FOOTBALL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7387, 10 June 1895, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WAIPAWA V. HAWKE'S BAY,

The best exhibition of football seen here so far during the present season was given ia the absve match on Saturdiy, when a representative fiftean of the Woipawa Union Buccoeded in defeating the team of Probables chosen by tha Hawke's Bay Union. C. Bennett was absent from tho home team the vacancy being filled by Caldwell. The firat score was made by Hawko's Bay, Law t placing a nice goal from a pass by Mathieson This was the only score in the first spelJ. Shortly after the commencement of th« second half, the looal men got their opponents in difficulties, and from a sornm on the line a free kick was given to Hawke's Bay for off-side play. O'Connell converted, raising the score to 7 to ml. Then came Waipawa's tarn, and by a good bit of dribbling, the ball was speedily transferred to Hawke's Bay territory. Morgan smartly secured tho oval from a scrum, passed to Tutere, and he to McDonnell, who 80orod amidst great applause. Tutere took tho kick, and gent the ball over the bar from an almost impossible angle. Elated with their success, tha visitors shortly afterwards pressed their opponents again, and by a splendid bit of foot work oarried the ball to Hawke's Bay's line, where • Bennett fell over, with Ooghlan hanging on. The kick was an easy one, but Tnteie failed. Immediately afterwards the whistle sounded, and Waipawa thus won by 8 points to 7. The result was altogether unexpected, for it was generally thought that the home team would ba able to hold their own under any circumstances. Their failure, however may be summud up iv the phrase, " over confidence.'' Time after time opportunities occurred for scoring, but these were thrown away by careless play. The visitors, on tha other hand, though lacking combination, played a hard game throughout. Their forwards were rather sluggish in packing the scrums, and in the earlier part of the contest were too eager to pick the ball up when a little bit of foot play would have proved serviceable. Towards the close, however, they livened up in the respect mentioned, and their success may in a great measure be attributed to. this fact The majority of the oountry players were unknown to the public, but their work was olcsely followed, and keenly critioised by the onlookers. .Their full-back, Irvine, proved a tower of strength to his side, and more than once saved an almost imminent soore. Of the three-quarters M'Donnell was the best; he should, however, learn to kick more. Ha would often find a judioious punt far more serviceable than a tough straggle through the opposing forwards. Or. JSeed and 8. Smith had not the same opportunities of showing their ability as M'Donnell, and were not seen to the same advantage. The halves, Tutere and Takarangi, worked conscientiously, the former putting in some-" really brilliant play. The forwards were a good lot, but as before stated, lacked combination. Morgan, on the left wing, was the best, as he was instrumental in the first soore being made. Bennett and V. Beed showed good form, and the others did their best. , Coming to the home players, Coghlan at full was only fairly successful. Laws was tho best of the three-quarters, but his weak point is passing. Caldwell was too selfevident, and Welsnsan was not equal to a fast game. Donnelly was the beet of the halves, but Chad wick appeared, to be doing a half's work, for he was repeatedly the source of several good paEsing rusheß. Jago on the wing was serviceable, but Swan was not in form. Cheer and Mathiesoa worked hard throughout, and were -well supported by their confreres.

The match was played in a friendly spirit, though at times there was rather too much talking, the decisions of the referee, Mr OowelJ, being questioned much too> frequently. Messrs Wolstenholme and Bennett officiated as line umpires.