FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2274, 10 May 1921, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S RESULTS SENIOR. Shannon 7, Hui Mai 0. Foxton 9, Tokomaru 6. Wanderers 15, Kulcu 0. JUNIOR, Foxton 3, Otauru 0. Shannon 10, Koputaroa 3. Paraparaumu 12, Old Boys 0. Otaki 8, Kuku 0. Hui Mai 8, Waikanae 6. Wanderers 9, Weraroa 0.

A meeting of referees in the llorowhenua Rugby Union’s district was held at Levin on Friday night. There was a fairly good attendance, and several apologies for unavoidable absence were received. It was unanimously decided that a referee’s association be formed, and officers were elected for the ensuing period as follows: President, Mr Percy; vice-presidents, Messrs T. Parata (Waikanae), L. Furne (Foxton); hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr V. Higgins; management committee, Messrs W. Thomson, J. Rhodes, M. Winiata, J. Rose, R. J. Williamson, and W. G. Vickers. The election of an examining body was held over in the meantime. Mr Rhodes stated that it was desirable that referees should be uniform in the interpretation of the rules, and for this ’purpose they should confer on the rales and any points raised. This was -agreed to, and it was decided that the management committee meet every Saturday night for this purpose.

It was decided that the association affiliate with the New Zealand Referees’. Association, and Mr M. Winiata was elected delegate to the Association.

It was decided to notify clubs that they must supply a list of names of playing members, the list to lie handed to referees prior to the match.

The Horowhenua Rugby Union has received a letter from the Bush Union (Pnhiatua), asking that a date be fixed for a match in Levin between these Unions. The matter will receive attention at the meeting of the local Union, to be held in Foxton to-night.

TOKOMARU V. FOXTON.

The above game in the senior competition was played at Easton Park on Saturday afternoon, before a fair attendance. Both teams were fairly evenly matched, but if anything Foxton (yellow and black), despite disorganisation in the backs and forwards through absentees and accidents, had slightly the belter of the game. Tokomaru (re 1 and black) is a young team, A with coaching should develop inter a creditable combination.

Foxton won the toss, and played with the wind and sun behind them —a decided advantage. After a little give and take play, of which yellow had the better, Foxton secured a mark inside the 25’s, and 11. Taylor landed a nice goal. Not long afterwards, Baker, at half, who was playing a fine heady game, secured the ball, side-stepped two or three opponents to the left, then cut in to the right, swerved buck to left again, and handed a well-judged pass on to H. Robinson, who hopped across in a twinkling. Taylor missed the uprights. No further score took place during the spell. The game opened somewhat seu-< sationally in the second spell. The general opinion was that 6 points to nil was not a sufficient margin of safety for the yellows with the sun and wind against them. From the kick-off the yellow forwards took charge, swooped into the reds’ twenty-fives, where the ball came across lo 11. Robinson on the left wing-three-quarter. He gathered it in cleverly, and raced his way through a few opponents, and over—a good individual effort. Taylor misjudged his windage, and the score sheet read 9 —o. Tokomaru woke up, bustled Foxton to the other end, took a mark, and converted, 9—3. After a few moments they repeated the performance: 9—6. The game became more willing, and some of the yellows' strong supporters became anxious. The play veered up and down with good live kicking on the part of Taylor and Bryant, and prominent forward play on the part of O’Reilly and M. Robinson. Shortly after, the latter player injured his ankle, and had to retire, the second casualty, Ten Larkin also having previously been forced to stand aside owing to an injury to his shoulder. From this on the game was evenly fought our, with occasional stoppages to clear the line of over-anxious spectators, yellow finally winning by 9 to 0. For Foxton, W. Baker, at half, was the head-piece of the team, but was well supported at five-eighths by Stan. Barber, who, although out of his usual place, fully justified the confidence placed in him. Healey, as emergency five-eighths, played well. The two wing-three-quarters, H. Robinson and S. Bryant, gave good exhibitions. Wingthreequarter is the former's position, and if the selectors can keep him there he will be very Brvaut has dash and pluck, find with more use of the centering kick will yet make his mark in the competitions. Henry Taylor at fullback is a brilliant kick and cool player, but must cure himself of an occasional tendency to speculato and play too far back. If he can cure himself of these faults there wall not be a better full-back on tho coast. Of the forwards, those who caught the eye most were o’ltofc, illy, who played a dashing game, M. Robinson and Moffat; but there was not a passenger in the team, all

playing hard. Bill Haeann, looking short of training, played surprisingly well.

For the losers it was hard to pick out individual players, but in the backs Broughton, half, and the .two five-eighths played well, as did Whvte at full-back. In the forwards Rowlands played well. The referee, Mr Burrows, handled the game impartially, and with satisfaction to the teams.

Amongst the spectators wore many old players, ex-representativo and others, keenly interested in the play. It was exhilirating to see old players giving encouragement to their sons in the game. Foxton is meeting with hard luck in losing the services of some of its best forwards through accident, notably Arnold Stevenson and Maurice Robinson, while the back division keenly feels the loss of Horace Reid. “Arnie” and Horace were both keen spectators on Saturday, the former being still incapacitated.

Moses arrived too late to take part in the game. The officials of the Union should devise some means for keeping spectators from standing on the lines and encroaching on the field. There is no wilful intention to offend, the encroachment is merely the result of over anxiety to see all that is going’. Perhaps the double line might help to lessen the evil. It is hard for a referee to keep players inactive while insisting on spectators retiring from the touch lines.

FOXTON v. OTAURU

The Foxton Juniors toured to Shannon last Saturday to meet Otauru for the Junior Competition. In every respect Otauru is a heavier team, with more matured nlavers, of whom many should be graded. Odds on Oiaura's chances were freely offered and discussed on the field by punters, but everyone sidestepped them. No one was, however, more surprised than the Foxton Juniors to see themselves come out victorious bv 3 points to nil. The match commenced punctually nt 3 p.in., and Foxton elected to defend the southern end during the first half of the game, while Otauru defended the northern. With a slight breeze behind the yellows, the blues were kept labouring for relief continuously within their own territory, and the blues have to thank P. Nepia for the very able way he found the tine on many occasions. The Foxton forwards right throughout the first spell worked admirably, and kept the burly Maori vanguard in constant effort till the call of time. During the first half Foxlon was never called upon to do any defending work, due tip doubt in r» measure to the sound defence of I lirini, W. Baker and Fountain. The yellows.were unfortunate in not being rewarded with a try because the referee was not in a position to see it executed. A five-yard scrum in lieu of the try was given, and through over-keenness on the part of one of the yellows, a force-down momentarily relieved Otauru.

On resuming play in the second half the yellows showed more deleriuiiialion than previously to again carry and keep play within striking distance of their opponents’ goalline, and on several occasions tries were lost owing to certain backs over-running the leather. While piny was confined within Otauru s territory a free kick from a knockon was awarded to the yellows, and the kick at goal was entrusted to ITirini, at an angle of about 45 degrees, which he converted with ease. Prom this on, give and take was the feature of the play, and when the whistle sounded Otauru was still defending.

Mention might he made of the manner in which Hirini, W. Baker and P. Fountain played. With matches ahead the combination of these three will he such that it will be a credit to any junior team. Their kicking, tackling and stopping formidable forward dribbling rushes were very sound.

Among the forwards no special mention could he made as they all stood up (<> their task very creditable.

At last night's meeting of: the Manawatu Rugby Union a letter was received from the Florowhenua Union, complaining that players residing inside the Ilorowhenua district were playing in the Manawatu competitions, and asking the Manawatu Union to take action in the matter. The secretary (Mr J. B. Proud) -rated that investigations had been made, and it had been found that two of the players complained of were living inside the Manawatu boundary. The other two were living in Rangiotu which was inside the florowhenua boundary, but they were not playing for? Manawatu, and, lie understood, did not intend to play at all this season. He pointed out that these players had been playing under the Manawatu Union for years, and if they could not play under that Union they would not play at all, —It was decided to notify the'florowhenua Union that in the opinion of the Manawatu Union the Horowhenua Union should give the men residing at Rangiotu permission to play in the district nearest their place of residence.