FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 September 1918, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

On Saturday the Taihape Pirates mi a team picked from the Railway men coming from Ohingaiti and Hunterville to fill up the railway ranks. The teams took the fielu at 3.15 both teams playing short until the north train arrived. From the start the game was very even, and was one of the fastest played this season. Play was confined to the forwards, and was mostly about mid-field for the first ten minutes, when Hay put in a long kick, which Eaton failed to stop, and Bennett quickly followed up and getting over the line scored, but failed to convert. Railway 3, Pirates 0. Play resuming, the Pirates were intent on evening up the scores kept the railway busy defending and the railway backs were kept busy with a forward rush the Pirates dashed down the field; Stoney secured and scored, Wilson converting. Pirates 5, Railway 3. j On resuming, play amongst the for : wards still continued fast, each team playing hard, and the backs' of both teams put in some good defensive work, half time being called with play about mid-field. On resuming both teams were intent on winning and the play still contiued fast, but was confined to the forwards, the only time the backs were prominent was in the defence, owing to lack of opportunities. Play had been going about 15 minutes when the Pirates got the ball into I

their opponents' 25 and from, a scrum Eaffety sccured and got over the line" near tho corner. Wilson failed to convert. On resuming the Railway made strenuous efforts to even up* the* score, tyit Chase was too solid on the defence, and his line kicking suro, and the Railway to penetrate the defence, Play continued up and down the field for the rest of tMKpeil and the game ended: Pirates S,Wailway 3. r On resuming this ended the game. Mr D. Burrell gave every satisfaction, as referee. ]

NOTES BY ONLOOKER. The game was noted to v be one of ~ the fastest played here this season but >/* was mostly confined to the forwards. In the Railway forwards. B'ennett wa3 always prominent, as was Campbell. Johnstone and Welsh were also handy to their team; the balance of the forwards were all willing but seemed to lack the necessary condition to keep up with tho game. The backs were only called on once or twice to attack amongst them. Connolly, Hay, Munro, . Bentley, were the most prominent, and occasionally put in some good work.

For the Pirates, Whake and Stoney, assisted by Wilson, were always prominent. Tau was again on it and was doing good work. Raffety was a grafter. P. Donovan was always-(on the leather, as was Sinclair, who changed with McGowan in the second spell. McGowan seems to show up better in the forwards than in the backs. Pini at half was alright, had the forwards let the ball out: Turikau. played a good jgame at five-eights, where he did better than at half, which, place he changed with Pini. Dockery requires more practice, and could do with more pace. However, with more practice he is promising. Chase as centre three-quarters, played the best defensive game this season. Kingi afc wing three-quarters did not play up to his usual form. Eaton is safe at times but is not playing the same game he did in the beginning of the season.