FOOTBALL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 199, 26 May 1893, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

On Saturday lust the Kopuru and Aratapu Clubs journeyed up river to meet their on gagements. The s. s. Tangihua, under charter to the W. R. U., left Tatarariki punctual to time and calling at each settlement soon had a fuli complement of passengers, including several ladies. She arrived at Mangawhare about two o’clock and having landed the Aratapu team proceeded ou to Dargaville with the Kopuru players. KOPURU V. DARGAVILLE. This game was played on the Dargaville ground, and the home team strengthened by some players from Maropiu made a very' good stand, Mr J. O’Neill was the referee and gave general satisfaction. Only one spell of half an horn had been played when the train came along and the Maropiu players left the field, and the Dargaville team gave up the game. No tries were scored on either side but A. Johnston potted a fine goal for Kopuru, and 0. Matthews, for the same side, kicked a goal from a penalty' kick allowed for off-side play. Kopuru thus won the game by 7 points to nil. ARATAPU V. MANGAWHARE. This game was played at Mangawhare and resulted in a go-as-you-please for the old Club. Mr E Bassett was Referee. The Mangawhare team had not previously played together, and will improve with practice ; they were rather too youthful in years as a whole to be expected to stand well against last year’s champions. They hung well to

the game right through, and at times got in some good attacks ; the two Hopes, Harkness and Cook were the most conspicuous of them. Aratapu were well represented but did not show any really good play till late in the game when some good passes were made. The first spell closed with the score at 22 points to nil ; and during the second spell the scores were just doubled, standing at the end of the game at 41 points to nil. Of the old players, Morrison, Woollam, and Butland were the most useful, and of the new members T Main and F. Barker showed up well. The scores were made by' Keane 3 tries, Morrison 3, Main 2, Woollams 2, Bonella, Barker, Lendrum, Harrison, Smith and Butland one each. Woollams converted three into goals and Bonella one. The place kicking was not good, Woollams failed six times in nine attempts and of the sixteen tries only four were converted.

The point of interest to-morrow afternoon will he the Aratapu II v. Kopuru II football match. These teams meet in Mr Webb’s paddock to play the first of the Junior Challenge Cup contests of this season. The Kopuru Juniors are the champions of last season and expect to hold their own against all comer’s this year. On the other hand the Aratapu Juniors are a much better looking lot than they were last season and fully expect to have a vood say in the Championship of 1893. The teams are as follows : Kopuru lI—J. Davern, fullback ; O'Brien, A. Johnston, and J. Johnston, three, quarters ; W. Smith, J. Nolan, and W. Lowrie, halves ; Hockey, P. Matthews, Leabourne, T. Smith, Cox, Bartley, 11. Fowler and J. Mcllroy', forwards. Stewart Foreman, McDermott and Sullivan, emergencies. Aratapu IT, —J. Brown, fullback ; Jamieson, Corliill aud F. Walker, three-quarters ; Lendrum, Main and Lindsay, halves; J. O’Neill, 33. Harrison, W. Newman, Warrniegton. G. Elliott, E. Barker, D. Lee and S. Barker, forwards. Emergencies, C. and W. Nield and A. Phelan. A charge of sixpence will be made at the gates, and as the teams are well matched and the game is attracting a good deal of interest the funds of the Union should bo substantially benefited. At a meeting of t he Wairoa Rugby Union, held at Dargaville ou Saturday, it was decided that any Junior playing twice as a Senior in any' one season in Cup matches shall be classified as a Senior for that season. The Clubs’ lists of members were gone through aud the following were classed as Seniors in the three Clubs running two teams : —Messrs Hammond, Vealo, Kitching (2), A. and J. Smith, Woollam, Morrison, Butland, E. Bassett, Bonella, T. Keane, Morgan, G. Nield, Cunningham, Elavell, C. Alcocfe, F., J. and C. Molloy, Ross, J. Johnston, Legge, H. Lowrie, E. and W. Phelan, T. Elliott, Holford, C. Matthews, Nelson, Tid marsh, Keegan, Neil, Short, Rhodes (2), Campbell (2), J. Thompson, Kemp (2), Ngakura, Puhipi, Pennie, Parore, Panapa, and Blewden. Mr A. E. Harding has forwarded a subscription of one guinea to tho Union. Mr H. Hammond has sent the Union a donation of half a guinea. A Ilokianga Rugby Union has been formed and its application for affiliation with the Auckland Rugby Union has been granted. The City-Paruell match attracted much interest in Auckland on Saturday. A game struggle was fought out between last year’s Champions and the City' and the latter triumphed by' 0 points to 5. The SuburbsNewton game was won by' the former by 13 points to 9. WAIROA RUGBY UNION. Cup Matches, 1893. May 27th —Aratapull-Kopurull at Aratapu June ,3rd —Maugawhare-Dargaville at Man - wliare. Avatapu-Kopuru at Aratapu. ~ 10th—Aratapu 11-Dargaville II at Dargaville. ~ 17th—Arataj u-Dargaville at Aratapu. Mangawhare-Kopuru at Aratapu. ~ 24th—Kopuru 11-Dargaville II at Dargaville.