FOOTBALL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 159, 19 August 1892, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

I-lELENSYILLE v. KOPURU. The p.s. Osprey with the Helensville footballers arrived at Kopuru on Saturday morning. There were about eighty people in all on rd -and the steamerj proceeded

on to Mangawhare, calling in at Aratapu to drop, a few passengers. The match having been fixed for the Mangawhare ground the visiting team went on in the Osprey. Soon after noon the s.s. Kopuru left Tatarariki and called in at Te Kopuru where a full complement of passengers awaited her. Word was sent to Mr Harrison to put on another steamer and by so doing the crowd that was waiting on the Aratapu wharf were accommodated. About 450 persons, including several ladies, were on the football ground which was in good order after the fine weather. Mr F. Rutland was appointed referee and Messrs Donovan and Joseph Molloy the respective captains tossed for choice of goals. The latter won and Kopuru played with the advantage of a good breeze behind them. J. Stewart kicked off for Helensville and Nelson returned to W. Me Manus who allowed Matthews to take the ball from him ; it was rushed over the line and Flavell scored a try which Matthews converted. Stewart kicked off aud Elliott returned to C. McManus who failed to mark. The first scrum took place in Helensville’s 25 and the visitors carried it, Lowrie kicking out in defence, J. Stewart followed up well and Helensville were given a free kick for off-side play. A man in front and ball was brought back for scrum. Kopuru knocked on from throw in and scrum was formed in Helensville’s 15. J. Stewart and Kay took ball along and Kopuru were given a free kick Helensville laying on the ball' Roland spoiled Matthews’ kick and C. McManus rushed ball down to Johnston who returned well. Elliott marked on his 25 and scrum was formed for man in front. Ryan off-side gave Kopuru a free kick at half distance and Matthews took a place which Helensville spoiled. J. Stewart started off a fine dribble and took hall to full-back whom he fell over, Ryan dribbled on over line and Absolum forced at bis toes. Nelson returned smartly from C. McManus’ rush and after a scrum for Kopuru’s knock on and a free kick for same teams’ off-side play the ball was carried to near the visitor’s Hue where it was passed to C. Molloy and on to Matthews who scored a try near the goal post and then converted it. Kopuru 10. Scrums and free kicks followed, C. Molloy charged down the full back’s return and, assisted by Keegan, forced hall over the line and scored. Matthews converted by a good kick, Kop - uru 15. Johnston returned the kick off well to half way but J. Stewart and Hogan rushed it out ten yards from Kopuru line. Poland marked a knock on from throw in but it was not allowed and Kopurn cleared their lines. C. Molloy picking up well close to line ran in and added two more to score. Matthews’ kick was a had one, Kopuru 17. This was the end of Kopuru’s scoring and the rest of the spell passed without excitement. Donovan got on a run but Elliott put him out. Poland showed the spectators how to form a double scrum and gained his point by ocular demonstration without lingo. In the second spell the only score was a try which Walker scored for Helensville, from some loose scrummaging near the goal post, and which Robinson converted making the scores Kopuru 17, Helenvsille 5, at which they stood when time was called. The Helensville players were : —Fullback, Smithers ; three-quarters, Donovan, Robinson, W. McManus; halves, F. Stewart, C. McManus, Tate; forwards, Walker, Sirncook, Rawson, Kay, Hogan, J. Poland, Evan and J. Stewart. The Kopuru team were—J. Johnston, J. F. Smith. T. Elliott, H. Absolum. Nelson, Lowrie, Tidmarsh, Molloy (3), Ross, Keegan, Flavell, Bleakley and C. Matthews. J. Stewart was the pick of the Helensville forwards ; dribbling and following up being his strongest points. J Poland was a giant in the scrums and his weight was also felt in the open. He shoulders very low when running and shakes tacklers very severely. Fending would be prettier and less dangerous. This player’s head came in concussion with Tidmarsh’s crust and he was placed hors de combat, but recovered soon after he got his drink. F. Walker played a good consistent forward game and though not tall was often successful at the line out. J. Ryan was very useful at times as also was Simcock. Robinson was the pick of the visitors’ backs his returns were very good and his other play not had. F. Stewart kicked well and should have been fed better. 0. McManus followed up well and was good in the attack. Altogether the Helensville hacks were weak and repeatedly mulled the ball. Donovan had two good opportunities of trying his speed but could not take the pass. J. Johnston played a good game at full for Kopuru, all his work was well done except when he allowed Ryan to dribble over. The attack upon him, however, was neither fast nor combined. T. Elliott collared well and was clean in his handling and returns. Nelson, Lowrie and Tidmarsh worked hard and nullified many a Helensville attack. C. Molloy was on Saturday more conspicuous than his younger brother, but both played honest games throughout,

C. Matthews’ place-kicking was good. There were only two difficult kicks one of which he converted and the other he badly missed. His forward play was good at the start but he did not last well. J. F. Smith made one good run and passed well to Tidmarsh when he could get no further. The game as a whole was a poor exhibition of skill. Our notes record no less than nine tree kicks given for Kopuru off side play 7, and four for Helensville off side or holding ball. Seven scrums for knocking on, mostly done by Kopuru, seven for crooked throwing and fifteen other serums. These and the taking of seven kicks after marks made the game slow and uninteresting for spectators, In addition to this the game was stopped once by the ball getting into the river, and on throe occasions to look after the wounded. Tidmarsh, Poland, Matthews aud Absolum were each laid out. The latter was unable to return to the field, but we are glad to learn since that he is not seriously hurt. The second spell lasted an hour owing to the frequent stoppages, SCHOOLBOYS MATCH. The Helensville Schoolboys came up with the Seniors to play the Kopuru School assisted by some from Aratapu, and the match wasplay 7 edat Mangawhare; the first spell was played whilst the Seniors were at it and the second spell afterwards. The visiting boys were badly beaten about 16 points to nil, butit is only fair to say 7 that their team was not fully representative of their school, and also that amongst the local team were some boys not attending school, such for instance as R. Landrum, B. Mcllroy and others. We only saw a portion of the second spell but noted that H. Lowrie played a fine game hack and Osborne George made the best run we have seen for a long time. He passed all his opponents from his own 25 aud was only 7 collared from behind when within a couple yards of scoring. After the matches the Mangawhare wharf presented a busy appearance ; the steamers Osprey, Kopuru and Zephyr all being in waiting to convey their passengers down river. The Helensville Brass Band accompanied the visitors and they with the assistance of the Kopuru and Aratapu bandsmen afforded plenty of music throughout the dav. Mr Hunter of the Artillery Band and Mr Dormer, formerly of the Northern Wairoa Band, were also present and assisted. The ‘ Auckland Star ’ says :—“The Northern Wairoa Union are very anxious that an Auckland team should pay thorn a visit this season, so that they may get an insight of the finer points of the game, and as the Epsom ground will be used by the Trotting Club on September 24th, the Rugby Union have decided to make use of the off-day by sending the Auckland reps to Wairoa.” “ It is the intention of the Opanake and Maropiu players, next season to form a strong Club with all players from Kaihu to the Bluff, to be called the Kaihu Valley Club, and to play a Senior and Junior team. If this Club be formed on the lines at present suggested, a very strong team will contest with Aratapu and Kopuru next season, and it is very probable that the banner may yet be seen proudly wavintr from Engineer McDowell’s big engine on its way up the line So writes a friend from Opanake. Auckland 2S and Tauranga 12 was the result of Saturday s contest between those two districts. In the Auckland-Waikato match the City representatives were not a first-class lot; they however, had the best of the game and won their match by two points, the scores being 12 and 10. Those here who know the Auckland players consider that the same combination would not be equal to a contest with the Wairoa reps. W. Hammond who kicked the two goals for Waikato played with Aratapu a few years ago. The Kopuru and Albertland Clubs meet tomorrow afternoon at Port Albert, when a close game may be expected. Several Kopuru players are unable to make the trip and the back division will scarcely be a representative one. The Kopuru team will be picked from J. Davern, Holford, Johnston (2) Elliott, Tidmarsh, Nolan Little, Legge (2), Molloy (3), Keegan, Cunningham, Flavell,’ Ross, and Matthews. The Albertlanders have asked the Aratapu Club to play them at Aratapu on Saturday. September 3rd, and the local Club has accepted the offer. The Natives on the .arapohue side have de * cided to send a team to Waima before the season closes. It is their intention to pick 45 men (three teams) from their Parera settlement to practice one against the other for a few weeks and then to pick a fifteen from the whole to do battle with Waima. Puhipi, a fast man of the Maropiu team ■ belongs to the settlement. A member of one of the river clubs feels agrieved because it has been stated that he took money to lose a match and he talks of bringing an action for damages. Tlie Pahi Football Club has been asked to arrange a match with a second Aratapu team for tomorrow week at Pahi, and the juniors are in high glee in anticipation. Mr W. J. Bassett has volunteered to see the members of the Aratapu Senior team and hopes to be able to get each player’s consent to visit Waima,