FOOTBALL.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 328, 16 August 1898, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OIIAUPO V. WAINGARO. The above teams met for the second time on Sydney Square on Saturday last, when Waingato again proved victorious by 3 points (a try) to nil. The Ohaupo team were threw or four mm short, but Waingaro kindly allowed them to take on substiliitca on the ground. The play in the first spell was not very interesting, the ball travelling from one end of the field to the other nearly the whole of the spell. About ten minutes before eall of time the Waingaro forwards started a good rush, from which Mcßurnoy scored a try. Cox took the kick, but no goal resulted. In the second half of the game both teams played much better, some good runs and forward rushes being made en both sides, and both teams had hard luck in not scoring on several occasion?. After a lot of hard play on both sides the whistle founded with the ball in neutral territory. For Ohaupo Edward* was a long way the best forward, working like a Trojan from start to finish. Among the backs Johnson was the shining light, his play being brilliant. In the Waingaro team all the forwards worked well together, and Bailey, Hetit, and flinton were the best backs. Mr E. Williamson had charge of the whistle, and gave the greatest satisfaction. PATERANGI V. OTOROHANGA. The above match was played on the Kihikihi Domain ground last Saturday. Both teams were on the ground punctually, and Mr C. Bowden as referee soon started them to work. The Otorohanga men were a much heavier set, and after their victory over Te Awamutu and the close game played with Kihikihi on the previous Saturday, they were expected to gain an easy victory. The game, however, was a very even one, and though Paterangi were perhaps more on the defensive than their opponents, they succeeded in compelling Otorohanga to force down repeatedly towards the end of the first spell. The game was mostly a forward one, though at times several of the backs, notably Creagh for Otorohanga, and Mackay and Scott for Paterangi, put in some gjod play. In the second spell Paterangi were kept pretty well in their own ground and* several times Otorohanga looked very like scoring and more than once compelled their opponents to force. When time whs called neither side had scored, so a capital game ended in a draw. Mr Bowden as referee was just the right man, and had frequent recourfe to the whistle. The match was played in a very friendly spirit, and hearty cheers were given for both sides after the conclusion. Messrs F. Vernerand G. Walker acted as line umpire?. Not knowing all the players by name, I am unable to individualise as regards play, but all the forwards played well and the backs previously mentioned were perhaps the most prominent.—(Own Correspondent). AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI. This match was played at Potter's Paddock, Auckland, on Saturday, and resulted in a draw, neither team having scored. WAIFA RUGBY UNION. A meeting of the VVaipa Rugby Union was held at Te Awamutu on Saturday evening last. The delegates present were : Messrs Ornickshank and Bowden (Te Awamutu), Creagh and Carr (Otorohanga), Ryburn and Allcock (Paterangi), and Walker and M. Gorrie (Kihikihi). It was decided to send a Waipa team to Rotorua on the 9th September. A reply was received from the Rotorua Union, stating that they had voted £5 towards expenses. The Waikato Rugby Union wrote, statiuc that they were unable to name the date of the return match till after their meeting on the 20th inst. It was decided to ask Mr C. Bowden to select the rep. teams, as it was considered it would give greater satisfaction than appointing a selection committee from members of each club. A protest was received from the Secretary of the Kihikihi Club, protesting againsb the referee's decision in awarding a try in the last Otorohanga match, on the grounds that the ball touched the corner flag before being grounded. After hearing the evidence of the referee (Mr Holland), the protest was dismissed, the match going to Otorohanga. The friendly match played on Saturday last between the Rangiaohia and Te Awamutu members resulted in a win for the latter team, the scores being 9 to 0. A match has been arranged' betweeu the Ohaupo colts and the team which played Waingaro on Saturday, to take place in the Domain, Ohaupo, next Saturday. * The match between the Hamilton and Newstcad schoolboys was played on Sydney fc'quare on Saturday last, and resulted in a win for the Hamilton boys by 13 points to nil. A meeting of the Waikato Rugby Union, for the consideration of important business, will be held in the Royal Hotel, Hamilton East, on Saturday evening next, at 7.30 p.m. On Saturday next the final cup match will take place at Te Awamutu between the Te Awamutu and Otorohanga teams. Great interest is being taken in the match, as.whichever team i 3 victorious will be the cap winners. Tiie teams will appear in Thursday's ARGUS. While watching the practice match, Hamilton I. v. Hamilton 11. on Saturday, one could not held noticing the capital work put in by W. Hume, and if the Hami'tonians are short of a smart scrum half or five-eight, they might iuclude this player with advantage. During the last few days, a rumour has been circulated that T. Clarkin was to play for Hamilton, on Saturday next. Although quite eligible to do so, Clarkin will not battle for his old club ; but is engaged to play for Auckland against Hawke's Bay, at Potter's Paddock, on that date, Saturday next is being eagerly looked forward to by the football enthusiasts of this place, as on that date the old rivals Huntly and Hamilton will meet once more on Sydney Square. The last time the maroons and the blues met a great battle ensued, Huntly eventually winning by a penalty goal to nil. Since then both teams have been materially strengthened, and the forthcoming fixture should just about prove the game of the season. It is unfortunate that although Huntly whipped Hamilton at their last meeting tha maroons are right out of the contest, but this is one of the fortunes—or misfortunes—of war. The competition lies now betweeu Cambridge and Hamilton. Should Hamilton win on Saturday next they tie'with Cambridge, but should Huntly acain prove victorious the wearers of the blue and white bars appropriate the caps, and very few in Waikato will begrudge them their win, for the way they have worked up their team this season has been nothing short of marvellous. A turn of fortune's wheel in their favour will do an immense amount of good for football in Waikato. The competitions have for many years resolved themselves into a couple of games between Huntly and Hamilton, the other teams beiug right out of the hunt, but a new set of champions wid do a good deal towards arousing interest in the game in the Cambridge district, where it has been practically neglected for several seasons. The Cambridge men have, by their honest, manly play, become great favourites throughout the district, even with their strongest opponents, and, as we remarked before, no one would begrudge them a win.