FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 373, 28 June 1911, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

OTOROHANGA v.,TE KUITI. Otorohanga won the toss, and electei to piny with the strong breeze anc down hill. Te Kuiti kicked off, am by smart following up spoilt retun and attacked. Otorphanga by nea passing run relieved, and were no stopped until right on Te Kuiti'a line Good play by Cleaver and Hurlej cleared, and saw Te Kuiti gain tb« length of the ground, attacking strongly. Otorohanga relieved ant play centred. Close play and a succession of scrums keenly contested about. half way occupied next five minutes, when Oiorbhanga by a/good rush again reached Te Kuiti's line. Kirk saved, but failed to find the line with his kick. W. Clark marked on 25 line, and his brother failed in a shot at goal. Te Kuiti forced. Prom kick out P. Turner returned right on to Te Kuiti's line, but Rothery by brilliant play relieved, but immediately nollified his good effort by giving Otorohanga a free kick by off-side play. From the kick, Kirk misjudged badly, and gave Otorohanga a good chance, but Tapsall saved well. Otorohanga, not to be denied, again attacked strongly, and Hurley again cleared cleverly. Bad work by Te Kuiti forwards, . and a mull by Hikaka saw a scrum on Te Kuiti's line. Over anxiety induced off-side play by a TeKuiti man, and Clarke landed a penalty goal for Otorohanga, after 15 minutes' play. Boles kicked off, and it was a wretched kick, but P. Turner failing to field allowed the follow up to smother, Turner just managing to reach touch. From line out Boles »nd Devine broke away, and put Otorohanga on the defence, and offdde play gave a free kick to Te Kuiti. \ bad kick enabled Otorohanga to

clear, and play went to half way. Several keen scrums and a good forward rush saw Te Kuiti again attacking strongly. Otorohanga forwards cleared, but Rothery broke away, and got well into Otorohanga 'a 25, but kicking too hard gave B. Clarke a ;hance, and~ be found touch at half way. A nice' passing run by Otorohanga was spoilt by Harris holding a little too long and by a throw forward lost a good chance. Exchange jf kicks ended with Symes off-side, Te Kuiti taking a scrum about half way. Otorohanga had the best of •lose work, and carried play to Te Kuiti's 25, where Rothery by heady slay spoiled the rush by joining in the rush and kicking hard back to Hurley, who found the line at half way. The jame again resolved itself into a leries of scrums at half way, every nch of ground being keenly contested, but finally Te Kuiti, headed by "Heaver, broke away with ball at foot. Che rush was well stopped by T. Clarke, and returned again, play hangng about half way for some time. \ good forward rush by Otorohanga was stopped by Tapsall taking a briliant mark. An exchange of kicks, »nd Cole found tfte line at halE way. j"roni the scrum.,Otorohanga rushed ;he ball oyer the.line, but Cole forcedf. The kick,out was returned over Te Suiti's line and.again forced. Boles licked off ana" in following up was interfered with and awarded a free kick, which Te Kuiti failed to turn to advantage, and scrums again became ;he order of play. From a forward rush Kirk saved well and gained a lot )( ground by finding the line. Good, alay by Cole saw play in Otorohanga's 26, but Symes evened matters. Again Te Kuiti got going, and rushing over the line Clark just aaved by kicking the ball into touch in goal. From tick out Sam Calrk and Tapsall both mulled, and Otorohanga rushed the ball out jn Te Kuiti's 25. From a loose rush Cole returned , but not finding the line W. Clarke marked, and again bis brother failed with the kick at goal, and a force resulted. From kick off Te Kuiti rushed well into Otorohanga's 25, and after a series of scrums Symes again got away, the ball gning put at half way and halftime was called. Paton set the.ball in motion with a fine kick and Cole making a bad return, Otorohanga's forwards reached Te Kuiti's line, but a free kick for off-aide play gave Te Kuiti relief. From a scramble, Otorohanga's forwards kicked too hard and Hikaka taking the ball kicked high and following up smothered Ellis, who mulled the ball. Raku, Dent, Cleaver and Rothery rushed the ball near the line, when Dent picked up and dashed. over, Raku converting. Paton kicked off and Sam Clark returned to Half way. Close play followed.and Tapsall again gained ground by a good kick. Otorohanga came back with forward rush, which Cleaver stopped cleverly. More close play and scrums in Te Kuiti's 25, then Hikaka again was prominent and took play to Otorohanga's 25. From a scrum near Otorohanga's line Hurley made a beautiful opening, but Hikaka wad just a little to far away, and the chance was lost. A free kick to Otorohanga gave them a few minutes relief,.but play was soon back again, when EHisfcy heady play cleared, the ball going out at half way. Several scrums saw Otorohanga gaining advantage each time. They gradually worked the ball into Te Kuiti's 25, when breaking up they rushed the ball over the line but unfortunately for them the ball had goone over the dead ball line. From the kick out not to be denied they rushed the ball back to Te Kuiti's line and Kirk making a mesß of matters allowed D. Turner to rush over the line and score. Clarke converted. Very fast open play followed the ball travelling up and down the field at a great rate. The game now got faster and faster Te Kuiti making desperate efforts to score and but eleven minutes'to go. The tusstle had now raised the spectators to a high pitch of excitement Otorohanga made desperate efforts to keep the game close and Te Kuiti were equally anxious to make it open. The latter were rewarded, for Tapsall getting the ball kicked high and following up ijtaothered ii man almost on Otoro-

hanag's line, and Rothery coming fast snapped up the ball and dashed over the line, scoring within a few feet of the posts. Baku's kick grazed the posts on the, outßide, and Te Kuiti's chance of winning the game was gone, as the whistle blew "time" a minute later. The game ended, a points each. NOTES.

' '-■.-. r- ' ~ ' ; The game was probab'y the heat e*-. position of football ever seen in Te \ Kuiti. Mistakes were made, of course, i on both sides, but on the whole,tne good play quite over 'shadowed the bad, and was, to the writer at any rate, a pleasant surprise. In the scrums and close play Otorohanga forwards more than held their own, and it is .to their pack they owe the' (Credit of. not .being -defeated. Of a good lot Holder; deserves special mention. He is a grafter, and his foot work is excellent. He has a splendid mate in Pa ton, who is moie brilliant., in the line out and loose play—not that Paton shirks the hard; work either, and I put these two men as. the best forwards .in the Union. Symes played a fair game in the open,,but I have seen him do better; but taken all through every man did his duty. Of the Otorohanga backs, Clarke was easily the pick, is defence being very sound. P. Turner' I have seen do a lot better, and is line kicking, usually is his strong point', was not up to his form. Probably bis absence from the earlier games accounts for his want of form in this respect. Ellis at times was fair, but has a lot to learn. HoWever he is young and will improve. Of Te Kuiti forwards, they failed to hold Otorohanga in the scrums, and I think it was lack of combination and rawness that caused this. In the open they had all the best of it. First and foremost, a special word of praise is due to Stan Cleaver. I have seen him play often, and well, but on this occasion he broke all records —it was the game of his life. Rothery and Boles donned the jersey again, and you would have thought they had never retired. Botes played a bard, heady game, and Rothery gave us the best exposition of the game since he has been amongst us. Of the backs, Sam Clark was sound, but perhaps not quite up to his usual form. Hurley played well, and Tapsall, a new arrival, is an acquisition to local football. He played a fine game, and I think will yet show lis something better. Hikaka also gave a good display, and really was responsible for Te Kuiti's first try. Kirk had a day off, and Cole likewise at times was faulty; both did fair work, but on the whole their play w as disappointing. Once again I must point out that if Te Kuiti wish to win games the forwards must get together and do scrum work, and in the open keep the ball at toe. In this respect, Hoiden and Pajton can show what can be done. Mr G. Elliott controlled the game in an excellent manner.

TANEHOPUWAI v. MANGAEPEHI. : The above match was played at Mangapeehi on Saturday,. .Mangapeehi won the game by 14 points to 4. Mr 'W..O. Irvine handled the whistle, and gave satisfaction to both sides. The ground Was in a good condition, and the game proved very fast. Maneapeehi won the toss, and elected to play against the sumn and light wind for the first spell. Poutawefta kicked off for Hanehopuwai, and following up received the return, and immediately potted a goal, not thirty seconds after the start of play. The Mangapeehi forwards livened up, and shortly after, from'.'' a forward scramble, Cleaver fell on the ball and scored. Darlington's attempt at goal failed. Some hot work followed. Mangapeehi forwards were getting the better of the scrum work. Play was confined to the Tanehopuwai'2s, and presently from a passing, rush among the Mangapeehi backs,. Mac-: kenzie scored near the corner flag. Darilngton again failed to improve. Atfer some considerable play in midfield, half time was sounded. On resumption, Mangapeehi. forwards again took charge, and swept the ball down to Tanehopjwai's 25, and after a hot forward scramble, Dryden got over and scored, whilst from no additional points came Darlington's kick. The remainder of the spell was mostly located in Tanehopuwai's 25, with the exception of a couple of rushes down to Managpeehi territory, which the full-back easily stopped. From the line out, Koroheke secured the ball, and taking a strong run, transferred to Tomlinson, who sent on to Charteris, who went over the line with about four opponents clinging to him. Darlington kicked a splendid goal from a difficult angle. Time sounded shortly afterwards, with the scores, Mangapeehio 14—Tanehopuwai 4,

For the winners, Mackenzie was the star of the backs, and played a sound defensive and a brilliant attacking game Goodall and McCracken also did good work The forwards all did well, those worthy* of special mention being Charteris, Korobeke, Tomlinson; McAleer and Dryden For Tanehopuwai, Hira Poutawera and one of the wing three-quarters played weMi The Tanehopuwai players ate proving a fine lot of sportsmen, and play a losing game in the best of. spirit* The visitors 'were entertained to tea at Mrs Carr's boarding house, and returned to Te Kuiti by the north-bound goodi train.

CITY FOOTBALL. The following are the results of Saturday's matches in Auckland:— City 8, v. Marist Bros. 0. Ponsonby 11, v. Parnell 10. University 36, v. Newton 3. NORTHERN UNION* ~ TE KUITI HUIAS v. MANANUI. The Te Kuiti Huia Northern Union Club journeyed to Manunui on Saturday last and defeated the combined Manwnui and Kakahi team by 8 to 7. The game was very fast and open, and the spectators were treated to one of

the finest class exhibitions of football seen on the Mananui ground. Although the HuiaV could not get their strongest team away they managed to get in a we'll deserved and bard-fought for win. Graham and T. Hetet scdred tries and Jack Hetet: kicked a goal. The'' whole team played well, but Bonoer, ;,Du<y«ll,;Hetet and Brown in. the backs, and Graham, Anderson and Tay lor jp, Jhejf or wards were particularly' 'goodV A return 5 match will be' played at Te Kuiti in a!*out a fortnight's time, r ■•••'".•*./;

maniapoto Rugby union; An emergency meeting of the above Union was held in the "Chronicle'' : office:on Saturday, evening. : The principal business was to.consider a letter* from the King .Country Union re their; representatives in the match versus Goldfialds. It was re.solved that the original arrangements be adhered l io-." ! A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Rothery, Matthew and th« 4 Secretary be appointed to make arrangements for the entertainment of the King Country 5 team on Saturday'next. The matter of the tour to Goldfields and Rotorua was considered, and further dates "'submitted, namely, Waihi July 29th, Rotorua to follow, and Thames on August sth. , Mr Wotthiiigton gave notice of motion: "That the rules and bylawß, as drawn up by the sub-commit-tee, be adopted at the next meeting of the Union." , REFEREES' ASSOCIAyTION. Three members of the Referees' Association sat for their examination on Saturday evening, last. Mr N. B. Lusk acted as examiner, and set the papers. . MANIAPOTO v. KING COUNTRY. The following team has been selected to represent the Mahiapoto Rugby Union against the King Country Union on the Domain ground, Te Kuiti, on Saturday next:— Full-back, T. Clarke (Otorohanga); three-quartres, Hardstaffe (Opamre), Tapsall (Te kuiti), P. Turner (Otorohanga) ; five-eighth, Hurley, (Te Kuiti); half, S. Clark (Te Kuiti); wings, S. Cleaver (Te Kuiti), Hira Poutawera (Tanehopuwai); forwards,. Hoiden, B. Clarke, Symes (Otorohanga),Boles and Bliasett. (Te Kuiti), , Charteris (Mangapeebi), Griffiths (Tanehopuwai). Emergencies: Backs—V. Kirk, J. McColl, and Tiwa; forwards —G. Clarke, Rebi, Dent and Maxted. Any player who,is unable to play in this match is requested to notify the Secretary at once.