FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 385, 9 August 1911, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

MANIAPOTO V. THAMES. The touring Maniapoto Rugby Union team met Thames at Parawai on Saturday for the opening match of the tour. The teams comprised. Maniapoto —full, Johnson; 2, Cleaver, W. Clark and Hurley; g, Potier and Goodall; hj, Jones; wing, Rothery; forwards," Holden, G. Clark, Boles, Fuller, B. Clark, Symes, Hayson. Thames—full, E. Hay wad; f, Rickit, Joyce, Montogmery; g, Boles, Dovell; i, Griffin; wing, F. Hayward; forwards, Manning, McLean, M. Hayward, Crawford, McPherson, H. Hayward, White. The game opened with a ruan by Thames forwards into the_ visitors' territory. Potier saved with a fine kick to touch. F. Hayward and Griffin were prominent in a Thames attack, but Cleaver and Hurley relieved. Symes and Holden came through the next scrum and, with Rothery, attacked. Thames turned the attack and kicked to Johnson, who found tuuch at half-way. Cleaver made a run, but was well tackled. Joyce came away and centred, but Johnson got there, and found touch. Thames again atracked strongly, and Johnson was somewhat lucky in clearing From another Thames rush the visitors rallied and the forwaros removed the scene of play to the other end. E. Hayward saved. B. Clark failed to convert a free kick. Potier, Jones and Hurley did some good workin defence. W. Clark cleverly saved from another dangerous rush by the local men. When playing in Thames territory, from a free kick, B. Clark kicked a splendid goal. During the second quarter good forward rushes were a feature of the play on either side. Also some bright back play, in which the visitors, especially Potier, were perhaps best. The quarter ended with Maniapoto attacking. The third quarter opened with a prolonged exchange of long kicks in field, and no advantage gained. Thames backs made a strong attack towards the close of ihe quarter, but there was no score. Maniapoto had the best of the early stages of the final quarte-; but Thames later attaCKed with determination, and White eventually scored and equalised the position. No further score was obtained. The teams dined together in the evening, and on Sunday were taken for a drive by the seasnore.

NORTHERN UNION

TE KUITI v. ROTORUA

At Rotorua on Saturday, tha Huia Northern Union Club were defeated by Rotorua by 27 to 2. The game was played under excellent conditions, and was more even than the scores would indicate. The Rotorua team was captained by Mcßae and the Huias by Du vail, while Morse officiated with the whistle. Huias won the toss, and Landells kicked off for Rotorua, who made the pace from the jump and looked like scoring, when W. Hetet pulled Fernandez down close to'the line. Soon afterwards, Mcßae Bet his backs going in a passing bout which ended in Layne scoring in the corner. The kick failed. A scrum followed the kick out and the ball went from T. Hetet to Bonner to J. Hetet to Du Vail, who wa3 grassed near the line. Rotorua returned to the attack and Reke scored after a good passing rush. McCailum again failed with the kick. Huias got going, and a rush headed by Houghton and Anderson looked dangerous, but Rawson brought relief by a long kick. Neil scored for Rotorua, and Landells converted. On resuming for the second naif, Huias livened up, and put some devil into their play, with the result that the pace was very hot for some time. Harp made a good opening for Rotorua, but it was spoilt by a knock-on, when D u Val'l led" a counter attack which T. Hetet continued. A few minutes later Rotorua were penalised _ and Bonner, who was playing well,_ Kicked a splendid goal. After the kick out the Huias again attacked, but could not add the finishing_ touch, and _ soon Rotorua forced play into the visitors' territory. Harp then started a rush by jumping over a man and passing on to McCailum, who scored and a'so

added the extra point 3. Rotorua maintained the attack, but Du Vail got posssssion and made a tricky run, but as he was unsupported tie had to kick high to Rawson, who fielded and cleared. From a Rotorua forward rush Kira picked up and scored; no goal. A little later Fryday, Bonner and Warburton were conspicuous in a passine: rush, but the defence was too sound." Rotorua came again with succession of pasiang rushes, but the tackling of Bonner, Du Vail and the Hetets was very sure. From a scrum Hastedt secured but was painfully alow, and through his slowness Du Vail got away, Layne eventualv saving. Fernandez shortly afterwards scored for Rotorua from a passing rush and McCa'lum converted. Soon after Hastedt secured and 3ent on to Mcßae to Harp who scored.. No goal resulted, and the game ended Rotorua 27, Huia 2. For the visitors, Bonner. Du Vail, T. Hetet, Anderson and Fryday were the pick, although all played well. The team had a splendid time, anc were shown the sights during theii stay.