FOOTBALL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 70455, 4 October 1900, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Needless to say, we have seen better games of football than that played yesterday between teams representing the grocers and ironmongers on the one hand and the drapers and tailors on the other, but, unlike the matches of orthodox description, yesterday's had in it an element of humor ttat was refreshing, though far from being a burlesque of the Rugby game. On either side were pkyere who Bhowed intimate knowledge of football •• as she should be played," while others displayed conBiderable energy, at times misapplied. In the result the grocers and ironmongers won by" nine points to nil, tries being obtained by Donnelly, Bennett, and Corbett. The vanquished went near to scoriDg on more than one occasion, but i luck sometimes, and the good dofongive i play of their opponents other times, was ngainst them. The players generally showed fair oondition, although some of them looked very limp at the finish. Unlike the game between the butcheia [ and bakers, gore did not Bignally mirk L the contest, but there were many [ bumps of a depressing nature. Many s of the plajers could not handle the ball t at all, although to do so appeared , simple enough ; and several good passing runs were spoilt through this defect. For the victors, Bennett, Corbett, Lawson, McNiven, Donnelly, and Blair were moat noticeable, while for the losers those who showed best form were Moßride, Rodger, ; Whittaker, Quin, G. Paterson, tod Haw- , kms. Mr H. Button was a liberal-m'nded referee, who kept his whistle in his pocket as muoh as possible, in order to make the game fast and spectacular. The Borough , Band, under Mr T. H. Hughes, marohed tho teams to the ground, and played seleotions there. The banners of the rival teams were quaint.