FOOTBALL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 203, 23 June 1893, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

The weather on Saturday was favorable to our footballers and Wetb’s paddock was the scene cf two matches. The Mangawhare and Dargaville teams came down in a steamer chartered by the Union. "Very little interest was taken in the trip, outside of players, and only a few friends accompanied the teams, so that the Union was recouped very little more than half its charter price, About two hundred persons were present at the two matches. The KOPURU-MAN GAWHAEE match was a mere walk over for Kopuru who scored 49 points to their opponents 2. The winners played for a little practice in the passing game, and though the opposition was weak the Kopuru team showed that they were fast picking up this style of play. The Mangawhare representatives were very light and youthful, but kept well to their work to the end in spite of the array against them. Mr R. Hume again took his place in the field with Mangawhare, and showed that there was still some of the old blood in him. The Mangawhare try was got by J. Stehr, and the Kopuru tries by C. Molloy 8, F. Molloy 3, Phelan 2, Elliott 2, O’Brien 2, Matthews, Keegan and Poland one each. A, Johnston converted four and Boland one

of them, and Elliott added four points by a pot from the field. ARATAPU v. DARGAAULLE. This match was a little more interesting than the other and ended in a win for Aratapu by 10 points, or five tries, to nil. Four points were scored in the first spell and six in the second; Flavell and Morrison secured the first two tries and Bonclla secured the three in the second spell. AVi Netana was well to the front at times and looked like scoring more than once. Lionel Kitching was good at full-back and three times took the ball from the toes of several opponents and got cleverly awa.y. On each occasion his three-quarters failed to get behind him in case of mishap. The Dargaville backs showed hard and random kicking behind loose packs ; Blewden was an exception amd was decidedly the best of his division, though he holds the ball too long. G. Campbell did some clean and smart work but we have seen him play better. Thompson played a good forward game, and Boxer’s weight in a dribble was often useful but he takes rather long spells after exerting himself. Lion. Kitching and T. Main were the most consistent of the red arid black backs, and Yeale, AA r oollam, Keane and Barker, of the forwards. Bonelia proved himself of great-assistance, and as a loose forward is always a likely scorer. Mr J. O’Neill was the referee and gave satisfaction; his decisions were ready and firm, though not always correct. A referee should be sure of a point before allowing if. On Saturday Keane was adjudged offside when to ourselves and many spectators close to him he played correctly. Players are too ready t® appeal, and often do so wrongfully, and a referee must be wary of giving way to such outcries. Penalty kicks have been so frequent in recent matches that players have either degenerated or are being misjudged.

Appeals should be left to the captains of teams for often they are very foolishly made. AVhenarule is transgressed there need be no arvpeal, for it maybe an advantage to the opposite side not to do so. This was the ertse on Saturday two or three times; on one occasion AVi Netana got well away and would have reached close to his opponents’ goal hut some of his mates foolishly appealed for a pass forward by Aratapu and he had to come back. Jimmy Crowell, well known on the AVairoa as.a runner, and as one of the ol i Manga whare football club’s best forwards, is showing good form iii Sydney this season aud it is expected he will play against the New Zealand team. AV. Elliott, the Auckland crack threequarter, has been refused leave of absence by the Railway Department and will consequently be unable to assist the. New Zealand team in Australia. Shannon, of Marton, or Caradus, of Auckland, will probably take his place. It is unde stood that :h - necessary leave of absence has been obtained for “Tab” AVynyard, who is in the Government Insurance Department; and he will accompany the New Zealand Football Team to Australia. A few copies of the latest football rules can still be had from Mr Stallworthy at Aratapu, and we would advise players to secure them. Aratapu should pick a place kick and put him into hard practice ; it seems ridiculous for a team to enter a field without knowing who is their place kick. The Selection Committee were busy on Saturday watching players, and at the conclusion of the games picked teams for the Possibles-Probables match to be played at Mil n gawhare to - m arrow. The Kopuru II and Dargaville II teams meet on the latter’s ground to-morrow afternoon. The steamer will run up to the matches on Saturday and the usual charges will be made to steamer and grounds. AVe have not been supplied with the names of players chosen for the Probables and Pos - sibles match to-morrow, nor has the Secretary to the Union been informed of them, hence their non-appearance. AVAIROA RUGBY UNION. Cup Matches, 1593. June 24th—Kopuru 11-Dargaville II at Dargaville.