FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 June 1919, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

PIRATES Wx ROVERS

The formal opening of the football season was celebrated by a miatcli between the Pirates and Rovers on the local grounds on Saturday. Before the game started, Mr Geo. Wrightson, president of the Rugby Union, made a few. remarks, stating that football had languished during the four years of war, but now, with the men returning, it would take on a new lease of life. There would be a meeting of the Rugby Union, probably durinLthis week, and he exhorted the .various 'clubs t* send delegates in order to place the game on a proper footing. He wished the players a suceessfuf as well as enjoyable season. Mr Wrightson then "hoisted the leather", and the game commenced. The play for the first quarter of an hour was even, and in neutral territory, ■when Kelly headed a forward rush and took the ball into the Rovers- twentyfice, and, securing, passed to J. Sinclair, who crossed the line and scored, the attempt at goal failing.—Pirates 3, Rovers 0. On resuming, play had only just got going again, when from a scrum, MeAuliffe, at half, got the ball and sent it to Ma-her, who transferred iff Healey, then to McDonell, who got across as the result of one of the best passing rushes witnessed for some considerable time. The kick at goal failed. —Pirates 6, Rovers 0. Play had not been resumed long before Pirates had Eovers again on the defence, and Maher kicked across to Docker/, who got over and scored in a handy place, jgray converting.—Pifates 11, Rovers 0. The Rovers, rallying, had the best of the game for the next ten minutes, and from a forward rush Bennett- got over the line and scored: the kick at goal failed.—Pirates 11. Rovers 3. Shortly after half-time was called with the score unaltered.

On resuming. It was anticipated that the Rovers would rally snd oven up the scores, but lack of condition and the solid defence of the Pirates scon turned defence into attack, and a neat passing rush started by Healey, to Maher, McD'ouell, resulted in the latter scoring, the kick at goal .failing Pirates 14, Rovers 3. On resuming, play was .confined to safe territory for about 20 minutes', when the' Pirates' forwards again came with a rush and shot oven The kick failed.—Pirates 17. Rovers 3. Apparently condition was telling on the Rovers now, as the game had just got going again, and just before the call of time, the Pirates' forwards got going and Shuie scored, the kick at goal failing.—Pirates 20. Rovers 3. Mr Kel.sall gave every satisfaction as rtfferee.

NOTES BY "ONLOOKER."

The game was hardly us exciting as '■ anticipated, being too much one-sided, r Hio Rovers certainly not playing up to •their reputation. Of their backs the only players being at all prominent were James and Symes, the two wings, Eaton and Munro, being starved t'c.want of opportunity. Rowe was. the only forward who was at all prominent. There was a total lack of combinaand any rush that was started by Rowe failed for lack of support. A lot of hard training is required by the team to bring them into line. The wing forward was done away with, hut the Rovers failed to make the best use of the extra man. Tie should have assisted his forwards more in the scrum, where weight was required. The backs appeared to bs= pishing too close to the forward line and this caused them trouble whenever kicking was taking place, as they seemed to be always out of place when the ball was sent their way, the consequence being that the Pirate forwards being down en them before they e.oufcl get their kick in. To Individualise:, th-i Pirates would take

too much space, as every man was m his place whenever required, and the forward rushes, with the pack coming the field like a solid wall, was pleasing to see, as also were the passing rushes by the backs. Should the team put up the same performance on Tuesday against Taumanunui the issue should not be in doubt.