FOOTBALL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2182, 31 March 1891, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WAIHI FIRST Y. LEESTON FIRST.

Tha above game was played on the Wiochester footbill ground yesterday, and resulted in a win for Ihe home team by eight points to om. The visitors arrived by the alow train from Chrislohurcb, and returned by the express. Thers were a good many onlookers present. The day was exceedingly warm—more like midsummer—and the players felt ihe het very much, [n spile of this, and of the fact that the game was one of the first of the season for both the teams, the play was made fairly fasl. Mr H. E. Smith umpired for the local team and Mr W. Durant for the visitors. Mr W. Mendelson carried the referee's whislle. The game was played in the very best of spirits. The men having full confidence in the ability and integrity of the officials, there was an absence of ihe unseemly wrangling which too often mars a game of football. The mutch was played in two spells if 40 minutes each. The visitors were decidedly overmatched. The backs played a very good game under the circumstances—pisung and taking Ihe ball well—but their forwards were unable to hold th'ir own in the scrums, and Ucksd combination in the open, with the result that ttie backs were smothered. They fought hard, however, to stave rff defeat. The victors had a more poworful forward team, and batter combination among them, their weakness being in their backs, one or two of whom wore decidedly ont of form, la passing they were very deficient. A point of considerable interest to footballers cropped up during the match. A. Stewart, for Waihi, secured a try, and after touchiog the ball down lifted it about a foot off the ground, and then put it down Again. The Leeston skipper c'aimed that by putting it down the second time Stewart made the ball dead, and had forfeited his right to a kick at goal, on the ground that the rule provides that a player shall taks up the ball, bring it out, and place it for one of his side to kick, but makes no allowance for bis putting it down after once picking it up. The Leeston umpire and the referee allowed the appeal, and awarded the try only. The Waihi captain gave notice of appeal to the S.C. Rugby Union on the disputed point. The incident is one that frequently occurs at football matches, and ilie decision of the Rugby Union on its legality or otherwise will be looked for with interest. At the con* elusion of the match the visitors were entertained at the Winchester Hotel, where Host Mcintosh bad preperad a capital spread, which was done ample justice to.