FOOTBALL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 201, 9 June 1893, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The weather on Saturday last was anything but pleasant for out-door sports, and the football paddocks were very soft and damp ; the kickists, however, were fortunate in that the rain held off during the afternoon though the sun remained hidden. About 250 people attended the Aratapu-Kopuru match at Aratapu, and were kept waiting till nearly half past three for kick off. Kopuru won the toss and elected to play down hill and with the wind on Jthe quarter. Mr J. O’Neill was chosen referee and he worked bard and well. Butlaud kicked off for Aratapu and the ball was returned. Hitching rushed ball to Kopuru 25 and Elliott and jLegge took it back. Aratapu carried the scrum to Davern who relieved. Play was close on red and blacks’ line when Lowrie spoilt a good show by passing forward. From scrum Butland and A. Smith relieved Aratapu. C. Molloy came through the scrum with ball and A. Johnston kicked well. Nelson followed up well and was good at throwing the ball in during the first spell. Aratapu were often hard pressed but when danger became managed to clear their lines, Kopuru were given a free kick in a good position but the ball fell short and Butland marked neatly. The play in the first spell was very eves and neither side scored. The players were very noisy and incessantly interfered with the referee, who, apparently, heeded not the clamours, though at times, we thought, he was somewhat misled by them. The second spell had not long started before F. Molloy from a loose scrum near the corner post secured a try for Kopuru, which the kick at goal did not convert. A spell of varying play followed, the ball beiuglcept principally among the forwards; the marones would carry the hall down and the reds would rush it back. A. Johnston took a long pot which fell about two feet short, but the referee allowed a goal and the game stood 6 to nil. Hitching and others played hard to equalise matters and Kopuru responded with the best bit ®f play for the day ; Phelan and O’Brien by a bit of passing secured Lowrie a good show and he ran in near the corner post befote he was tackled. No goal resulted. A few more minutes hard and even grafting and Hitching rushed ball to marone’s quarter and passed to Butland who when close on line in front of goal potted and missed. The game ended on the Kopuru line with the scores Kopuru 8, Aratapu nil, T. Elliott and A. Johnston were the pick of the Kopuru team, the former is a genuine hard and clever worker and the latter picked up cleanly and kicked beautifully. The Kopuru halves were not conspicuous except perhaps that two of them were quiet useful players, whilst W. Smith reminded one of a captain in a storm ; he has a splendid voice. More work and less talk is about the best advice we can give him. Of the maroon forwards C. Molloy was the first through the scrums but was caught offside twice. Nelson was good in following up and Legge was conspicuous at times. Poland’s weight was felt in the scrums and the line out. He should know that he has no business to rush over the 25 line at

kick out, nor rush a player taking a free kick before he offers to kick, or commences to run. A. Smith made a good fullback for Aratapu, he was safe though a little slow at times. Hammond and Morrison were both weak on Saturday, neither of them came up to F. Walker’s fcrm in the Junior match. Len Hitching was in good trim and was as brilliant as any on the field. Butland played an excellent game but we have seen him in better form. Flavell’s weight was felt in the scrums, but he flagged towards the end of first spell. Woollam and Lee were as good as any in the red and black forwards. Some of the others worked well and the Aratapu rushes were mostly the work of the forwards. In the Kopuru rushes the backs were often prominent. Taken altogether Saturday’s game was a good deal short of last season’s form, and was an exhibition of hard work more than fine work. JJJ Rule 7 says " A player can be off-side in his opponents’ in-goal. Mr G. H. Dixon, Secretary of the Auckland Rugby Union, writing to the Secretary of the Wairea R. U. says :—“ That until we have more definite knowledge as to what our engagements for the season will be we cannot very well fix a date for the match v. Wairoa. We are desirions, if possible,of arranging for your visit just prior to the match to be played in A uckland by the N. Z. R. Union team upon their return from A ustralia, so that our Match Committee may have an opportunity of j adging the form of your men. I will communicate with you immediately w* are able to make any definite suggestion re date.” To-morrow afternoon’s fixture is Aratapu II v. Dargaville II to be played on the Dargaville ground. The steamer will leave Tatarariki at 12.30 to-morrow to convey' players and friends up river. 4. friendly and interesting game is looked for. The following are the teams chosen : Aratapu II: McKenzie ; Lendrum, F. H. Walker, Jamieson; Lindsay, F. C. Walker, Masefield; O’Neill, Warmington, E. Harrison, Hey wood, Newman, S. Barker, A. Phelan, and G. Elliott, Emergencies: Backs, Brown, C. Nield and Corkill; forwards, W. Harrison, A. Stallworthy and W. Nield. Dargayille II: Fitzgerald, J. Hunter, A. Moros, Anderson, Wilson, Blewden, Lockwood, Thompson, Hawkins, A. Yail, Gollop, Dyer, Lennerd, Atkins, and G. Moros. Emergencies: McCarthy, McDoeald, Boxer, and Keripi Kene. A meeting of the Wairoa Rugby Union is to be held at Aratapu on Wednesday next to consider the claim of the Dargaville F. C. to a win over Mangawhare F. C., and a protest from the latter Club; also to arrange furcher fixtures etc. The game between the two up-river Clubs did not come off last Saturday. The Dargaville team kicked off and claimed a win by default. As tho matter is to come before the Union for settlement we refrain from making any remarks upon the proceedings. Last Saturday in Auckland Ponsenby defeated Suburbs by ‘2 points, and Grafton made a draw with City, both rosults a little unexpected.