FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 621, 16 June 1891, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The match between the Pakchas and Maoris, took place on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a win for the former by 8 points to 2. Messrs Bingham and Morgan acted as umpires, and Mr Harding as referee. Forrest kicked off for tbe Pakehas, and for the first five minutes the play was even, the ball being kept in neutral ground. Eventually Burns obtained a mark, and sent the ball behind the Maori goal. The ball was set In motion again, when a scrum took place in midfield ; Ma'thews getting the leather did a neat piss to Burns, who took the ball well up into his opponents’ quarters, but Joseph by a splendid dribble carried the bill right up into the Pakehas’ 25. Here Nisbett, aided by Robinson and Crawford, made a good dribbling rush, sending the ball well up the field again. A scrum then took place, and Matthews obtaining the bail passed it to Branson, who potted a very neat goal, thue making the first score for his side. The Maoris now began to wake up a bit, and their combined play soon began to tell on their opponents. King! took the kick, and aent the ball well up the fie’d; it was eoon returned again, and Joseph getting poss-sslon of the leather passed to Mini, who after making a good run. managed to carry the ball over the Pakeha’s goal line, and obtained a try, which Kingi failed to convert into a goal. The ball was again set rolling, and a serum was formed in the Maoris' 25, where Forrest, Crawford and Loomb rushed the ball near the Maori line, and were on the point of scoring, when Albert getting the ball made a good run up the field, but was collared by Skeet. Some good passing between Nisbett and Matthews then took plage, taking the ball in proximity to thrir opponents’ line. The Maoris by a combined bit of play managed to get their goal out of danger; but the Pakehas were soon near their line again. Bkeet obtained a mark, and from bis kick sent the ball behind. On the bail being kicked out, a scrum was formed in neutral territory, when the Maoris, headed by King!, got on a good dribbling rush, and had the oval very near over the Pakehas’ line, Featon relieved his side, by sending the ball into touch. From the throw in, some loose play took place, until Matthews made a smart run, being collared by Hemi within a few yards of the Maori line. Again the Maoris managed to send tbe ball into midfield, where a scrum was formed. The Pakehaa now rallied up a bit, and by a splendid dribbling rush carried the oval into the Maoris’ 25. The Maoris livened up, and sent tbe ball back again, when Nisbett getting it made a good run towards tbe Maori line, and looked very much like scoring, but was intercepted by Joseph, who relieved his aide by a run. The Maoris could not withstand the brilliant rushes of the Pakeha forwards, who continually had the ball up to their line, A force down by the Pakehas terminated the first spell, the scores being Pakehas 3 pointe, Maoris 1. At the second spell, the Pakehas started off with a dribbling rush, Crawford, Loomb and Nisbett showing up prominently! The ball was eoon worked down into tho Maoris’ 25, but the Pakehas were unable to score. Joseph and Weka being a bit too smart for them, they very soon had their goal out of danger, sending the ball into midfield once more. Skeet then obtained possession of the oval, and sent it within a few yards of the Maori line, where the Pakehas were awarded a penalty kick, owing to Albert holding the ball. Crawford took a kick at goal, but failed. The Maoris were now acting on the defensive, their oppponents being slightly too swift for them. After some loose play in the Maori 25, Masterson managed to elude the Maori backs, getting over the line, and obtaining a try for his side, Crawford converting it into a goal. After the ball was again kicked ont, it remained in neutral territory for some little time. Matthews getting it, passed tq Skeet, who was collared by Weka before he had travelled far. Some loose scrams followed ; Mimi afterwards made a smart ran, but he dropped the ball, and the Pakehas, by a good dribbling rush, carried it over the Maori line. Skeet and Rua falling on it, A dispute then arose as to whose ball it was. The Maoris claimed it as their ball, but it was given againet them. They said they were not getting fair play, and would play no more Eventually they were persuaded to continue the game, but Joseph, who had been playing the nest game on the Maori side, put on his qoat apd left the field. Crawford then took the kick a goal, but failed to add to the score. The ball was kicked out, and remained in neutral territory for a time, until the Pakehas forced it into tho Maoris’ 25, where a scrum was formed. The Maoris worked hard together, and soon had the ball into midfield. A run by Loomb followed, being stopped by Rua in the Maori 25. Some smart passing then took place between Skeet, Branson, and Matthews, the latter getting over the line and obtaining a try. Crawford again took the kick, but it fell short. The Maoris now pulled themeelves together, and had their opponents’ goal in danger. From this the Maoris began to force their opponents. Moses, backed up by the other forwards, managed to get the ball within a few yards of the Pakeha goal line, when Tuhoi carried it over the line, making the second try for the Maoris. Moses took the kick at goal, but failed. The rest of the play was in the Maoris' favor, and when the whistle sounded the scores stood, Pakehas eight pointe, Maoris two.