FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 422, 27 May 1908, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

(BY "PAPAIOEA.") THE PALMERSTON-KIA TOA GAME. Saturday's games were disappointing. The Kia Toa-Palmerston match was looked forward to with great expectations of another ding-dong go, but from the kick off Palmerston's supporters saw that the absence of Skelley and Martis altered the whole situation. For Kia Toa Hodgius, at full was safe, but should curb an inclination to beat an oppoueut before getting his kick in. Webb and Stevens were fair on the wings ; tho former did tho most work. Stevens used his head at times, but was very much out of place when Egliutou scored. Stalker did uot shine as much as usual although he played well and with his head. O'Connor has not yet played up to the form lie showed in practice matches, but on Saturday played well. He found the lino with great persistency, especially in the second half, when it was wanted. Halfback McKeweu improves with every game and will have to bethought of when the selector is ou tho job. Archie McMinn, of course, was the star of the forwards. His place kicking was a feature of the game. Of the others I singled out Martin as the best. On the light side for a forward he is as activo as a grasshopper plays the ball and is always on it He scored two trios ou Saturday. King, Hardie and Thorburn played For Palmerston Charlie Stewart, at full back, came out with flying colours. His kicking and fielding showed no weakussses. Briscoe played a good game ou the wing. This cannot be said of Stephensou, who got his side into trouble many times by hauging on. Eglinton has a lot of paco, but should not cut across the field in a passing rush. Several times he had his follow backs crowded by not running straight Downes was very safe throughout, but has the same fault as Egliutou Ho kicked tho only goal for his side, aod it was a good kick too. Hewitt was the mainstay of the backs, both in defence and attack ; he has a very powerful kick and used it very effectively at times. Buchanan went down to those "kick - at - everything - in-the-way" forwards iu grand style, taking alot of g,celling. Boou again showed wbat a fine winger lie is. "Billy" grafts Jike a "Trojan" from start to fiuis'i ami sets a fine example for Ins men to follow. Best,Kyle and Muusfo'd woe conspicuous among the forwards.

FEILDJNG-OLD BOYS' GAME. Piny iu the FoiWiug-Old Boys' game was very much off, neither side p'xviu;/ "auvwhen? near tbe game they did on previous Satu<(Ja,:s. Like t'-e fi'-rft nr-itch wheu tl.ioso two clubs mot Old Boys weie abend at half time aud maintained tbe li:ul until twouty miuutes to go. Tbe Yel'ow aud B'acka tbea ran a'l over them practica'ly as tliey pleased. Piiaoi, as centre tbreequartur, was o'j tbe day, easily tbe best bank oa tbe grooL'd, bis display being, perhaps, tbe best be baa given in Mauawatu footbal'. Of tbe other backs T eveva, at full, was the ou'y oue who pbjed anything like a deceut game aud be made mistates Tlie forwards shaped better, the Cai-roll liros. (3), Whisker, McNae. aud Kyau doiug most of tbe work for tboir side.

O'd Boys' backs wore again in a coufusiou, most of them bein'* off colour. Tl.-o Fei'diug forwards may have upset them. If tlio Old Hoys cl.-aoged the position o? their backs better results might eosao. Eraser came with the repntation of a full back. Why not play him there? Barry would do niuuh better ou the wing." Aruodeo cau play fiveeighths nvi always played in that position until last season. Lowe is said to play a fair game at half. The forwards, too. did not back up their leader "OUI Bvum" as they should, only G. McMiun and Waters makiug auy son of showing, but it is hoped the ioelnsion of Hogan, Waldegrave and Wiugato will effect improvement.

The Foj'diug Star says tlie representative team in not hard to pick and ihis one should be near the nwk when the numbers go up :— Trevena, Stoker, Ba-'-y, Fraser, Carroll, O'Connor, Hewitt, Arcl\. McMinn, McNae, Whisker, Ryan, Wingate, Boon, W. Carroll, Ward.