FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 477, 26 June 1912, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TE KUITI 15 v. WAIMIHA 3. The second round of the competitions under the auspices of the Maniapoto Rugby Union was inaugurated on Saturday last when Te Kuiti met Waimiha at Te Kuiti, and Tanehopuwai was billed to wage war on Mangapehi at the timber milling centre. Considerable interest attached to the meeting between Waimiha and Te Kuiti. When the teams mnt at the opening of the season Te Kuiti registered a win by six points, and as the Waimiha players were contesting their first game against an old established team, their showing waj decidedly meritorious. On Saturday no secret was made of the fact that the visitors had the strongest team they had hitherto got together, and they were expected to put up a sterling game. This opinion was fully borne out and the spectators were treated to the fastest game of the season. Although the visitors suffered defeat by 15 points to 3, the scores hardly give a fair indication of the merits of tne game. The Waimiha team evidently lacked the scoring ability which means so much in football, and the balance of luck was in favour of the locals. Still, there were many anxious moments for Te Kuiti supporters and the issue was always open till the call of time. In consequence of recent heavy rains the ground was not in the best of order, and mistakes were made at times in endeavouring to handle the greasy ball, Te Kuiti set the ball in motion and Coldstream missed the return, but Cole came to the rescue and found the line. A Waimiha rush was well stopped by Matthews and a passing run by Te Kuiti w : as pulled up by a knock on. Loose play followed and a mark by a Te Kuiti player enabled D. Gray to send the leather well down the field to the full back. A scrambling rush ensued among the forwards and D. Gray forced his way over the visitors' line near the corner and scored. The kick at goal proved fruitless —Te Kuiti 3, Waimiha 0. Following the drop out the visitors swept up the field with the ball but a hard kick enabled Maher to force. The drop out was well followed up,but off side play gave a free kick to the visitors, who took a shot at goal. The kick went wide, but Parks, following up fast, reached the ball on the bounce and dashing over the line scored a meritorious try. No goal resulted and the scores were even. Give and take play followed the drop out, and Te Kuiti forwards came through with a rush over the line. Mitchell dived for the leather, and missed, but Kite secured possession and scored. D. Gray kicked a poster —Te Kuiti 6, Waimiha 3. Play centred for a time till the visitors made an opening and the centre threequarter had a good chance to score but slipped. Defence was turned to attack by Te Kuiti, but McKenzie came to the rescue and stemmed a rush. Heke picked up in a loose scramble and with a guod dodgy run got over the Waimiha line at the corner, scoring Te Kuiti's third try. D. Gray's attempt was again good, but failed in direction. Rush and counter rush succeeded until Williams made a good dash and kicked to the full back. Waimiha worked the leather back to the centre, but a loose rush by Te Kuiti saw Delaney almost score. D. Gray was prominent in a loose ru3h, but the visitors retaliated and Maher just saved in time. Waimiha was not to be denied, and another rush over the line ended in a force. The remainder of the spell was rather in favour of Waimiha and no further score resulted —Te Kuiti 9, Waimiha 3. Upon resuming McKenzie was prominent with good stopping and kicking, and a good rush by the visitors was checked by Maher. A counter rush was headed by D. Gray, but a hard kick enabled the visitors to force. A passing bout in Waimiha quarters saw Heke make a dash and the ball was sent from Williams to Maher to Matthews the latter being forced into touch. Te Kuiti backs continued to fling the ball about and kept up the attack. W'illiams obtained a mark in front of the goal and D. Gray's attempt once more skimmed the post. A good rush was luckily stopped by Matthews with a speculator,and Coldstream following up fast kicked over the line and the visitors forced. Maher made a sensational dodgy run from the drop out and almost scored. From a scrum in front of the goal Waimiha ; broke away with a fine rush, McKay and Aldridge being prominent. Shortly afterwards Aldridge again came through but Coldstream saved well. Keeping up the pressure the visitors taxed the defence heavily, and Maher just averted a score by a timely kick. Relief was brought by a loose rush and Williams was almost in. Coldstream was next prominent, but Pokawa tackled in fine style. A dash by Matthews was cut short by the same player and a scrum was formed near the line. Healey took the ball as it came out, and dashing through the forwards he dived over and scored. The attempt at goal again failed—Te Kuiti 12, Waimiha 3. The visitors 1 broke away with a rush in which McKay was noticeable,a mark gained further ground for them. Pokawa took the ball from a long kick ana with a fine dash made ground and the forwards, headed by Park and McKay carrying on the leather a score seemed imminent, but Cole saved the situation. Coldstream got the ball in the open and made a straight dash for the line. Tackled by Pokawa he sent the ball to Kite who dashed over and scored. Cole took the kick and failed —Te Kuiti 15, Waimiha 3. Play continued in neutral ground until the whistle blew. Mr P. Mora was referee. NOTES ON THE GAME. To say that the better team on the day won, is but fair, but I question very much if there is not as good, or better, football material in the Waimiha ranks than in any team in the competition. With more practice and combination the Waimiha players should develop into a first rate team.

As a full back Pokawa is a distinct success. It was a treat to see him tackle, and his fielding kicking were excellent. He answered the de-

i mands made on his defending powers excellently. The threequarters defended well and with more chances in concerted play gave the impression that they would do well. Parks made a brilliant run when he scored. At five eighths McKenzie did an immense amount of stopping, and proved a tower of strength to his side. He also appears capable of shining in attack if given the opportunity. Scurmey, at half, got few chances to open up the game, but his defence was tested and he performed well. Not being acquainted with the forwards individually I cannot make special mention of more than one or two. Moreover, where all were triers, it would be invidious to particularise. Mackay and Aldridge nlayed sterling games, but there were one or two others equally prominent. With a little more practice and attention to the finer points it will be a very fine pack. For the winners, Cole, at full back, played his usual good game. He evidently took his previous lesson to heart and did not crowd too close to the serum. The threequarters gave a satisfactory exhibition, and at times flung the ball about in good style. Matthews was. as usual, as solid as a rock in defence. Williams made some good dasher and saved cleverly on more than one occasion. Coldstream did better than at five-eighths, and was responsible for a good opening when Kite scored. At five-eighth Maher was a host in himself and performed brilliantly, while Coldstream, at half, was very sound. It is a thousand pities such a good set of backs do not pet more openings from the scrum. The forwards were all willing, and showed improved form compared with previous Healey, on the wing, was always the busy. D. Gray played his usual heady game and is doing better this season than for some time past. Of the others Delaney, Mitchell, Kite and Heke were prominent. The last mentioned has improved immensely, and gives promise of becoming first class.

A WORD TO SPECTATORS

In connection with the games played at Te Kuiti this season, it is high time steps were taken to check the obnoxious and unsportsmanlike criticism indulged in by paritsans standing on the side lines. The referee is usually the butt, ana loud expressions of disapproval concerning decisions are mingled with exhortations to flayers to "put the boot in"; "throttle him"; and other equally choice expressions. Regarding the exhortations there can be but one opinion. The offenders should not be tolerated on any sports ground, and the attention of the police should be directed towards them.

With reference to the criticisms directed towards the referee, it is a pitv the critics do not qualify to take charge of the whistle, and learn from experiences something of a referee's duties. Presumably, the critics know a good deal about the rules, and feel themselves qualified to judge. There is a vast difference, however, between a good general knowledge ot the rules, and the intimate knowledge necessary to pass a referee's examination. Moreover, it is important to remember that it is not the duty of a referee to blow his whistle every time a breach occurs. The referee's duty, in fact, is entirely the reverse. In the case of minor breaches it is referee's duty to wait, and see if the offending side gains an advantage by the offence. If the advantage goes to the other side the game should not be stopped. If it were otherwise the ■ whistle would be far too much in evidence, and the game would lose half its interest. In addition it must be remembered that no referee can see every breach that occurs. It is to be hoped in the interests of sport the injudicious and offensive criticism levelled at men who, without reward, devote time and effurt towards encouraging the game will be put a stop to. SOCCER. HAMILTON 4 v. TE KUITI2 . The locai Association team played a team from Hamilton at Te Kuiti on Saturday, and after a hard and fast game were defeated by four goals to two. The opening exchanges went in favour of the visitors, who early on forced a corner, but nothing came of it. Te?Kuiti then got going ant! McKinnon gf.ve away a penalty, but Bayne missed with the kick. After some mid-field play the bull went out to the left and Pattison beating the, back centred for Barber to score. Soon after Robinson put on another for the visitors. The home team now rallied, and Allen saved several good shots in goal. Near half time Pattison ran clean through from the left, beating Gough and shooting through with a fast cross shot. Hamilton Te Kuiti 0. Te Kuiti started the second half at a hot pace, but their attacks were beaten back Micklethwaite got hurt and had to retire, but the visitors still held their own and should have scored. After twenty minutes in the second half Pattison received a nasty kick on the ankle and had to retire, he taking no further part in the match. Te Kuiti now played up and scored through Boyne, the same player putting on a second goal for his side. The visitors being short-handed still played hard, and Hickman had hard lines with a shot that hit the upright. Soon after this Gough had the misfortune to put the ball through his own goal. No more scoring took place and the final came with Hamilton 4, Te Kuiti 'l. Browlee played a good game for Te Kuiti and should make a good player. Of the others Boyne, Gough and Cowan were the pick. McKinnott played a great game at back for Hamilton, and Hickman, Barber and Pattison were the pick of the visitors, but all played well.