FOOTBALL.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1641, 14 May 1925, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

' (By "Offside,")

Last season's winners and runners up * (Pirongia and Te Awamutu respectively) in the Senior competition have made good starts again this season, having won two matches eacATt looks as if! the old story will bePrvr peated. but Parawera were not inVjftfi season's competition and on present form will have a say in the ultimateresult.

A #ood deal of trouble has been occasioned the Union officials over the interpretation of the rule governing thejweight limit in the Third Grade competition. The chief borie of contention was whether the limit of lOst meant in playing togs or stripped. Tin's question was finally settled at last meeting, and the rule is now interpreted to read that a lad must not exceed lOst. stripped at his first game of the season, and at no part of the season must he exceed lOst. 71b. The enthusiasm being displayed by officials and players of clubs in the outlying districts must have a beneficial effect on football in this Union. And the ladies, also must not be forgotten, for local teams which have travelled out to meet these teams report a very royal time in the matter of hospitaliy. ! At the annual meeting of the N.Z. Referees' Association held in Wanganui some time ago several important alterations to the rules were decided upon, and it is time the" local Asso-ciation-had instructions from headquarters as to whether these amendments are to be put into effect or not. One alteration by the way, has been the cause of much discussion for years past, is that defining a free kick, or penalty kick. The rule has again been amended and the penalty kick is now a "free" kick in every sense of the word. The kicker may now place the ball himself and his opponents are even debarred from jumping in the air in an endeavour to touch the ball. The local referees could well apply this new ruling in next Saturday's matches. The practice of players charging > into an opponent after he has got rid 1 of the bail is gradually growing each Saturday and it is time referees took drastic action 'against this class of obstruction. It Is not only unfair- but may have decidedly disastrous results to players. Followers of the two local teams were disappointed in the display given last Saturday. Although it was fully anticipated in most quarters that Te Awamutu would have a fairly easy win, they by no means had things all their own way until near the end of the game. If they can only come to some understanding as to each other's methods Te Awamutu have the finest set of backs seen out here for seasons past. Although Rovers were lacking in combination they made amends by the manner in which they stuck to their task and worried the opposition into mistakes. Mizen has not fulfilled the good impression he gave in his first match. He is inclined to play too deep With the result that several passing bouts broke down when they came to him. It would have been good tactics to have cut him out of the movement several times on Saturday.

Pat Quin must have broken the hearts of the Rovers forwards on Saturday by the manner in which he repeatedly got his side out of trouble If Pat maintains his present form there is sure to be one Waipa representative in the Waikato touring team.

A good illustration of the necessity for combination was given in the Pi-rongia-Pukeatua game on Saturday. What little combination was shown belonged to Pirongia and this fact alone allowed them to eventually gain an easy win. With a competent coach the Pukeatua fifteen could be greatly improved and-would take a lot of beating as there is no question about their enthusiasm.

The ordering off of two players in this match should be a lesson to players in future. Although "Offside" did not see the occurrence he congratulates the referee on his determination to stop any semblance of rough play. On Saturday at Te Kawa, Parawera Seniors defeated Te Kawa by 25 points to 3. The Methodist Thirds are not going to slacken their efforts to become proficient, for. they are to assemble for a practice -on Saturday, when the other four teams in the grade competition are meeting. The Senior match at Te Kawa on Saturday should be an added attraction for the carnival that centre. The addition of a team from Ohaupo to the contestants for the Third Grade Championship honours makes five in this grade. With three Junior teams and seven Seniors this makes fifteen teams under the Waipa Union's control this season.

TEAMS . FOR SATURDAY. sTe Awamutu Seniors.—Quin (2), Smith (2),'Wallace, Anderson, McRae, Bayne, Anschutz, Holmes, Griggs, Kelly, Kay, Winter, White, Mizen, Walsh. Pirongia Seniors—Butler, McDonald, Provis, Mabbett, F. Beet, A. Johnson. Bell, Wilson, D. Smith, C. Arthur, E, Beet;- A. Steel, Harper, Osborne, \v3l Ormsby, R. Ormsby. ,\ .'l Te Kawa Seniors.—T. Moisley, *f. Kingi, R. Grant, G. Tipie, W. W. Mexted, T. Wright, P. Weal, f). Mold, D. Baxter, T- Wallis, H. Tai, A. Turner, F. Clark, G. Thompson, D. Condell, H. Keepe, G. Narby. Rover Seniors. —McDonald, Flay. Patterson (2), Murphy, Lendorf, Moore, ' iHiggins, Loomb, Bennett, Cooper, Nicholls, Langmuir, Rawiri, Short, Hinton and Bryham. Rover Juniors. —Old, Harris. Bridge, Cruickshank, Bowden, Hall, Walker, Woods, Finch, Black, Woolly, Ticklepenny, Irwin Storey, Wenham, Bravo, Mcßae. Puahue Thirds: Baillie, Parrish, Natzke, Kite, Ngahoe, Lenihan, Glasson (2), Cavanagh, Cootes, Owens, P. Taniwha, Manu, Walker, Deed and J. Atta. Methodist Juniors: Head ,Lane, Parrish, Swain, Morris, Lawry, Martin, Woolston, Balme (2), Barnett, Patterson, Johansen, Nicholson and Parrish. Emergencies: Jones and Rodgers* ;•..» ■ ■■•■■■ • •;■-".'' ■ .■-.-■'■ .■■■■■■ V, %