FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 September 1919, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

CUP FINALS. PIRATES JUNIORS (11) V. HUEAS JUNIORS (O). The junior final for the cup was played on Saturday afternoon between the Pirates and Huias teams, ani rcsulted in a win for the former by eleven points to nil. For the winners Gibbs scored a try, the result of fast following up, Lcahy converting, ‘and Leahy and McClure each scored a try, neither being converted. . ' THE SENIOR CONTEST. PIRATES 5, HUIAS 3_ The greatest interest centred in this match, in View of three previous games resulting in draws and the largest crowd_ attending a football match this season congregated to witness a very interesting and strenuous contest for senior honours. The team representing the I’ir-ates consisted nf:—Fullbac‘.~:, rm-l\\llil'.'c-; threequarters, lf. Sinclair, J. Sinclair, and R. Healey; five-eighth-5. D. Hay’ and G Maher; half, Rose; forwards, Serra, Gauge, VV_a':l‘ell. Tmm. Collier, Kelly, Murphy, and G. Mlltpby. The Huia representatives we.re.--Fullback, W. Pini; three quarters. Hiroti. Chas-e, Rogers; fiv.e eights, Instone and 'l‘akarangi; halx-, Bennett; forwards, Storey, Laurenson, J. Pini, Whake, Sully, Chadwick, Brown, and Stewart.

From the kick-off Huias started aggressively, and carried play into Pir-3 ates ground, where Mc.A.uliffe saved: Serra put in a fine run down the field, and play was in Huias’ side of the line. A loose rush carried the ball down to the natives,’ line. but a freekick relieved. Some long kicking be‘ tween the opposing backs resulted in Huias forcing. Huia responded wit-hl ‘a fierce attack, which was stayed by] l\lcAulifi’e marking, but the‘ kick was; a poor one, a.nd play ’re.mlained“in_ Pirates’ 25, and a very detelrminedassault was stopped on their line by the whistle. Scrummed out, the Maoris weremaking desperate efforts to get lthrough, D and Storey got over, but. FHuias were awarded a free-kick for an [infringement just previously‘. Takarangi kicked a pretty goal. Huia 3, Pirates 0. "Kicked out play was in Huias’ 25, but a kick took play to x'n== field, where the leather was secured by Hcaly, but his little bit of gallery play was of no use to his side, and 'he was pushed out of play. Huias’ ‘still kept. up the attack, and were in 11-‘iriates’ territory for some time_ At. ‘this stage Bennett and W. Pini collided through both going for the ball. and were temporarily “outed.” Play hovered in midfield for some time, when from a serum Huias broke through, with Storey in the van, and |Piratcs were obliged to seek relief in ia force from a dangerous rush. Back came the Huias full of attack, but 9. Pirate mark brought them up. Pirates now took a hand in tin -rnme, %which so far had been in 1-luias ravlour. The ball was carried down to the {Mamie 25, and from a mark Pirates had a shot at goal, but nothing happened, and some uninteresting play was brought to a close by the halftime Whistle, the scores being Huias 3, Pirates 0. - ' On resuming Huias made the pace very warm, and a splendid run by Hiroti was stopped just in time by E. Sinclair. Play hovered in midfield, when the Maoris got away with the ball, which was rushed to Pirates’ 25. but McAuliffe relieved with a fine lineikick. Huias came -again and again, }I-liroti, Bennett, and J. Pini being lvery prominent, the last—named Dl33’ing a dashing game, reminding one Of ithe Pini of old. Play still remained [in Pirates’ 25, but a kick carried it to half-way, where it remained for :1 Iwlailc. Put the Huias came back again [and again, one dangerous rush being ‘nipped in the bud by Mc‘Auliffe, who booted the ball to half-way. All interichangc of long kicks between the Opposing backs was of little advantage [to either side. From one of these Hiroti charged, and a. very dangerous ‘situation for Pirates wes relieved by ‘:1 1-‘ree-kiek for offside play. The PirI ates, amid the appeals of their suPP°l‘ters to go in and win, put up 3 detel“ {mined attack, and carried the ball down to Huias’ 25, whe-re a serum was itormeti, through which J. Pini broke, {carrying the ball with him and he [gained a lot of ground, but he, though ‘the intention was good, misjudged in kicking over to his ‘Wing three-quar-’tor. the ball going too far back. The Huias still kept up the pressure, and from a mark Takarangi had a shot at 'goal_. but without result. Pirates re-~ sponded with a determined attack,3 |Serra, Kelly, D. Hay, and Rose being; ‘prominent, but when getting danger-J ous, Chase anl Hiroti cut in and spoilt. Time was now getting short, and with 5 a lead of three points and the best of the game, it looked as if Huias Were going to win_ After line play the leather went to Pirates’ 25, but a free}kick relieved. Pirates, who Were’ playing all out, now carried the ball into their opponent’s 25, when a free-kick $5-”

being given for Pini holding-' 3 ~shot at goal was undertaken, bu.tD£.__.l_'Piui spoilt the effort. Still keeping s\“the~. attack, the Pirates at last had" their efforts rewarded. From a loose for-» ward rush, with all the weight of the pack behind it, Pirates scored, Tuke‘ getting over the line. Serra_ took the shot, and landed a beautiful gaol. Pir. ates 5, Huias 3. There was great excitement, as there were only a few ‘minutes to go. Pirates still keeping up ‘ the assault, had the Maoris grafting all they knew to keep them out, and they were pinned within :1 few yards of their line When the no—side whistle went. Mr fKelsa.ll held the whistle in. his usual capable manner, iwhile Messrs Burrell and Joll acted as lineumpires. NOTES ON THE GAME_ The game was much more interest-‘ ing than the~one played on the previous Saturday, and was hard fought" and keenly contested from start to finish. The Maoris had somewhat the best of the play up till within a‘ quarter of an hour of the end. They were attacking nearly all the time, and it was only the determined defensive play of the Pirates which kept them out. In the serum they pad an advantage. They got the hall oftener, and when it came out on the other side they quickly smothered the Firates’ five-eights and half .There was an apparent weakness in the Pirates’ play behind the serum, which doubtless accounted for the few opportunities their three-quarter line got. In‘ ;other departments of the game the play was very even. Both fullbacks‘ Iwere very sure, their taking of the ball and fine kicking were a treat to» watch. For the winners and J. Sinclair were very safe in defence, their tack‘ling being sure, and they made the most of their few opportuntiies in atltack_ Hay and Rose did their work well. The forwards were a very solid‘ lo't,‘other'wise. they would not havebeen able, to‘ stand up to" the Tiiuia; pack the way they did. Whai Pini," with his superb line-kicking‘, "ga_v'e§ them plenty of runnin_g. about. i _ ‘ ‘ The TI-luias, though defeated by, a: narrow margin-,/ put up a. iSll_lendi'd: fight, and though they had three points lead and only ten minu_t'es tO~ go, did not endeavour to kill time, but played the game like real sportS.’Hiroti played a splendid game, and tuok‘ a lot of watching, but Chase was not‘ ‘so good as last Saturday. Rogers also‘ was not so prominent as usual. Toby Bennett played a fine game. Amongthe forwards J. Pini shone out above‘all the others, followed by Sully, and". ‘Storey. Stewart. is always a consist'ent player, and to his efforts mus‘. be‘ascribed the Weakness behind thelPirates,’ scrum. .