FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1004, 13 June 1911, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS. SENIOR. Foxton 12 v. Tainui 9. Hui Mai 9 v. Levin-Wanderers 8. JUNIOR. Koputaroa 8 v. Foxton 3. Hui Mai 10 v. Tainui 6 Weraroa 9 v. College 0 On Saturday the Foxton players, both senior and junior, put up their best games this season. The seniors registered their first win, defeating Tainui (Otaki) by twelve points to nine. Although the Juniors were not successful in vanquishing their opponents, they put up a sterling fight against perhaps the best junior team in the Union. Both locally and at Levin the weather was against good football, heavy rain falling throughout both matches.

j FOXTON V. TAINUI. This match was played on the Levin ground in heavy rain, and consequently the ground was very slippery. The play was chiefly confined to the forwards. From the kick-off Tainui attacked and ’ kept the blues penned on their ' line tor some time, but Foxton ' warmed up and their forwards - gradually worked play to the r centre of the field. Some iuterest- : ing play ensued and eventually 1 the Foxton forwards started a : dribbling rush, the ball going over ' the line, and Reid, outpacing his ’ opponents, touched down near the posts. Rore made a very feeble ' attempt at goal. From the kickout play hovered near the centre 1 for some time, but the Tainui 1 backs, making good use of the line, carried play into the blues, 25’s and Foxton were kept busy 1 defending their goal line. A for--1 ward rush was started, but Cootes 1 put an end to it by claiming a 1 mark, and Aston evened up the : scores by kicking a goal. From the kick-off, Tainui were put on ' the defensive and there was a lot of scrambling play at the corner. Scrums and line outs were ; numerous and from one of the latter Royal got possession and forced his way over. The kick at goal was a failure. From this on to the end of the spell there was no further score, and the whistle sounded for half-time with Foxton leading by 6 points to 3. The usual five minutes, “blow” was not taken advantage of, as the rain was teeming down and the players were satisfied to change over and get into it again right away. Foxton started the second spell well, forcing Tainui into their own 25’s, and from a scrum near the line, Furrie, on the “ blind ” side, got possession and ran over unopposed. Reihana made a very poor attempt at goal. With a lead of six points the blues appeared to take things easy and on the other hand Tainui put more life into their play and carried operations into blue’s 25’s. Here they put on two tries, both being scored by RawirL Both shots at goal were futile. With scores even and the blacks attacking, Foxton’s prospects of a win did not look at all rosy, but they defended their goal line well and worked play, by means of a fine forward rush, to the other end of the field, where Royal got over. No goal resulted from the kick. There was no further score and the game ended; Foxton 12, Tainui 9. Mr J. Smith, of Devin, controlled the game. HUI MAI V. LEVIN WANDERERS. This match, which was played at Mauakau, created particular interest, as neither team had suffered defeat this season. On the day’s play the Hui Mai team certainly had the belter of the 1 play, and the visitors were lucky in not having a bigger score put up against them. In the first spell ; Levin certainly had much the better of things, but they were 1 aided by the slope of the field, and ; should have added more than eight 1 points to their total. In th« second j

half they were never in the hunt, rarely getting into their opponents, 25, and were never what might be termed actually dangerous. Aided by the natural formation of the ground Levin at once set pad into Hui Mai territory, and shortly after the commencement of play Lester snapped the ball up from a scramble, dashed over and touched down. No goal resulted. The slippery ball was causing a lot of trouble, and “speculators ” were frequent. This stage of the game was characterised by rushes up and down the field by the forward divisions, the backs of neither teams being able to get going. Levin made a determined effort to score, but play eventually centered in neutral territory. Shortly after the visitors again charged down the field, andLewer going at top speed gathered in the leather and registered a second try for Levin. Nepia converted with a fine kick.

The second spell opened with a dash into Hui Mai territory, but Levin were quickly placed on the defence. The home team kept up a persistent attack and were several times within an ace of scoring. A free kick was awarded them right in front of the posts, but the ball went wide. Martin scored Hui Mai’s first try through the agency of Royal fumbling. The attempt to convert was fruitless. From a forward rush the home team broke away and Whareo scored, after two or three others had made a dive tor, and missed, the ball. A few minutes before the end of the game, the ball went hard to Royal, who fumbled, and Martin smartly picking up scored. No goal resulted. The final scores were: Hui Mai 9, Levin Wanderers 8.

Mr Kingi Tahiwi refereed

KOPUTAROA V. FOXTON.

This game was played on the local racecourse and contrary to expectations proved a close and interesting one. The visitors have the reputation ot being the best junior team in the Union and on the form shown by our juniors in their two previous games this season, it was not anticipated that they would have a “look in” with the visitors. However, they put up a real good fight, and if anything had the best of the play. The game was started right up to time, Foxton taking the field two men short. Soon after the commencement, Koputaroa, from a loose forward scramble, got over. The kick at goal was a failure. Shortly after this two more Foxtonians put in an appearance and brought the blue’s team up to its full strength. Play was of a very even nature, the Foxton forwards holding their own with the visitors in the loose, but appeared to shirk any tight play. From a forward rush the ball was kicked over Koputaroa’s goal line and Staples, coming fast, beat the Koputaroa man and touched down. Peri took the kick, but tailed to add the major points. From this on to the end of the spell play hovered near the centre of the field, the score at half-time being three all. In the second spell the play was very even and the only score was a try by Koputaroa, which was converted. The ball went to Foxton’s full-back, who failed to find the line, the ball going into the hands of one of the Koputaroa men, who streaked down the line, and, Foxton’s wing three-quarter being out of his place, ran in practically unopposed.

Mr J. Desmond gave every satisfaction as referee.

HUI MAI V. TAINUI. This fixture was played on the Otaki Domain through a deluge of rain, despite which there were snatches of very good play on both sides. It was a stubbornlycontested match, but the better team won, Hui Mai being much the better in the loose, and their handling of the elusive ball by their backs being very creditable, Tainui were slightly better in the back, but tried to handle the ball too much. Through Davies’ good play, Turn scored first blood for the visitors, and soon after A. Bevan equalised matters by kicking a penalty goal for Tainui. Towards the end of the first half Ron, Hui Mai’s full back, who handled the ball excellently, potted a very neat goal. Keri scored for Tainui from a forward scramble, the kick at goal being a failure. Being awarded a penalty for offside, Henare kicked a goal for Hui Mai, making the score 10 to 6, at which the game ended. Mr Thomas was referee.

WERAROA V. CO* LEGE. Weraroa boys proved too much for College, and defeated them on the Otaki College ground by 9 points to nil. It was little better than a mud scamble throughout. Mr T. Parata refereed. WHITAUNUI V. MIRANQI. The game between a team from

the newly-formed club at the Whitaunui flaxmill and the Miranui mill’s team, which was played at Shannon on Saturday, created a good deal of interest. The match was played in the best of spirit throughout and it is to be hoped

that this match will he the forerunner of many similar contests. The heavy rain in which the game was played did not favour good football, but a fast and exciting contest resulted. Whitaunui had always a bit the best of the game, mainly owing to their superior backs; their opponents, however, gave them no rest right up to the finish, which resulted in a win for Whitaunui by 12 points to nil. During the hrst spell Davey and Pope scored tries ios

Whitaunui, the kicks at goal being failures. When the whistle blew for half time play was in the centre ol the field. The second spell was most exciting, the ball being first at one end of the field and then the other. Miranui were unlucky in not scoring, a little too hard kicking marring their efforts. In the middle of the spell, Hayden by a fine run scored for Whitaunui; the attempt to convert was unsuccessful. In response to an ardent supporter’s “ Are we down hearted?” Miranui thundered, “ No ! ” and went to battle again with such vim that they put their opponents on the defensive, ultimately causing them to force. Right on the call of time, Vincent, by fast following up, scored again for Whitaunui, and thus ended a hard-fought game. Other prominent players besides those mentioned were, Kerry, Dalziell, Andrews, Togo, and Healy. One of the most interested spectators was Mr Greig, whose cheery ”Go it Whitanui! ” ” Good Whitaunui ! ” was ever and anon heard urging his men bn to victory, to which they nobly responded as the score shows, turning out “ grade fine ” to Miranui’s ” good fair,”

Following will represent Foxton juniors against College at Levin on Saturday : —B. Hooker, J. Withers, W. Cook, J. Staples, Roy Robinson, Matthews, C. Price, F. Robinson, Rimmer, Cummerfield, Hooker, Shamrock, Wright, Saville, and C. Peri. Emergencies: Currie (back) ; McDonnell, and Cook (forwards).