FOOTBALL

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 489, 19 September 1899, Page 3

FOOTBALL

WAIJATO V. FRANKLIN. On Saturday last the Wai Into representative team travelled to Pukek'dic for the purpose of meeting the Franklin rep fifteen. They arrived there shortly after 1 o'clock, aud the game commenced an hour later. Frankliu experienced some difficulty in getting their iimi together, and eventually had a scratch full-back named Brownhill, and who, whatever his faults were, could not be accused of being overexcited, for he jauntily smoked cigarettes throughout the whole of the match, aud ho certainly paid more attention to the weed than he did to the ball ; but on tho whole he came off fairly well. Tke day was almost a perfect one, the strong rays of the sun being tempered by a delightful bre<ze from' the west, which, 1 lowing right across the field, did not in any way interfere with the game. The Franklin forwards were a heavy, dashing lot of men, who shivered the Wnikato pack like piecrusb whenever they wanted to, and rarely tailed to get possession of the ball, screwing the Bcrum and carrying it with them. The Waikato backs, how ever, were far ahpad of their opponents, and thera is no doubt| they have improved wonderfully during the last few weeki. Notwithstanding the fact that the ga.me ended in a draw, each side scoring six points, Franklin a try and a penalty goal, and Waikato two tries, it must be conceded that Waikato had the best of the deal, and had they possessed a deoent place-kick must have won easily. During the last ten minutes they had three or four shots at goal from easy angles, with a nice dry ball and little or no wind to contend with, while, altogether they must have had quite a doxen splendid chances of scoring in this manner. All the attempts were good, several being posters, but posters do not add points. The place kicking of the Franklin men war also woak, but they bad not nearly as many opportunities as their opponents. Franklin's try was scored from a nice passing rush,.while Waikato's first try was due to as neat a bit of psssing as one could wish to see, the ball going from Bailey to Montgomery, then to Roberts and back again to Montgomery, who crossed the line. Waikato's second score was obtained by C. Hadden, who made a brilliant run right through the opposing team, grounding the ball just on the call of time. Mr F. J. Ohhon refereed, und it is perhaps superfluous to say that ho gave the greatest satisfaction. The following were the teams:— Franklin : Full - back Brownhill ; three-quarters—Condon, Cranston and McGough ; five-eighth -Burnand ; half G. Blake; wings—H. McKean and Moore; forwards—J. Graham, Nico!, Munro, Poland, Barribal, F. Graham and Foy. Waikato : Full-back—Kirk; threequarters —E. Armer, Anderson and 0. Hadden; five-eighth-Bailey ; half—T. Hinton ; wings—Heta and Roberts; forwards—G. Armer, Welsh, Dodd, L. Haddea, Montgomery, Marshall and Blackwell Franklin kioked off, and their forwards following up fast forced tho Waikato full-back into touch on his own goal line. A host of tight scums followed, Waikato being sorely pressed until Montgomery camo away with the ball at his toe, carrying play to the .25 flag. Here an infringement took place, and Franklin elected to have a ahot at goal from a free kick. Cranston was entrusted with the work, and he succeeded, in placing a beautiful goal before ten minutes had expired. The kick off sent the ball into Franklin territory, and Roberts endeavouring to prevent Condon's return kick, collided with the latter and was temporarily disabled. A scrum in Franklin ground followed, and for lifting feet the local men had a free kick given against them. Bailey took a shot at goal, hu t the ball flew wide. Play then centred, and the Frankliu backs endeavoured to inaugurate a passing rush ; Bailey, however, neatly intercepted, and going as straight as a die beat his man and passed on to Montgomery, who in turn transferred to Roberts. The latter approached the line, and being cornered passed back to Montgomery, who had como up on the inside, and a decidedly pretty piece of play ended in a score near the corner lag. Bailey made a splendid attempt at goal, but failed to enhance. The scores now stood—Franklin 3, Waikato 3. During the whole of the spell the Franklin forwards who, are a heavy, fast lot, had been hiving much the best of the game. Bailey was getting far mora than his fair share of work, the ball boing passed to him whenever a difficulty arose in front, although, in many instances, he had not a hundred to one chance of getting rid of it). He was completely smothered by the local forwards and wings, and Franklin continued a vigorous attack, during which Cranston had three shots *t goal from marks and penalties. Some good passing was shown by Blake, Cranston and Condon ; but the latter transferring wildly to McGough, let Waikato through to the line. Here the visitors had a' splendid chance for a ecore, but Bailey, instead of passing out, made an ineffectual attempt to pot, when about 10 yards from the bars. The kick was a good one, the ball going over the post, aud Franklin forced. Just before the close of this spell, the visitors again lost an excellent opportunity through off-side play on the part of Heta. Pretty passing play took the ball up to the Franklin goal and Heta was the last man in the chain, he had but a couple of feet to go and was unopposed' but took the ball in front of the final player. SECOND BFF.LL. The second spell opened with fast forward play about the centre, until Burnand made a long kitk into touch transferring the scene of play to the Waikato goal-line, but a capital rally by Waikato compelled Franklin to defeud, and Blackwell secured a mark in a handy position near the 25 line. Bailey made a fine attempt at the goal but failed to increase the score. A solid rush by the Franklin forwards, in which Graham and Foy were prominent was well stopped by Kirk, who however risked a rolling ball. Capital passing between the Frankliu three-quarters made a score a certainty but for a throw on, and from the scrum which followed Bailey got the ball well away to the centre. From here Dodd made a sensational run, and passed to Roberts who was collared before he reached the lim* and it was not long before the Franklin backs inaugurated a passing rush and a long kick sent the ball over the visitors line and Waikato forced. Soon after the drop out Marshall shot away from the centre single handed and dribbled through to the Franklin goal line ; but in attempting to pick up he knocked on and spoilt his chance of a score. Bailey then had a nice opening, his three-quar-ters bciug lined in good position, with a sure try in view but again he attempted to pot instead of passing out. Franklin again became aggressive and the forwards swooped down to a body on Kirk at full. He made a wretched kick from a rolling ball, 'he leather going straight iuto tho air -*i front of the posts. Burnand m.i''4jw> Cranston again took the kick, und K Waikatoites were much relieved to spjffne ball fly over the post. A few minutes afterwards Cranston secured the ball in the Waikato 25, and running strongly along the line pawed out neatly to McKean, who scored an easy try for Franklin in a good position. Cranston failed to convert. Thi? left tho scoreFranklin 6, Waikato 3. Waikato dropped out, and Dodd following up fast spoilt the return of the Frankliu fullback. Bailey soon after got possession, and made"a splendid attempt to pot, the ball being carried by the wind just outside the "post. Waikato continued to hover round the Franklin goal-line in a very aggressive style, the forwards goiug for a score for all they were worth, without success. Dodd marked in a good posh

tion, am) this time Montgomery was selected for tlie kick. He made a grand attempt, the ball again grazing the post. After the diop out Anderson again showed the way into the Franklin ground by a strong run, but he failed to puss the full-back. Montgomery then made a long kick from half way, and Heta and Robert* following down on Brownhill at full spoilt his return He wai exceedingly lucky in gettiug out of his difficulty, making a wild kick he drove the ball back over his own goal line and succeeded in reaching tin ball before his opponents. At this stage there were only two minute* to go, and all hope for Waikat.o appeared to have departed. Several return kicks were" made by the backs, and C. Hadden coming away from mid tie'd at top speed, took the ball like a trout dots a fly, and sailing straight for the line, beat off about half the team and scored near the posts, after making one of the moat sensational runs it has ever been the writer's lot to witness. The ►cores were now level, and the preparations for the kick at goal were made amid the greatest suspense. The excitement probably affected the kicker Bailey, who failed to place the easiest of goals. The whistle sounded immediately after. On the Franklin side, Condon. Cranston and Burnand were the best of tho backs, the latter beine especially noticeable on account of his fine defensive work. He was about the only hack in the home team who ever thought of the touch-line, and hie clever handling of the ball and splendid punting stamp him as a coming player. He, however, shows a tendency to leave his place, and on Saturday appeared to have a roving commission. F. Craham and Foy were the most prominent men in the forward ranks, und on Saturday they were for ever on the ball, following up well and dribbling in capital style. Kirk, at full-back for Waikato, did some excellent kicking, his lOng line punts exciting admiration on all sides. His collaring was too all that could be desired. He has contracted a bad habit of kicking rolling balls when in difficulties, aud, although, the first time he was successful, his second attempt nearly cost Waikato the match. E. Armer, at three-quarters, did what he had to do well, but was not brilliant ; while Anderfon proved himself one of the best defensive playeis on the field. C. Hudden only handled the bull about once, and then he made the magnificent run just on the call of time, which made him the hero of the match. Bailey was as safe as ever, and his clever screw kicking saved his side time after time. He, however, gets far too much to do, and is expected to pull his side out of a hole under all sorts of impossible conditions. His place kicking was not of the first water, but all his attempts were very near the mark. Roberts, Dodd, Montgomery, Marshall and Blackwell were the most noticeable of the forwards, although the whole pack played a real good uphill game Their chief fault was over anxiety, and by hard kicking they lost many good chances. Welsh was badly hurt in the first spell and was a cripple for the remainder of the game. The team returned home by the late train on Saturday evening, arriving at Frankton Junction about 10 p.m. The Franklin team has abandoned the Waipa tour, owing to the difficulty experienced in getting men to travel. WAIPA V. FRANKLIN. The players selected to represent Waipa in the above match, to be p'ayed at Tc Awamutu on Saturday next, are :—Fullback—J. Corboy ; three-quarters—M. Gorrie, G. Bowden and F. Bowden ; fiv# eighth—L. Trevena ; half—H. Carr ; wings—G. Allcock and J. Gardiner ; forwards—J. North, J. Bennett, D. Turner, B. Eveleigh, T. Allcock t H. Jackson and W. Rimmer. Emergencies : Full-back, C. Macky ; three-quarters, L. Macky ; forwards, W. Kay, H. Matideno and H. Lewis. [As will be seen above, this match will not come off].