FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12238, 11 June 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY "LES HARLEQUINS."

followers of local footbal have been treated to good interesting games in all the senior contests, no team-having a greater advantage than any of the others. No team, so far, can be really said to be hopelessly out of it, and supporters of the different clubs are still sanguine that their favourites will holJ the Cup at the end of the season. So far, it is true, Kaierau appear to be strong enough to go through without a loss, seeing that they have «iefeated Pirates twice and reversed tnor defeat against Wanganui, although the margin of 2 points was.small enough to warrant a prediction that a great battle .will be witnessed when these two teams meet again, as to both, it will mean that a win-will carry them a great deal towards final supremacy. Howeved, althought Kaierau seem to. have the best chance of winning, still if they earnestly desire to do so,' they should not relax their efforts or make too sure, as there may be a repetition of 1907, when Kaie- " rau appeared for three-parts of the season to be absolute certainties, and then their unexpected defeat by Old Boys (then the weakest team in the competition) was responsible for placing them on the same level as the ' Pirates, who finally won the Cup. Neither "Wanganui nor the Blacks are properly settled yet, but Saturday's match between Pirates and Wanganui will have a large bearing on the Championship. Both teams are confident—very conlident—one well-known player for Wanganui having expressed his determinetion to retire from the game for gout? if the red and blacks do not sweep from high seas the fierce piratical rovers v-uo bar their progress. .Kaierau settled Pirates last Satur day fairly easily by 13 to nil. Piratea were far from having their strongest combination on the field —Milne' Mo Leod.. Collis and Mitchell being absent, and the loss of these players undoubted ly weakener'the team. On the other hand, Kaierau had some very sore mnn playing, two or three of whom would have been serving the interests of their team better by being on the fence, hi fact, it is said that a good deal of persuasion was required to get Meuli and ■Carroll to play, and only the fact thvfc -their senior would have been short, these players would not have donned their jerseys. Even the burly Takirangiis said to have been complaining about being scarcely in a playing mood, but the veteran needed no^argumentive forces to be directed on him to coerce him into taking his place in the ;a:;k. The Kaierau forwards were a much heavier and larger pack than their opponents. The former was a well organised scrum —practically the same, since ■the second match, while the iatteh were, if anything, disorganised and lacking the weight, height, dash and pace or the Maroons. The latter, however, were not so vastly superior as one woulu be inclined to imagine, the irate forwards standing up well to their task, and as long as their strength lasted, fighting a splendid up-hill game, in the last ten or fifteen minutes the Kaierau forwards simply swept over and through their opponents, who appeared utterly unable to cope with the repeat^l and determined onslaughts of the Kaierau scrummaging brigade, who, however, despite their undoubted superior-, .ity, lacked finality in their work, as all their rushes failed to carry tbo' ball across the line, Abbott, Coe or McFetrish seeming to rise at the right moment and send the ball back with well-judged kicks to where the rush originated. K. O'Donnell, Murray, and E. Fowler were about the pick of the Maroon for wards, being ably seconded by TaKarangi and Souter, the latter playing in his old place on the wing. , Dow at half was not so clever as his "brother opposing him, but played the same good game he always doas. He scored a fair enough try on one occasion, and to this the Blacks testify, but the referee failed to think it was a legitimate scor&. His pass to Kilpatrick, (when the latter scored) was. a smart piece of work, as it was impossible, had ne let the ball out to the field, for the Kaierau backs to have scored as they liad failed more than once during the -- match. . -

Kilpatrick, if anything, was slightly off colour,' but his. try was a nice one, and was well-deserved. Joyce was perhaps the best back on the ground, both in attack and defence, his goal being a particularly finj effort. '

Meuli and Carroll were both very sore after the Wellington match, in which they more than any other of the loca! 3nen, had to take the severest gruelling Under the circumstances, therefore - both played well—Meuli more so than .Carroll. Tukere, at full back, was the bright particular star of the match, his work earning repeated applause from itlie spectators. As cool a player has not been seen in his responsible position for many a day; his coolness, in fact, appears much too cool, as he is so calm even in the tightest corner.that some day he will be caught napping. He showed that -he is an accurate line kick, arid demonstrated that he possesses plenty of pace by the manner in which he followed up a long kick and tackled Watson (the Pirate full back) before the latter had time to think as to the disposal of the ball. If Kaierau can find another fullback this player should be in the three-quarter line, to. which he would be a decided acquisition. Abbott was easily the best back on his side. Each succeeding Saturday sees this player improving all round, and at present, should he continue to do well, lie should not be passed over when the North _ Island Reps, are chosen. However, it is a bit early to speak of this matter yet. Coe appeared to dodge a good deal of work, but-what he diddo im did well. Watson is a young player yet as a cenior, but is improving, and should prove himself a good man before the season is ended. Smith and McFetrich both played soundly, the latter making some good openings which he .spoilt by faulty passing.

stood up to his task well, and played his best game this season. D. Dow, at half, played his usual heady game, stopping the rushes of his burly opponents in fine style. Phillips, a junior, is a very good man in the pack and open, and we expect to hear more of this player. Gill was about the best of the forwards, but his efforts lacked the support of his comrades, who only on a few occasions gave their assitance. Irvine does not play so well as last year, and without good men to second him he seems hopelessly at sea. Some unclean methods of playing were indulged in by one or two of the Blacks, whose names will be given publicity to, it there is a repetition of this kind of thing.