hardstaffe made a good kick and found the line at the 25. A strange horse galloping on to the field here caused the referee to sound the whistle. Symes transferred to Millar, and then to Ellis, but the rush ended in Oparure forcing. Shortly after a scrum eventuated near the line, and Holden got over. That last sentence just about describes the remainder of the game, as it waß simply a try-scoring exhibition by Otorohanga players. The game evenualy ended with the score, Otorohanga 43—Oparure 0. Mr Burke was referee. For Otorohanga it would be very difficult to single out any one player, but for Oparure J. Hardstaffe stood out by himself. He appeared to be all over the field wherever the ball saw.

Games Champ. Pld. W. L. D. Pts. Otorohanga 3 2 — 1 5 Te Kuiti 3 1 —• 2 4 Mangapeehi 4 2 2 — 4 Oparure 3 1 2 _ 2 Tanehopuwai . 3 — 2 1 1