FOOTBALL.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 325, 9 August 1898, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

CAMBRIDGE V. HUNTLY. [bTl TACKLE LOW.] The Cambridge-Huntly fixture, played at Ngaruawahia on Saturday, afforded one of the biggest contests it has been my lot to witness in Waikato for some considerable time. Wretchedly cold weather prevailed, and naturally the crowd of spectators was not a large one. Mr Beck, of Auckland, was a great success with the whistle, but he experienced considerable trouble in keeping the field of play dear of excitable barrackers. The teams were composed as follows: —Huntly (maroon) : Fullback—W. Gleeson ; three-quarters—l 3. Housley, M. Gieeson and C. Lovell; five-eights - Jas. Clout; half Jno. Clout; wings- J. Han is and C. Attrell; forwards Bramble, Hall, Peckham, Skellern, Singer, L. Hadden and W. Smith. Cambridge (blue and white) : Full-back Stewart ; three-quarters— Carnachau, Anderson and Clarke : fiveeights—Evans ; half—McVeagh ; wings —Roberts and Cowling ; forwards— Armer, Mackerith, Jackson, Bailey, Montgomery, Care and Carnachan. Huntly kicked off, and taking advantage of the high wind which was blowing directly in their favour, made the game exceedingly willing from the start. Entering the blue and white territory they charged heavily for the line. Anderson got off a useful kick, punting the ball into.touch. At the throw-in Lovell raced from his position and, taking the ball nicely from the forwards, broke across the line, scoring Huntly's only try a couple of minutes after the commencement. Housley kicked well for goal, but did not convert. Huntly 3; Cambridge, 0. The play which followed was of a most exciting character. Harris and Attrell on the wing made the moat of their opportunities, and, but for the capital defence of McVeagh, must have scored. A strong attack by the Huntly forwards was cleverly repulsed by Anderson, but Cambridge immediately after were compelled to seek a force." Cambridge then rallied, and, notwithstanding the wind, got into their opponents' quarters, but off-side play by Roberts nullified their efforts, and Housley made a capiul kick at goal from the penalty awarded. Following up the advantage thus gained the Huntly forwards compelled their opponents to force twice in quick succession. The play once more centred in Cambridge ground, and Lovell broke through the line-out a second time, and again got home, but the ball was ordered back and a scrum given. Huutly heeled out and Lovell taking a nice pass, made a smart dash for the line ; but was thrown into touch-in-goal by Stewart. Cambridge were forced once mote before the conclusion of the spell, which ended without any alteration in the score. Huntly 3 Cambridge 0. Seeing that Cambridge made such a good fight of it against the etiff breeze, and working on an uphill grade at that, it looked odds ou that they would put up a decent score in the second 45 ; but the Hnntly backs here showed their quality. The first_ half had been devoted mainly to individual attempts to score, but they now appeared to recocnise that combination was their only chance aud acted accordingly. The spell opened evenly ; but it was not long before Cambridge crossed the border. W.i Gleeson, however, put the ball beyond scoring distance. Cambridge instituted another vigorous attack and got to the line, where Clarke obtained a mark in front of the bars. He preferred a drop kick instead of the usual place, which would have been safcer, and sent the ball a few inches wide of its mark. Cambridge continued to force the attack ; but though the forwards hovered round the line for some considered time, they were unable to eecure a prize. Huntly then obtained an opening, and the maroon forwards approached their opponents' line for the first time. This change did not last long, and Clarke getting away with the leather from a fine forward rush reached the line, where he was thrown into touch-in-goal. Cambridge once more assumed the attack, and a loose scrum occurred inside the Huntly 25. Clarke tock a neat pass from one of his forwards, and waiting his opportunity potied a beautiful goal from the field, putting his side a point to the good—Cambridge 4, Huntly 3. After a little loose play Roberts shot out with the ball at his toe and made the dribble of the day right through the Huntly men, and a try looked certain when one ot his men snapped up the ball offside and ruined the chance. From this out the play was fast and furious. The ball was kept bouncing along the Huntly line during the remainder of the game, but Cambridge could not score, and time being called left them victors by one point only. The most prominent men on the Cambridge side were Clarke, Anderson. Stewart and McVeagh among the backs, and Jackson and Mackerith in the forward ranks. L. Evans at five-eighths played a sound game, but his passing was somewhat erratic at times. For Huntly Gleeson at full and M. Gleeson and Lovell were the shining lights. The latter must have scored on more than one occasion had the ball been passed to him decently. Harris and Attrell were very noticeable on the wing, while Bramble was conspicuous in the pack. The result of this match puts Huutly out of the contest, and Cambridge gains a substantial lead ; but they have yet to reckon with the Hamilton men, who are determined to make a bitter fight of it. Saturday's match was an excellent contest and really deserves a fuller description, but the editor says space is short; he is obdurate, and as he is the referee in this game, I must yield as graciously as possible. lIAMILTON V. OIIAUPO. This match was won by Hamilton by default, only eight of the Ohaupo team putting in an appearance. A good practice was indulged in by those present. TE AWAMUTU V. PATERANGI. This match was played at Te Awamutu on Saturday. The weather was rather cold, a stiff breeze blowing from the South, which made it very unpleasant for the players who came at the appointed time aud had to wait the convenience of a prominent Te Awamutu player. It was too bad of him to let twenty-nine players wait for over half-an-hour. Mr C. Bowden acted as referee and gave general satisfaction, while Messrs Karl and McDonald took the line lor Paterangi and Te Awamutu respectively. Paterangi won the toss ar,i elected to play with the wind. The following represented Paterangi :—Fullback— S. C. Macky ; three-quarters-J. Ryburn (captain), Williams, R. Kay ; five-eighths L. Macky : half W. Scott; wings—G. Alleoek and A. Hall ; forwards-T. Allccck, Sing (2), H. May, F. Ryburn, W. Germann, N. Reid. Te Awamutu : Full-back—G. Cruickshank ; three-quarters-J. Cruickshank (captain), Bowden (2) ; five-eighths—Chapman ; halt —Jones ; wings—Bockett and Carley ; forwards—Corlett, Mandeno (2), Lewis (2), Is'orth, Runnier. The teams seemed evenly matched, but Tc Awamutu nearly always succeeded in the the first half Paterangi had the best of the game, the ball neing mostly in theTe Awamutu ground, the home team being compelled to force twice ; in the early part of the game both sides got a mark, but play seemed pretty even, when Geoff Bowden, by a good run, took the ball well up the field, where it remained for a short time sear the 25 flag, when the Paterangi backs and a good punt by Williams transferred the play to the other end. For infringing, Te Awamutu again got a free kick. Scrum followed scrum, the ball goiug back ;<nd forward, when G. AUcock started a good dribble for Paterangi, which came well into Te Awamutu's 25, when G. Bowden saved his

side by kicking out of bounds. Immediately after Paterangi a»ain got on a good rush, and brought the ball within a foot of the Te Awaimitu line, when a scrum was ordered five yards out. The home team rallied and gradually forced the oval to the centre of the field, from where it went into the home territory again and back to centre, where several scrums followed, when C. Macky, by a grand kick, sent the hall out at the corner flag. From the throw-in Te Awamutu got the ball and kicked out to save ; from the throw in the ball crossed the line and Te Awamutu forced. From the kick-out play centred for a time, when some smart passing by the Paterangi hacks brought the ball again to the Te Awamutu corner flag. Shortly after the whistle sounded half-time, neither sir'e having scored. The visitors had bad luck iu not scoring. During the second spell the home team livened up considerably, their play having more combination, while the passing of the backs was ab times very good and tended to keep the ball very often in the Faterangi territory. During the early part of this spell a hard kick by a Te Awamutu back enabled Paterangi to force. Paterangi from this out was often in danger, the captain saving by a long punt and C. Macky by a good run. Jones, the Te Awamutu half, here played a good game and added much to bring the leather near the Paterangi line, where it went over. From the throw-in, by some good play, the ball was passed to Geoff. Bowdeu, who scored the first try for Te Awamutu, amidst great applause ; the kick at goal was a failure. The ball now went into Te Awamutu territory, where the home team kicked out of bounds to save. Carley now got hold of the ball and made a grand run, and looked like scoring ; but was collared on the line and the ball went near centre field when, by a bit of bad play on the part of Paterangi, it was brought back. The visitors now rallied and drove the ball into Te Awamutu territory, where a mark was secured and a shot tried at goal without success ; Te Awamutu soon after forced. The bail now went np to the Paterangi line, where some sharp play ensued. The home team, supported well by their backs, made a strong effort to score ; but the visitors rallying, got a good rush on and carried the bull across the field, where a hard kick again enabled Te Awamutu to force. For offside play, Te Awamutu good a free kick, with no result, and the ball gradually went to centre, where Jones, by a good punt, sent it into Paterangi ground. Here for infringing by the visitors, the home team got another free kick near the line, from which H. Lewis kicked a beautiful goal. From the kick-out, even play resulted ; scrum followed scrum, the ball going up to the Paterangi line, where a try seemed to have been scored judging from the cheering of the barrackers.but therefree thought differently, Paterangi forced and the game soon after ended, Te Awamutu winning by 6 points to nil.—(A Paterangi Correspondent). KiniKIHI V. OTOROHANGA. On Saturday last the Kihikihi team went over to Otorohanga to try conclusions (the return match) with the Otorohanga Club, who had just a week previous defeated the To Awamutu Club by 12 points to nil. A hard and fast game was played, neither side having much advantage. The only score made was a try by Otorohanga, and as this was held by the Kihikihi men to be iu rr-ality a touch-in-goal, the decision of the referee was not generally accepted as final. , A protest has been lodged by Kihikihi, and as the corner flag was broken in the struggle for the try, there would seem to be every ground for the protest. WAII>A RUGBY UNION. A meeting of the Waipa Rugby Union was held in the Te Awamutu Hotel on Wednesday evening last. Delegates were present from the Te Awamutu, Paterangi and Kihikihi Clubs. The Otorohanga Club was not represented. Mr J. Ryburn presided. The Secretary of the Rotorua Union wrote asking if a Waipa team could visit Rotorua at an early date. After some discussion it was decided to send a reply stating that in all probability the Waipa Union would send a team to try conclusions with Rotorua about the second Saturday in September, a definite answer to be sent after the next Uniou meeting on the 13th inst. Mr James Holden wrote forwarding his resignation to the Te Awamutu Club, and asked to be registered as a member of the Otorohanga Club, as he was now residing in the Kins' Country. The resignation was accepted. It was resolved that the secretary be instructed to arrange for the return match with the Waikato Uniou on the 3rd September if agreeable to Waikato. A vote of thanks was passed to the Selection Committee for the selection of the last Waipa team. Mr C. Bowden was elected auditor. A protest was handed in by the Secretary of the Te Awamutu Club against the last match with Otorohanga for allowing unregistered men to take part in the match. After a good deal of discussion on the matter Mr Lewis proposed that the match be played over again. This was seconded by Mr Bowden. Mr Walker, the delegate for Kihikihi, proposed as an amendment that the Otorohanga Club be warned against playing cup matches with unregistered men, and that the Union disapprove of their action. This was seconded by Mr Ryburn. The amendment was carried. The secretary was instructed to write to the Otorohanga Club asking them to appoint two men residing in Te Awamutnu to act as their delegates at the Union meetings. It was decided to obtain duly qualified referees for next season's matches. AUCKLAND V. CANTERBURY. The Auckland-Canterbury match resulted iu the easiest of wins for the home team, who put up the tremendous total of 24 to 3. Jack Cillett is reported to have been the leading light among the forwards, and he was responsible lor two of the tries obtained by Auckland. Sampson is also mentioned favourably. AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI. (UY TELEGKAI'II. PRESS ASSOCIATION). Auckland, Last Night. Mr J. Arneil has picked the following team to represent Auckland inTaranaki v. Auckland match on Saturday:—Fullback, H. Smith; three-quarter, Har. rison, 11. McGregor, Absolum ; fiveeighth, jO. Riley; half, D. Hay; forwards, Gillett, Brady, Clarkin, Otway, J, McGregor, Sampson, McKcuzie; wings, Laing, S. McGregor ; emergencies : Cardno, Laws, Asher, Mynott, Nicholson, Clarke, Lewis, Eaton, Pitt. On Saturday last a team of boys from the Kihikihi school tried conclusions with representatives from the Rangiaohia school on the ground of the latter. The Kihikihi boys defeated their opponents by 13 points to nil. Having defeated the Te Awamutu school also this season, the Kihikihi colts consider themselves quite the champions of the district. Wc have received the following letter from jS'garuawahia, under date 6th August:—"As a spectator at to-day's football match between Huntly and Cambridge I was quite taken aback at the foul language that was used by the barrackers, language that I venture to say one would not hear in the lowest slums of a large city. Can you wonder at ladies not turning up to see matches in the Waikato. I must congratulate the two teams for their good behavior during the match and after." The following players will represent the Hamilton Hovers in their match against Cambridge, to be played at Cambridge on Saturday next : Full-back Proctor ; three-quarters W. Wright, E. Johnstone, It. Wright; five-eighths— W. Hume ; half—K. J- Dcvery ; wings —H. Johnstone and P. Carr ; forwards—

W. Hyde, Ryan, Woods, Kinsella, J. Hall, \V. Evans, Holioway. Emergen-cies-Backs : R. Hope, Kingdon, F. Johnstone. Forwards : T. Moore, Dey, K. Hume, 0 ■ Hy<ie. All the above players are requested to attend at Sydney Square this evening and Thursday, at 7.30 p.m., for training purposes, and those who cannot jonrmy to Cambridge will please notify the Si-cr.tary (Mr P. Carr) on or hefore Wednesday next. The brake will leave Mann's Hotel at 1.30 p.m. sharp. ___«__.