FOOTBALL.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 190, 22 July 1896, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

j Maketu v. Rotorua. The match which took place on Puke, roa. on Saturday last between team* representing Rotorua and Maketu was a very hard fought one. The visitors showed themselves to be well up in all the latest moves of the game and made but few mistakes. It might with considerable truth be said that they played better than the local men. True, Rotorua had not by any means its full strength, Pelham, G. Dansey and Mitchell being absent. This, however, does not account for their indifferent play at times. The visitors won the toss, thus getting the benefit of the wind in the first half. This advantage was very palpable and they kept the play mostly confined to the local 25, but now and again pressure was relieved by some splendid runs by Aporo, who played a dashing game all the time. Maketu secured a try during the first half which decidedly should not have been allowed as the whistle sounded distinctly and the man with the ball was allowed to go 011 and touch it down. Though it wan not the referee's whistle 110 one could tell the difference and it certainly prevented local men from attempting to stop the man with the ball. In such a case the referee should order a scrum at the place the ball was ta' cn from. The major points were notaddedto and thehalf-time whistl went shortly after the score. In the second-half Rotorua had the wind in their favor but it had so moderated by this time that the advantage was slight. The Maketu men kept up their defence so well that it seemed as though Rotorua would suffer defeat, but at last after a bit of brilliant play on the part of Aporo, Wera succeeded in getting over the line; the try was not converted and the score was now equal, three each. The excitement was now intense amongst the friends of the rival teams and the game grew fast and furious. The ball travelled all over the ground at a groat rate. Rotorua tried again and again to get in, hut the defence was too sure and time was called with the above result. After the match the team and their friends, numbering 50 all told, were regaled with a very sumptuous repast at the big house and it is unnecessary to say that it was done ample justice to. An entertainment consisting of Maori waiatas and dances succeeded.