FOOTBALL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 147, 27 May 1892, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

The Kopuru F. C. Seconds journeyed up to Mangawhare last Saturday to meet the Msiropiu Seconds. Just before the steamer left Kopuru a telegram was received from the Maropiu Secretary stating that the club would not be able to place a team in the field as the notice received was too short. The Kopuru team, however, went up to Mangawhare where they kicked off the ball; and they now claim to have won the match by default. The Maropiu Club claim that the notice given them of the match was altogether insufficient as it was only received by them on the day previous to the match. The dispute will, we suppose,have to be settled by the Union. As the Maropiu game was not to be had the Kopuru Seconds played a scratch team picked on the ground and acquitted themselves very well. The team were- —A. Johnson, full; J.Sullivan, White, Draff in, threequarters; H. Lowrie, Nolan, Tidmarsh, halves; J Johnson, Ross.G Stewart, J. O’Neil, H. Alcock, Bright, P. Matthews and J. Mcllroy, forwards. Tidmarsh, Lowrie and Draffin are well spoken of, as also are the two Dargaville players who helped to makeup the opposing team. Absolum played a good game and is described as a stinger.

An old and energetic member of the Aratapu Club writes “ I am sorry to hear that there has been a split in the A.F.C. I think it is too bad for any of the players to go against their old club after the way they were all treated. Will Aratapu he short handed now ? If so there are several good players in that would be only too glad for a trip up the country, and would play for Aratapu if needed. If you will let me know I will send you their names to put through the Union.” The A.F.C. committee very much appreciate the fine feeling displayed in the offer of their old comrade but have declined the proffered assistance. They are determined that the Club shall win the banner on its own merit, which they believe it can do, but if this should not be the case they will be willing to take a second or even third place and look back with pride on the good fight they made in the midst of adverse circumstances.

The Aratapu players had a good practice on Webb’s ground last Saturday. Morgan did not turn up so Fourteen played the rest of the members present (23) The Fourteen made a big score but they had to work for it from start to finish. Nine out of the Fourteen managed to secure tries and a score of 30 points was put together. For the Juniors Lionel Kitching and Lendrum each scored a try. M, Herrold of the Suburbs F. C. had a little practice with the Aratapu boys on Saturday. The Kopuru and Aratapu Seniors again journey up river on Saturday in the s.s. Kopuru. This time Aratapu is to meet Maropiu on the Mangawhare ground and Kopuru plays Dargaville on Mr Moros’ ground. The Wairoa Rugby Union announce that a charge of sixpence will be made for admission to all matches played under their direction throughout the season. We see no ob - jection to this, but think that when a charge is made for leaking on at a match, the Union should sou that some order prevails. At the

Kopuru-Maropiu match the fence which ha 1 been erected at considerable expense, wa« quite useless : no one was appointed to attend to the spectators and the ground was rushed. It might be as well for the referee to blew the whistle and give the thirty players an opportunity of clearing the field by a combined forward rush when spectators offend. The team chosen to represent .Aratapu against Maropiu tomorrow are :— Lio. Kitehing, J. Morrison, Butland, Moses, W. Phelan A. Morgan, A. Smith, E. Bassett, Bonella, Keane, Len Kitching, Yeale, J. E. Elliott, G. Nield and Woollam, with R. Masefield and Paki as emergencies. The Auckland Rugby Union matches lalt Saturday resulted as follows:—City beat Suburbs 6 points to nil; Parnell defeated Grafton 12 points to 6; and Newton put North Shore down 22 points to nil. The players chosen to represent Kopuru against Dargaville tomorrow afternoon are: —W. Holford, J. F. Smith, T. Elliott, A. W. Legge, Tidmarsh, Nelson, Lowrie, C. Matthews, Bleakley, Ross, Keegan, Flavell, J, Molloy, C. Molloy and P. Molloy.