I FOOTBALL I NOTES BY "OLD'UN."

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10922, 23 May 1898, Page 4

FOOTBALL

NOTES BY "OLD'UN."

Cllre and Napier met on the Reore*' tlon Ground for (he first lime this season In the championship matohes, Neither team was (ally iepteaented, Cllve suffar. ing the most In that respect, having two or three men away, and bavlDg to play a forward oat at three quarter. The ground was la fairly good order, considering the amount ot rain that had fallen, but wbb a trifle slippery on the surfaoe, and naturally the ball got a bit greasy, thus preventing a solentlfa'o ezpoiltlon of the game, which was mostly a forward one. The matoh was noted for the number of free kicks allowed to the Napier team, their opponents fairly taking the cake for off-side and rough play, and although several of them were within easy range, not one was taken advantage of, I would offer a suggestion to the Napier team's captain— Uo in for iteady praotice at plaoe-kioklng, The game was very evenly and hotly contested, and neither side could really say that they had had the advantßge, ai both teams soared a try, but Olive were fortunate enough to convert theirs, and thus won by the narrow margin of two pointi. For Cllve, Geordlne, Cheer, K. Caldwell were prominent forward, and W. and J. O'Connell amongst the backs, the latter player tooting the try after a few short passes among the backs, and Sandy Caldwell piloted it over the barabout tbe only thtag he did duilog the matoh, si ho 1b simply wasted at fiveeighths. For Napier, Hallamore, Thompson, Irons, Cameron, and Munioe (the latter two on the wing) were very conspicuous in tbe looie, and the former bore the bard work of the lorums, Amongst the baoks Wood was a power of strength in himself, and the try he eoored was a really pretty and clever run. He would have undoubtedly scored a seoond time had ho not fallen. Flint wai a lafe centra three-quarter, but the wings did not have much to do. Mr Hislop had oharge of the whistle. It must be said that in this matoh a lot took place whloh was certainly not football but prize-fighting, In whloh the Cllve men particularly erred, and tbere U hope of discovering a FKzalmmons or a Corbett still amongst them, even if that discovery Is made on the football field. The other senior matoh, Pirates v. Te Ante, whloh was to have been played at Farndon, did not take place, Te Ante forfeiting. Tbe Pirates are to play Cllve at Porndon Park next Saturday, when there should be a very good game, as the Pirates will place a itrong team In the field. The matoh Napier 111. (A. team) v West End, played on the Riorcaiion Gronnd prior to the senior matoh, resulted la a win for Napier by 14 points to nil. Beatson, Cotterlll, and Heath, eaoh ooored tries, Cotteilll's belog converted by P. M'Vay, who also kicked a penalty goal. This game wai a mnoh better one, from a spaotator's standpoint, then the senior matoh | in faot, some of the juniors can give the seniors a wrinkle or two in the way of pasting and paoklog tbe sorurns, Mr Logan noted as referee. The matoh Clive v. West End, for tbe Junior Flag, was played at Farndon Park and resulted in a win for West End, who played two men short, by 7 points to nil. Youog, the town fall-bsok, aoored a try by smartly following up his own kick, and the same player also plaoed a (joal from a mark obtained by Tier. Mr F. Mltohell bad charge of the whistle. The match played on the Spit ground on Saturday, Port Ahnrirl v. Napier B. team, was won by the former by 13 pointi to nil, In the first spell D. M'Oarfchy secured two goals, a penalty and a pot, and in tbe second half J. M Carthy and E, Prebble eaoh secured a try. The winners were far too heavy for their opponents. The Napier men, considering their light weight, played a stubborn defensive game. Some of the Spit players were inolined to roughness, and one had to be oantlrMd by Mr Cowell, the referee, whose action is to bs commended, for rough play must be put down with a firm hand. The ground still wants patohlng up in places, especially If two matches are to be played there at the same time.