FOOTBALL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 177, 3 July 1900, Page 2

FOOTBALL NEWS.

OPUNAKE V. KAPONGA. (Prom Our Opunake Correspondent.) Roused by their de r eafc at the baudp (or rather the feet) .<f the Uawenu>, the Opunake men put up a iiit of a r.ord agninst KBpooga. The woather was rough and the ground even rougher, but the latter was perfectly dry, which the formor was not. The people of Kipongi are to be congratunted on having made so beavily-tiwb ned n piece of land into so good a football ground in so short a time. Very sowi after the kick-ofi the Opunake men hud the Kapongas iu trouble. ([ may mention hero that the Kaaouga colours are khaki with red diagonal band, which make a very handsomi uni j form.) Opunake getting rapidly oJ the ball got on to the Ksponga line, where, from a loose scrum, Guy scored a try, from which Limbie placed a neat goal. Opunake 5. Opun-

ake came again, and Mason getting possefsion oleverly dropped a goal, a rather difficult feat on so rough a ground. Opunake 9. Kaponga now made an effort to equalise matters. Led by the redoubtable Dan Hughes, they charged down the field, and kicking hard past the full-back, Riddoll raced two Opunake men for the ball and was awarded a try. The score was not increased. Opunake 9 ; Kaponga 3. After some give-and-take play Opunake worked to the Kaponga'* twenty-fives, where Forjylh made a fine dodgy run and passed to Lambip, who passed to Guy, who dashed over and scored, Opucako 12 ; Kiponga 3. Half-time. Soon aftrr resuming Kaponga were penalised far off-tide pliiy ind Lambi-j nude a good attempt, but failed. Kapong*, thmgh now playing uphill, were playing wiihli better eombiuatiou and pressed Opun- ' .ike for a while. W. Lambie with a ' fine punt relieved the presjure, but led i by that old stager D. Hughesthey came i

> ugiio, and smothering the full-bick's return, and nearly smothering that ' individual himself, they obtained a free • kick for "hanging on to (he ball." Kaponga kept up the attack until a free kick by Lambie relieved the pressure, and smart passing between W. Lambie, Mason, and Forsyth turntd the tables on Kaponga. Here J. Lambie, by a fine dash, (jot through and scored; his brother registered the major points. Opunake, 17; Kaponga, 3. Soon after Forsyth got away from I the wing and got right through the backs. W. Lambie was ngain goad for the extratwo. Opunake, '22 ; Kaponga, 3, Time. In spite of the fact that the 11 casualties" were numerous, the game was played in a most friendly spirit, and Kaponga made a much better fight than the points appear to indicate. They possess a fine set of forwards, who only want practice to make them a powerful front division, while in Riddell aud O'Diy they have two sife and fast backs,