FOOTBALL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8963, 4 May 1891, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Maobi v. Pakeha. The first match of the season took place on the Heereation Ground on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large number of spectators, who evinced a lively interest in the game. The teams were as follows -.—Maoris ; Fall- back, Heha ; three-quarters, Stuarf, Taku, and James ; halves, Friday, Pani, and Paul ; forwards, Hoani, Papi, Morgan, Hiroa, Matthew, Taranaki, Joe, and Ellison ; utupvte, Mr lUimaiva. Pakeh&a -. Fullback, Hawke ; three-quarters, M'Kay, O'Connell, and Prentice ; lialvef, Swan, Percy, and Knight : forwards, Morrison, White, Cunningham, J. M'Dowell, Whyte, Wilson, Hughes, and Stanton; umpire, Mr Peacock, lieferee, Mr Logan. When the players lined out it was seen that the Maoris were much the heavier lot, and as the back division comprised the To Ante College team, it was anticipated that the game would result in an easy victory for the natives, but these anticipations were not realised, for at call of time the score stood— Pakehas, 10 points; Maoris, 2 points. The scorers for the winners wero Knight, two tries ; Morrison, one try ; M'Dowell, one try. Two of the tiles were converted by O'Conncll, who also landed a goal from a penalty kick. James and Joe each pecured tries for the losers. From the kick off the game was a fast one, play being of an open nature, and some pood paesing was indulged iv by the backs of both teams, The Pakeha forwards wero much superior to their opponents, aud played with a deal of combination. They packed the scrums quickly, and took the ball effectively on the line out, Wilson being especially prominent in this department of the game. Their following was also excellent, while several of the forward rushes headed by Morrison, M'Dowell, and Stanton were a treat to witness. The backs also put in good work, ami if at times thoy were not so brilliant as their opponents, tbiir passing was far safer, and more effectively executed. The oval travelled from one line to the other with great rapidit), neither side having much the best of the play until Morrison got the leather and quickly passed it to Percy, who transferred it to Prentice, who made a short run nnd then passed to Morrison. The latter player showed a clean pair of heels to the opposing three-quarter, and fending off the full Lack, registered tho first score for the Pakehas. O'Connell took the kick, but the ball rolled over, and the score was not increased. Give ond take play ensued for some time, the Maori forwards hended by Hiroa and Joe, making great efforts to score. The defence oi the White backs, however, proved too strong for them until Hiroa and Matthew rushed the oval into the Pakeha 25, when Joo snapped it up, and drew fir&t blood for the Maori tepm. From the kick out the Maoris endeavored to make the game as open as possible, but these intentions were frequently frustrated by the quick following of the White forwards. Eventually Friday got the ball from a scrum, nnd parsed to Paul, who in turn passed it on to James, who raced down the line and secured the second try for the Maoris The kick at goal was fruitless, and the spell ended without further score. The second spell was exceedingly faßt, aud shortly after the kick-off Tako made the run of the day. Getting the ball within his own 25 be eluded Mb opponents nntil bo camo to the full-back, when he passed to James, who failed to take the oval, and Swan relieved. Peni, however, compelled the wl.ites to act on the defemivn, and several scrums took place near the white line until Knight got posseii-ion of the oval, and transferring it to Swan enabled that player to get to the Maori Uo where Tako (topped his progress. Mormon then got the ball and quickly passed to Knight, who got over. OConnell repietered the major score. Whites 5 points, Maoris 2 points. Shortly after tho kick out O'Connell made a run, and play was confined to the Maori quarters until Hiroa headed a rush and took the ball to the Pakeba 25, where Pina had a good shot at goal, the oval striking tho post, The White forwards thon quickly mulled the ball up the tield, aud M'DoweU (secured another try for the Pakobas. O'Connell's attempt was fruitless. From this out the Maoris was compelled to act on the defensive, the forward rushes of their opponents proving irresistible From one of these rushes Knight got over, and O'Connell bud little difficulty in sending the ball over the bar, thns 'bringing up tho score, to 0 points. Almost immediately after the kick out the Pakehas were awarded a free kick for o IT- side play, and the ball was placed for O'Conneil, who negotiated jt safely between the posts. Pakehas 10 points, Maoris 2 points. A few minutes after "no side "was called, the score being unaltered. The Maori backs at times indulged in some quick and accurate passing, but their display was rather disappointing. Tako played ia his u«ual excellent form, but James was not nearly as daugerons as usual, although his kicking left little to bo desired. Friday was ilia best of the halves, passing out quickly, but he had liitlo opportunity for display owing to the weakness of his forwnnis. Amongst the forwards Hiroa and Joe did good work both in the open nnd the tcrums, and Taranaki was of service on the line. All the Pakeba forwards played well, Wilson being good on the line and ia the scrums, Stanton, M'Dowell (who made his fir.st appearance in an important match), and Morrison were conspicuous in the mshos. White, Hughes, and \\ hyle also rendered good service. Knight was the pick of the halves, and seldom has been seen to greateradvantage, Percy, with one or two exceptions, when he Shirked tackling, played excellently. Swan, who appeared to have a roving commission, was always prominent in the rushes, and tackled determinedly. Prentice kicked well, and gave a good account of himself, as did O'Connell. M'Kay tackled in his well known determined manner, aud both ho and O'Connell kicked and followed up well. Hawke, a new arrival, who has thrown in bin lot with the Pirates, mndo a capable full-back, lie takes the ball well, and is a quick aud effective kick.