FOOTBALL. SENIOR MATCHES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 10 June 1912, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR MATCHES

HAWERA I. (3) v. PATEA I. (0)

Under bad weather conditions these teams met at Patea in the first match of tho second round. After a close and fairly interesting game Hawera won by the narrow margin of one unconverted try to nil. The state of the ground and of the ball was all against fast play and accurate handling. Neither side therefore did much passing. The only score was obtained by Webb in one of the few passing rushes in which the players were able to take the ball decently. No goal resulted. Good play under such conditions was not to be expected, and Hawera were somewhat lucky 3 considering the weak team they took down, to score a win.

OKAIAWA I. (9) v. KAPONGA I. (5)

This match was played at Okaiawa. As usual the game was late in starting, and short spells had to be played. The teams wore pretty evenly matched. Kaponga showed superiority in the forward division, the two Kissicks and Dick Paterson being most prominent. Were the backs as <rood as the forwards the Kaponga team would take some beating. The only score in the first spell was a clever try, scored for Okaiawa by McLpod, after a short dodgy run. Shortly after commencing the second spell Kaponga carried play to the Okaiawa line, where from a line-out Jim Kissick got over. T. Winters kicked a good goal. This put Kanonga a Doint in the lead. From th^ kick off, Ted Luxton secured the ball, and, after a good run down "the touch-line, got over at the corner. No goal resulted. Kaponga again attacked, and were looking exceedingly dangerous. Some good kicking by Roberts relieved the pressure, play being gradually removed to Kaponga's territory. Here McLeod obtained dossession and dodc^d through to the line, where he was collared. He, however, m^na^ed to nass to Crowley, who scoreJ. The kick ngain failed. Time was called shortly nfterwa^ds. Mr J. Kiley was refp"p». Five of the Kaponea team finrje^-ed in the club's new colors, but tV. effect wan ™\iy to make the referee's task more difficult.

WAIMATE I. (9) v. OPUNAKE I. (3)

Under .unpleasant weather conditions, this match was played at Manaia on Saturday, and resulted in a win for Waimate by 9 to 3. Tries were scored by Franklin, Young, and Thur^ton, and for the visitors by Sullivan. None of them were converted. The play was fairly good despite the state of the ground, firimake made a very fair showing against the unbeaten Waimate team.

HAWERA 11. (15) v. ALTON 11. (0)

At Hawera on Saturday the local ;umors romped over Alton to the tuno of ]) points to nil.

W AIM ATE. 111. C9^ v. OKAIAWA 111. (0).

These teams met at Manaia on . Saturday and after a well-fough'i^out match the' home team secured a win by nine points to nil.

NORTHERN DIVISION

At New Plymouth on Saturday Star beat Fitzroy by 11 to 0.

The Waimate Juniors were too gonrl for the Opnnaktt lads, and won by 15 points to nil. The score was made «p of four tries pud a penalty goal. Mr Neilsen was referee.

Wednesday next will witness a "rep." match, Wellington v. Taranaki, old rivals in the field, that has not been seen in Hawera for a good few years. On the last occasion they played on the Recreation Ground. This year a desirable change has been made —one that has been rendered .necessary if Hawera. is to get her share of the firstclass rep. matches. The accommodation of a big gate is the essential consideration on which the whole thing depends. It is hoped that there will be fine weather, and a consequently good attendanco.

If the Wellington team, as picked, comes this way, a real clinking match will bo seen, for Taranaki is strong this year. If the backs throw the ball about as did the North team at New Plymouth on Thursday last, the play will be fast, pretty, and exciting. It was a real treat to see the way the Northern backs sent the ball along the line of attack, and the way they came round again after having handled the ball once, and were ready to take another pass. This happened often, and often also when a rush, seemed nipped, the ball came out aaain and another attack was generally limited to one or two men, -snd did not compare favorably with that of their opponents. Their defence, however, was good; had it not been so the score would have been larger.

Loveridge, on the outside of the threequarter Hne, took the 'eye very much. He is a strong runner, feints cleverly, and possesses also ability in another department that was often of immense service to him—the art of dribbling. To this is attributed some of the success achieved by the great "All Black" Fred Roberts. There is no doubt it might, and should be, practised very much more than it is. A team of forwards in good form who can dribble, pass with the foot, as well as with the hands, will often run off their feet a much heavier pack. Onp rarely sees such a set of players. Their value cannot be overrnterl. It would also go a long way towards restoring; the interest that is' said to be waning in Rugby football. Something of the attractiveness of soccer and the Northern League game, where the scrum is non-existent, would be imported into the Rugger game. Kupe is a back who played in the Northern team whom it would be pleasant to see/in the reps. He played an astonishingly good game, was always on the ball, "cut in" and made openings in a masterly fashion, and altogether proved himself quite fit for the honor of renresenting his province. He is also a useful player on defence.