FOOTBALL.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 300, 25 August 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

o WAIPUKURAU v. TAKAPAU. On Saturday afternoon a match was played on Mr Bailey’s ground, Waipukurau, between Waipukurau seniors and Takapau. The local team had a considerable advantage in weight, and the game, although an interesting one to watch and containing an amount of good play, was very one-sided; and Waipukurau had an easy win by 20 points to 5. Takapau won the toss, and elected to play from the eastern end of the field. Very soon Symes showed up, putting in some fine kicking, and throughout he played a splendid game, passing well. Within three minutes of the commencement of the game, Symes got possession in the visitors’ 25’s and passed to Murty, who crossed the line. Sharpin, however, failed to convert. On play being resumed it was soon again carried into the southern corner of the visitors’ 25’s. Panapa (Takapau) took a mark at half shortly after, and play was carried into tlie local territory, where a fine kick by Symes relieved the -pressure. Murty and Symes also did some good passing. Takapau again threatened, but W. Lomas collared Ferguson, a back,

in good, clean style. Hunter, another of the visitor’s backs, did some good kicking at this point, and. played a good, sound game throughout. Sharpin seemed, as usual, to be just where he was most wanted always. Bassett took the leather and got over, but Symes’s kick was not allowed. W. Lomas wvs again conspicuous, taking well, and punting up the field, whence it was returned, and P. Burke, who also was playing well, bore it back into the enemy’s 25’s, where he pasjsejjLfco McGrath, who scored. Symes kicked a splendid goal, making the score Waipukurau 11, Takapau nil. Takapau made another determined effort to score, in which Shepherd was well stopped by Perrott. Puhi also played well for Takapau. The visitors still pressed hard, when Cook punted well, followed by a good kick by Sharpin, which shifted the venue to centre, and the first half ended without further score.

In the second spell Waipukurau was several times penalised for “ knock on’s.” Sharpin, Symes, Lomas, and Marty did some combined passing, enabling Lomas to score after so me tough work in the 25’s. Sharpin failed to add the major points. Play was in the visitors’ quarters again soon, and Bassett scored, Symes’s kick falling short. Takapau then made another effort, and C. McQueen, who throughout played a good game, made a fine run from half and crossed the line,McKenzie converting. This made the score Waipukurau 17. Takapau 5. Waipukurau again scored, Murty finding the line, but Hughes’s kick failed. The game ended in Waiptikurau’s favour by 20 points to 5.

HAWKE’S BAY v. WANGANUI.

The following have been chosen to represent Hawke’s Bay in the match with Wanganui on Saturday : —O. Symes, Wall, Lewis, Absolum, Kenyon, Walshe, Smith, Evans, Hackett, Struthers, Scullin, Mitchell, Bailey, McDonald, C. Johnston ; emergencies, Skelly, Heta Kani, Thow, Hay.

The match between Wellington and Wanganui, played at Wanganui on Saturday, resulted in an easy win for the former by 25 points to 13. Southland and Manawatu met at Palmerston North/ the game resulting in a draw, each side scoring 11 points. Horowhenua was defeated by Wellington B team at Wellington, by 31 points to nil. Thames defeated Auckland by 11 poinrs to nil. The British team was defeated by New South Wales by 6 points to 3. Bad feeling -was shown during the match, booting and punching being in evidence.