FOOTBALL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 583, 9 July 1913, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

| MANGAPEHI 6 v. NEHENEHE 5. | The match between Mangapebi and Nehenehenui at Te Kuiti on Saturday was looked forward to with a considerable amount of interest, and a close game was anticipated. This summing up was found to be correct, as far as the actual scores were concerned, but as far as the exhibition of football was concerned neither side could be complimented upon the form shown. From start to finish the game was a forward scramble, not one piece of concerted play being witnessed. During the first spell the Mangapehi players had a little the bust of matters and kept their opponents busy. The Nehenehe backs did some good line kicking, and managed to stem the rushes of the opposing vanguard on all but one occasion, when J. Clarke got over and scored. Dixon made a good but ineffectual attempt at goal. The only other occasion upon which a score seemed imminent was when Dixon potted at goal from a free kick. He made a fine effort, but the ball went just outside the upright. In the second spell the Mangapehi playerß kept up the pressure for a time, and Kira scored a try in a forward scramble. Dixon again failed to convert. After this reverse the Nehe- i nehe players livened up, and the for- i wards made strenuous efforts to score. The Mangapehi backs defended well, and by good kicking kept their lines clear. The Nehenehe backs then attempted some passing, Killop being the moving spirit in this direction. A pass to Wilson saw the latter player tackled on the line and immediately afterwards T. Anderson, who had moved up to five-eights, made a dodgy run and waj just stopped in time. Prom a scrum the ball went out to a Mangapehi back who attempted to kick, but the effort was smothered by Heke and the ball rebounded over the line. Heke scored an easy try which was converted by T. Anderson, making the scores 6 5. The whistle sounded shortly afterwards with no further score. Mr P. Mora was referee.

JUNIOR. The first round of the junior competition was commenced on Saturday last. Otorohanga A played Te Kuiti at Te Kuiti, and Otorohanga B played Nehenehe at Otorohanga. The Te Kuiti men played four men short and Otorohanga one man short. The game was uninteresting, though some good individual play was shown. The match resulted in a win for Otorohanga by 9 points (three unconverted tries) to nil. Mr P. Mora was referee. The Otorohanga B v. Nehe match resulted in a win for Nehenehe by 5 points to 3. TE KUITI v. ONGARUE. A DRAWN GAME. The team which proceeded to Ongarue from Te Kuiti was not the full strength of the local club and the team was further weakened by some of the players being lamentably out of condition. However, this should not detract from the merit of the performance put up by the Ongarue players who in forward work sliowed decided superiority over their opponents. With good supporting backs taking advantage of the openings made by the forwards there should have been a substantial majority of points in favour of Ongarue instead of a draw. The Te Kuiti forwards were badly beaten, and had it not been for the eterliing defence put cp by some of the backs, they would have been in a bad way. There was no score in the first spell, but Ongarue had bad luck in not getting over on one or two occasions. In the second spell Ongarue scored a try, which was not converted, and as the game proceeded it seemed as though Te Kuiti bad no change to get even. However, right on the call of time, Boles got over in a scramble and scored a rather lucky try between the Dosts. Healey missed the shot at goal and the whistle sounded to cease play. Mr H. Rothery was referee.

NOTES. The game at Te Kuiti calls for little comment. Neither side made any attempt to open up the play, and the game resolved itself into a forward scramble. The backs on both sides defended well, but were never dangerous in a scoring capacity. J. Clarke certainly scored for Mangapehi, but the try came through a scrambling rush. Killop was easily the soundest back on the ground, and it is a pity this player has not more frequent opportunities to don the jersey. The forwards all worked hard, but appeared to be content to keep the play cbse. Heke junr. was the most prominent of the Nehenehe vanguard. He headed every rush and followed up in great style. With a little more experience and a knowledge of the finer points of the game he should be fit for any team. Prom all accounts the Ongarue team poasessesd a fine lot of forwai'ds. Admitting that they met a somewhat weakened pack in Saturday's game they still showed excellent form. In hooking the ball in the scrum, which is one of the indications of good forward play, they never gave their opponents a chance and their following up was a strong feature of their play. It is a pity the back play is not up to the standard of their forward game, as with good backs the team would take a power of beating. However,there is little doubt that with its full strength in the field Te Kuiti would have won. As it is the players have to rest content with the knowledge that the team's chances for the championship have been extinguished by over-confidence, and a deplorable exhibition of slackness on the part of some of the players who should know a great deal better. For the sake of the deserving members of the team the reßult is to be regretted.

OTOROHANGA 38 v. WAIMIHA 8. The Waimiha team did not roll up in full strength and several vacancies had to be filled by substitutes. The

game for the first half was full of interest and there was not a great deal to choose between the teams. At halftime the scores stood—Otorohanga 10 points, Waimiha 8. In the second spell. however, the Otorohanga players livened up and rattled on the points quickly, the game eventually finishing with the score Otoroharga 38, Waimiha 8. Mr N. B. Lusk was referee. For the winners P. Turner at centre three-quarter.did great work, stopping and kicking in good style, while Piripi showed cleverness on several occasions: Among the forwnds Holden played his usual solid game, and G. Clarke deserves a word of special mention.