FOOTBALL MATCH.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 427, 21 May 1879, Page 2

FOOTBALL MATCH.

PATEA V WAVERLEY. (By Drop Kick) Patea team. —Messrs G. N. Baggett (captain), J. Chadwick, H. Coutts, Norris, Kitchen, T. Turner, F. Powell, W, Dasent, C. Dasent, W. Williams, D. Williams, J. Adamson, R, Sangster, F. Sal way, Joe (native). Waver!ey team.—Messrs G. H. 'Norman (captain), T. H. Nicholson, G. Nicholson, C. B. Turner, W. W. Taylor, J. Dyke, J. T. Barr, W. Howie, J. Thurston, J. Sira, G. W. Booth, T. Aiken,A. Symes, 0. By tries, W. Howe.—Umpires —Messrs D. G. Fraser (Patea), and J. D. Walkinston (Waverley). The first match of the season, Patea v Waverley, came off at the latter place, on Saturday last, and resulted in a win for Waverley by 2i points, the “home” team failing to . score. The time, arranged for play to comfinenco was 2.30 p.ra., hut it was half an hour later before there was a full muster of players on iho ground. A good many spectators, including some half dozen of the fair sex, assembled to witness the game, and some mild betting was indulged in, the Patea team on stripping having the calL Waverley went into the field two men short, but soon after D. Williams for the Patea side had set the ball jn motion, the brothers Nicholson, joined them, arid in point of numbers both sides were now equaL Following the leather, smartly, the Patea forwards rushed at once to their opponents goal, but T. Nicholson with an excellent Inck returned the ball well down the field, and the Waverley men, all playing forward excepting the goal-keeper, succeeded in

working it down near the Patea goal line, where a scrimmage look place; Patea, however, having a little the best of it, got the ball out of danger, and several scrimmages in the middle of the field followed, when Turner for Waverley tried a run, but was soon collared by W. Williams. Turner tried to pass the ball, and a ‘‘general maul ” ensued, the ball at last being slipped out iutrt the bands of Dyke, Waverley, who kicked the ball behind the Patea goal line, securing thereby a half point. Early iri the game players on both sides departed from the rules, and frequent cries of “ off side ” caused the play to be stopped. During the first half-hour Waverley secured two half points, T. Nicholson from a place kick nearly obtaining a goal. The next halfhour was rather in favour of the Patea side, the ball being kept well down on their opponents end of the ground. Scrimmage after scrimmage took place, very little open play being noticeable throughout. Both the Williams’-, with Kitchen and Chadwick, tried several times to get a run with the ball, but wore soon cut short in their efforts. GL Nicholson, C. B. Turner, W, Taylor, and Barr appeared, to be the running men fur Waverley, but never got far with the leather. Norman (captain)/!’. H. Nicholson, and Dyke kicked well for their side, while 0. B. Turner, (who by the way played against Wellington for Wanganui jlaat year), W. Taylor, Howie, Thurston, and A ktymes, made themselves conspicuous in all the scrimmages. Those who did good service in like manner for Patea were Norris, J. Adamson, Kitchen, Chadwick, T. Turner, Saugster, and Salway; The kicking men for Patea were Baggett, D. Williams, Coutts, W. Dasent, F. Powell, and the Native. There were very few good all round men in the homo team, but Waverley in this respect was well represented. Patea had perhaps the fleetest team, but the ground being small, few chances for running presented themselves. Tire game throughout was very rough, but the utmost cordial good feeling existed amongst the players, who were evidently more or less accustomed to collisions, spills, torn guernseys, barked shins, and such like trifles to bo experienced in very rough exciting contests of the kind. The wind was so slight that the advantage to either side was very trifling. The Waverley meri were by far the heaviest, and as the contest was one of scrimmages throughout, they thus had the advantage. The umpires gave every satisfaction, and their judgment had to be exercised but few times. At the conclusion of the game, the Waverley men mustered and gave three cheers for the Patea team, who returned the compliment in the same hearty manner; the umpires receiving like recognition for their services from the teams combined. The return match will be played in Patea, when it is to be hoped our men will be more successful.