FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 881, 4 May 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF THE SEASON,

NATIVES V. EUROPEANS,

(Notes by “ The Whistle.”) Tho 1903 Rugby football season was opened at Victoria Domain on Saturday afternoon, when fifteens representing tho Nativos and Europeans of tho district opposed each other, under the auspices of tho Poverty Bay Rugby Union. The wcathor was favorable, there being no breeze to contend aguinst. A satisfactory crowd of spectators, including many ladies, witnessed tho match. At 3.20 tho teams took tbo field as under :

Natives : Kerc, Te Roina, Dclamere Balneavis, Johnson, Brown Poananga, VVepiha, T. Swann, Ryland, Moana, McGrnther, Giarke, Nuia. Europeans : Sytncs, J. Gibson, WyldeBrown, Skeot, AV. Hay (captain), J- Hay, Newton, Wauchnp, Bright, Mullaney, Softon, Sberratt, Hansen, Williams, R. K. Murphy. The Europeans won the toss, and Wepiha kicked off for the Natives from the Hnpara end. East play characterised the opening stages of the game, and some lively passing was indulged in by Bio backs on both sides during tho first quarter of an hour, but failuio to handle tho hall with any degroo of precision invariably nipped tho rushes in the hud before they became really dangerous. The whistle soon had tho effect ol cooling the I ardor of the players, and a succession of scrums caused play to become slow. Tho play was fairly oven in the first speli. Tho Pakoha vanguard woro a hard-working, dashing set, and used their feet cleverly, keeping tho ball on the ground and frequently gaining much ground by thoir combined foot rushes. Tho

forwards on the Native sido wore ofton guilty of tho unpardonablo fault of grop- | ing for tho hall during tho progress of the dribbling rushes. Tho fivo-oighths on both sides—Wyldo-Brown and Brown—roooivod injuries in tho first spoli, which incapacitated them from taking furthor part in tho match. Tho former had his anklo twistod in stopping a determined dash at the line by Moans, and Brown received a severe mis-kick on tho anklo in tho midst of tho ruck, which was intended as a punt. Dr. Pomaro, who was among tho spectators, attended to the nativo player, and pronounced no bones broken, and, under the doctor’s direction, the injured player was assisted oil the Cold by Williams und Moanu. Tho first spell ondad, after an interesting display, con-

sidering it was tho first game of the season, without a sooro on either sido.

Tho second spoil opened briskly. Some fast play and effective collaring was witnessed in mid-field. Waucbop took the ball splendidly on tho lino and punted down to Kore, the full-back, who took the ball in front of the nativo goul posts, and made a fino, strong run more than half tho longth of tho ground. He passed well to Dolamero whon cornored, and the lattor was pushed into touch by Symes at the pakeha corner flag. Swann threw tho ball right into the centre of tho field, where Wepiha took it well, but lost possession on boing tackled by Newton. Johnson snapped the leather up aud touched down between the posts, amidst cheering. Kero placed an easy goal. Natives, 5 points ; Europeans, nil.

The white forwards worked their feet to advantage on resuming, and principally through the exertions of Sefton, Sherratt, Mullaney, Bright and Wauchop, the native line was menaced. Sherratt made a great dash at the lino, but lost posses-

sion, and Sefton, who had backed up with judgment, darted over and scored a clever try. Symes mado a fino effort to convert from near the touch-line. Europeans 3, Natives 5.

Fast play continued. Gibson, Symes, and Skeet got on some good passing, but Poananga, Dolamere, and Te Reina retaliated, and tho standard of play im-

proved. Some good kicking and fast t'ollowing-up took tho play to the whites’ lino, where Dolamere mado a brilliant dash for tho trench. He was uponded by W.

Hay, but Johnson, who backed up with rare judgment, was handy, and scored his second try in a good position. Kere landed a beautiful goal. Natives, 10

points; Europeans, 3, Tho whites made herculean efforts to overhaul their opponents’ score. Good combined play by both back and forwards shifted play to near tho Native line, aud a scrum was formed under the posts.

In hia anxiety to prevent the whites heeling out, a Nativo forward put his band on tho ball, and Williams placed an easy penalty. There was no further score, and an interesting game onded in a win for the Natives by 10 points to 6. Two 35-minute spells wore played. The game was capably controlled by Mr W. S. McCredie, while Messrs J. Martin and J.

QIIIUULI YVOCU UUO IiUU ULUpiLtiS). Quite a number of players made a first appearance on a local grouud on Saturday. Wyldo-Brown shaped promisingly at fiveeighths on the European side during the brief time he was in the field. Ho kicks fairly well, has some pace, and is sound on defenco. Sefton’s play was of a sterling character among the forwards, and he was conspicuous throughout. He puts his weight into the pack, uses his feet well, and is also good on the line. He last played with the Sydenham Club, at Christchurch. J. YVauchop is anothor now man who gives promiso of developing into a first-class forward. Ho makes the most of his roach on the lino, is fond of hard work, lasts well, and his tackling is of the sudden and effective order. This is his first appearance as a senior. Mullaney, who played last season with tho City Club, Napier, is on the small sido, but he is a really useful forward, and showed up prominently on Saturday many times. Of the others, Bright, Sherratt, and Newton were the most conspicuous. Eor tho winners, Delamerc and Balnoavis, among tho backs, made a first appearance, The former is a brilliant threequarter, and was two season’s ago tho tiuest back in Hawke’s Bay. He performed all work which camo to his hand on Saturday in a finished manner, and, when he comes to know tho play of his confreres, should show up brilliantly. Balneavis has not had a game for some seasons, and appeared out of form. He has a tendency to play too close up to his forwards, but he did good work at times. The Native backs appeared to advantage compared with their opponents, who altogether lacked combination. The only fault to be found with Saturday’s play was the unnecessary amount of appealing indulged in. A referee, if ho knows his work, will not blow his whistle because ho is asked to do so. Ho sounds the whistle when he considers it necessary, and hence all tho appealing in tho world is but a waste of breatb, which may bo sorely needed before the game closes. The garno should be played without a word from the playors, and only too referee’s whistle and the applauso of the spectators should break the tranquillity of tbo autumn afternoon. Saturday’s game was a most successtul opening of what should prove a most successful season, and augurs well for the high standard of play which should obtain when the players get into condition an combination up by the clubs.