A NATIVE FOOTBALL MATCH.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7469, 7 February 1890, Page 2

A NATIVE FOOTBALL MATCH.

X D. Hoben in the KB. Herald.

Christmas is the appropriate time for football in its birth place, out the Christinas I refer to ice our own—the Christmas from which we are removed bufc a month, w hen every one felt more inclined for iced drinks and punkahs than fox violent exercise. Those "melting moments" when we dropped asleep and dreamed we rwere in another world, to wake presently and wish we were. Whatever may be the feelings of the pakeha, all times are equal to the Maori footballer, and he no sooner doffs the jersey of his club then he dons the colors of* his tribe, and goes oat to meet in friendly rivalry men with whose skin his ancestors fought in' the bitter earnest of real war. The keenness with which hapu battles with hapu, and iwi with iwi, amongst our native friends is not, perhaps, generally known, but in many districts there are lists of such football "fixtures" which last through the year, and in which the participants are of all ages, from the ambitious ramariki to the still enthusiastic kaumatua, or perhaps even to some koroheke recalling his lost youth.

An amusing narrative of such a struggle has just been sent mc. So keen is the competition that wiles are resorted to in arranging the -matches which are worthy to rank with that wonderful whale story recounted by the tribes of the Bay of Plenty. The struggle to which lam now referring took place the other day at Whakarewarewa, Botorua, and is reported at considerable length in the local paper. The Ngatiwhakaue and Tuhourangi tribes are old rivals, whose rivalry now seeks outlet on the football field. The Ngatiwhakaue representatives are considered the best in the Tauranga district, and many times and oft Tuhourangi have had to succumb to their prowess. But; Tuhourangi, if defeated, were not beaten, and laid a trap for the vainglorious and unsuspecting Ngatiwhakaue, into which the latter incontinently walked. They challenged their one time conquerors to a deciding match during the Christmas holidays, and the said conquerors nothing loth, consented to play. They little knew what had been prepared for them. Tuhourangi had gathered their scattered tribesmen from far and near, had carefully trained their team, and when it appeared on that summer day among the steaming ngawha and puia of Whakarewarewa, was found to include ta its ranks men whom Whakaue had never seen there before, and all of whom bore on their faces a look of quiet confidence and smiling expectancy which Whakaue did not like.

However, at 4 o'clock the teams took the field, Ngatiwhakaue determined to crush their presumptuous adversaries. But alas I during most of the spell the play remained on their line, and presently a strange thing happened. Tuhourangi commenced to pass the ball from hand to hand until it reached a modest looking member of the team who was apparently looking on from the open. No sooner did he receive the ball than he became suddenly animated, and dodged and wriggled and dashed past each would-be obstructionist till he planted it behind the Ngatiwhakaue goal poets. Ngatiwhakaue were astounded. They made enquiries, and ascertained that the slippery stranger was one W. Wlhape, from Bawke's Bay. Then they began to make other discoveries as to the quality of the visitors, and when twice more the fleet-footed Wihape repeated his performance, they ceased to be astonished, even if still unresigned. The game, according to the report, " now became terrible. One Pirika, Sor Ngatiwhakaue, made stupendous efforts, and Te Hingawaka so far forgot himself as to use his fists on the presumptuous and now jubilant Tuhourangi. After much effort Pirika secured a try himself, and enabled Te Kanapu to get another, but he had not as ally the trusty Baimona, who had been converting-Wihape's tries into &oals> so only two points were recorded, when after some fine passing Wihape seen red his third try, and Ngatiwhakaue saw their doughty champion Pirika carried senseless from the field after a collision with Baimona, their cap of bitterness was full, and they left the ground before the call of time, and so prematurely concluded one of the most remarkable football *natchesever played at Botorua. It is rumoured now that Ngatiwhakaue intend moving en masse toTe Ante Cbllege for instruction in the art of football, prior to wiping the earth with the valiant Tuhourangi, and that meantime they have decided to accept no more challenges during the College vacation. Perhaps they will receive no more.