FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 379, 19 July 1911, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

GOLDFIELDS v. MANIAPOTO.

There was a large attendance of spectators at the Domain, Te Kuiti, on Saturday last to witness the match betwen representative teams from the Goldfields and Maniapoto Rugby Football Unions. A bright warm sun shone fom a clea sky; thee was a total absence of wind; the ground wag in good condition; so that every thug favoured the contesting teams giving of the best. When the teams lined out, it was evident they were remarkably even aa regards weight all round, yet the visitors appeared to show more the results of careful training. THE PLAY.

Goldfields (red jerseys) won the toss, and during the opening stage defended the western goal. Maniapoto (green and white) kicked off, and the visitors returned with a kick into touch at half-way. From the line out the green forwards, playing with splendid combination and footwork, carried play to within reds' 25. A penalty kick was awarded the local men, but B. Clarke was unsuccessful with a shot at goal. Maddison kicked to touch at half-way. From a scrum in this locality, Sam Clark secured and kicked to touch at reds' 25. Stan Cleaver was soon after prominent, racing along the touch line, over which he was bumped by Maddison. The green forwards kept the play in red territory, but the visiting backs proved a watchful and determined set of defenders. With a sudden swoop the red forwards flashed out, and the ball was rushed diagonally across field and over the touch line, Capill and Alexander put ting in specially effective work. In green territory, a free kick was | awarded to reds. McKenzie fielded, and found touch at half-way. The ball coming out at the side of a scrum on the north side, Cleaver secured, passed to Tapsall to Hardstaff, the ball eventually going out at the south side of field with some five yards gained by greens. Hardstaff received from lineout, and made a good dash, but was well checked by Leonard. A red for ward getting off-side, greens were awarded a free kick at half way, and their forwards followed up fast and rushed the ball well into red territory. Leonard snapped up the ball and evading several opponents, reached halfway, where he was pushed out. Red forwards made a fast dash to greens' full-back, who kicked clear. The visiting half secured from a mixup, and passed out to the wing threequarter, who was pushed into touch. Off-side play by red forwards enabled Tapsall to kick high, and green forwards followed up well, and a strenuous piece of forward play ended in reds kicking to touch at their opponents' 25. A badly timed pass from •Thomas to Morgan spoiled an opening for reds. Thomas later marked in good position, but Hyde failed to find the posts, and greens returned to touch at half-way. The ball was kicked to Hardstaff, who ran round but was well collared. Red forwards came through with the ball; Sam Clark secured, passed to Tapsall and the latter found touch. A passing rush by reds - Thomas to Morgan to Leonard gained round, but ended with a knock on. Sam Clark secured from scrum, kicked to McCollum, who found touch at halfway. Sam Clark secured from line out, passed to Tapsall, who kicked out. In a series of line-outs ; greens gradually worked play into reds' ground, Sam Clark putting in useful work behind the pack. Kothery was prominent with a fine dash, which was checked by McCollum. From a kick to centre by Maddison, Boles fielded and kicked out at reds' 25. Green forwards made a fine combined rush, but Morgan secured and passed to Leonard, who kicked out at half-way. The first 20 minutes' play ended with no score.

Shortly after the change over for the second stage, Morgan took the ball with a well sustained dribble right through the local team, and Hyde followed up and snapped up the ball and scored first blood for reds. Hyde failed to convert. Score: — Goldfields 3 Maniapoto 0 From kick out, reds found touch at half-way. Maddison secured a mark, and Hyde though making a beautiful attempt failed to add to the score. Moragn again dashed through with the ball, pasesd to Leonard, who mishandled. From the scrum, reds heeled out clean; Thomas passed to Morgan to Leonard, but no ground was gained when the ball went into touch. Another fine rush by green forwards was checked by red backs, who kicked up field. Tal Clarke kicked high, Cleaver followed up, secured and after gaining a few extra yards was pushed into touch within 10 yards of the goal line. Red backs secured from the line out and took play across the field. From a scrum, Thomas found touch well up. Cleaver was instrumental in gaining ground for greens. From a return kick by McCollum, McKenzie made a poor kick into the open at red 25. Alexander secured the ball with the greens nearly all off-side and made off, galloping three-quarters the length of the field and outpacing all opposition scored behind the posts. Hyde improved the score with a neat goal. Score:— Goldfields 8 Maniapoto 0 Reds returned the kick-off to touch at ha'f-way. From the line out the ball was passed to Hardstaff, who ran back and was upset, Cleaver making a timely kick into touch. Tapsali checked a red forward rush and regained ground for green. Red forwards turned tide and streamed up field with the ball at toe. A scrum at midfield went in favour of reds, the ball travelling from Thomas to Morgan, who kicked into the open. Flay became rather slack for a few moments. Then reds came with another dash and Maddison kicked ojt close up. From the line out Boles was in evidence with a good dribble, and the scene of play was removed to red territory, where they were penalised. Bert. Clarke was entrusted with a

shot at goal, which proved sucessful. Score: —■ Maniapoto 3 Goldfields 8 General play at midfield followed, and ended with greens being penalised. Tapsall returned high and green torwards dashed to midfield, but were again checked by the safe play of Moragn and Leonard. Tapsall secured and found touch at half-way, and the half-tine whiistle sounded. Bert Clarke kicked oil' for green, and Maddison returned out at halfway. Green forwards carried play into red territory, but Leonard snapped up and passed to Maddison, who found touch in green territory. Several scrums took place, from which reds were most successful at securing possession of the ball, which passed from hand to hand with an ominous flick and dash. Symes relieved with a good dribble, which ended with the ball going into touch at reds* 25. Red forwards removed play to half-way. From a line out Thomas passed to Morgan to Leonard to McCollum, the latter being thrown into touch two yards from the goal line. Kothery got busy on the line out, and gained ground. Then Tapsall made a further gain by a dash ending with a kick into touch at half-way. Maddison secured, and with a fine line kick sent greens back to their 25. A red forward knocked on and from the scrum Thomas secured, cut in past two opponents, passed to Morgan who improved the opening and presented Maddison with the chance to score an easy try, which the latter accpeted. No goal resulted from Hyde's kick. Score: — Goldfields 11 Maniapoto 3 From a line out following the kick out, Sam Clark kicked well down. Maddison returned to centre, and the red forwards came with a fine dash, which Tapsall and Clark checked. Leonard secured, evaded several opponents, passed to Black (on wing in place of McCollum) who mishandled and the ball went into touch six yards out from green goal line. Symes by a great effort sent reds back to near half-way. Sam Clark marked cleverly, and Tapsall sent his forwards after a high kick, the onslaught ending by Black marking almost on the goal line. From a line out at reds' 25, Bert Clarke carried the ball to within a S few yards of the goal, but was well ! smothered. Green forwards had reds i defending close to their line, but Sam | Clark was penalised for picking from the scrum. Greens returned to the attack, but Morgan came through and turned the tide and some scrambling play ensued at midfield. Sam Clark I secured a good mark. Morgan fielded J Tapsall's kick and brought play to j green territory. Symes was prominent in a green forward rush. Red forwards counter moved, but Tapsall secured and kicked up field. Black returned high to P. Turner at full, and the latter marked. Cleaver was mainly instrumental in removing play to half way, and green forwards rallied to another fine rush, which ended in touch at reds' 25. From a scrum at midfield, Thomas passed to Morgan who found touch. Tal Clarke picked up from a red forward charge, was grassed, but threw the ball into I touch.

The teams changed over for the final 20 minutes' play and exchange of kicks ended in touch at half-way. Green forwards gained ground. A return kick to McKenzie was mulled, and reds charged down, but overeagerness seemed to rob them of a score. Securing possession at halfway, Morgan dashed forward, passed high to Leonard who took the ball with the tips of his fingers whilst racing at top speed, then transferred to Maddison, the latter's fine turn of speed enabling him to score a pretty try. Hyde failed to improve. Score: — Goldfields 14 Maniapoto 3

Leonard fielded from the kick out, ran through the charging forwards, and kicked out at half-way. Red forwards raced right through the opposition. Tapsali was penalised for illegally falling on the ball. Hyde failed to goal, and the ball went out at green's 25. From a scrum hereabouts Thomas secured, passed to Morgan to Leonard, and the latter strode through the defence and scored. Black added the extra points. Score: Goldhelds 19 Maniapoto 3 Play went into red territory; the local forwards kept together well, and sent the visitors back to their line, but Morgan, Thomas and Leonard turned the attack. Tal Ciarke kicked with bad judgment, and reds removed play to green's 25. Green forwards attacked again, and reds got off-side. Bert Clarke, with a beautiful kick from midfield made the score:--Maniapoto 6 Goldfields 10

The remainder of the game was chiefly featured by an exchange of kicks and general play in neutral zone, and eventually the teams left the field with the visitors winners by a 13 points' margin. Mr N, B. Lusk refereed in his usual able manner, to the satisfaction of both teams. NOTES. The writer's first note is on behalf of the spectators. Patrons of football matches do not appreciate being ordered to keep behind invisible barriers. Besides it would speak ill for the attractiveness of the game if they were not drawn to the closest point of view. The local Union should stretch a rope or wire along the north side of the field, and so save their officials the necessity of dancing elaborate hakas between players and spectators. Next he would voice the troubles of a reporter endeavouring to pick out strange players for good play (especially forwards) when their jersey 3 are not numbered. The game was a good one in most respects. It was fast, clean and played with the spirit which has made Rugby popular in this country. It was made very evident a different class of football is played in the two districts. The visitors have back play well developed, but their forwards are inclined to play an off-side game, de-

pending on their rearguard. The local forwards outshone the backs to a marked degree, particularly in combination. They were moat- effective in line out and dribbling. The visiting forwards heeled cleanest from the scrums, and were mast effective in smothering back play by their opponents. In the matter of tackling, a marked contrast was provided. The visitors went low and made a certainty of their men, but the locals missed time after time through going high. Taking Goldfields backs individually, Morgan was specially g«od in making openings and all-round good play. Thomas was a good half, and Leonard was a splendid centre threeuarter; Maddison was ever handy and useful on the wing; McCollum and Black were generally safe. The forwards were uniformly fast and well trained, with perhaps Alexander, Hvde and Ornnby most effective. In the local backs Tapsall was overworked, but was sound and consistent throughout. Sam Clark had a haid row to hoe, but generally did well in the face of fast forwards and deadly tacklers. The other backs r.-ade many mistakes. Hardstaff was promising early in the game, but seemed to fell away, ar-d there was a lack of cohesion right through. McKcnzie was a failure, or was very much off his game. The local forwards played a uniformly good game. Symes was often prominent, and Cleaver, Boles and Rothery caught the eye often in effective play; nevertheless they seemed to be often badly "left" by the opposing half and five-eighth owing to ineffective smothering.