Football.

Manawatu Herald, 14 August 1900, Page 2

Football.

•— - FOXTON v. RAUKAWA.

Foxton journeyed to Levin on Saturday to do battle with the Raukawas, the leading team for the championship. Neither team had its full strength, E. Cootes and Tom Parata being absent from the Raukawa team, and Hana, Kennedy, Rakina, Samuels, O'Carroll and Nash from Foxton's picked team. When Foxton arrived at Levin it was found they were three men short, and Raukawa found they were two men short, but substitutes were found after a great deal of time had been lost in looking for them. Whata won the toss for Raukawa and elected to play with a good breeze behind him. Brum Smith kicked off for Foxton, and the Raukawa backs were quickly smothered. The ball was no sooner in the open again than Collins, one ot Foxton's wings, cleverly intercepted a pass and after a good run grounded the ball over the line, thus scoring first blood for Foxton within a minute of the kick off. Furrie made a good attempt at goal, but with no luck. After the kick out Furrie had two or three shots at goal from free kicks, all going very close, but the. wind was too awkward for good kicking. For some time Foxton kept their opponents on the defence, but' by a series of free-kicks and marks, Raukawa gradually worked their way down the line and put Foxton on the defensive. A dribbling rush by the Raukawa forwards, took the ball to within a few yards of Foxton's- line, .. where Purcell stopped the rush, but was penalised for holding the ball. From the free kick M. Skipper placed a fine goal. The score was now three all, and every effort was made by both teams to score, but without success, the play being of a very even character. Half-time was soon sounded with the scores equal. « Raukawa kicked off against the wind, and Smith returned splendidly out of touch from which they were soon placed on the defensive. In this spell, except for two or three good rushes by the forwards, and a good run by F. Cootes, the Raukawa team seemed to fall to pieces. Their passing was stopped by good sure collaring on the part of the Foxton backs, and splendid work was put in in the forwards by B. Smith, Warner, Collins, Desmond, Ward and Henderson, which helped to completely spoil the play of the Raukawa backs, who are a very fair lot. From some loose play in Otaki's twenty-fives, Collins smartly obtained possession and crossed the Raukawa line, but unfortunately dropped the '■ ball a yard from the line before getting it over. A scrum was packed on the line and after a great deal of tough play, and great excitement on the part of the spectators, Warner scored amidst great cheering. Furrie converted and the game stood Foxton 8 points, Raukawa 3. Raukawa now tried all in their power to make matters equal, but without success, the splendid kicking of the Foxton backs spoiling any temporary advantages. Pl?y was .„ soon in Otaki's quarters, and they had a busy time defending. They were forced several times, and after some loose forward work, and good kicking on the part of Gobo for Foxton, Smith, who was playing by far the best forward game on the ground, took the ball to within a few yards of the lice and passed to Desmond, who crossed the line, but the ball was called back for alleged forward passing. After some give and take play for some minutes, smart following up by Smith caused Hughes to mull the kick. Smith obtained possession and beating every man ran round amidst great enthusiasm, and grounded the ball behind^ the posts; but the ball was called back to the great surprise of aIL it being alleged that Smith went out"

It was easily seen that Raukawa were all to pieces, their play not being a patch on their previous efforts. From some loose play about the twenty-fives in which Smith, Wingate, and Warner were concerned greatly, Furrie snapped the ball from off the ground, and lost no time in getting across the line. The kick at goal was fruitless and shortly afterwards time was sounded, leaving Foxton winners by n points (two tries, and a goal from a try) to 3 points (a free kick). Raukawa thus sustained their first defeat this season. Mr Mclntyre refereed in an impartial manner, but was too strict in the matter of holding the ball when a player is collared, Smith especially suffering. Ohau defeated Wanderers by 5 points to nil. NOTES. It cannot be denied that on the day's play the best team won. Raukawa, as Horowhenua did when Raukawa defeated them, fell all to pieces in the second spell. The fact of the matter was that in the open the Raukawa forwards were simply paralysed by the splendid forward play of Smith, Warner, Desmond and Ward, with the two wings, Collins and R. Henderson. The other three forwards who were substitutes were not of much help. The best of the Raukawa forwards was M. Skipper, who battled hard the whole time, and got in some serviceable runs. In the backs for Foxton Purcell, at full, had a good afternoon's work and got through it in a very sound, sure way, proving himself a very safe fullback. Gobo played the best game he has played this season, his kicking when in a tight place being splendid. Wingate at five-eighth, though playing in a place he is not accustomed to. got through his work in a creditable manner and made no mistakes. Furrie, as wing three-quarter, mainly occupied himself in nullifying any openings that were made for Hughes, Raukawa's fast wing, and what other work came his way was not neglected. Gustofsen, at half, although out of his place, got round well on to the opposing half and spoilt his chances greatly. For Kaukawa the pick of the backs was Whata, F. Cootes and Uma Taipua. The following teams w«re selected for tha rep. practice match to be held at Levin on 1 Wednesday, in view of the rep. match at Wellington on the 25th between Horowhenua and Wellington reps. : — A team: Furrie, Allan, Winiata, Hughes, Uma Taipua, Wheta Hakaria, Ostler, Tennant, Wingate, Brown, B. Smith, W. Wilson, Keating, Johnson, and Aim. B team: Purcell,' F. Cootes, S. Cootes, Saxon, Hitchings, Denton, Tiku, Aldridge, J. Smith, C. Wilson, Nelson, Parata, Tartana, Russell, W. Bevan. __________