FOOTBALL.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 159, 20 July 1897, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

KiniKIHI V. OTOHOHANGA. Ox Saturday last the return match between the above clubs came off in th Kihikihi Domain. The Otorohanga boys, who must have had a cold and wet ride over, deserved a better reward for their pluck than to be beaten by 24 points to nii, which was the result of a hard and well-fought match. Both sides had their full teams, the Otorohanga boys heing a much heavier set. The ground being wet and sloppy was evidently more favourable to the light-weight players. Mr T. Wilton made a very efficient referee. The visitors were entertained at dinner at the Alpha Hotel, and a jolly night was afterward* spent. The Kihikihi Club, who have been successful in scorkg somewhere about seventy to a hundred points this season and have had not a singie poiDt scored against them, are seriously thinking of issuing a challenge to the winning team in the Waikato Union matches and meeting them on their own ground at Huntly or Hamilton as the case may be, the losing side to pay for a grand dinner.—(Own Correspondent). HAMILTON TEAM Y. ALL-COMEUS. The match Hamilton team v. allcomers, played on Sydney Square on Saturday afternoon, although looked upon as a foregone conclusion for the team, proved a very interesting and exciting game. The ground was dreadfully sloppy, and when the teams appeared on the ground the All-comers, who numbered 15 to their opponents' 12, did not look to have a 100 to 1 chance. Nevertheless the All-comers mainly composed of youngsters—made it very willing from the start, and pressed their opponents throughout the whole of the game, and went within an ase of a win. The smaller men naturally clieitcd the sympathy of the spectators and the team representatives were treated to a great deal of good-natured bantering. The All-comers were the first to score, Cockhead crossing the line about half-way through the first spell, which ended Allcomers 5, team 0. In the second half Len Evans scored, but the kick at »oal was unsuccessful, and left the Allcomers still two points to the good. Just at the close of the game Speight made a great run, and getting across the line thus pulled the game out of the fire by 6 points to 5. Th» youngsters appeared to be far more active in the mud, and were also cleverer in handling the wet ball. Some of them showed splendid form, and no doubt will replace three or four players in the Hamilton team in its next match. Moore and Young, were the pick of the forward, and doubtless one or both will rank amoDg the first fifteen in future. Sutton, on his play on Saturday, can not bo left out on any consideration, his game is a sound defensive one, and the Hamilton backs are undoubtedly weak in that department.

The Bamilton team made a wretched display, and instead of improving it appears to be gettinc worse. We do not always back form, but on present appearances Hnntly are the only ones in It for the " caps."

A meeting of the Waikato Rugby Union is called for Saturday evening next, at 7.30 p.m., for the purpose ot arranging the fixtures for the second round of matches.

The annual representative match, Thames v. Auckland, took plaae at Parawai on Saturday last, when the lhames fifteen defeated the opposing representatives for the first time by 9 points to 6—two tries and a penalty goal to two tries. The footballers of Cambridge West are requested to meet on Victoria Square, Cambridge, to-morrow afternoon to join in a practice match Possib'es v. Probables. We understand a match with the Kiiiikihi Club has been arranged, and the team will be chosen on the ground to-morrow afternoon.

On Saturday last the New Zealand footballers met and defeated a team representing Queensland at Brisbane by 16 points to 5. On the 31st inst. they again meet New South Wales for the final test match, when they are expected to reverse their last defeat at the hands of the Welshmen, if the match at Arniidale is abandoned in order to give them four or five clear days' rest. If this course is adopted we have little doubt that the New Zealanders will prove that with fair play they take a lot of beating. For many years we have heard it said that although the country teams possessed many good individual players, they never had an opportunity of qualifying for the " rep " matches in Auckland and elsewhere. This charge, however, can no longer be laid at the door of the Auckland Rugby Union, for a few weeks ago the Waikato Rugby Uniou was asked to combine with Franklin, in sending down a team to play Auckland, in order to give the men a chance of inclusion in the team for a Southern trip, and perhaps the honour of assisting the Auckland team which is to play the New Zealanders on their return from Australia. The Secretary, Mr H. Tristram, immediately communicated with the various clubs, and with what result ? That Te Awamutu has signified its willingness to fall in with the proposal, and the other teams have not even replied. Nevertheless we are sdad to see that the Auckland Union is determined to give several of our old Waikato players a show in spite of the apathy p*rt of the clubs, and many footbali*iß>usiasts will be pleased to hear that C. Speight, J. Gillett and T. Clarkin have been invited to attend the practice match to be held in the metropolis next Saturday. That the Waikato Clubs should show such lack of spirit seems unexplainablc, but we suppose they know their own business bett.