FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 581, 2 July 1913, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WINS FOR TE KUITI AND VVAIMIHA. In the competition?! under the auspices of the Maniapsto Rugby Union on Saturday last, To Kuiti defeated Nehenehenui by 41 points to nil, ard •Waimiha proved victorious in the match with Ongarue by 9 points to nil. TE KUITI 41 v. NEHENEHENUI 0. The match opened with a ccr.siderable amount of forward play, the baci;3 on both.sides contenting themselves with kicking. Nehenahe started fling" ing.the ball about, but good tackling by Cole and Matthews prevented the movements becoming dangerous. However, the Maori team was doing Well. The forwards were too heavy for the black and white vanguard, who were hard out to it to stem trn rushes of their" opponents. A free kick to Te Kuiiti well followed up, found Tame lacking and a scrum in front of the goal looked dangerous. The Nehenahe forwards cleared tiieir line and a free kick brought further relief. The Nehenehe continued £o press and Hake from the line out got in a good kick which Matthews marked near the I Iris. The kick was smothered but Bole" came to the rescue with a kick, and good following enabled tha black and whites to again get possession and start a passing run Matthews was well tackled by Wiri but Cole kicked the ball and following up fast scored ' a try nsar the post?. Healey added 'the extra points—s—o. Uninteresting play followed the kick off for a time till Boies sod Mears broke away with a passing run down the line. Good tackling by Tartu and Wiri averted a score. From the ensuing scrum Te Kuiti rushed the ball to the line but a counter rush brought play b»ck to half way. The Te Kuiti backs then began to take a hand but a promising run was apolt by over eagerness on the part of Matthews and Cole. Nehenehe made a counter attack, Heke starting a good passing run to Te Kuiti's 25 Cole intercepted a pass when matters were looking dangerous and raced down the I field. Putting all tho pace «>■ he could muster the Te Kuiti three-quar [ ter beat the full back ai:d lasted long I enough to score alongside the goal. Healey again converted, making the score 10—0. The first spell was remarkably even and the Te Kuiti backs were not able to open up the game to any extent. In the second epll the order of things was changed. The backs started to pus?. Rothwell and Boles made every possible opening and quick scoring resulted. The fir3t try in the second half came from a openning made ny Boles who received the leather from Rothwell. Cuttirig in and boating a couple of opponents 1 Boles transferred to Matthews, who when blocked made a short punt and sprinted for tho ball over the line. Healey failed to convert. —l3 —O. The Te Kuiti forwards now began to assert themselves and they held their weiphty opponents in goo* style.' Aretha- f assing run started by Rothwell and Boles saw Carr over the line with tlitj leather, but a throw forward bad occurred arid a scruv:; was ordered. Keeping up the pressure th? blac!: and white backs made matter a lively, but the passing at titles vv;;s net clean and opportunities were \-j-:.i. At tha centre n fine passing run was started by Carr end the ball passing cleanly from man to man gave Hunt a good cbancs to score behind the posts. Healey added the extra points, making tho score 18—0. Heke led a Nehenehe rush to neutral ground, but Healey came back with a dash. A passing run was spoilt by throwing forward and from the ensuing scrum Nehenehe were awarded a free kick. Te Kuiti forwards came back with a rush and from loose play Mears picked up dashed over and scored. Healey again added . the points—23—o. The rest of the game consisted of a series of assaults on the Nehenehe line, Matthews scored three tries and Delaney one before time was called, and Healey converted three out of the four attempts, making the total score —41 —0.

Mr Power refereed in his usual efficient style. The game w£«s in a sense peculiar. During the first spell the Nehenehe players 'held their own well, and the two tries scored against them, while in no pense undeserved, were a trifle lucky. In the second spell the Te Kuiti backs set the pace in great style and quite outstayed their opponents. For the winners McKellar, at full back, had not a great deal to do and shaped very well. For the losers Wiri Anderson, at full back, played a really good game. He tackled, kicked and fielded the ball in great style, and must be given a special word for bis game display. The Te fcuiti three-quarters proved to be a formidable trio when the ball was being handled, but their passing can still be improved. Colo Bhowed fine dash and a good turn of speed on more than one occasion. Matthews, at Centre, should learn to pass a little sooner and get into position to receive the ball again instead of going into his man with the leather. Hunt is evidently new to the threequarter line, but with practice, Bhould du well in the position. Boles made great openings for the backs and was wonderfully busy both in attack j and defence. He was,: as usual, the king pin of the backs. Rothwell got the ball away Well and • played hie usual nippy game. The Nehenehe backs had fe« opportunities in attack, and the loss of Taka, who injured his shoulder early in the game, made a big difference to the team. Wilson was dashing on occasions and did a lot of work. Heke, who played five eighths, after Taka was hart, gave a solid exhibition. It?is a pity this player does not devote himself entirely to the forward game. He should make an ideal lock man in the ucram. The Te Kuiti forwards were over-, weighted in the scram in the first, spell but stack to their task gamely. In the second spell they more ttmn held their own and showed they could take a hand in passing boat* u well as the backs.