FOOTBALL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8861, 11 July 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The Professional Team. Press Association. New Plymouth, July 10. With regard to the professional football team it is positively assorted here that eight members of the Now Zealand Australian team will join the combination forJHomo on their return.

Rangitikei Rugby Sub-Union. * The wearers of the maroon jerseys ’ met with rather a sudden and unexpected reverse when they met the local all flacks on the Bulls ground yesterday. The easy manner in which they had won the two previous games earlier in the season ‘had created an impression that no team in the union would succeed in lowering their colours. However, the unexpected happened and interest is revived in the championship. The visitors cannot bo said to have been caught napping. They played their usual team with the exception of Wallace, whose .place was well filled by Gifford in the three-quarter lino. The home team was practically the same as that which played at Hunterville, Tennent taking L. Carter’s place in the backs. The Bulls ground, being always dry, offers a good opportunity for fast play and it evidently suits the home forwards, who outpaced their -heavier opponeuts and chocked the attack ot their backs. In scrum work there was little to choose between them, neither pack seemed to be able to got the ball away cleanly, the halves seldom getting the ball, consequently the backs had to depend on passes from the line and fielding to initiate rushes. The home team won the toss and Hunterville kicked off with a glaring sun in their faces and wore soon on the defence, but play was removed to the centre after the first five minutes where it remained for some time. Each team appeared to bo guagiug the other’s strength and the game was made very close and uninteresting, the backs indulging in a lot of ping-pong kicking every time the ball got out of the ruck. Following up a free kick S. Carter headed a rush into the visitors’ territory and things livened up considerably. A free kick gave A. Green a shot at goal, which failed, and the visitors forced. Immediately after the kick-out the black forwards made another rush for the line, but a mark by Jago saved his side and the ball was taken to the other end of the field. Hill put in a strong run and found touch near the goal lino. From the throw out Pritchard obtained possession and raced for the lino, bufc ho hold tho bull too long and the advantage was lost by the ball being returned to touch at half way. Play was now more open, the Carter trio and Joe putting in some fast work and Hunterville was again in difficulties and for a breach ot the rules a free kick went against them, from which W. Green kicked a goal. On resuming Jago took play into black ground but tho home forwards soon x’oliGved and from another determined attack Tennent got to within a few feet of the line, where a Scitim took place and Oroucher got over, but was held up. Another scrum resulted, from which the ball was kicked across the field and a Hunterville forward was penalised for kicking out of the ruck. This gave Green another chance and he lauded another goal. For the rest of tho spell Bulls were on the defence, a pot at goal by Hill being well stopped by tho referee. The same player made a good, put unsuccessful, kick from a mark just as half time was sounded. Play in the second spell was confined to the forwards, the backs on either side being content with lino kicking, A. Green and Hill giving a fine exhibition. Early in the spell Swede got away from a scrum and accompanied by Rowlands and W. Carter carried the ball over the line and the .latter secured the first try of the match. The kick was again entrusted to 1 ‘ Painter, ’ ’ who added the extra points with a beautiful kick from the touch line. The attack was kept

up till a free kick raised the siege and play was taken by Stratford, Parkea and Dalla to their opponents’ goal line and a certain try was lost through a forward pass. The visitors continued to attack and were at last rewarded; Parkes over at a good angle. The kick did not increase the score. "With 15 minutes to go it seemed only a matter of endurance among the forwards and the maroon pack were getting the best of it and although they were never really dangerous the home defence was called upon to repulse several promising forward rushes. The blacks rallied again and just before time was called W. Green had another kick at goal from a mark, but went wide of the bar and the game ended eight in favour of Bulls, mainly brought about by the splendid kicking by Green, who succeeded with three goals and one poster out of five attempts. Mr Hinkloy refereed.