FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 154, 24 March 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

MASTERTON CLUB. The annual report of the Mastcrfon Football Club, to be 'placed"';before members at the general meeting to bo held on Friday, .Marqli 27, states.that since tho club was reformed in ' May, 1802, with <i membership of 58,. the. -.aggregate of life, honorary,- and active .members has .-.reached 78, and has settled , down to a > steady increase. In reference Ito the resuscitation of the Rod: Star club, although of necessity the membership of the Masterton ,Club was materially affected, it meant a great deal for football in the Wairarapa generally, anil Masterton in particular. Some notablo games have been played between the' two'clubs, and have ■caused a revival of interest-on tho part of tho local, public*. Tlio finances rif the club are;in a.-thoroughly ,sound position. During tho, past ■ season tho club took part in 2-5 matches,'three of which wero against the Oriental, Athletic,- and Southern Clubs of .Wellington. ' Tho-.sonior team had-a most successful year, and although it only managed tri secure second place in the. championship fixtures, two matches alone were lost by tho narrow margin of penalty. goals. ■ ••■Tho junior, players' again' demonstrated their ability-to fight gamely under extreme difficulties, and against heavy odds. Most of tho matchog' during ■thoYearly parj; of.the season, w'oro won,' but- tho cost, and'iincon-. venierice .of travelling soon began to 'tell' their.;inevitable talpv'o'n playfcrs, arid the recordYdid not improve inconsequence. '"Out 'of 12 matches played. 5 were woii, 1 drtiwn,* aiid.G lost. Points for, 107 '; against, 7(3.. : ,The question of allotting the Henderson' and; Cochrane medals was again decided by ballot, and'- resulted ■in'-a' majority of. votes being recorded, in favourjnf j. O'Leary and: -R.-. H. Spaokmaii for the '.third time in succession. Junior medals, presented by Mr. T. Portor and the Soqial Coriimitteo wero won by P. H. I-lolmes and.J. Htuiley respectively., Tho: most noticeable .feature"of last season's -record was the inauguration of an annual social ,and danco at: the hands of a few prominent_; momboys . and.'some enthusiadtic ladies. . . ' ' .' i: 7

It' '>vas' with' Kcoii regret that the senior players' wore compelled' to ' co through, the early part' of the championship .without. the. services of Mr. D; K. Logan, who was incapacitated early in tho season. .Tho prospective, visij; of. tho English :ieam ; to :, the Wn'irarapa May has: already' aroused "considerable interest 'amongst players arid public alike. -Tho ' committee. regret's the loss .of Messrs. ; C. ~ : ;il6ss^vP.;: . BairdJ ; and ;P; J, O'Leary,'rill of. whom ha'vo been' transferred to other districts;, As-a- result idfr.vVlihllot taken . amongst .'senior ' players, tlio: Rpnall Cim, won three, times .in MiccossidJiNKy-'-thci club, .vijas .presented' to; J.,, O'Leary, as being the most usefid. player during each: j'oar in which, it was .won'.. .