FOOTBALL.

Bay of Plenty Times, 28 August 1893, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

JUNIOR MATCH. During the last fortnight the football portion of the public have been looking forward to a most unusual occurrence, viz., two matches with outside teams in the same day. The Mercury Bay Club proposed sending a junior team along with their. Reps to try conclusions with the juniors of oui town. All preparations were made foi the double events ; but alas, the N.S.S, Company practically upset the whole affair by refusing to send any other boal than the • Chelmsford,' and so the Bayites had to come away mth 22 players, leaving 8 on the wharf in addition it it said, to upwards of 20 others who were waiting to come, but who naturally refused to be stowed away ' on deck ' in a blinding rain and a strong northerly blow which set in during the evening. The steamer arrived about 5.30 a.m or Saturday, the footballers being more oi less upset through seasickness. The Bay Reps team was in full force, and before noon the requisite number of juniors were got out of the ranks of our players, The junior match was played first. Mr D. Stewart (representative of Messrs Burns and Co., Ironmongers, Auckland] acted as referee, while Messrs C. Bakei and N. McLean were the line umpires. Tauranga played one man short, Blundell being absent. Mercury Bay kicked off with a dribble, which .Tauranga returned with a dribble headed by McNaughton, the ball going out in the Bay 25. From the throw in a neat bit of passing between Allery, Maxwell and Griffiths took the oval dangerously near the Bayites line ; a kick by Loram seemed to ease the pressure, but Maxwell securing tlra leather sent it straight between the uprights, drawing first blood for the local team. Tauranga, 4; Mercury Bay, nil. After the kick out play centred for a time, until Hurling kicked to Matheson, the latter sent it down to Loram, who sent into touch at centre. A great rush headed by Mansel and McNaughton took the ball to the Bayites line, where Tauranga were awarded a free kick, but Matheson failed in his attempt at goal. Tauranga forced the play from the kick out, but Huiling again came away with a run and drop, and play was past the centre. Return kicks between the backs placed the visitors on the defensive, and after some open play Vercoeniade a dash for the line, and like a streak of lightning scored a fine try. Maxwell added the major points. Tauranga, 9 ; Mercury Bay, nil. Shortly after half time was called. When the available oranges were dispersed of, McNaughton initiated play by sending the oval to Hurling, who returned to Tauranga 25. Mathias made i run to centre before he was collared. Fhe visitors with a fine rush placed the local men on the defensive. Griffiths

removed the danger, and passing to Sheath the oval went into touch well V past the centre flag. A pass put from o Hurling to Smith gave the latter an 1 opening, but Rolf collared him in time ; the visitors got the best of the loose h ! scrum but when looking dangerous, s ! Maxwell, by a splendid run, took play t to centre. From the throw in Hurling \ i kicked well into Tauranga 25, the visitors fc 1 following up fast, a hard kick by Smith a I forced the local team. Immediately after Ti } the kick but Smith marked, nothing re- a suited, and play centred. A great rush 1 * started by Bramble, in which Vereoe and x McNaughton shone, carried the ball s I right over the line, but only a force re- i \ suited. The visitors came away with a i c rush from the kick out, but a mark by i * Griffiths transferred play to the visitors' i ' territory ; Vercoe spoiled Loram's re- ] f turn, the ball rebounding, and like a ' shot Vercoe was over the line, and scored | s his second try. No good resulted. ] Tauranga, 11; Mercury Bay nil. . ] s Immediately after the kick and Vercoe ? made a slanting run along the line and % registered his third try in first class style. * Matheson added the needed points. Tauranga, 16; Mercury Bay nil. c The game ended shortly after the scores t . standing as above. r■i ■ i