FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 226, 14 June 1915, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S PLAY. PIRATES V. MAT ARC) A. On Saturday. Pirates and Mataroa played a benefit match in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, the sum of £7 8/ being obtianod. In the first spell, Pirates played one man short and at the call of : half-time Mataroa had a load of three points. In the second spell, the blacks were con- | thi'.iaUy on the attack, and scored two tries, thus winning by 9 points to 3. Making allowances foi* it being the first game of the season, play was quite up to expectations, although spectators were treated to only one o. two commendable 'passings. THE PLAY. Soon after the- kick-oil Pirates secured a force down through Simpson making a run, taking the balk at too. Up to this play had centred in the blacks’ territory. Soon after this Mataroa pressed Pirates for some time and a ;o seemed inevitable, but Tau. overran Ike ball and Beilis relieved by kicking out. Serpelk put in <; a .couple of good runs but was grounded a few yards from the, blacks’ lino. Mataroa kept .at it but Chase neatly let them kept at it -and Chase nearly let them down on two occasions by failing to take the ball. Mataroa threw in and Chase marked. -Pirates brought the ball into their opponents’ 25, but their ascendency was only temporary, Mataroa got the ball at toe and worked it over the line, when G. Maher fell on it. Peter Thomas took the kick, the ball hitting the cross-bar. —Mataroa 3/ Pirates nil. Pirates continued to invade Mataroa *s territory, and Gunyon put in a serviceable kick. Thomas relieved by kicking out of bounds. From the lineout Walker took the ball at toe, picked it up, passed to Murphy, who passed to Terry, who scored. Thomas’ attempt to convert- was unsuccessful, the ball going under the bar. —Mataroa 0, Pirates nil.

. Mataroa forced the pace again and G., Murphy came out of the ruck with the ball and had an unsuccessful pot at goal. Shortly after, Mataroa were in trouble. Pirates worked the ball well at toe and were within an ace of scoring when the off-side rule was infringed and Mataroa were relieved with a fine kick. , Tidswell got the ball and passed to Riggall who transfered to E. Belis. who was grounded near the Mataroa line. .A few seconds later, from a scramble, E. Beilis got over at the corner. G. Maher’s attempt to convert went wide. —Mataroa (i, Pirates 3. Honours in serum-work up to now were about even. G. Maher got the ball, punted, and followed up, but fell when within scoring distance . Both teams followed up well and Wallace just beat R. Maher for possession, thus saving another score against Mataroa. Half-time was then sounded. Second Spell. Up to this stage, Mataroa had only 11 players, ,T. Pine joining the team. Pine dribbled the ball and Walker endeavoured to stop it but was unsuccessful. Pirates raced down the field, but Simpson stopped the rush and kicked the ball out of play. Pirates were doing very well by keeping up a splendid dribble. E. Maher got hold of the ball and wriggled through, but was grassed on the point of scoring. Pirates got the ball from a. scrum on the Mataroa lino and scored. Chase made a rather poor, attempt at goal.—Mataroa (i, Pirates (ib Pirates wore grassing the "Mata” in good jitylo and had a good chance of scoring. Thomas got possession, and Jij. ath-mV.Eng to' evade Beilis, was

grassed and threw the ball out of play. G. Maher’s attempt at goal from the resulting free-kick went wide. Pirates kept pressing and B. Beilis nullified a score by knocking on. During a rush, “Moke” Beilis was kicked on the side of the head and laid out. He was brought't'o successfully, and after a few moments resumed his place in the game. Thomas was doing good work on the defence.' Tidswell was very safe in the back division, for Pirates. The ball was sent into Mataroa territory and “Moke” Beilis (y a mined the ball through and scored. B. Maher’s attempt at goal failed. The game ended: Pirates 0, Mataroa tk