FOOTBALL.

Te Puke Times, 19 August 1919, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TEPUKE 5, .WHAKATANE 0.

Football circles in Te Puke were all agog with excitement last week in anticipation of the match Whakatane versus Te Puke for Jhe semi-final of the Kusabs Cup, and the keenest disappointment was felt, therefore, when Saturday morning broke with lowering skies, and the rain teamed down in torrents. All the morning it continued with no sign of a break, and although word was received, that the visitors were oii the road the weather was so bad as to almost preclude any hope of the game being played. However, at about three o'clock there was a slight cessation, and the opposing teams and spectators, protected with greatcoatsand umbrellas, wendea their way to the convincing ground. This, fortunately, was found to be in very fair order, the porous soil having allowed the water to get away.

Very little time was wasted in preliminaries, and the teams promptly took the field, the colours of Whakatane being dark blue, and of the home team black and white. Captain Ray Vercoe was chosen referee, whilst E. Montgomery captained the.local fifteen, and Tuta the visitors. The teams '

Te Puke-Full-back; Austin; threequarters, E. McEwen, Kokiri, McGeehan, Asher ; fiveeighths, R, Rogers, K. Rogers; half E. Montgomery ; forwards, A. Gray, Petherbridge, Iraia, Gardiner, Tapeta, M. Gray, Morton.

Whakatane-Full-back, Kelly; threequarters, Stewart, Stowell, Keepa; five-eights, Carter, Tuta; half, Horopapa; forwards, Kororiko, Comiskv,' Heather, Reid, Lawson, Maui, Pattie, Hutchings. Whakatane kicked off, and Te Puke, following up the return smartly, took the play into the visitors' .territory, the pressure being eased by a free kick awarded the latter. Shortly after the home team again attacked, and from a free kick Gardiner had a shot at goal, but without effect. A good -passing rush, started by .Montgomery, again placed the visitors' line in danger, but Kelly relieved, and the blue forward, headed by Comisky,< attacked strongly. K. Rogers' andiMorton carried the leather well up the field, and give arid take play ensued until the whistle sounded, the home team having had slightly the best of it.

On resuming Whakatane made things decidedly interesting, bacKs and forwards attacking in great style, and Te Puke's defence was tested severely. Twice they were forced in rapid succession. Then Gardiner stopped a dangerous rush, and carried the ball well up the field, where Stowell relieved his side with a good kick. The visitors continued the pressure, and 'from a mark had a shot at goal, which, howover was unsuccessful. Montgomery, (Asher, and McEwen then took a hand and transferred play to the visitors' 25. Again it was brought back to the centre, when an exchange of kicks took place between the opposing backs.' Then Kelly missed taking the ball, and a rush of the home forwards placed the Whakatane line in jeopardy, but no score had resulted when the whistle again went,

Long kicking by the backs signalised the opening of the second spell, and. this was followed by play in the centre of the field. McGeehan removed operations to Whakatane'B 25, and the visitors were shortly after obliged to force. A rush of home forwards was well stopped by Comisky. From a mark Austin made a good but ineffectual, kick at goal. At this juncture Montgomery, who was playing a sterling game, had the misfortune to be knocked out, and play was stopped for a few minutes. On resuming a rush started by Montgomery carried the ball over the visitors' line, McGeehan, Morton, and Petherbridge being conspicuous, and the latter touched down. The score was the signal for great cheering. McGeehan- took the kick and placed a beautiful goal. After the kick out Whakatane was again forced, but retaliated strongly, and play was in home territory when the"referee sounded the change over. In the last twenty minutes the spectator witnessed a determined Btruggle, Each side was straining every nerve and play travelled rapidly from one end of the field to the other. No further score, however, had been made when time was called.

Aa regards the merits of the contesting teams, it may be said that they were very evenly iMt'ctod. There was no &pprcQ(«

able difference in weight. The Te Puke backs were considerably faster than their opponents, but the latter had rather more combination. The home forwards were superior in scrum work, getting the ball time after time, but in the open there was not much to choose between the two sets of playerß.

With regard to individual play it may be said at once that Montgomery, against whose inclusion in the Te Puke team there was a little criticism, fully justified his selections playing a hard and heady game throughout. Asher played well,'but would have gained more ground had he kicked on certain occasions instead of trying to dodge the opposing forwards. McGeehan and McEwen played dashing games, whilst Austin at full, took the ball and kicked brilliantly, althouga more solid player is usually found in this position, . The forwards were a good even lot.

For Whakatane Stewart, Carter, and Keepa in the backs, and Reid, Maui, and Hutchings in the forwards were conspicuous.

It was pleasing to note that the game was played in a most friendly spirit, and with an entire absence of bickering. Capt. Vercoe proved an able and impartial referee. ' •