FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 August 1918, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TAIHAPE V. RANGITIKEI. (By Onlooker.) As predicted, Saturday was a gala day for football in Taihape. The Rangitikei team rolled up in force and play comenced at 1.30. Eangitikei won the toss, and elected to defend the northern goal the Pirates having to play facing the sun. For the first five minutes Rangitikei was pressing the local men hard, and had thenv defending, when by a forward rush, headed by Bennett, the ball was taken down the field to the Rangitikei 25, and from a scrum Pine secured and passed to Sinclair, who by a good run scored; Chase failed to convert. Taihape 3, Eangitikei 0. On resuming the play was up and down the field for some time, when Kelly started a rush, which took the ball into Rangitikei's 25, where Smith smartly secured the ball and dashing over scored between the posts. Bennett failed to convert. Taihape 6 Rangitikei 0. Prom the kick off Rangitikei, evidently intent on evening up the score rr..ade the play fast, but the home defence appeared too solid, when shortly before half time Hay put in a good long kick, which Eaton failed''to secure, and Hartley, who followed up

fast kicked over the line and scored. Takarangi converted. Taihape 6, Eangitikei 5. On again taking the field the Pirates rallied, and quickly had the Eangitikei team on the defensive, and from a scrum the only passing rush of the day was initiated. Pine secured, and sent the ball to Connolly, the ball passed to Chase, and on to Sinclair, who scored, Wilson converting. Taihape 11, Eangitikei 5. On the teams again taking the field Eangitikei made every effort to daw level, and play during the whole of the second spell was with the forwards, and the Taihape team was kept busy defending. However, when play had been going for about fifteen minutes the Taihape men were forced down near their line, and from a forward rush Jacob got over, and scored, Takarangi converting Taihape 11, Eangitikei 10. On play being resumed both teams seemed to be tiring, and play was mostly confined to the forwards, and the whistle went with the ball in midfield. Mr Kelsall rcforced in his usual efficinct manner. NOTES ON THE PLAY. The Pirates iiaa a far better team, on the fied than which played Eaetihi, and most of the players seemed to bo playing better than in the beginning of the season. The most prominent were Eaton at full, and he played with his usual good judgment. Sinclair was brilliant at times, both in attack and defence. Kingi was safe, but Chase was not up to his usual standard, but played well. Connolly played, in my opinion, the best game this season, and Bentley was occasionally to .the fore. Pine at half would be hard to beat, as two of the tries scored were mainly due to his openings. Bennett and Wilson appeared to hook well together, and got the ball in the scrums. Smith was prominent on several occasions, as were Tierney and Kelly. For Eangitikei, Terry at fullback was fairly safe: Potaka and Hartley, wing thrcequarters, were both prominent at times. The forward division was good, and it was evident that the team depended on them as two of their men on the line-out, both being tall, managed to get the ball, and always brought it to the toe instead of passing to the backs and making the game open. THE JUNIOE MATCH. At 3.30 the Juniors took the field, and those who stopped to witness the i

game voted that it was tho more exciting game of the two. The Juniors are now organised and on a sound footing. Dockery, who is to be conuneded for his energy, landed from Mataroa with 15 boys. Unfortunately he had not made the fact known to those who were organising tho boys' teams, and who relied on him only accounting for nine, they had to find fifteen for the town team and six extra for Mataroa. Consequently a senior'or two had to be roped in to make up the number. Two seniors were offered to Mataroa to even up the team, but Doe.krry stepped out with his own lot. and a good solid game they put up, and had not Taihape had McGowan, a senior man in they would have been beaten. However, the game ended with Taihape scoring and converting, and Mataroa scoring and failing to convert. Mr W. J. Munro gave every satisfaction with the whistle. It is pleasing to the organisers to know that two full teams of juniors are now on the field, and the age is limited to 18 years. Messrs Pitt and Jeffries have both donated 'lO/ towards a football for the boys, and as no response was given to the appeal for a trophy for the lads to play for, it was decided that the two teams play a series of games and the winning team is to keep the ball. A small committee will be elected to deal with the arrangements, and it is hoped that some good games will result from, the effort, though it is a bit late in the season.