FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 375, 5 July 1911, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

MANIAPOTO v. KING COUNTRY.

The first representative match of the season was played on the Te Kuiti ground on Saturday last, between the above Unions. A fast and exciting game eventuated. Maniapoto kicked off with the sun at their backs. Kirk received the return kick, followed up Bmartly, and collared his man before he got his kick in. which took play into the King Country 25. W. Clarke cleared the King Country line with a fine kick. The visiting forwards dashed away with the ball at toa, and Daly score first blood. The shot at goal was not successful. Shortly after kicking off, W. Clarke was responsible for good defensive work, and Charteris was noticeable at head of a Maniapoto forward rush The Maniapoto backs gained ground with a passing run started by Tapsail to P. Turner to Tal Clarke. The King Country backs retaliated with a rush which was well stopped by P. Turner. The Maniapoto forwards broke away with Symes m lead, but found the King Country defence very solid. Harvey, a King Country forward, was noticeable for good following up. S. Cleaver broke away with ball at toe and looked like scoring, but T. Bell, the visitors' full-back, gathered the ball and found the line. A free kick awarded to ' Maniapoto was well returned by Daly, Peter Turner received, and found the line. Symes and Boles got away with ball at toe, and carried play into the King Country 25. The King Country forwards responded with a good rush, which Tal Clarke stopped, and found the line. The first 20 minutes spell ended: King Country 3 Maniapoto 0 On resuming play, Harvey, who was playing a solid game, broke away and gained ground A free kick awarded to Maniapoto took play into the King Country 25, where another free kick for off-side play was given to Maniapoto. Bert. Clarke was successful with the kick at goal, and the score stood at 3 points each. Brown, for the visitors, marked twice in quick succession, and gained a lot of ground with good kicks. When in the Maniapoto 25, W. Clarke endeavoured to drop a goal, but failed. Symes showed some dashing play, and twice broke away with ball at toe and carried play to the King Country territory. Daly relieved with a good line kick. A passing run among the King Country backs took play back to the Maniapoto 25. Harvey made a good opening for King Country, which was not taken advantage of. Fuller, of the visitors, was noticeable for smart following up. Boles made a fine dribble, and gained a lot of ground for the home team. When in the King Country 25, Tapsail passed to Tal Clarke, who scored. The shot at goal failed, and Maniapoto lead with the score: Maniapoto 6 King Country 3 The King Country forwards raced up the field, and after some loose play Daly scored and W.Clarke converted. Half time was called with the score:

King Country 8 Maniapoto 6 Shortly after the kick off, the visitors were compelled to force. The King Country backs then got going, and gained ground. A strong Maniapoto forward rush was well stopped by Bell, the King Country full-back, who was playing a very sound defensive game. The ball was carried up and down the field by the respective forwards, and when in ths King Country 25, Kirk all but got over. A free kick given to the visitors relieved them. The King Country backs again got going. B. Clarke nipped in and relieved. A free kick awarded to Maniapoto was entrusted to Bert Clarke, who landed a beautiful goal, which brought the score: Maniapoto 9 King Country 8 Charteris received the kick, and relieved well into the King Country 25. The local forwards dahed over the line, and Symes scored. B-. Clarke made a good attempt, but just failed to add the extra points. Score:

Maniapoto 12 King Country 8 P. Turner received the kick off and returned well. The Maniapoto forwards again got going, and Symes nearly got over the line. W. Clarke cleared well. A free kick relieved pressure on the King Country line. The visitors' backs removed the scene of play to the Maniapoto -line, where Boles got possession, and with a fine run took play back to the King Country 25. W. Clarke, of the visiting team, gathered the ball, and with a dashing run took play once more into the Maniapoto territory. A free kick was awarded to King Country. W. Clarke made a good attempt, but was not successful with his kick. The King Country forwards raced for the Maniapoto line and a score seemed certain, when Kirk nipped in and saved. The visitors again attacked, and looked dangerous, but Tal Clarke came to the rescue with a good line kick. Just before the call of time, Maniapoto compelled King Country to force, and time was culled with the score: Maniapoto 12 King Country 8 Mr N. B. Lusk gave every satisfaction as referee. His decisions were quickly and decisively given, which always appeals to the players.

NOTES. The game was a fast, willing arirl clean one. There was not a sign of roughness from start to finish, which is more than can be said for some country games. Maniapoto were unfortunate in losing the services of three of their men, which necessitated an alteration in the pacing of the team, and this acted prejudicially. The

backs also did some good work, but were at a disadvantage through the weakness of the connecting links. All the three-quarters played well, and Tapsail at five-eight, played a good game; his kicking is excellent, and a great assistance to the side* It is not necessary to individualise wh n all the forwards played a fine game. One or two of them perhaps showed signs of want of training. If the players generally will attend to th if, a pack should be obtainable in the King Country well able to hold their own against all comers. The King Cuuntry backs were very good. Their passing was neat and nippy and their fielding of the ball was very good indeed. W. Clarke, centre three-quarter, is a pillar of strength to his side, and Bell at full was very safe and kicked well. Daly, at five-eighth, played a fine game, and Brown at half did well. Among the forwards, Harvey played a splendid game. He was always on the ball, in fact he grafted from start to finish, and appeared to be in splendid condition. Fuller also was noticeable for good following up, and was never far from the thick of play. A really good representative team should be obtainable from these two Unions, and it is hoped that the men selected will be able to travel with the touring team.