FOOTBALL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 153, 8 July 1892, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

There were no Union fixtures last Saturday and the day being very wet it was a quiet afternoon. It was the day originally appointed for the Kopuru-Maropiu' Seconds match but as the latter Club have decided not to put a second team in the field it was a day off for all Clubs. Mr N. Moros, however, was by the flood and he brought his team of Dargaville lads down in the steamer to play the Aratapu boys on the latter ground. Several football enthusiasts went down to see the game which was well fought out and pronounced by some to be as good fun as a Senior game. All players were to be aged fifteen or under but some of those originally picked did not turn up and the home team considered some of their opponents a trifle aged so picked in R. Hammond. Dargaville still seemed to have the advantage of weight but they were evidently net so well practised. Messrs W. Phelan and Absolum acted as umpires and Mr A. W. Jones as referee. No score was made by the Dargaville team *vho were thoroughly overmatched, but the Aratapu boys put together a score of 20 points ; R. Lendrum secured three tries, and R. Hammond, A. Stallworthy, P. Nield, and E. Scott one each, and H. Corltill converted two into goals making the score as abfflve, Lendrum was the pick of the home backs though H. Smith played a fine game at half and Corkill (fullback) was all there when wanted; several of the forwards played a good game. W. Stansfield was the man of the Dargaville team but we don’t know what bis rna would say when she saw the way he was stripped. He made a splendid run nearly the length of the field and deserved to get in but Corkill would not let him. Moros also worked very hard but was unable to overcome his opponents’ defence. The youngsters enjoyed the game immensely and are determined on another tomorrow.

Tommorrow’s Cup fixtures are to be played up-river and both the Aratapu and Kopuru teams will journey up in the s.s. Kopuru. The steamer will leave Tatarariki in time to be at Aratapu before one aud no delay will take place so that intending passengers had better be in time. Aratapu is to yffay Maropiu at Mangawhare and Kopuru meets Dargaville on Mr Moros’ ground. The Aratapu Seniors are —Lionel Kitching Morrison, Butland, A. Smith, Alf. Keane, Morgan, and Leu Kitching, hacks, and Bassett, Bonella, T. Keane, Veale, E. Phelan, Woollams, G. Nield and J. Elliott, forwards. The Kopuru team has not been supplied us but we presume they will be somewhat as fallows —Holford, J. Smith, T. Elliott, Legge, Tidmarsh, Lowrie, Nelson, Molloys (2), Keegan, Matthews, Cunningham, Bleakley Ross, and Flavell. The Aratapu and Dargaville boys will play on the Mangawhare race course and the following, all fifteen years or under, have been picked to represent Aratapu ; —Corkill, R. Lendrum, W. Lowrie, H. Phelan, E. Lowrie B, Lowrie, Stallworthy, E. and G. Scott, McCowan, Rowland, Mills, Gening, and G. Lendrum. Emergencies, Chadwick, and Day. Saturday, July 16th, is the date of the second Aratapu-Kopuru Seconds fixture aud no donbt the match which is to be played on the Aratapu ground will awaken a good deal

of interest. Kopuru has one win to its credit and a win or draw on this occasion gives them the caps, whereas an Aratapu win will mean the arrangement of a third match. Our contemporary last week said “ Short ran clean through the Aratapu backs,” both Kitchings were among the scorers, and also that Kopuru aud Ararapu Juuiors were to play last Saturday. All incorrect. Last Saturday’s matches in connection with the Auckland Rugby Union resulted as follows : —Parnell defeated Suburbs 9 points to 4: but a protest has been lodged by the latter; the City-Ponsonby match was a draw both sides scoring 7 points ; Grafton scored 14 points against North Shore’s 0.