FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 August 1918, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Taihape and Mataroa Juniors played their first competition match on Saturday. Unfortunately Taihape were short of four of their best players, and consequently had to put on four emergencies, two of which Mataroa supplied. Mataroa won the toss • iid elected to defend the northern goal. Play had only been going about five minutes when Bennett scored for Mataroa, which he failed to convert. Mataroa 3,. Taihape 0. Resuming, play was up down fieldj when Taihape with a forward rush took the bail into Mataroa J s twentyfive, when from a line out Leahy secured and scored, converting the try. Taihape 5, Mataroa 3. Play was then up and down field for some time ‘when half time was called Taihape was busy' defending/ On resuming Mataroa seemed\to liven up, and soon had Taihape defending. Waters secured and got over the line Dockery failing to convert. Mataroa 6, Taihape 5. Taihape seemed to go all to pieces after this and McDonald again scored for Mataroa, but failed to convert. Mataroa 9, Taihape 5. Shortly after A. Dockery scored, but failed to add the major points. Mataroa 12, Taihape 5. Taihapo then livened up a bit, and the play was up and down field, but Mataroa soon had them again defending, when Sinclair scored and converted. Mataroa 17, Taihape 5. On resuming Mataroa were not long before scoring, again. A. McDonald scored and failed to convert. Mataroa 20, Taihapo. 5. Shortly after time was called. Mr Wilson gave every satisfaction as referee.

For Mataroa Dackery, A. McDonald, Bennett (2), Sinclair all showed promise of being prominent .through the season. Taihape failed badly in' collaring, Hensen being the only boy who tackled his men low. Darvill, Leahy, and Hensen arc the pick °f the bunch. N Powell as a Mataroa. is promising, ns. also is F. Darvill who • played full back for Taihape.