FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 128, 10 June 1901, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

CITY v. HUIA. [Notes bv “ The Whistle.’ 1 ]

Tiie Poverty Bay Bugby Union has boon exceptionally fortunate this season in tho matter of the weather experienced for the Senior Banner fixtures. Another fine afternoon prevailed on Saturday last, whon City and Huia met at Tucker’s paddock in tho first match of the second round. Thero was a satisfactory attondanco of spectators, a largo number of ladies being on ovidonco, and tho sum of £4 3s 9d was collected at tho gatos. Tho game was, as usual, late in starting, and it was close on 3.30 before the teams took tho field. The last quarter of an hour’s play was done in a kind of somitwilight, in which it was well nigh impossible to distinguish individual players. If tho Union cannot induce clubs to commence play punctually at the advertised timo, it should alter the hour ; as it is discourteous, to say tho least of it, to lteop tho spectators waiting half an hour after tho advertised time in order to witness tho commencement. This half light is most dangerous to players, and the play which is done in it can be of but little intest to the spectators. When tho teams took the field it was seen that Gibson and Swan were absent from the Huia team, their places being filled by Witters and Muir, while City had their full strength, with tho exception that King displaced Primrose among tho backs. Two 40-minute spells were played. Mr A. W.'Bees hold the whistle, and Messrs C. Taylor and It. W. Cole carried tho line flags. Caulton won the toss, and Duggan kicked off for City from the harbor end. To Reina returned with a kick straight down the field, and tho Huia forwards prevented a return, the fir&t serum being formed in the centre. The Huia forwards heeled out smartly to McCredio, .who sent the ball on to Symes, and tho latter in turn passed to Baker, who mado a fino run, and sent it along to Leah, and the latter roused tho enthusiasm of the spectators thus early in the game by making a strong run down tho line and kicking out well on towards tho City line. This pretty piece of combined work caused those present to hope that a fino exhibition would bo provided during the afternoon, but the play which followed was certainly not of a high class. Tho line-out work was marred by continuous fumbling and deliberate knockingon, which frequent penalties inflicted by the referee seemed powerless to prevent. The City forwards very soon asserted a decided superiority in scrum work, and secured the ball in nearly every instance. Samson was playing well behind the pack, and got tho ball out well, but the passing among the City backs was generally marred by the inability of the players to take the ball cleanly. Tho Huia team seemed quite demoralised, and utterly lacked combination of any kind. The play for the greater part of the spell was far from being interesting, and the number of free kicks awarded was legion. Thero seemed to be several selfappointed skippers on . both sides, and the amount of talking indulged in was marvellous. City were tho worst offenders in this respect. About half-way through tho spell, the City forwards gave Samson the ball from a scrum, and he dodged cleverly round, and, the Huia backs being all out of their places, had a straight run in, scoring in a good position amid hearty applause. Duggan failed to raise the ball in tho kick at goal. Further uninteresting play followed, but, towards tho close of the spell, some nice passing between Samson, Glennie, King, and Coleman nearly resulted in a score, but Te Reina grandly grassed the latter near the line, and, scouring tho ball, kicked out at the 25 mark. The spell ended with the score : City 3, Huia nil. Symes kicked off in the second spell, but some of his men woro in front, and a scrum was ordered in mid-field. Tho play following was a slight improvement on the first spell, and City continued to maintain the advantage. Quinn, Duggan, Steele, Dixon, Webb, and Davidson were working well among the City forwards, but Samson and Coleman seemed the only two of the backs who put any dash into their play. Zachariah, as full-back for City, was playing a very safo game, and got his side out of numerous difficulties. Huia, who had made sevoral alterations I among their backs, wore still playing without combination, and tho City forwards soon bad them in difficulties. With a forward rush, City took the ball over the line, and Webb and Ball wrestled for possession. The referee ordered a five-yards’ scrum, and it was not long before City were over again, Steele scoring a well-deserved try by fast following up, which Burns failed to convert. From this out, the play gradually improved, and was of a much faster naturo, Huia put some life into their work, and steadily forced City back on their line. Some nice passing between Ejall, Baker, Te Reina, and Leah saw the latter cross the line with several City men hanging to him. A five-yards’ scrum was the result, from which Symes secured the ball, and, after dodging about some timo for an opening, potted a beautiful goal, amid great cheering. Tho game from- this on was of a fast and exciting nature. City hotly attacked, and some fine passing was done in front of the Huia goalby Samson, Glennie, and Burns, but Te Reina grandly intercepted the latter’s pass to Coleman, and cleared the line. Ball at this stage was playing grandly for Huia, making some grand runs and kicking well, while Te Reina was also rendering invaluable service -to his side. In fact, this player played a long way the best three-quarter back game on the ground throughout the contest. Towards the close of the game a splendid piece of work between Ball, Te Reina, Baker, and Leah, in which the ball passed frequently between these players, won the match for Huia, Ball and Baker crossing the line together, and both had a hand in touching down. Great cheering greeted this superior bit of combined play. Symes made a good attempt at goal. City strove hard to regain their lost position, but their efforts were unavailing, and Huia left the field victorious by 7 points (a potted goal and a try) to 6 points (two tries).' City certainly had hard luck, as they had a good deal the best of the play all through, and showed the better form; but football is a funny game, and, like its kindred sport, cricket, there is a “ glorious uncertainty ’’ about it at times,

City could not raise a team for the junior match against West End on Saturday, and the latter, therefore, won by default.

AUCKLAND MATCHES,

[By Telegraph-Press Association.] Auckland, last night. Newton (10) beat Ponsonby (3); City (41) beat Parnell (0); Suburbs (5) beat North Shore (0),