FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2142, 22 June 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

On Saturday afternoon, at Levin, a senior representative mutch, Horowhenua v. Manawatn, was played. Just before the game started a drizzling rain set in, which made tlie ground very slippery, and the ball greasy, and consequently very difficult to handle. Of the two teams, Horowhenua was much the heavier. The play throughout, for a rep. match, was not good, some of the Mnnnwatu backs being particularly weak. A noticeable feature of the game was the large amount of offside play that took place, each team being equally bad in this respect. The result of the game was a win for Horowhenua by Hi points to 5, and the score is a fair indication of the strength of the two teams.

As a cnrlain-raiser to Hie rep. fixture, a match was played between junior teams scleetod from the clubs in the Northern and Southern portions of the Union. Owing- to the lateness in starting this game, two twenty-minutes spells only could he played. Four (dubs were represented in each team, and as the players played in their club colours it was a very difficult matter to follow the play. The Northern team was handicapped through the players selected as “hookers” not having had any experience in these particular positions, with the result that the Soul horn team consistently got the ball from the scrums. Had the Noriherners been able to get the ball no doubt the score would have been much bigger, but as it was they outclassed their opponents, winning by 11 points to nil. THIRD GRADE FIXTURES. Juno 2(3. —Boys’ Training Farm v. Manakan, at Knkn; Foxton Rovers, at Levin; High School a bye. July 3. —Boys’ Farm v. Rovers, at Levin; Manakan v. High School, at Kuhn: Foxton a hye. July 10. —Boys’ Farm v. Foxton. at Foxton: High School v. Hovers, at Levin; Manakan a bye. July 17. —Foxton v. High School, a; Levin; Manakan v. Rovers, at Kuku; Boys’ Training Farm a bye.

July 24. —High School v. Boys’ Training Farm, at Levin; Foxton v. Manakan, at Levin; Rovers a bye. Third-class matches will commence at 1.30 p.m. whenever the ground is required atterwards lot;

a senior or junior match, M lieu not -a required the third grade games may be played at 3 p.m.

The Horowhemui Management Committee cannot he congratulated on the arrangements made in conneetien with the matehes played on Saturday a [termini, particularly the junior trial fftme. This mateh was to have started at 2 p.m., and the Foxtail players taking part arrived in Levin well before liall-past one, hut could not It nil any representative of the Union from whom lo get any information, and had lo hany' around the street until nearly two o'clock. It was then found that no arrangements had been made for colours for the teams to play in. and each player had to use his own club jersey, no less than eight different colours being in use in the match, which made it most difficult for the referee, players and spectators. Tho Southern team was late in arriving, and the match did noi get under way until after half-past two, and had to be cut down to two twenty minutes spells. M hen half of the second spell had been completed, a member of the Union Committee on the line blew a whistle, and instructed the referee to stop the game so that the rep. mateh could proceed, but tbe referee rightly lei the teams continue play until the time had expired. From the point of view of a trial mateh for Iho purpose of selecting the rep. team the game was a Masco, except that it. proved that lh« northern end possesses the stronger teams, and should get move pin vers in the rep. team than tho Southerners. When the Horowhenna and Manawaln reps, look the Held il was found 1 hat a hall was nut available, and the teams had to wait some little time before the necessary article was procured.