Football.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 110, 23 July 1895, Page 2

Football.

AKE AKE v. OPUNAKE.' The first meeting of the above teams in the competition for Mrs Kennedy’s cup took place on Saturday last in Opnnake, and resulted in a draw neither side scoring. The teams were not in full force, Ake Ake playing a man short and Opunake being without the services of J. Hickey and Hohaia. The game, which was played throughout in a very friendly spirit, was uninteresting, though at times of an exciting nature, and was made up mostly of scrums and line-out play. Opunake kicked off against a strong west wind blowing at a slight angle across the field. The home team soon made things interesting for their opponents and carried play to within a few yards of the line, chiefly through the splendid wing play of J. Lambie. However, from a rush the ball was kicked over the line and West forced. From the kick-off play centred but was soon worked back to the Ake Ake line. Ake Ake took play back to mid-field and shortly after half-time sounded. The wind had changed around to the south and Opunake had had the advantage of it for the last half of the spell. Ake Ake now kicked off with the wind at their backs and the ball went over the line, Ebbet forcing. Play then centred in Opunake territory for some time, Lusk, Wagstaff and others making great efforts to get away, and Lambie, Carter (2) and A.,Guy making dashes to clear their line. F. Ebbett and Pera repeatedly saved the home team. At last T. Cart* got the ball clean away to J. Lambie, who ran some distance and kicked out of bounds near half way, and from thiu Opunake took play into Ake Ake 25. They made desperate efforts to score but the were strong on the defence, and were soon back to mid-field where the game ended. Mr H. Brewer officiated as referee, and C. Humphries as line umpire. Hawera forfeited to Waimate on Friday.