FOOTBALL.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 307, 28 June 1898, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

CAMBRIDGE V. HUNTIY.

Matters in counection with the footbal' competition in Waikato have now assumed a more interesting aspect. The Huntly defeat on Saturday last has infused new life into the contest, and Huntly, Hamilton and Cambridge are now running level with a loss each to their credit or discredit as the case may be. To thoso who pinned their faith o» Huntly, the result of Saturday's match came as a bit of a revelation ; but the writer, in common with many others, had not taken into consideration the rapid strides made by the Cambridge team since its last appearance in Hamilton. That it has improved vastly there is not a shadow of a doubt, and on Saturday's form must take a leading position in deciding the cap contest for 1808. Saturday's match, however, can scarcely be taken as a criterion, or fair trial of strength between the two teams, as the Huntly contingent arrived in Hamilton five men—4 forwards aud 1 back—short, and this no doubt had a dishearteniug effect upon the other members of the team at the outset. Substitutes were obtained : but 14 men only could be marshalled. In thus stating the facts of the case, it is not our intention to detract, in any way, from the glory of the Cambridge win. This team has had a bie up-hill fight this season, and no one, at any rate in this district, would begrudge to see it come out at the head of the poll. The success of Cambridge on Saturday was entirely due to the dashing set of forwards they possess. They made the game a willing one from the jump, and never gave their opponents a chance, and, but for the admirable defence of the Huntly backs, the score would have been a, large one. Acting on the suggestion made in our issue of Thursday last, the police cleared the ground before play commenced, but they did not CO quite far enough in the matter, and allowed the crowd to assemble on the far side of the ground, and once there no single man can keep the boundary line clear. It is clearly the duty of someone, if not the police possibly the referee, to keep the ground properly cleared during the game, and now that the fence has been erected there would be little difficulty about the matter, all that h required being a little firmness. There is no doubt that these leather-lunged enthusiasts have a lot to answer for in the way of rough play and unsportsmanlike behaviour on the part of the contestants. Mr A. B. Heather had charge of the game, and though he was as usual eminently successful, he was at times badly treated, and towards the end of had to request one of the Huntly men to leave the field of play. The teums were composed as follows: Huntly : Full-back—W. Gleeson ; threequarters— M. Gleeson, B. Housley and Hume ; half—J. Clout; five-eights— Gillospie; wings—Smith and J. Clout; forwards—J. B. Harris, R. Muir, J. Bond, Peckham, O'Halloran and Snow. Cambridge : Full - back L. Evans ; three-quarters —Carnachan, Stewart and Anderson ; five-eights—Armer ; half— McVeagh ; forwards—Cowling, Jackson, Brockclsby, Care, Mackerith.Carnachan, Montgomery and Bailey, Cambridge had decidedly the best of the opening work, and inside of a couple of minutes had their opponents in difficulties, but a free kick brought the necessary relief and play centred. Cambridge then obtained a penalty kick within placing distance and an excellent kick at goal was made, but no score resulted. Another big rally on the part of the Cambridge forwards carried play to within an ace of the line ; Gleeson at lull, however, came to the rescue, and a timely punt sent the b&ll to Stewart, who made a fine attempt to pot, and Huntly forced. Cambridge continued their aggressive tactics, but a long kick by Housley gave the maroons an opening they were not slow to embrace, and bowling along in fine style they carried the leather along to the full-back and looked like scoring, but Evans' defence left nothing to be desired, and play was quickly removed to the opposite end of the field, where some exciting forward work was shown. After hovering round the maroon line for some considerable time, the Cambridge men at length got across, but a force only rewarded them for their exertions Going at it as though they had not a moment to lose, the Cambridge forwards again over-ran the opposing vanguard, and gave the Huntly backs an anxious time of it. Nothing of note occurred until the attacking forwards started a well-directed passing rush, several men getting to the line. Here an infringement occurred, and another free kick was awarded to Cambridge, and Jas. Stewart placed a pretty goal amidst great excitement. Cambridge 3 —Huntly 0. Mackerith and Jackson led another attack ; but M. Gleeson dribbled the ball out of danger. The clearance was only a temporary one, and the blue and white forwards again returned to the charge, and this time crossed the line, half a dozen players from each side falling on the ball. The issue was rather doubtful and a scrum was given five yards out. Carrying the serum for once, Huntly reached the half-way flag, where the game continued during the remaining five minutes of the spell. In the second half of the game, the Cambridge men went at it with a determination to score, and kept their apponer.ts penned down within the 25 flag nearly the whole of the time ; but were unable to score. The maroon 3 fought out gamely a most unequal battle, and the performance of the back division behind a beaten pack was a most creditable one. Once only did Huntly make a stand. Coming away with a good rush the forwards swept from one end of the field to the other, and crossed the opposing line. It was difficult in the melee to decide which man secured the ball, and a serum was ordered. Making a strenuous effort the maroon forwards broke through the scrum and again crossed the toueh line, but this time Cambridge succeeded in forcing. As the game was drawing to a close Cowling made one of the most brilliant runs ever witnessed on Sydney Square. Play was centred about half way, when he shot out from the pack, and beating about half a donen men, he raced clean away from his opponents, and scored in a good position, Montgomery kicked a good goal, bringing the Cambridge score up to S points, a few rninutss before the call of time. A slight unpleasantness then occurred, which interrupted the play for a short time. Play was resumed : but no further score was registered, Cambridge thus winning by 8 points to nil. TE AWAMUTU V. PATEKANCSI. A lively game of football was played in Mr Germann's paddock on Saturday between the Te Awamutu and Paterangi Clubs, which ended, after a hard fought battle, in a win for the visitors by 3 points to nil. The following represented Tc Awamutu :-Full-back—G. CruicKshank ; three-quarters—J. Cruickshank (Captain), Jones, F. Bowden ; fiveeichts —G. Bowden ; half—S. Lewis ; wings—Carley and Bockett; forwards Rimmer, Corlett, Mandeno ('2), H. Lewis, Papesch and Holden, while Pateranpi was represented by : Full-back—S. C. Macky ; three-quarters—Williams, R. Kay, J. Ryburn (Captaiu) ; five-eights— L. Macky ; half—W. Scott ; wings—G. Allcock ami A. Hall ; forwards—T. Allcock, W. Sing, H. May, C. Sing, F. Ryburn, N. Reid and J. Kay. Referee —Mr G. Macky ; line umpires—Messrs C. Bowden and TV". Germann. In the first spell Te Awamutu had the wind in their favour, and having also the heavier forwards had the best of the game for a time, the ball being in the Paterangi 25. Several marks were obtained, but not much advantage gained. TVheu the visitors looked like scoring, C. Macky sent the ball well up the field

and for a time relieved his side. For a short time play was in Te Awamutu territory, when scrum followed scrum, and gradually Paterangi was aeain in danger, when I). Bookett scored the first and only try for Te Awamutu. There was considerable offside play about this time and some of the spectators thought it was no try. If. Lewis tool; tho kick at eoal, but failed to increase the score. From the kick-out some hard kicking ensued, Paterangi easily saved by forcing. For a held ball Te Awamutu got a free kick. J. Cruickshank took the kick at goal, but was not successful. Paterangi soon after got on a goo-l loose rush, which placed their oppoeents in danger, but F. Bowden and the Cruicks'nanks interposed, and immediately the whistle called half-time. Tc Awamutu 3 ; Paterangi, nil.

The wind now calmed down and the sun shone for a time, but when the last spell was half through a drizzling rain fell, which made the ball rather greasy, and prevented passing. The game after this became nearly altogether a forward one. In the scrums, Te Awamutu always gained, but in the loose rushes Paterangi excelled, and frequently took the ball dangerously near their opponents' line, when those old veterans, F. Bowden, J. and G. Cruickshank, who appear to be in good form this season, prevented scoring. "When play was lesumed, the leather was carried up and down the field several times, gradually getting into Paterangi's 25. When within a few yards of the line the referee gave a free kick for off-side play, which slightly relieved the home goal, but soon after Te Awamutu were awarded a free kick for a held ball. J. Cruickshank took the kick, and was in a good position to score, but W. Sing rushing in, stopped the ball, and from the re-bound, it was carried to the Te Awamutu line ; but hard kicking enabled Te Awamutu to force. From a scrum in Te Awamutu ground, the ball went up to the centre, where by hard play it was brought back to the Te Awamutu line, the Pateraugi captain nearly scoring. From a throw-in F. Bowden marked, and the ball went into Paterangi ground ; but Williams, by a good run and a long punt, brought the ball into Te Awamutu ground, when Paterangi got several free kicks, one of which taken by G. Allcock, was only a few yards wide of the mark. Soon after this Te Awamutu obliced Paterangi to force, and for a time had the. best of the game. A try was claimed by Paterangi, made by G. Allcock, but as his body was between the referee and the ball, it was not allowed, a lot of players falling over the ball, preventing the referee seeing properly. Frank Bowden had the misfortunate to meet with a slight accident to his leg, which prevented him taking part in the iast ten minutes of the match. For the visitors the backs all played a grand game, while in the forwards, Papesch, H. Mandeno and Corlett played a good came. For Paterangi, among the backs, C, and L. Macky were conspicuous ; while among the forward, T. Allock, W. Sing and F. Ryburn, and Geo. Allcock, one of the wings, did good service. There was rather much talking by the players, which is clearly not desirable. —(Own Correspondent). KIHIICIHI V. OTOItOHANGA. The first match of this season between the Kihikihi and Otorohanga Clubs was played in the Domain on Saturday last. The following players represented Kihikihi :—Full-back—J. Corboy ; threequarters—M. Gorrie, M. Harris and Paul ; five-eights —K. Gorrie ; half—M. Webster; wings E. Short and J. Gardiner ; forwards—Walker, Harris, Lang, Corboy, McDonald, Kay and Thomson. The Otorohanga team, who were the heavier lot, were captained by Ratima. —I am unable to give the other namea of the team. Mr T. Wilson acted as referee, and Messrs Thomson and D. Ross as line umpires. The game was a hard and fast one and at times rather rough, the play for the most part being slightly in favour of the home team. Tries were obtained by C. Thomson and T. Harris, but were not converted. Through some misunderstanding a very well kicked goal obtained by Gardiner from a mark was not allowed. Otorohanga failed to score, so the game resulted in a victory for Kihikihi by six points to nil. The Kihikihi players only require to muster oftener for practice and to go iu for a little traiuing and they will stand a ehance of wiping out their first defeat this season, and turning the tables on Paterangi in the return match. Paterangi meet Otorohangi at Kihikihi next Saturday. The second round of the Auckland District Cup Matches commenced on Saturday afternoon, and resulted as follows:—Newton scored a seventh victory, having beaten Grafton by three points to nil; Suburbs beat Ponsonby by 12 to nil; Parnell beat City by 19 to nil. A meeting of the Waikato Rugby Cnion was held at the Royal Hotel on Saturday evening, at which delegates representing the Huntly, Cambridge and Hamilton clubs were present. The chief business was the arrangement of the fixtures for the second round. The following is the order :—July 9th : Cambridge v, Ohaupo, at Ohaupo ; Hamilton v. Waingaro, at Hamilton ; Huntly, a bye. July 16th: Teams representing the Waikato and Waipa Unions. July 23 : Huntly v. Waingaro,' at Huntly ; Cambridge v. Hamilton, at Ohaupo, a bye. July 30: Huntly r. Ohaupo, at Ngaruawahia ; Cambridge v. Waingaro, at Hamilton ; Hamilton, a bye. Aug. G: Hamilton, v. Ohaupo, at Hamilton ; Huntly v. Cambridge, at Ngaruawahia ; WaiDgaro, a bye. Aug. 13 : Waingaro, v. Ohaupo, at Hamilton. Aug. 20: Hamilton v. Huntly, at Hamilton.