50 YEARS AGO

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 50, 16 August 1939, Page 3

50 YEARS AGO

MATATA PLAYS TAURANGA The following account of a foot* ball ma'tch is extracted from the Bay of, Plenty Times of August 5, 1889. Only four of the Matata team are still alive. They are Messrs F. J. Burt, Hataraka, Ratana of Matata and the Rev Hemana, of- Ma. 1 ketu. "A ma'tch between, Tauranga and Matata football teams took place in the Tauranga Domain on Thursday last. A great number of people were present to see the match, and much surprise was expressed at the fine game the Matata native's played. The game was according to the new rules and the visiting team seemed to fully understand them, although they could not, now and then, resist the temptation to fall on the ball when the Tauranga forwards had a rush on. Without exception this is the best native team that has played against our boys, and although they lost the match theirs was a better display of football than that of the local team. They passed the ball "well, and plaj r cd into one an-i other's hands generally. The Tauranga team, with a few exceptions plaj'ed a selfish game, in fact almost taking the ball awaj r from one an-4 other. ''The following composed the teams: —■ Matata: Fullback, Ngahau: threequarter backs, Hataraka, F. Bujrt and Ngatai: half backs, Ralana, Hemana and Te Otimi; forwards Wi J. Savage (captain), Menehira, Karepa, Hatu, W. Hays, Pita and Nilheta. Tauranga: Fullback, W. Darragn: three.quarter backs, H. Tanner (captain), W. Robinson, F. Robertson; half backs, S. Tanner, J. Tanner and G. Morris; forwards, »T. Haua. D. Darragh, J. Malt ravers W. Turner, C. Sunderland, W. Rusden, J. Jordan and G. Haua. Umpires, Messrs "Webster and Rau. reti. Referee, Mr Harrison."