FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 571, 28 May 1913, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TE KUITI 9, V. NEHENEHE 0.

The games under the auspices of the Maniapoto Rugby Union were continued on Saturday laßt, and provided good contests. Te Kuiti and Nehenehe met on the local ground and after a Btirring battle Te Kuiti won by 9 points to nil. The Mangapehi players journeyed to Otorohanga and met defeat by 11 points to 3, while Waimiha met the Ongarue players at Ongarue and were defeated by 20 points to 3.

The game at Te Kuiti, as was anticipated gave rise to a considerable amount of interest, the "barracker" element being particularly strong. The Nehenehe team had put up an excellent fight against Otorohanga on the previous Saturday, and une or two alterations in the personnel of the team worked an improvement. From the kick off Te Kuiti started on the aggressive and 6016s broke awav, but was tackled with the ball and a scrum ensued. Give-and-take play was the order for a short time, when Ban Gray made a dash for the line and almost got over. Strenuous scrambling play near the line kept the Maori players on the defensive and finally Boles picked up the leather from a loose rush and dashed over, scoring first blood for Te Kuiti. No goal resulted —Te Kuiti 3, Nehenehe 0. The first enlivening incident after the drop out was a Nehenehe rush well stopped by Crombie. A free kick to Te Kuiti further relieved the situation, the ball going into touch in neutral territory. The Te Kuiti playerß then commenced to fling the ball about and a passingrush was set going by Rothweli, who transferred to Boles, then on to Matthews, who was tackled. From the ensuing scrum Te Kuiti broke away, Dut progress was stopped by Tame, who saved cleverly. A sweeping Nehenehe rush took the leather down the field and over the line, Matthews forcing. After the drop out Taka broke away with a good run, but was well tackled by Matthews and a counter attack was set up by Te Kuiti forwards. A promising run by the Nehenehe backs was stopped by a throw forward and a Te Kuiti rush headed by Healey returned the ball to the Nehenehe 25. A mark from a line out gave Dan Gray a shot at goal, but the leather went wide. Te Kuiti kept up the pressure, and a good passing run in which all the backs participated almost resulted in a score. A free kick was awarded to Te Kuiti and Healey tried at goal, the ball falling short. Almost immediately a mark gave D. Gray another shot at the uprights but no goal resulted. Several passing runs by Te Kaiti were started, but bad handling stopped the progress just when the backs were looking dangerous. N. Cole got in a good kick and followed up smartly, gaining ground, but the opposing forwards worked the leather back. A good Te Kui*i rush saw Maher almost over the line, but the defence was sound and . a force resulted, dole got in a good run down the touch line, and was sent out near the corner. A good forward rush by Nehenehe brought relief. A passing bout by Te Kuiti back looked dangerous, but Barnes failed to take the ball. The black and whites were not to be denied, and D. Gray picking up in the loose sent the ball out to Boles, from whom it travelled to Matthews and Cole; the latter being tackled on the line. Fierce loose play ensued and Healey got over with the ball, but lost it and a force saved the situation. Nehenehe brought play to the centre by a good rush, but D. Gray, by a high punt, gave the Te Kuiti forwards a chance. Hunt and Boles following up fast, the former got the leather and transferred to Boles, who bustled over the line and scored. Healey's shot at goal proved fruit]eag—Te Kuiti 6, Nehenehe 0. The play till the end of the spell was chiefly confined to the forwards, Hunt, Delaney and Healey putting in good work. Upon resuming, Te Kuiti immediately commenced passing, but gained little ground, the tackling of their opponents being very sound. Heke stated a good rush, and the Nehenehe forwards swept the leather down the field to Barnes, who stemmed the rußh, but was penalised for holding the leather. The kick was returned by Matthews, hut a Nehenehe rush to Crombie saw the latter put the ball out near the corner. Hornibrooke and Cole broke away and sent the ball out at Te Kuiti's 25. A free kick to Te Kuiti gained ground, and a high punt by Boleß set the forwards going down field, but Tame stopped the rush and returned well. Barnes mis-fielded a long kick by Nehenehe and the Maori forwards looked dangerous. A counter rush, in which Hunt, Mears and Hornibrooke were prominent, was well stopped in the centre. After give-and-take play the leather came out from Rothweli to Gole, who made ground and short punted, near the line, but the full back forced. After the drop out a Te Kuiti rush nearly ended in a score by Kite, but a force saved the situation. Nehenehe livened up and a good rush by the forwards supplemented by a short dash by Tame transferred play to Te Kuiti 25. The black and white forwards, with Hunt and Mears leading, gained ground, and a run by Boles and Delaney, ended near the Nehenehe line. Rothweli and Hunt started a passing run by the latter's transfer was intercepted by an opponent and attack was turned into defence. Barnes tackled well and Cole backing up stemmed the attack. The ball went to Crombie, who returned well into touch. Rush and counter rush ensued, the play being very fast. The Nehenehe attacks were well stopped by Crombie, who was fielding and kicking faultlessly. A good passing run was inaugurated by Rothweli, who sent the leather well out to Boles. The latter made ground and passed to Cole, who drew the defence to the side linp and cut in, scoring a clever try between the posts. The attempt at goal again failed, the scores reading—Te Kuiti 9, Nehenehe 0. The game ended shortly after without further scoring.