FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 August 1919, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

' ' JUNIOR. . -——Pirates V_ Huia.—On Satuljday the Pirate J uniofsé and Huia Juniors played their sec and g-tmc. The game athroughout was u.n.*th‘.ng but interesting, and resulted in a win for the Pirates by 3 to 0, a try se'ing secured by Strachan. Mr M::R-to acted as referee. ‘

SENIORS. —Rovers v. Huia.——- T" Rovers won the toss and elected to play with the sun at their ‘oaeks and had a slight wind in their favour‘. The following represented the tea ns.——— R-overs: Ash, Mlfilroe,‘Forem:xn, Il.’-Ln-kin, Dockery, Easton, Thomson, Bennett, Penworthy, Warren, Laird, Micky, Hassett, Pinkney and Rowe. Huias: Hirote, W’, Pini, P. Thomas, Rogers, Takarangi, Symes, Connolly, Pomare, Shamrock, Wilson, Sullivan, Willie Pini VV:ake, Chadwick, and another. The game throughout was uninteresting from a spectator-’s point of view. At the start of the game the Huias made a dash and had the Rovers‘ defending, but a mark saved the Rovers, and play remained in neutral territory for the first. spell of 20 minutes. The \change oivser brought forth no bett‘e“r ‘result, play hanging about midfield until just before halftime, when the Huias travelled down the fueld with a forward rush, and Symes received and get. across the line, The kick failed.—Huias 3, Rovers 0. Shortly after half-time was called. On resuming, the Huis Were again attacking, but the Rovers’ defence was too solid, Rankin continually saving his side. Pltay th‘en went to mid-field, Where the game continued until the change over. On resuming in a forward rush, Conolly was unfortunate in getting his shoulder put Out, and had to leave the field. The Huias, however, kept up the pressure, and from a forward rushvW. Pini scored. ~The_ kick failed. rThe,Rovers_.noW,:took;a. hand in the game and Werchammerintg away at t.he.Huias" defence,-and from a for», ward rush Penworthy scored; the kick_ failed.. For~.,the first time during the. game .the”excitement~ Waxed high, the; Rovers .were making several attempts to even up the score;~but.their luck seemed to be odt, as they could only get near. The game ended—-Huias 6, Rovers 3. Mr Burrell acted as refcree.~

" NOTES BY “ONLOOKER.” ‘* 9 ’ ‘_————- ' Apparently there must be a great change in the rules, as “Onlooker” had great difiiculty yesterday in following both games. The Pirate Juniors appear to be going back instead of imprdving. The half gave the backs ‘every opening, but they failed to use their opportunities. The ball several times Went through from the half to first five-eighth, to second five—eigh’ch, to centre-three-quarter, to wing threequ:a.rter',"and not ayard of ground gained. The ‘backs-l'should learn to run straight. for-ward,.and not back across the field_ The Huia Juniors were unfortunate in having‘ a player ordered off early in the game—-—wlly, the Writer cannot say, yet in the senior game one player is allowed to» strike another and is allowed to get off with a caution. I think it is time the referees came together and decided to be unanimous about their decisions, and I hope “Onlooker” will be invited to attend, so that he may be able to follow their decisions better. Throughout the Junior game too much talking was allowed, and as there are to be our future seniors this should be nipped in the bud. p '

The senior «match, until ‘the last fifteen Ininutes, was fnost uninteresting to watch, neither of the back divisions showing np, the game being mostly confined to the forwards. The Rovers were unfortunate in at least. not adding another score. Apparently the Huias were “caught on the hop,” as they almost lost the game owing to several df their prominent players being absent. ‘