FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1918, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL DEFEAT WAIMATE. Though conditions were anything but conducive to good football on Saturday, rain having fallen right up to the commencement of the match and made the ground heavy, this being further accentuated by a match having just concluded, the football match played at Hawera between New Plymouth Sigh School and Waimate proved very interesting, and provided a good display of Rugby. Particularly was this the case in the second half, when the School team opened up the game, their play being quite in keep- ! ing with the best traditions of college football, their nippy passing and clever handling of the greasy ball rousing the enthusiasm of onlookers to a high pitch,! applause being frequent. School won by 9 points to G, and there was no question that the better team wonIn the first spell play was fairly even, being mostly confined to the forwards. Towards the close of the spell M. Bailey scored from a forward rush, and a Maori (C. }Vhakakiki), who played a fine game, repeated the performance just as halftime was called. Neither try was converted. The spell ended: Waimate 6, High School nil. On resuming, Waimate attacked, but good play, particularly on the part of the School full-back (Smart), drove them back. High School forwards were securing the ball from their heavier op ponents, and the backs now opened up the game- From then to the end of the contest, save with one or two "spasmodic bursts, Waimate was kept on the defensive. Several times were within an ace of scoring, the ball going into touch and goal and also being forced Finally, M'Kay handed the ball to Ham ling at the right time, and the latter shot over near the corner. MtKay's kick failed. Judicious line play and smart passing amongst the backs kept up the pressure. An infringement by Waimate gave M'Kav a chance to goal. He took a drop-kick, but the heavy ball did not rise. A little later, Beckbessinger, with a smart run, concluded a pretty passing bout 'by notching a try and equalising the scores. School tried hard for the winning score. Eventually Hamling secured his second try, which was not converted. Waimate made strenuous efforts to equalise, but School proved too good, and the game ended: High School 9, Waimate 0. Mr. M'Rae was referee.

KAPONGA DEFEAT HAWERA. The competitions in the southern division advanced another stage on Saturday, when, at Hawera, Kaponga defeated the local team by 11 points to nil. TR the first spell, M. Daily scored a try, and W Baily kicked a penalty goal. In the second spell, M. Baily scored another try, which he converted. Mr- Cleaver was referee. The match was late in starting, due to the late arrival of some members of the home team- Kaponga are leading in the competition, so far having played four matches, stoning , three and drawing in th*