FOOTBAL.Ii MATCS. * KATIKATI V. TE AROHA, [From our own Correspomlenl.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 363, 27 April 1889, Page 2

FOOTBAL.Ii MATCS. * KATIKATI Y. TE AROHA, [From our own Correspomlenl.]

Tn accordance with arrangements entered into, as already lepoilctl in these columns, a football match was ployed jit Kali— Uati on Wednesday ln&-t, between our n. o i»lil)')uis ano«s the lanure^, find a team composed of player from Te Aroha and Waiorongmnai, The st-ut was from W.iiojMnufoni ii .>t 9 a m., the weather beuutifn'ly fir.o, all the playoifi well mounted, and (although scveial of the be^-t local players v/eie unable, owing to oiher engagements, 1o tako pail) delcrinincd to render a good account of thf»m— setvc^. The road being in excellent condition the pace was made a fast one foi the fiist few miles. The air was cleai and bi. 'icing", and consequently the view obtained fiom the summit of the range grand in the extieme, and although some of the paily wove familiar with it. yet all were loud in expressions of admit at ion at tho panorama that lay befoie them for very many miles, of the luxuiiant foliage, steep lavines, down which, notwithstanding the lon^ spell of dry weather, the mountain stieam «~till 1 oiled along, forming beautilul cascades as it bounded fiom jock tn ?ock and on its way to the river below, Fiom tho summit of tho hill the magnificent mountain ranges stretch away to the right and left, whilst ahead tho east coast is plainly visible for ninny miles. Thejonrney to Katikati was accomplished in about two hours and a half, the part 3* anivingatMr B, McDonnells hotel by 11 ,30 a.m. and rested there till lunch time. After lunch preparations frr the match became general. The Katikati players did not roll up till shortly before the time fixed for commencing plaj', but when they put in an appearance it was very apparent (as your Waiorongomai conespondent put it> we had foemen to contend with woi thy of our leather. It was agreed to plaj' two spells of 45 minutes each, play to commence at 3 o'clock. The Te Aroha pla}'ers were placed as follow? .'—Full back, W. Goldsworthy ; three- qnaitcr back, A. Samson and T. Bigtis ; half back, T. Claiken, J. Lynch, and W, Biggs ; forwjrds, J. darken, P. Brady, J. Smith, M. O'Connor, Jeffrey, A. Corner, and B. Hill ; wing forwards, D. Craig and T, Caliill. The Katikati team were arranged in the following- order : — Full back., A. Anderson ; three-quarter back, Stewart, T. Ansley, C. Giledstanes ; half back, W. Turner, Me Candlish, A. Johnstone; forwards, Blakey, Karika, C. Jobnslone, A, Stewart, G. Stewart ; wing forwards, Turner, B. Anderson. The toss was won by Te Aroha, and Captain Ansley, of Katikati, kicked off. Tho pl.iy became at once very fast, Katikati foroing the play close on to the Te Aroha goal, whioh wasttubboinly defended by our boys. Twice during the first spell the ball was carried over the Te Aroha line but the try was disallowed by the referee. A third attempt was made by B. Anderson, who, after a splendid rur succeeded in scoring a touch down ; the place kick by the same player, however, was a failure. Spell of 5 minutes. Play in the second spell was carried on much in the same xvny as before, our men having to act on the defensive nearly the whole time ; having all they could do to prevent their opponents from scoring. At length after repeated scrums and runs, the play all the time being dangerously near our goal, McCandlish kicked what was j thought to he a gdal, but on appeal to the referee it was given as a.pnnt, much to 'Katikati's disgust: Nothing of any note took iplace after this until time was called, the' 'match ending in favour o,f Ki^iikati by one point to nil. "Captain Ansley galled for three cheers, for the Te Aroha learn, which was lustily given and the complin meut returned by our men. fn the evening the Te Aroha team were invited to a substantial spread at McDon* aid's Hotel, and full justice was done to the good things provided for the occasion ; after which Mr J. F. Cocks, on behalf of tho.Te Aroha team, returned thanks for the hospitality and courtesy they had received from their Katikati friends ; and

also tolrl them that n f-trong rflort would lie made by tl.e To Aml in. t",nii to recover their honours on the occasion c£ the retni n match Captain Ansley replied h\ saying' that unfoi innately his team played inoio losing m m pr than winning ones ; bi>t they Lad no intention ot Mowing ilieir hard avoii laurels to bo wrested i'roin them"., Tin*, closed tlie proceedings, and 'shn'tly after both tonmft lepnircil to tho public hull to attend the conceit, and theie brought a most enjoyable day to a close,