FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 August 1919, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

JUNIOR M.»\’.l‘CsH. » ' ——Pirates 17, Matzzrou nil.—- ‘ On Saturday lastfihe Pii-ates“*:ntl. Mataroa Juniors again in-et to try con? clusions. Mataroa, unfortunately, had to take the field with fourteen men, and in the last quarter of an hour Sinclair had to leave t.'he field owing to an injury. The Pirates throughout had decidedly the best of the game, and the score indicates the dffi"erc-nce between the two teams on .the day’s play. Tries were scored for Pirates by .\lcAlinter,‘Dean, Perry, Miller (2), one of rwhich was elcnvertied‘-. For Matarozi 'vDockery played :1 -.<.terlin'g game," and 011 one occasion he put in a. good run_ and 11ea:‘}_;-' crossed the line, but was neatly collared by McAlinter-l The gfiime ended: Pirates 17, Mataroa nil. Mr Reid made En efficient referee.

' SENIOR MATCH. 4 PIRATES V. HUIA. Considerable. interest was taken in this match, both clubs putting their best teams in the field, and the kick-ofif was right. on time. The Huias started aggressively alm,bst from the jump, but the Pirates ~ca.me with 9. forward. rush, and had the Huias busy keeping; their line intact, and for quite a.. while they had to play a defensive game, having to save on several occas-~ ions by forcing. ~

The I-luias now became aggreSSive,. and made several desperate attempts. to break through the Pirates’ defence, but relief came to the latter in free» kicks, one of which was smartly followed up ‘by Healey, and with MeAuliffe backing him up, just missed scoring, Huias forcing. The Pirates came on again to the attack, and were-_a.w-arded a free kick in a Very handy -position, but owing to the greasy ‘nature of the ball,\nothing happened.. Half-time was sounded without a. score ‘on either "side. ' t ‘- i’ ' -

F ca 'rcsuming',’Huias' kicked up ‘within ‘the sun and Wind behind them,'but_'the"Pirates rushed the ball down‘ ‘field; N-.=l-luiassavingbyaforee. Back came the,_z'balliwith 'Huia’s in‘ full _ ery,- to ‘th'e'ac'-' eonipaniment of cheers -of encourage-' "men firom the large number of Maori‘ ‘spectators. Pirates cleared their tear-3 sfl‘itory_. and carried the‘ ball down to‘ lHui'a’s line, when a serum was form- ' ed, but the natives managed to relieve the positio'nT" Forward came the i Pirates’ pack, but the danger W-as: E cleverly averted by Toby Bennett; gwho throughout had been playing 3.‘. ' splendid, heady game. A free kick re~r | lieved the pressure on ‘fhe Huia’s line, lbut a pretty bit of passing by the ! Pirates’ backs placed their opponents’ {line in danger. A long sustained‘ at- ! tack was made by the Pirates, but the M Huias’ defence was not to be broken. A shot. at goal from a free kiclrgiven against Huias was without. ‘result. After further play another free kick was given “against Huias, but thevkick at goal was futile- From 3. line—out the Pirates got away,- and matters looked “dickey” for the natives, but their luck was in. ;The play »for'abo,u't. twenty minutes remained on Huias." side -of the ‘2s’s, and anothershot at goal by Pirates drew. a blank; Good‘ line kicking by Bennett and- Chasebrought the ball to half-Way.’ But back again came the Pirates, with the ball in front of them, and from a loose rush, MeAuliife, who had been playing a very fine game, kicked up the ball, and after a good run nearly got over; being stopped a. couple of yards from the line. Huias now ‘made a desperate effort. cleared their line, and to the frantic cries of “Go it, Huias!” from the native barrackcrs, carried the ball‘ to Pir-ates’ 25. Still" keeping up the attack, they made desperate efforts toget through, but the Pirates’ tackling was deadly. This was the first time in" the Second spell the Pirates had their territory invaded. A free kick to Pirates eased the position, and play was in Huia’s 25 for the remainder of theSpell, which ended with a drawn game" ‘——no score on either side.

The ‘duties of referee {Vere ably 0317“ ried out by Mr Kelsall. '