FOOTBALL AT PATEA.

Patea Mail, 12 June 1882, Page 3

FOOTBALL AT PATEA .

The Town v. Country match was played in the Domain on Saturday afternoon; and as a rather cold wind was blowing not more than a score of spectators were present. T. Turner was elected captain of the Country team, and H. Gibbons took command of the Town team, as usual. The narrowness of the ground rendered good play almost impossible, and as nearly every strong kick send the ball out of bounds or on the verge. The game in consequence was a succession of scrimmages. Mr Bright acted as umpire, and tried to give satisfaction, but some of the rural gentlemen were rather headstrong as to what ought to be the ruling. The Country team won the toss and took the windward side of their adversaries. In the kick-off the ball was put near the bounds, after which a scrimmage took place, and ever after the Country team kept the ball in dangerous proximity to to the Townsmen’s goal, despite the unsuccessful efforts of Gibbons, Kitching, and Sargeant to get a run. After good scrimmages, the first spell was called, and neither side had scored. The second and third spells were repetitions of the first ; but in the fourth the Townsmen, by Gibbons making a .capital run through, succeeded in making a touch-down. A slight dispute arose, but was afterwards settled, and the try was allotted to Sargeant, who made a good kick, but owing to the wind blowing, it fell a few feet below the bar. Just then time was called, and the well-contested game resulted in the Townsmen being victors by 3 points. For the Town the following were the most conspicuous : forwards—Adamson, Powell, Taplin, and Guerin ; as quarterbacks, Gibbons, J. Kitching, and Sargeant did good service, the three latter doing about all the collaring and running throughout the game. Carey as goalkeeper at the beginning of the game did fair, but was after removed to where he was more useful, and was succeeded by Hume, who also did the little he had to do in a creditable manner. The irrepressible Hyams worked gamely, but some of the other side were too heavy for him. The following players for the Country were most active : H. Locker, F. and T. Turner, Gower, C. Harden, Patterson, Corrigan, and W. Locker, the latter proving a host in himself, he making the beat runs of the day.