FOOTBALL

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4444, 3 August 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL

MATAMATA v. PIAKO

A WIN FOR PIAKO

The first meeting of the above teams eventuated at Morrinsvilla, on (Saturday last The weather was anything but pleasant for football. Showers of rain falling and a high wind blowing, greatly interfered with any attempt at scientific play. The attendance was small for a rep. match, only £2 odd being taken at the gate. The game was started at 2.15 p.m. thus allowing the players to journey home by the late good’s train. The Matamata union which has only been formed this year possesses some good players and with a few more matches with outside unions should develop into a Strong combination. Mr Lawry gave every satisfaction as referee, and had associated on the lines with him Messrs D. Borrie and S. Mason. Two 35 minute spells were played. Matamata won the toss and played with the wind and rain at their backs, clapping on the pace they at once got the locals in difficulties. Fine defensive play by Fisher and Timmins prevented a score on one or two occasions From a scrum in Piako’s 25 the ball was trarsferred to Skelly who passed to Rae and he to McPike who nearly got over, McSweeney grassing him in fine style and Page forced. Matamata again pressed the locals and some fine forward play took place—prominent in which were Given Bros., iDunkley, and Mitchell of the visitors pack, and Honeybun, Collins, and G. McKee and Brindle of the locals. Fisher at five-eighths, was playing splendidly and was doing a lot of stopping. After the ball had traversed up and down the field with advantage to neither side the local backs took a hand at passing and shifted play to the visitors’ 25. From a line out Piako forwards camo away with the ball at their toes. Mclntyre put the finishing touches on a fine piece of play by dashing over and scoring first blood for Piako. Brindle’s kick was pointless. Piako .. .. .. 3 Matamata .. .. 0 The score roused Matamata and they again started attacking but speiled a lot of good chances by kicking too hard. No further score took place during the remainder of this spell. On changing ends the local team, playing with the wind and rain, had much the better of the game. For awhile the defence of the visitors’ backs was stubborn and McPike, Rae and a Native player were always equal to the occasion. About 15 minutes of the spell had gone when the Piako backs, following up a kick, Joe Timmins secured, and beating a couple of backs, handed it over to Page who dashed over and scored the locals a second try. McKee’s kick went wide. Piako .. .. 6 Matamata .. .. 0 A few minutes after the visitors had much the better of the game, and made things hot for the locals. Dunkley secured from a line out, and assisted by Mitchell and Mason they dribbled the ball to Piako’s line, Dunkley dashing over scored a good try. He took the kick himself, and was successful in placiug the ball between the sticks. Piako .. .. .. 6 Matamata .. .. 5 From this to the call of time the visitors held the upper hand, and on more than one occasion came near scoring ; nothing of note, however, occurred until the whistle blew, play being in neutral territory. NOTES. For the winners, McSweeney, Bart'es, Timmins and Fisher were the pick of a good set of backs, and Honeybun. McKee (2), Brindle and Robinson were a good lot of workers in the pack. Of the visitors’ backs McPike, Skelly and a native player were about the best of a sound lot of backs. Mitchell, Mason and Dunkley were the most prominent in the pack. The game was played in a friendly spirit throughout.

The following players have been chosen by the selector (Mr W. R. Johnson) to represent Piako in the return match against Matamata, on the Marrinsville ground, on Saturday next, August 7th., 1909. Play will start at 2.15 p.m. Fullback : H. McSweeney; threequarters : Page, Joe. Timmins, Bartles ; five-eighths : E Fisher ; half : Jock. Mclntyre ; wings : C. Cribb and JackGeddis; forwards : W. Robertson, J. Dench, E. Farrow, A McKee, R. Honeybun, Buchan, Mclntyre. Emergencies Backs : Ellery, Edkins, G. Hinton, J. Timmins, O’Grady ; for- j wards : J. Jennings, J. Comerford, E. Collins, Napier, W. Hogg. THAMES v. AUCKLAND The following team has been chosen to represent Thames against Auckland at Thames next Saturday : Full-back, Newdick; three-quarters, Meiriman, Lennard, and Kinghan; five-eighths, Snowling; half, Winder; wings, F. Hayward and McCollum ; forwards, Farley, McKeown, Williams, T. Crawford, Clark, Havward, and Miller. Emergencies, Boles and J. Crawford. PONSONBY BEAT METROPOLITAN Sydney, August 1 Ponsonby Football Club 13 poiuts, Metropolitan, 11.