TE KOTAHITANGA v. NGAI TU AHURIRI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5655, 28 August 1896, Page 4

TE KOTAHITANGA v. NGAI TU AHURIRI.

This game, the first between Maori teams from the North and South Islands respectively, was played at Lancaster Park yesterday afternoon under the supervision of Mr A. Lawrence. The state .of the ground, after the recent rains, precluded any chance of a good game, and au unfortunato accident immediately after the kick-off, by which Harry Uru, tho captain of the Ngai tv Ahuriri team, had one of his legs broken, also tended to rob the rest of i the play of intxcli interest, and to establish instead a feeling of deep regret all round. W. Uru, too, through an accident at. practice, was unable to play, and his absence, of course, was a disappointment to the six or seven hundred spectators present. A Maori war dance, in costume, preceded and ended the game, and war-whoops in the Nalire tongue were plentiful throughout. The following were the teams: —Te Kotahitanga — Full-back, Parano j three-quarter-backs, Karaiatana, Faulkner and Dauger; five-eighth, Cootes; half-back, Gage ; forwards, Andrew, Ukiuki, Russell, Manheri, King, Eraniia, Jaro, Putahi' and Kaipo. Nga tv Ahuriri— Full-back, Puha ; threequarter-backs, H. Wakefield, Taiaroa and Mahaki; five-eighth, H. Uru ; halfback, Rehu; forwards, Reubeni, Pohio, Hape Uru, Davis, William, J. Wakefield, i Brown, Howard and Barritt. Miller. took Harry Uru's place after tho accident occurred. The northerners kicked oft", and Howard dribbJed back past the centre, when Uru, in the simplest manner possible, had his left leg broken. He was at once attended to by Dv Thomas, and soon removed to the hospital. After resuming, a lot of centre play followed, till at last the northern team rushed through and forced the local nsen. Gage returned the kick-out in good style, and Eussell dribbled further on, Puha saving on his OAvn line. A force came, though, and subsequent good good play by Wakefield set play at To Kotahitanga's flag. A good mark, followed by some fine dribbling, let Faulkner dodge away to the southern line. Miller came back to the centre, and Wakefield and Taiaroa went further on right to the line. Parano relieved, but Miller's good play kept the northerners defending, and half-time was called with no score recorded. After the interval, the northerners executed a good passing rush from their own flag past the centre, and after a lot of fighting there Faulkner potted a splendid goal. Four to nil. Cootes made a good run afterwards, which was more than neutralised by a determined Ngai tv Ahuriri charge to Kotahitanga's line, and for a long time the local team looked dangerous. They worked out at last, though, and a good run of Gage's was ended in front of the goal, where Puha tackled him excellently. A force followed, and Mahaki and Miller worked play into the visitors' ground. The latter soon came back, however, and forced the local men. Just afterwards Miller led a good rush to the other end, and the visitors were forced. Then a nice passing rush let Karaiatana over the local line, but he was called back on an appeal for off-side. Faulkner potted again, but only forced, and time was called soon afterwards, with Kotahitanga the winners by four points to nil. The teams dined together at Burkes Hotel last evening, and, together with their supportors, left in drags for Woodend later on.

The Otago team arrived from Dunedin by last night's express, and were welcomed at the station by a large number of local footballers and others. There were driven to the Clarendon Hotel, where they will reside during their stay in Christchurch. The match between the Otago and Canterbury representative teams will take place at Lancaster Park to-morrow afternoon.