Football.

Manawatu Herald, 11 October 1904, Page 3

Football.

KIWI Y. HUIA,

By “ True Sport.”

The final '"up match under Foxton Rugby Rules took place on Saturday afternoon at the Racecourse, when Huia beat Kiwi pointless in almost every department of the game by 11 points to 3. But the game was played in distinct contrast to the more pleasant conditions which prevailed throughout the previous contest, Awahou v. Kiwi. Perhaps never in the annals of football in the district was there such a maddened section of spectators present, and it is to be hoped the Rugby Union will take Saturday’s demonstration as a guide to what may happen, if they do not affiliate with a higher body next season. It is as well to know that the conduct of this section of the onlookers at Saturday’s game would render these unscrupulous persons liable to disqualification from all Rugby grounds in the Colony that is under the rules of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Some of the remarks hurled about were of anything but a purified nature, and it was simply impossible for the referee to keep those miscreants in order. There are unruly spectators who imagine that the Foxton Racecourse is their own special freehold property, and repeatedly invade the playing ground, whereas if they kept back when requested to do so, the game would go off more pleasantly, everybody would get a better view (themselves included), and there would be less of the bickering which exists at present By not persisting to rush .the field of play as has been done, they would not only lessen the officials duties and give their own respective favoured team more chances to display their abilities, but they would rise themselves a little higher in the esteem of those well-wishers of the game who do not deem it advisable to risk injury to limb by scrambling amongst such “ eager ” enthusiasts to obtain only a glimpse of the proceedings. A referee’s billet is a thankless one at any time, but if the support of an impartial public is denied him, it is nothing short of a bore. The class of barracker on the line who finds fault with a referee is generally one who knows nothing about the rules, and it is hoped those responsible for the hooting which took place on Saturday last will study the pages of a Rugby Annual before again earning for themselves the distinction of “ignoramus.” No referee is infallible - humanity is but mortal—and though a man may not please everybody, he can, at least, be treated fairly. Mr Frew’s rulings on Saturday were wholly impartial, and though his eyes man has only two-may not have observed every breach committed, few referees could have did better on Saturday last. Many of the players were not entirely blameless, and if less attention were paid to appealing and disputing authority, and more to the whistle, things would progress much more smoothly. The referee deserves respect, and if this faculty is not forthcoming from player and public alike, the time must come when no mortal being will consent to act as arbitrator. Let us hope next season will place a different complexion on our Rugby affairs. Were Foxton under N.Z.R.XJ. rules, Saturday’s exhibition would have earned for us the disqualification of our ground for all matches under their jurisdiction. These facts should be clearly understood. The game itself was stubbornly contested, and was not free from hard knocks. J. Joe (Huia) was compelled to retire during the second half owing to an injury to his nose the result of a collision. The Kiwi Club were found courteous enough to allow the injured member’s place to be refilled a course Kiwi could rightly have objected to. The secret of Kiwi’s downfall was due principally to the fact that their forwards were overpowered Huia having a particularly strong vanguard, none of whom seemed to tire. On the day’s play, their backs were far superior in attack to Kiwi, but then the latter were playing behind a hopelessly beaten pack, and their time was fully occupied defending practically the whole time. When Kiwi did get the ball from the scrum the half was invariably smothered by Huia’s fleet wingers before be had any time to get it out lo his backs. Even when the Kiwi backs secured the leather in the open, Winiata, Furreo, Tahuri, and Co. were always somewhere handy to stem the threatened attack. The above trio worked like trojans, and with Tatana, made a formidable set of backs. Kiwi forwards seem to have gone all to pieces since they played the same team the previous fortnight. Where their wing forwards were, is hard to explain. They certainly were ineffective at the side of the scrum. Had Lyall been well enough to take bis position, things may have taken a different turn. Kiwi scored first, which came as the result of a passing rush initiated by gmitb, and which ended in Hammer

getting over. The attempt at goal was a failure. Before the close of the first spell, Terry (Huia wing forward who played a sterling game) equalised matters by getting over almost at the corner flag. The spell thus ended Huia 3, Kiwi 8. From the kick-off in the second half, and with the sun at their backs, Huia became doubly aggressive, and the defence of Baker Bros., Smith, Button and Robinson was at last broken up by a parsing botit through Winiata’s agency, which finally ended in Furreo bolting across the line for Huia. He converted his own try. 8- 3. Play had not progressed much further when Furreo secured another pass from his coworkers and grounded the ball once more over the line. No goal resulted. 11—3. There was no further score when the whistle sounded time. borne of the line kicking on Saturday was perfect, this being especially noticeable amongst Huia’s backs. Winiata did some sterling work, but the play did not come Tahuri’s way enough. All their side toiled honestly. J. Baker was the outstanding Kiwi back, though he and Button were well watched. R. Baker and Robinson both shaped well. Bitcle was seen of Hammer’s capabilities. In Kiwi forwards, Broad Curtis, Herbert, Hooker and Desmond were all prominent at times, but they were collectively a beaten pack. Smith was played in two or three different positions, but managed to do a power of toil for his side.

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