FOOTBALL AT HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7142, 21 April 1885, Page 3

FOOTBALL AT HASTINGS.

The Hastings Football Club opened their season on Saturday, when, in spite of the inclement state of the weather, there was a very large muster, including a great number of Maoris. Sides were picked by Messrs St. Hill and Warbrick, and it being decided to play two spells of thirty - five minutes, play commenced shortly after 3 o'clock, Mr Potts officiating as umpire.

St. Hill winning the tosa kicked with the wind. Warbrick kicked off, and the ball was kept for some time in St. Hill's twenty-five, till they had to touch down in self defence. After that the game was pretty evenly contested till nearly half time, when Taranaki ran in and secured a try, and from a very difficult angle Warbrick made a splendid kick at goal, the ball only falling about a foot in front of the bar. The sides changed ends shortly afterwards, St. Hill kicking off against the wind, Warbrick returned the ball, and soon afterwards Joe, a Maori, with the aid of some grand play by Wallace, of Te Aute College, secured a try between the posts, but Warbrick failed to convert it into a goal. St. Hill's side rallied after this, and the ball waa kept well in the centre of the ground for some time. Just before time was called a Maori, who had been playing splendidly all through the game, secured a try for St. Hill's Bide, and. Harden converted it into a goal. The game ended soon afterwards, St. Hill winning by 1 point.

Considering the heavy state of the ground and the slippery wet ball, the play all round waa extremely good. Some of the Maoris especially distinguished themselves, as also aid Thorpe. For the winning side St. Hill, Thorpe, Harden, Eoynolds, and several Maoris played very well, while Warbrick, Wallace, Joe, and several others did yeoman service for the other side.