FOOTBALL.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 148, 4 September 1919, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

MATAMATA 15 v. PIAKO 5. Tho return encounter between the above inter-union teams took place on the Matamata Domain on Saturday. Despite the heavy rains the water was all off the ground by the time the match started, and conditions were much better than at Te Aroha a fortnight ago. In that game Pinko were successful by 14 points to !). The decision was the reverse on Saturday, when Matamata were a much better team than their opponents, and ran out winners by fifteen points to five. Mr. Albert Mateer gave every satisfaction as referee. The Play. Matamata. lost the toss and kicked off. Play was midfield for a few minutes, but a miskick by Gavin, at full for Piako, let Matamata to within a few yards of their opponents' line. W. Gavin eventually cleared his brother's mistake and'sent back out at half-way. Matamata were next awarded a penalty from near half-way, and Munro essayed a kick for goal. Piako had to force from the kick. Fred Council gathered up from the kick-off, and after beating his man, centred nicely. Dickie and L. Council, who followed up well, carried the ball over for Dickie to score Matamata's first points. The kick was not converted. A bit of beady play by C. Brindle and Munro looked dangerous to Piako, but offside by Pitts nullified the effort. At this stage the coinbino* tion of the home team was most noticeable, while ilie Piako men were lacking in this respect. A clever opening by Fisher gave Sutherland a chance for a heady run, by which lie scored between the posts. He failed with the kick at goal. A misjudgment by Pitts and Ryan let J. Gavin in to score Pinko's points. P. o.'Grady converted. Quarter time was called with Matamata one point in the lead. Within a few minutes of the change over Fisher again made an, opening, and dropping the ball to toe, dribbled over to score a third try. A mark by Quinlan from the kick-off looked' to have possibilities, but the kick missed the posts. Ryan, at full, for the locals, was then called upon to show his worth in stopping a couple of dangerous Piako forward rushes, in which Goldsbury, Grattan and Poland were conspicuous. A nippy cut in by Poland transferred play again to the Matamata line, where it remained for a couple of minutes. Relief came by a Piako man holding on. Later a free-kick near the line was awarded Piako, but O'Grady missed with the kick. Half-time was called with the scores in Matamata's favour by 4 poiuts. Upon resumption Hie Matamata forwards got away, a good effort ending with Mokai getting offside. Not to be denied they came away again from the kick, headed by L. Connell, who was showing up brilliantly in following up, and C. Brindle added a further try: Matamata 12. Piako 5. The forwards quickly opened up again, and Munro gathered to throw back to Murray, who after beating a couple of men passed to F. Connell, who had no trouble in scoring : Matamata 15, Piako 5. At this stage of the game it appeared that Matamata were going to continue to run through their opponents. However, the efforts were not sustained, and although they continued to play the better football, they wore brought hack repeatedly'by good line kicking on the part of J. and W. Gavin -and young Poland. Moon, for Piako, got the ball at foe in his own quarter, and beat Ryan, but Dickie ran back to save, and Piako's effort ended in him being pushed out near the Matamata twenty-five line. At the time of the quarter Piako were pressing. From the kick off Poland and Grattan made ground to lose the ball at the toe of C. Brindle, who relieved. A penalty to Piako gave P. O'Grady a fair chance at the goal, but the slippery ball beat him. Grattan then instituted a Piako forward movement, which was spoiled by a heavy kick, which sent the ball over the dead line. •The fastness of the,game wa's now telling on both teams, but-Piako were having the best of the exchanges for about ten minutes. Matamata then took a hand and initiated two passing bouts from Munro and S. Brindle, both being spoiled by throws forward. Holmes and S. Brindle then took the ball to half-way to lose to Moon, who returned to Matamata's twentyfive. J. Gavin got a run down the line, for what looked a certain try, to be collared neatly by Dickie. Piako were still pressing when tho whistle finally sounded. Notes. Although the game was not as good to watch as that of the previous week it was fast enough, and was responsible, at times, for some clever work. Piako were without the services of Alf. Lennard and a couple of others of the selected team, while Sheehan, Matthews, and Stewart (who was hurt the

previous Saturday) were unable to play for the home team. Matamata's win, however, was comfortable enough without them on the occasion. Fisher and Sutherland were both on the top of their form, while J. Dickie played his lies' game of the season, and was really brilliant. The three-quarters did their share in contributing towards (lie win, as d.id the full-back. His work, bul for the one misjudgement, was vigorous and clever. A fault with the back division, which has been apparant all the season, was (lie bad passing. Time after time good openings were spoiled by passing forward. ' The Piako team was not as good as that put on the field at Te Aroha and was certainly disjointed. They needed the services of a general and a lew older players. Goldsbury, Poland and Grattan were the pick of a good forward line, with -1. and W. Gavin, and Poland prominent in the backs. It was in the hitter division, however, that Piako were outclassed. The match was fought in a very friendly spirit and should do much to wipe out the memory of the jealousy in existence a few years ago. Piako were entertained to dinner after the match by the Matamata Union, when the president, Mr. 11. J. Moore-Jones, welcomed the visitors.