FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 494, 24 August 1912, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI MAORIS v. MANIAPOTO. The Taranaki Maori team of Rugby footballers opened its tour on Thursday with a game against the Maniapoto representatives at Te Kuiti. The weather was all that could be desired and with a good dry ground spectators anticipated a fast open gam". The visitors were somewhat heavier than the local players, and took the eye as a fine body of athletes. The local team as somewhat, different from the original selection D. Gray and Turner in the forwards, replacing Mexted and Emery, while Maher, who was suffering from a bad throat was supplanted at five-eighths by Coldstream. After the opening exchanges of kicks play centred for a time till the visiting forwards broke away with a rush. Coldstream proved a stumbling block, and a counter rush by the locals saw the leather on the visitors' side of half way. Off side play by the visitors gave two penalties in quick succession to Maniapoto, and D. Gray had a shot at the uprights from nearly half way. A fine effort saw the ball drop under the bar. Taranaki rush took the leather to Killop and a scrum was screwed by the local forwards. A mark was obtained by the visitors in a dangerous position, but the shot at goal was fruitless. Give-and-take play ensued till a passing run by the Taranaki backs opened up the game. G. Clark and P. Turner were prominent in stemming a forward rush. A rush by the local forwards cleared the line, but the visitors were not to be denied, and a forward rush in which the ball was picked up and sent out to Toru, saw the latter fall over the line as he was tackled by Matthews. The major points were not added to the try and the first quarter ended' —'Taranaki 3, Maniapoto 0. Upon changing ends the visitors endeavoured to open up the game, but good tackling by the local backs nullified their efforta. T. Clark and Matthews were noticeable in good stopping work. Loose clay among the forwards resulted in a slight advantage to the locals and further attempts at passsing runs on the part of the visitors were marred by bad transfers. The spell ended without further score After the spell play hovered in midfield, scrums and line work being the order of the day. A good exchange of kicks ended in Killop finding the line at half way. From a line out the visitors following up a high kick raced for the line, but Killop and Matthews saved, the former getting a nasty fall. A scrum near the line was carried by Maniapoto, but a hard kick to Toru gave the latter a drop kick at goal and the locals forced. Immediately after the drop out the visiting centre three-quarter by a smart dodgy run, beat the defence and scored behind the posts. The major points were added, making the score—Taranaki 8, Maniapoto 0. After the kick off Taranaki rushed the ball to the Maniapoto line, but Healy broke away from the scrum and took the leather to half way. Play was in neutral territory- for the remainder of the quarter. On changing ends the visitors indulged in some passing bouts but their passing was not effective. A rush to the local 25 v.as well stopped, but from the ensuing scrum the visiting backs broke away and the five-eighth dashed over the line and scored. IJornibrook smothered the shot at goal, and the score stood —11 —O. The locals then had a turn at passing and made ground but the visitors broke away to the local 25. A shot at goal from a free kick brought no result. Maniapoto then took a hand in attack and Tal. Clark with a short cross kick, made a good opening but the leather was kicked back hard over the line by a visiting back. Give-and-take play followed for the remainder of the spell and the game ended—Taranaki 11, Mniaapoto 0.

NOTES ON THE GAME

The game requires iittle comment. Lack of combination on the part of both teams was evident, and both are capable of better things. The visitors made laudable efforts to open up the game, but the passing of the backs was faulty and combined runs were frpquently nipped in the bud in consequence. As a combination tho backs are fast and resourceful, but they will require to practice together a good deal more before they can be termed dangerous. The forwards are a strong willing lot, and can be depended upon to give a good exhibition. The locals were expected to fail in the forwards but succeeded 111 holding their own remarkably well. In the finer points of the game they did not shine, but in good, honest graft they were equal to tho opposition. Ihe backs got few chances in attack, the weakness in the half-oack precluding the possibility of combined attack. In defence, all did their share, Matthews and Killop being perhaps tho most noticeable. Altogether it was a clean hard game and the best team won. Mr N. B. Lusk refereed in his usual efficient style.