FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 905, 1 June 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

IIUIA V. KAITI-CITY. Tbo crowd which left Victoria Domai Q on Saturday after the match botwce 11 liuia and Haiti City unmistakably demonstrated by their pleased expression of countenance that they had been well satisfied with the entertainment providedOf a certainty, tho exhibition was a distinctly good one. and a long way ahead of the close play which has characterised the majority of tho precoding contests. After a fast and open game, the third consecutive draw was registered, each side scoring a try. Huia, for tho second time this season, had tho cup of victory dashed from their lips just as they were about to drain tho goblet. The teams took tho field as under :

Huia: Symes (captain), Te Reina, J. Gibson, Swann, H. Gibson, Bastable, Moana, Cockory, Wauchop, Sefton, Mclntyre, Siierratt, Holmes, Blair, McGruther. K.-uti City : Russell, Delamere, WyldeBroivu, Porter, Coleman, J. Hay, W. Hay (captain), Ball, Baker, Mullaney, Bright, Newton, Murphy, Martin, and Hansen.

Hay won the toss and defended the western goal, his men having the advantage ot a helpful breeze and the sun behind them. Play from the kick-off was of an exceptionally fast and open nature, and the frequent applauso of the spectators testified their approval of the many good bits of play put on by each side with almost dazzling rapidity. Better play titan that furnished in the first spell has not been seen for a long time hero, and if this standard can be maintained the result will be largely increased “ gates.” Both teams made changes in the customary positions of their men. Huia transferred Swann from wing-forward to wing-throequarter, to fill the gap caused by Kcre’s accident last Saturday. H. Gibson was played as five-eighths, and J. Gibson went centrethreequartor, Te Reina playing on his right wing. These changes strengthened tho hack division greatly. On the IvaitiCity sitlo, AV. Hay took his brother’s place as scrum-half, tho latter playing fiveeighths, while Ball was put on as wingforward, and Baker took Rob Murphy’s place forward. The lvaiti-City vanguard formed a solid pack, and Bright and Mullaney hooked the bail in almost every instance from Sefton and Mclntyre. Though the men were bigger and heavier, there was not enough weight in the Huia pack, some of tho men palpably skirking. Many times Sefton sent out a plaintive appeal for more weight, which, however, was seldom forthcoming. It certainly seemed bad generalship to have a man of Moaua’s physique playing wing-forward while weight was wanted in the pack. The lvaiti-City forwards, as stated, sent the ball out from nearly every scrum. It came out raggedly many times, and Moana and Cookery were on to AV. Hay before ho could get it away to the men behind him i but still the Hay brothers, Coleman, and Wylde-Brown got on a lot of passing. Tho suddenness with which tho Gibson brothers, Swann, and To Reina came down on the passing generally smothered it beforo the Kaiti-City men could get it out to Porter or Delamoro on the wings. The Kaiti City hacks must learn to transfer the ball more smartly from ono to the other if

they wish their passing to be effective. The neglect of the men to run straight on Saturday on several occasions had the effect of croAvding Delamero and Porter on to the lines, where they had no chance of making openings. A foaturo of the play was tho splendid punting of Symes, the Huia full-back, who repeatedly gained "round for his side with fine, long kicks to tbo lino. Wauchop did herculean work among the Huia forwards, and called forth cheers by clearing his line brilliantly on ono occasion, and taking the ball, with Swann’s assistance, well past the half-way tlag. After a splendid exhibition, in which tbo attacking and defending strength of both sides were seen to great advantage, the first s pell ended without a score.

Huia quickly assumed tho aggressive in the second spell, and tho whole team, working together in excellent style, took tho ball to the Kuiti line, where a desperate light waged lor upwards of ten minutes. Tue inability of the Huia forwards to hook the ball prevented them giving it to their backs, and the strugglo was confined to the forward ranks. Coleman, Hay (2), Wylde Browu, Russell, Porter, Delamero, .Martin, Bright, Mullanoy showed up in turn with good defensive work, but they failed to shake off the determined inva-

ders. At length Moana secured possession and buried himself at the line like the Black Prince at Torquilstone. He butted the defenders out of the way in all directions, and scored amidst prolonged cheerin". Symes made a good attempt to add the major points. From this on the game slowed down. The pace hud evidently told on the men. The play, however, was still full of incident, and the interest was sustained right up to the finish, when the li"ht was so bad that it was almost impossible to distinguish individual players. Just on the call of time Ivaiti-City, who plaved with great determination, worked the' ball to the Huia line, where, after some determined fightiog, J. Hay crossed the line with Huia men clinging to him like bees. A five-yards’ scrum was ordered. The Kaiti-Citv forwards shot tho ball out to J. Hay, and the little man, taking in at a glance that Huia were only thinking of the open side, backed cleverly round the scrum on the blind side, and, after a stru""lo with Te Reina, succeeded iu scoring a well-deserved try. Porter made a good, though fruitless, shot at goal. The whistle went immediately afterwards, and for the third Saturday in succession a draw was recorded in the senior competition. The excellent spirit in which the game was played was the subject of much favorable comment. Two spells of 40 minutes each were played. Mr R. Colo was referee, and Messrs A. W. Rees and L. F. Williams acted as line-umpires,