FOOTBALL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1902, 11 June 1889, Page 3

FOO TBALL.

ASHBURTON-KAKAIA (RED) F. WAIHI (Tlll-GOLOR). This match was played in the Geraldine Domain on Saturday last. The visitors, who arrived by the express train, were driven over by a special coach from Messrs .1. Mundell and Co.’s to Geraldine, where they were treated ! to dinner by the local men. The weather was all that could be wished for football, but rather cold for the spectators, of whom there were a good number on the ground, including some dozen, ladies. The visitors were captained by J. Fooks, and unfortunately for themselves their back division was very much weakened by having to leave behind some four of their best men, and playing others in their place. It als® made the play very uninteresting, as the Waihi team had it all their own way, their goal line never being really in danger. The visitors played a plucky game all throughout, but were clearly overmatched. In spite of the odds against which they fought they showed a very commendable spirit in the way they submitted without demur to the decisions of the umpires and referee. It is one thing for a team to be good-tempered while playing a winning game, and another thing to do so while being badly beaten. In the forward division of the Ashburton men Fooks worked like a giant all through, but his efforts were to a great extent thrown away by his not being well backed up by bis side. Time after time he got away with a splendid dribble, but being so poorly seconded the ball was easily taken from him, whereas a good rush of forwards would hare told a different tale. There was a great want of confidence too, between the forward and back division, the former appearing to have little or no confidence in the latter and giving them very little chance to make the game open. This began to wear off towards the close of the match. The back division seemed completely nonplussed by the splendid dribbling rushes and fast following up of the Waihi forwards, and appeared to have very little idea how to stop a dribble. Playing a winning game, and on their own ground, the Waihi men were in great heart, and apparently in very fair form every man seemed to play up well. No doubt they would have increased the score still more had they taken care to feed their splendid three-quarter-back, A. Shallard, who was playing a brilliant game. Both teams received, or ought to have received, an excellent lesson in scrummaging. The Waihi skipper (T. L. Harte) on one occasion while a scrum was being formed—took some of his men who bad taken up a poor position and placed them as a scrum should be formed, with the result that on that occasion at least they walked completely through their opponents. The game was played in two of 45 minutes each, and F, Shallard kicked off for Waihi. The game was altogether in the hands of the Waihi team from beginning to end, Pressure on our space prevents us from giving a detailed account of it, further than to say that it resulted in Waihi winning by 7 goals and 7 tries—2B points—to nil. For Ashburton Books, as forward, was by far the best. Jameson, Bruce, and Hugoning also played well. For Waihi, T. Hart, Fitzgerald, W. Stewart, F. Shallard, McLeod (2), and A, Shallard played a sterling game. The last mentioned played a brilliant game, his kicking, running, and general all round play being much admired. He will doubtless be beard of when the S.C. Eugby Union team is picked. Messrs H. Smith and Dickson umpired for Waihi and the visitors respectively, while Mr J. L. Flint carried the referee’s whistle. The visitors returned home by the express. Hugoning, one of the visitors, got his ankle sprained in the beginning of the game, and had to re: tir®. The following are the name* of the team ohoien to represent Temuka against Timaru on Thursday next at Timaru: G. Yehin, D. Stewart, J. Austin, J. Findlay, W. MoCallum, Carr, Dyson, A. Stewart, Hope, Lavery (2), Black, W. Hobb', Fi’zgerald, Gaffaney; emergenciee, Smith, Thomson. A drag will leave the Grown Hotel at 1 o'clock sharp.