FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 474, 1 July 1890, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

GISBORNE V. POVERTY BAY. GRAND GAME—MAORIS VICTORIOUS. Another of the Cup series of matches was played on Saturday afternoon, the Gisborne Club meeting the Poverty Bay (Maoris). Messrs Bourn and Down officiated as umpires and Mr Parker (a visitor) as referee. McCausland, another visitor, and brother to the Auckland crack, was allowed to play for Gisborne, one of the latter's team making room for the visitor. As a matter of courtesy this was pleasing, but in a Cup match it should not have been allowed. Even if the Maoris had no objection to offer tbe other teams had a right to be considered. There was a large crowd of spectators, many ladies being present and taking great interest in the game. The kick-off was taken by Pola for the Maoris, who were immediately rushed by the Gisborne men, and the play kept in the Maori twenty-five, where Staite, Fisher, and McCausland indulged in some very neat passing. Staite bad a good trial to pot a goal, but just missed, and the Maoris rushed, carrying the oval to mid field, being much assisted bv a dashing run by Rua. The rush was well stopped by Gisborne, and a loose scrum followed, out of which the ball passed into ths hands of Dods, who made a fine run down the field, past several of the Maori players, the ball finally being brought to touch in goal. Being brought out again, it was rushed by the Maoris, but was cleverly stopped by Dods. From this it was passed into the bands of the Gisborne captain, who passed to L. Bees, but it being too far in advance, was missed by him, and carried out of bounds. After the throw-out, Riki picked up the ball, but was soon collared by Fisher, and the Maoris followed np closely. From a further scrum. Alien showed up prominently, and the ball was then worked near the Sfaori twentyfive, where one of the latter side made a splendid run, and was well followed up. The. Gisborne players met the rush very creditably, und sent the oval into touch in mid field. On being thrown out, it fell into the hau-lsof a Maori, by whom it was marked. The kick from this took the ball into touch again, and cn the throw out a close rush followed. A Maori player (Preston) passed splendidly to Rua, who made a dashing run to near the Gisborne goal line, where the rush was stopped by the Gisborne backs. Staite then got the ball and made a fine dribbling rush down the field, the ball again being brought right into the Maori twenty-five. There was a good deal of in and out play here, and the Maoris suffered the penalty of a free kick being allowed about forty yards from their goal. The kick was taken by Langford, but the ball passed just under the crossbar. Kicked off again, and the ball was taken by Rees, who kicked forward, and the leather was well stopped by the Maoris. Some good in and out play here took place, followed by a kick by Staite which sent the bull into mid field. A good run was mado by McPhail, but he got completely flustered, and spoiled all the good he had done, by wild passing, and the oval was rushed into touch. On being brought out again, it was sent along the field, and into touch in the Maori twenty five, where tbe latter team played up well and hard, but the Gisborne fellow s cleverly took the ball towards the front of the goal, when it was with equal cleverness brought back by a native. The hall was then worked up the field, a splendid run being taken by a Maori, who dodged nearly all of the Gisborne men, and when cellared smartly passed the ball, which was carried on still further, and then again into the hands of tbe first runner, who was lustily cheered for his clever dodging. He waa collared by Dods, and the ball was then carried into touch, a little close play followed, from which ths oval fell into tbe possession of Hemi, who made a fine run and kick forward in return, and relieved his side of the trouble. On a throw in from touch the Maoris were allowed a free kick for handball, from which McCausland made a mark, and sent the ball into touch in almost the same position near the Maori twenty five. The result of the throw in clearly proved Gisborne’s want of practice, but they got a rush on, when the ball was stopped by Rua, and be made a fine run, carrying ths oval back to the same place in touch. Here Gisborne was allowed a free kick, which from the return by the Maoris, was marked by McCausland in mid field, and then sent into touch in the natives’ twenty five. Here another free kick was allowed to Gisborne, and Hutchinson made a splendid shot towards the goal, close play following near the Maori line. The ball was taken into the centre of the field again, where it was passed to Staite, missed by him

and caught by Rees, who with a fine kick sent the oval very close to the crossbar. A bit of bad play then mado things warm for Gisborne, but the ball was well returned by their captain, and marked by Rua. The kick was taken by Pola, and then time was called, neither side having any score to its credit. There was an error of a few minutes in the time allowed. From the kick off, the oval was returned

by a smart run and kick into mid field. Some in and out play followed, in which the Maoris (were fully alive to the game. Gisborne then got a free kick, which was taken by Hutchinson, who landed the ball in the Maori twenty five. From touch, the ball was kicked by Langford, and on return passed to McCausland, who was quickly, charged. It was then picked np from a difficult rush by Rees, who landed it into touch on the other side of the field. On being “brought out the ball was taken by McCausland, but off side procured for the Maoris a free kick, which sent the ball well back. McCausland was by this time in his

place, and from this the sphere was taken on again by the Maoris and returned by Langford. Wanes made a fine run and took the oval into the Blues' territory, where it was rushed by the latter, but Wanes was once more to the rescue, and stopped the risk by carrying tbe ball out of bounds. The throw in resulted in favor of the Blues, who pushed iheir opponents very hard. Some loose play followed in the centre of the field, from which Allen dribbled the sphere well along the field,' and this was followed by a free kick for off side play, Langford then sending the oval well into mid field. Allen was again to the fore on the oval being relieved from touch, and it was worked up the field a short way, where the Maoris made a capita! rush, which was stopped by Staite, who made a neat kick forward, and the ball was met by Bua. It was worked up again to within filteen yards of the Maori goal line, where a scrummage took place, from which a pass was made to Staite, who availed himself of tbe chance by a kilk. The oval was caught by Wanes, who was bent on a good run, when Dods very cleverly landed the heavy weight, and the ball was carried out of bounds. Staite got it at the throw in, and passed to Langford, who was soon downed by three or four of the natives, there was here tome off side playt which

1 served theßluesfora free kick. From this a trial was made at goal by Langford who, narrowly missed the crossbar. The Maoris followed up the kick off splendidly, but the oval fell into the hands of Rees, who made a short run, and followed by a kick well up the field out cf bounds. A scrum then took place, from which Rua-made a fine run, and was collared by Staite, who took possession and passed to Fisher, the latter then making a short run, from which the sphere was played into tbe Maori hands for a short while and then back to Gisborne, for whom McCausland made a capital kick to wilhin ten yards cf the Maori goal line, “over which it waa then forced. Being set in motion again, the oval was cleverly returned by Staite, who was being hard pushed by the natives, and well followed up by Smith. Rua mado another dashing run, being grassed by McCausland. The Maoris, however, followed up well and forged the ball ahead into the touch near the Blues’ line. Being thrown in, the sphere was well worked back by Hutchinson. It was then badly passed by Fisher, but Staite got it after some trouble, and made a dashing run, and when collared passed neatly to Dods. From a loose scrum, Rees entered into possession and

availed himself of the opportunity to make a short ruo. Rua was here allowed a free kick, which was returned by Staite into touch fifteen yards from the natives’ line. The latter fcllowed by a rush, and Wanea served his side well by a strong run, in which he was stopped and nicely landed by Lysnar, but not before the leather had passed into the hands of another Maori, who was collared by Fisher, and the side line once more availed of. The ball was then gradually worked forward to the Maori line, when Hutchinson took possession and passed to Smith, who, after a smart run, passed to Dods, the latter after a fine run going out of bounds. Ont of touch again the sphere was worked still closer to the Maori line, where a free kick was awarded to Gisborne, and from which Langford had another trial to kick a goal, but the attempt, was a very poor one, and was lustily cheered and hooted by the excited Maoris. From the kick off the Maoris rushed the ball, which was returned

by Staite into Rua’s hands. He made a fine rnn, [and on being collared turned a complete* somersault, and regaining his equi librium shot the ball into touch in mid field. Rua again got, the ball on the throw in, but it was wrested from him by McCausland, and returned into touch again. A scrum followed the throw out, from which Hutchinson made a serviceable run, and being collared, the sphere was played to the Gisbornej captain, who kicked it to Ruteues hands, and a kick from the full back sent it out of bounds once more in mid field. At the throw in Allen was very prominent by a difficult run, bntjwas stopped by Bua, and the ball went back to Fisher, who returned it again. McCausland then got possession from the natives’ return, and pissed to Fisher, who soon, as he thought, had a mark, but this being disallowed, ho was rushed by tbe nativrs, who carried the oval along to Gisborne’s territory, where it was ably returned by Staite, who followed up well, and serum nnging took place fire yards from the Maori goal line. There was a pretty bit of passing here, McCausland to Rees, Rees to Staite, thence to Dods, who being smartly tackled, sent it to Rees again, when a short run and a good attempt to score was frustrated. This immediately led to further passing on the Gisborne side, and the oval was sent into touch on the opposite side of the field. The ball was passed, alter the throw in, to McCausland, and from him to Rees, but the latter failing to catch it, he was immediately overwhelmed by the natives, who swept the ball right down the field with a splendid dribbling rush, Gisborne seeming paralysed for the moment. A grand race here took place between Rua and Dods; the ball had crossed the line, and Dods would have made it a force down, but Rua laid hands on him before tbe latter had got the hall, Harris meanwhile cutting off ths natives. Still there was a wrangle ; by some process of reasoning or peculiarity of imagination the native onlookers were convinced Rua had scored a touch, and when it was of course disallowed there was a fever heat of excitement. Dods got a nasty fall during the scuffle which took place, and being lame had to keep to the rear. The leather was again set in motion by MeCauslaud, and met by Riki, who made-a nice run, pasring Rees, but the other backs were soon upon him. He then passed to another Maori, and a scrum ensued, from which the ball was played to and marked by Wanea about forty yards from the gaol, in a direct line. The kick was taken by Riki, who made a sorry mess of it, but the Maoris followed up splendidly, Rees met the ball, and played it into mid field again, where a free kick was allowed to the Maoris. There was a splendid dribbling rush here, and the ball was then picked up by McCausland and passed to Fisher. Riki, who was playing with great dash, swiftly charged Fisher, clutching the ball as it bounced up, and then with a velocity that astonished tbe backs he made a grand run across Gisborne's line, right along to the rear ot the goal, amid the enthusiastic cheers of the spectators. Staite had doubled on him smartly, but was too late, and Dods was too lame to be worth much in such an emergency. Rua took the kick, which was a miserable failure. Time was then called, leaving the game a win for the Poverty Bay Club by a try to nil. A few minutes, extra time had been allowed for the maul behind the line, and it was within these few minutes that the first score of the day was made. Martin and Johnstone played a sturdy game in the Gisborne forward division.