FOOTBALL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1009, 24 June 1911, Page 3

FOOTBALL

HOROWHENUA (24) v. RANGITIKEI (9)Horowhenua’s first “rep” match was played on the Levin ground on Thursday against Rangitikei. The weather had been threatening all day and two very heavy showers fell during the progress of the game, which made the ground very slippery. The home team’s easy win was due mainly to the very fine display given by their backs, who handled the greasy ball as accurately as could be expected from a first-class team oh a dry day. The visiting forwards were slightly better than their opponents, and played with more combination. The match was started right up to time, the teams lining out a minute or two alter three as under:

Rangitikei. (Red and White). Ingram Ilston Blair Signal Taylor Brown (capt.) Green Richards Howes Stratford Howard Carter Knox Wilson Griffin Horowhenua. (Blue and White). Aston Nepia H. Rawiri N. Winiata Cook M. Winiata (capt.) Rore Pirimi George Cook Dixon W. Winiata Gobo Reid Saxou Wilson Rangitikei won the toss and played with the wind at their backs. Play for some time kept near the centre of the field, but slightly in favour of the reds, who had several unsuccessful shots at goal from marks and free kicks. The red backs got going with a passing rush and carried play well into the blues 25’s, but offside play spoiled their chance. Horowhenua failed to find the line with the free kick and a red back marked. The shot at goal was futile the ball going over the line and blues forced. Play still continued slightly in favour of the visitors, Horowhenua forcing on two occasions. From the drop out the blues gradually worked play into their opponents territory, where a passing rush was started by Marlin Winiata, the ball going to Pirimi, then to Rawiri and back to Pirimi who scored. Nepia Winiata converted. Shortly after the kick-off Blair took a

mark from which Green landed a splendid goal from almost halfway. From some loose play Rore picked the ball up and passed to Martin Winiala who kicked across the field and Cook raced down and carried the leather over the line where Gobo fell on it. Nepia Winiata failed with the kick. For the rest of the spell Rangitikei had the best of the play, blues saving themselves by forcing on two or three occasions. The whistle sounded half-time with play on Horowhenua goal line. Horowhenua B—Rangitikeiß—Rangitikei 3, From the commencement of the second half Rangitikei attacked, and play remained on the blues line. Two scrums were formed in quick succession and from the second one Horowhenua hooked the ball over the line, but Pirimi tailed to take it and the reds wing forward, Richards, pounced on it. Green failed with the kick. This reverse livened the blues up, and the forwards took play into Raugi tikei’s ground. From a scrum Pirimi passed to Martin Winiata, who beat his man and passed to Rawiri who ran over unopposed. Nepia Winiata failed with the kick. A certain score a little later on was spoiled through Cook mulling a pass. From a forward scramble Cook kicked the ball over the line and Rawhi outpacing hisopponents touched down. Nepia Winiata converted. Horowhenua 16—Rangitikei 6. The kick-off was a long one and Aston failed to take the ball on the full. Green followed fast and smothering Aston’s kick dribbled over and scored. The kick at goal failed. Horowhenua then took play to centre of field where Pirimi got possession and after a fine run scored in a good position. Aston kicked a goal. Horowhenua’s final score was brought about by Cook and Reid, who dribbled the ball from the centre of the field, and Cook picking it up passed to Reid, who scored. The kick at goal failed. The whistle sounded time with Horowhenua attacking strongly. Horowhenua 24 Rangitikei 9. Mr Kingi Tahiwi controlled the game in a very able manner.

NOTES. Horowhenua’s win was almost entirely due to the very fine work of their backs, and the manner in which they handled the greasy ball was really splendid. Had the ground been dry it is certain that the number of points registered against Rangitikei would have been much larger. The visiting pack was slightly better than that of the home team. They played with a certain amount of combination which was entirely absent with the blues pack. Aston Nepia at full-back was weak as also was A. Cook at wing-three-quarter. Neither of these players handled the ball at all well, the latter missing one or two almost certain scores through failing to take passes. Both players could well be replaced. Martin and Nepia Winiata, Rore and Rawiri all showed splendid form and their handling of the ball was indeed a treat to watch. Pirimi, at half, was very good on the attack, but showed a disinclination to go down to rushes. Of the forwards Reid and Cook were undoubtedly the best being always on the ball. W. Winiata played well but is inclined to loaf at times. The rest of the forwards did fairly well, but there are other players in the Horowhenua Union that would have done as well, if not better, had they been given a chance.

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION. A meeting of the Management Committee of the Horowhenua Rugby Union was held at Levin on Thursday. Present :—Messrs J. W. Proctor (chairman), Kingi Tahiwi, Easther, Whibley and Burge (secretary).

A letter was read from the New Zealand Rugby Union, advising that the North Island Country Team would assemble in Palmerston North on July 26th, and would play the following matches : Auckland, July 29th; Taranaki, August 3 ; Wanganui, August 5 ; Wellington, August 9 ; and South Island Country team, August 12. —The names of the following Horowhenua players have been submitted for inclusion in the team : H. Rawiri, N. and W. Winiata and J. Sciascia. The New Zealand Rugby Union wrote, pointing out that the amount of grant to the Horowhenua Union lor the encouragement of school football had not been expended. —It was pointed out that the grant had since beep, expended. Mr George Gordon, one of the selectors of the junior representative team tendered his resignation, —lt was decided to ask Mr Gordon to reconsider his decision.

An application to have W. Hannan re-instated as a junior was granted. Mr J. Freeman, referee in the Hui Mai-Tainui match, reported having ordered J. Martin off the field for questioning his decision. The facts of the case as slated by the referee were that Hui Mai started a passing rush and he blew his whistle for a forward pass. Martin then said to him, “Don’t make it too hot, Freeman," and he ordered him to leave the field. Martin was in attendance and admitted addressing a remark to the referee. The words he used were, he said, “Don’t make it too hot, referee.” He expressed regret at having made the mistake of questioning a referee’s decision, but said it was done on the spur of the moment. After some discussion it was de- , cided to suspend Martin lor two