FOOTBALL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 156, 29 July 1892, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

WAIROA RUGBY UNION. A meeting of delegates to the Wairoa Rugby Union was held on Monday evening at the Aratapu hotel, Mr O’Connor, President, in the Chair. The delegates present were Messrs F. Ross, G. Davidson, A. W. Legge, E. Bassett, Bonella, Butland, and T. Nield. It was resolved that the whole expenses of the Auckland referee in the Aratapu—Kopuru match be borne by the Union and that the thanks of the meeting be sent to the Auckland Rugby Union for their promptness in sending such an efficient referee. It was resolved that a Probables v. Possibles match be played on Saturday (tomorrow) at Aratapu and that the Selection Committee be requested to pick teams. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Auckland Union informing them that a Saturday would be the most suitable day for a match here. Some discussion then took place as to where the Acukland—Wairoa match should be played and it was decided to play it on the Aratapu ground. The Aratapu football team is being entertained this evening at a dinner in the Rotunda Rink by a few admiring friends. The Selection Committee have picked the following teams for representative practice tomorrow afternoon — Probables—A. Smith, full-back ; Morrison, Butland and J. F. Smith, threequarters ; Len Kitching, Lowrie and Absolom halves; Bassett, Veale, C. Matthews, F. Molloy, Keegan, Woollam, T. Keane and F. Ross, forwards. Possibles Lionel Kitching, fullback ; Hammond, Pohi and Elliott, threequarters ; Jamieson, Morgan and Nelson, halves; Bonella, Tidmarsh. Elliott, Jos. Molloy, Bleakley, C. Molloy, Flavell, E. Phelan and Cunningham, forwards. Emergencies, A. Johnston, J. Johnston, G. Nield, R. Masefield and J. O’Neill. The Kopuru Helensville match is to he played on the Aratapu ground on Saturday, the 13th August and the Kopuru Cfinb have decided to entertain their visitors at a dinner and a social in the evening. The Waima- Aratapu match will be played on the 6th prox at Aratapu. The Waima footballers, who meet Aratapu on August Gth on the Aratapu ground, will play in navy blue jerseys with white bar across. In reply to the promised telegram ananour.cing the winning of the banner by the Aratapu Club, Mrs J. A. Walker , the donor, wired—“ Congratulate the boys for us. Very pleased at their win, especially after such a determined struggle.” KOPURU v. ARATAPU. The second meeting of these two Clubs which had been looked forward to with very great interest in all parts of the river cook place on Saturday on the Aratapu ground. The spectators numbered about tour hundred and were very much better behave! than usual. Mr T. Neill, sent up by the Auckland Rugby Union for the purpose, officiated as referee, assisted by line umpires, Messrs D. Stewart and A. E. Harding, and these arrangements gave general satisfaction to players and spectators alike. Kopuru won the toss and chose the windward position. Soon after the kick off Kitching secured the ball on Kopuru’s 25 and made a rush for the goal line getting within three yards of it before he was brought down by Smith. Tidmarsh relieved his goal by marking and the ball was rushed to Aratapu line where A. Smith saved by sending it into touch. Lowrie marked from a scrum about 00 yards from goal and Matthews took a place but Yeale rushed it down. Kopuru backs were a hit too slow in handling the ball and play was taken to Kopuru 25. Yeale smothered Elliott’s kick and rushed

over line securing first try, Holford not in terfering. Rutland's kick was a poor one. Aratapu 2. Kopuru were again in danger hut F. Molloy saved by a grand dribble to beyond half way. From throw in Tidmarsh got on a good rush to Aratapu 10 where Smith kicked out. Aratapu threw ball light in front of their own goal and A. Smith spoilt Kopuru rush by kicking into touch in rro’d. The first srwll ended without t-rffhor ■ l is-uyuru 5 out F Molloy and Nelson relieved by a good rush, A. Smith returned and Lowrie kicked out three yards from goal line. The ball was well thrown in and Kitching forced it over the line and secured second try. The kick was a fairly easy one but Butland sent the ball a yard wide. Woollams came through the scrum and was falling on the hall for a good try when it was kicked out of the field. Phelan next dribbled the ball over the line and Morgan following up secured the third try for Aratapu. The kick was a long one and Kitching’s attempt though good was not successful. Aratapu 6. Holford spoiled a rush by marking well but was very weak at other times. Keane spoiled his return and a scrum was formed on goal line ; F. Molloy and T. Elliott relieved their line. From some loose kicking Kopuru rushed the ball ov ar the line and Bleakley and Morrison fell on it. Another red and black joined in and the referee at once gave it a try. The kick was taken by Matthews with poor result—Aratapu 6, Kopuru 2. It still wanted six minutes to time, but no further score was made. "We have no space to give fuller details of the play but as a whole we can say it showed improvement on past performances, especially in scrum work and lining out. Len Kitching played one ©f his best games and was quite a hero as we heard one sweet sixteen say “ Didn’t Len play a grand game, I could hug him.” Butland’s game was also a good one and most useful to his side. F. Molloy was the pick of the Kopuru forwards and H. Lowrie of the backs, both played really well. Many others played well and we might go on particularising each player, but we must reserve space for the Referee’s opinion of the teams. The game was a good and friendly one in spite of the horrible state of the ground and the spectators being much more subdued than usual added to the enjoyment. The Kopuru team missed Joe Molloy on Saturday and could well have spared others who were given a place before him. This is public opinion and ours. Holford was the weak spot of his team. Tidmarsh was a great help to his side but gave his opponents two free kicks. Nield played up well but his side was twice fined for his offside play. There being so many good forwards about such offside play is enough to bar anyone. Matthews and Lionel were not up to form, half back was new to the latter. In the hope that a few words from the Auckland referee might assist our players we sought a short interview from Mr Neill who courteously gave us all the information sought for. MR. T. NEILL says —The forwards are a good lot hut picked up teo much, and often over-ran the ball through being too eager. The following up especially of Aratapu, was very good. The taking of the ball from the throw in was very weak ; it was far too frequently knocked on, and when a player secured it he did not seem to know what to do with it beyond throwing it down a- his feet. There should be very much snore passing out from tho line. Aratapu beii 14 better than their opponents in the open should have made the scrums looser. Forwards kicked too hard when near line and in loose scrums. Both teams packed the scrums well and the dribbling was voiy good, but more especially on the Aratapu side. Altogether there was not much difference in the two forward teams and I was surprised to find such good forward play. The back play was not so good; the short passes are little or no good, and the backs do too much drop kicking instead of punting - . The latter is much quicker done and good backs seldom take a drop unless at goal. All the kicking on Saturday was done by the one foot and backs should cultivate the use of both feet, especially in punting. The tackling was very good but the passing not so, even for suoha wet ball. With an Auckland team the forwards would hold their own but the backs would not compare well. Knowledge of the game would give Auckland a great advantage over Wairoa. Players here show weakness in taking the ball and become more mixed up than in town. Tho game was much quieter than those played in town and the play by no means as rough. Bassett set his men a good example and was a good forward. Players talk much more in town and the game was about the quietest I was ever referee for. I cannot say much for the spectators, the ladies here seem to be the worst. Ladies attend the matches in Auckland but they say nothing. Mr Neill is still at Aratapu and will be present at the cemplimentary dinner to be given this evening to the Aratapu players by admirers. Mr J. A. Walker arrived from Helensville last night and will also be present.