SPORTING.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 3904, 30 May 1899, Page 3

SPORTING.

FOOTBALL. (Ojrn Oor respondent.) Napieb, Yieterdtj

Saturday's senior matches were fall of surprises. Tho Piritee showed a bit of their old time dash ind lowered the oolors of the redoubtable Olive team by 3 points to nil. Whilst on the other groand the Te Ante beys suffered defeat at the hands of the Napier team by 19 points to nil. The first named matoh was quite as good and olose a contest as the soore indiostes. The teams were aboot as e?enly matched as it ia possible to be, and it was not until well on in the seoond spell that Pirates mansged to cross their oppenents' line. Olive, on the other hand, would have scored early in the game, had it not been for a pieoe of selfish play on Caldwell’s part. The winners were somewhat weak in their baok division, but the forwards made op for this defect by patting in some excellent work. Olive had their strength in the rear, bat the smartness of the opposing vanguard prevented them getting the ball. Spectators coaid not fail to note the very bad spirit io which the Olive team took their defeat, one or two of the players expressing themselves in very strong terms. The Te Ante boys played a wretohed game against Napier, and they will have to improve very considerably if they hope to have a say in the final. Napier had them beaten from the kick off, and had it not been for Waitai’s fine defence at fall baok, tbo score against the oollege boys would hav« been ranch larger. The Napier Goards have withdrawn from the second championship. They find that the balk of their members are conoeoted with other clobs and therefore oannot get a representative fifteen together. They played Te Ante on Satnr day with nine men, but as tho oolleg6 boys scored 33 points in tho first spell oor noble defenders thought it was time to stop and oried “ enough.”

Next Saturday Pirates ploy Napier and To Ante meet Olive in the senior chamliouship. Three rounds will be ployed. Saturday’s matches completed tbe first round, tbe positions being —Olive and Napier, 2 wins and 1 loss each, 4 points ; Pirates and Te Ante, 1 win and 2 losses each, 2 points

The first football onp fixture of the season is set down for to morrow, when tbe Waipawa and Dauevirke clubs meet on tbe Empire paddook.