FOOTBALL.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42760, 12 August 1905, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

PIAKO v ROTORUi

This match was played at Te Aroha oo Thursday afternoon las Loin favour ' able weather. It is the firs occasion on whioh the Fiako team has beaten Rotorua' The Rotorua men, however, were hardly able to render as good an account of themselves as they might, owing to having played a match at Cambridge on the previous day. Th y had a number of players who were in the -native team which defeated England last year, so there is every reason to regard the team as a first class one. The two teams were evenly matched 'as regards weight. Botn played one wing forward and two five* eights. Rotorua won the toss and played with the wind aad sun beh nd them the sun, being somewhat strong this was a special advantage- Play in the first spell was of a scrambling order , and neitbeream seemed to get properly going. Rotorua had several penalty kicks awarded almost iu front of their own goal, but the place kicking was very much off. 2he local earn had very much the best of the play and kept the visitors on the defensive throughout the first spell. In the second spell the game was very willing and both teams really gave a sound exposition of football. The ball was frequently carried out to the backs and some very pretty passing iuns resulted. Within five minutes

Rotorua scored their first try, being in very good position, but the kick at the goat was a failure. The local players now warmed up to the game and put in a lot of telling work, and in open play the bail was tent out to Alf Lennard who made a magnificent run and scored almost at the corner, and what seemed an almost impossible shot was converted by M. Timmins. This gave Fiako a lead of two points which the visitors earnestly set to 1 work to wipe out. Prom a faulty throw in, one of the visiting three quarters got the ball, and after a very tricky run scored right between the posts, the resulting kick at goal, however, was a failure. Prom the kick-off Piako took play into their opponents’ 25 line and there it remained for sometime* Prom a scrum in midfield the ball was rushed over the Rotorua line and their full back, kicking the ball instead of touching down, enabled Piako’s forwards to score again almost in the corner. This try was converted by a magnificent kick by J. Timmius, Immediately after this, one of the Rotorua players I marked right in front of his own goal I and ibis gave them a chance to equal- | ise lhe scores, but the kick was a failI urt. Of the Piako team the forwards I who put in the most noticeable work I weie Sam Jennings, Tim Ryan, and I Arthur Lennard, and the backs, D. | Shaw; Alf Lennard, Lipsey, and J. I Timmins. The visitors who acquitted I themselves moat creditably were VerI coe, Pilleuger and Hall, Mr Moore I of Paeroa acted as a very impartial. I referee. I Final score: Piako 10 points, RotoI rua 6 poiuts.