WINTER SPORTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 560, 19 April 1913, Page 5

WINTER SPORTS.

OPENING OF SEASON

With the close of the present month tha various sports and pastimes suitable to the cold weather will be under wav. Annual meetings of clubs devoted to winter games are being held and preparations are being made by all to open the season with spirit. FOOTBALL. Chief in popularity with the younger element of trie community is Rugby football, and the annual meeting of the Maniapoto Rugby Union is to be held in April. Rubgy football has been referred to 33 New Zealand's national game and J ud^'n ß from the success which has attended the efforts if Dominion footballers, both at Home and abroad the title has been earned. Last season the players under the jutisdiction of the Maniapoto Rubgy Union had a most successful season, and the standard of play was well maintained. Three representative matches were played—two at Te Kuiti and one at Te Awamutu. Two of the games were against the Waipa Rugby Unirni representatives each side winning on their own ground. The other was game against a Maori touring team, which defeated the local representatives after good a contest. ' The premiership it the club matches under the Union was won by Te Kuiti that club defeating Otorohanga in a play off on the latter club's ground. The standard of play throughout the season was very creditable, though the representative team suffered from lack of combination due to the inability of players to practice together. This drawback will be less apparent in future as facilities for travelling are increased, and there is every reason to anticipate that the Maniapoto representative team of the future will do credit to the district.

The prosoecta for the coming season are of the brightest. It is anticipated that six teams will take -part in the Union fixtures, as against five last season. Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Mangapehi, Waimiha, and Tanehopuwai, are all likely tu enter teams again, and there is every likelihood of a Maori team being formed in Te Kuiti. There has been some talk of a Tangitu team being entered, but it is thought probable that the Tangitu players will throw in their lot with Waimiha again. Tills team possesses excellent material, and with practice should make a bold bid for the championship. Mention has also been made of an Ongarue team joining the Union, but nothing definite has yet been heard in thii connectnn. Teams in the Pio Pio and Aria districts last season competed under the auspices of the Maniapoto Union, playing a series of games among themselves. A;similar arrangement may be entered into this season as the road journey from the districts mentioned and Te Kuiti is a severe handicap to the travelling players. GOLF. The ancient game of golf has been played at Te Kuiti for several seasons, but the progress of the game has been somewhat hampered by the lack of a suitable ground. This season, however, arrangements have been made to lay off a course on Mr R. M. Somerville's' property, which is admirably adapted for the purpose. Arrangements are already well in hand and the opening day of the season has been fixed for Saturday, April 26th. The club has been strengthened hy the addition of a number of new members, and a good gathering of old and new players is anticipated. During the season club competitions are to be held and the prospecta for the season are excellent.