DANNEVIRKE v. AOTEA.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 289, 10 June 1909, Page 7

DANNEVIRKE v. AOTEA.

A largo crowd gathered at tho "Rec.'' yesterday afternoon to wit-n'o-ss what was expected would prove to bo one of tho best matches of tho season, and the- .spectators were not disappointed, the game being very ovenly contested-. Dannevirke won the toss, and chose, tho northern side. Notable among tho absentees wero Tai Hoketa and D. Drinkwater of the Aoteas, and Wilson and Collett of tho Greens. Aotea kicked off. Hartgill missed the ball, :ind it went out | in. the Green-; 25. Krom tho swum the hall wont l<> Loader, who found

tho lino with a good kick. A goo^ run by tho Maori backs took the play well up tho field. Price saved with a good kick down tho line. Price again got the ball, and lined out. Somo hard play followed. Tho Maoris savod with a tinely kick by Rangi.- Dannevirko got tho ball into Aot-ea -territory and Price potted a splendid goal. Dannevirke, 4; Aotea, 0. That seemed to make tho Aot-ea' s all the moro determined, and they made some good rushes. Cleaver headed a rush down tho fiold. Aotea wore awarded a free kick for tripping. The Greens made a good forward rush, headed by Williams, but Puru found tho lino in his own 25. Hoppy got the ball, and started off with a splendid rush, with the ball at toe, and Price again saved the situation. Give-and-take play ©nsucd, the ball going out at about halfway. Tho Green half-back got the ball, and after centreing headed a good rush, Rangi saving. The Greens put in r a good passing rush. Lively play ensued for- some time, tho play of Botterill, Price, and Hart-gill standing out conspicuously. From a line out, Aotea forwards started a passing rush, which was spoiled by one of their own men "knocking on" noa.r Dannevirko' s line. From the scrum, the ball went out near Dannevirke's lino. Brown got the ball, and managed to got over the line, Puru converted. Dannevirke, 4; Aotoa 5. A groat. rush up the field followed, and an Aotea. forward nearly scored, Price rescuing just in time. From the scrum Hart-gill sent the ball to Botterill, who pa-ssing three of the opposing backs scored a try near the posts. Price taking the kick converted just before half time. Dannevirke, 9; Aotea, 5. On resuming, give-and-take play ensued. The Greens took a mark and centring under Aotea's posts looked dangeixras, but Aotea's backs came to tho rescue. Exciting play took place for somo time. The Maori forwards on tho defence, played very well, although at this juncture, after some good passing rushes, Pont got over the corner. Tho kick failed. Dannevirke; 12; Aotea, 5. Here the Maoris worked with renewed determination, and although with darkness coming, it was impossible to follow tho game out j properly the Maori team seemed to do better in the failing light. After a great amount of encouragement by their supporters round tho ring, Hoppy put in a brilliant run, and scored. Dannevirke, 12 j Aotea, 8. ! And so the game ended, with the Greens on the defenco. Mr Porteous made, a most capable and impartial referee.