FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8213, 17 August 1906, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

WAIRARAPA v. CANTERBURY.

KEENLY CONTESTED GAME.

Teams representing Wairarapa and Canterbury met on the Showgtouuda yesterday. The weather was fine but the rain that had fallen during the two previous day 9 made the ground verj soft. The following were the teams:— Wairarapa --Fullback. F. McKenzie, 15st lOIbs; threequart*»rs, W. Darville, 12st, P. Uogers, 13st, K. Wrigley 13st; five-eighths, P. O'Leary,'l let Gib, J. O'Leary, list 41b; halfbauk, U. Logan, 10b■ Gib; wing, A. Gray, 133t 21b; forwards, A, Cadwallader, ldafe 81b, S, Mason, 13st, Wines 13at 91b, H. McKenzie 13at 81b, J. Workman 12at 61b, Spaokman 12st 71b, Henderson lOst 71b. Canterbury.— Fullback, L. Ford lOst 111b; thieequarters, P. Fryer list 121b, D. Gray list 81b, P. Egan list,five-eighths, W.Fitzgerald 10st91b, D. Eraser list '3lb; halfback, P. Burns lOst 121b; wing, E. Tyne 12st 41b.; forwards, W. ShanDon list 61b, P. L. Murray 12st 41b, 0. Pearce list 61b, 0. Rossl2sl 121b, J. Lenauzu 13sl, W. Graham 12at, G. Webb list 121b. Spackman kicked off for Wairarapa. Canterbury rushed the ball down the field, but J. O'Leary saved. Shannon, Pearoo and JRoea worked the ball to the centre, where play remained for a time. Gray (Canterbury), with a good kick, •took play into Wairarapa territory. Prom a scrum Logan got the ball and started a passing rush, but Rogers missed the ball. A free kick to Canterbury relieved, and play was removed to the centre. Burns, Eraser and Fitzgerald engaged in a passing rush, but W Hirarapa smothered them. Pearce, Webb and Tyne broke away with the ball, but Darville found tbe line well down tbe field. A dangerous Canterbury forward rush was stopped by E. MoKenzie, and JWairarapa attacked. Fryer put in a fine run, and removed play to the centre. Wairarapa, through the agency of Spaokman, Gray and Wines, attaoked, but a passing rush between Burns, Fraser and Fitzgerald removed play to tbe centre again. A clever piece of play on the part of Burns took the ball well into the Wairarapa territory. Two scrums in quicK succession took plaoe about fifteen yards from tbe Wairarapa line, and from the last one Burns got tbe ball and passed to Fraser, the ball eventually falling into the hands of Gray, who scored near the posts. Fraser converted. Canterbury 5, Wairarapa nil. Wairarapa now livened up, and good work was put in by Spaokman, Giay, Wineß and Henderson. Mainly through the efforts of these players, Canterbury were placed on the defence. A mark relieved tbe pressure! Logan was responsible for the visitors again being put on the defensive. Wairarapa were now making the game fast and were giving Canterbury a lively time. Ford and Gray had a lot of defensive work to do, but they did it well. Logan got the ball from a scrum, and it passed through the hands of P. and J. O'Leary and to Rogers. The latter gave Wrigl°y a bad pass, and a good opportunity to score was lost. Canterbury relieved their line, but Logan removed play back again. Another passing rush between the Wairarapa backs saw the ball come to Wrigley, who Was brought to the ground by three of the Reds. The visitors shifted play to the centre but almost immediately Logan set his backs going again. Darville reoeived a bad pass, and another good ohance to, score was lost, Shortly rfter Canterbury were forced down. Play remained in the Canterbury territory for some time until another force relieved the visitors. Canterbury carried play past the centre, but a long kick by McKenzie found the line past the twenty-five flag. Burnsi, Fraser and Fitzgerald removed play to the centre. A kick by one of the Greens was mulled by Ford, and H. MoKenzie nearly scored. For an infringement of the rules Wairarapa was given a free kick, but the shot at goal was fruitless. Pearce, IJenauze, Tyne and Graham broke away, but Darville put in a good kick. Shortly after, mainly through the efforts of J. C'Leary, P. O'Leary and Logan, I Canterbury were compelled tu force. One of the Canterbury backs made a bad "speculate," and Wairarapa awartr-ed the line, where the visitors had a busy time defending. Canterbury worked the ball away from the line. Logan snapped up tbe ball, and, passing well out to Darville, the latter scored a splendid try. MoKenzie failed to convert. Canterbury 5, Wairarapa 3. Half-time was called shortly after. For some minutes after the game was resumed play was in the centre. Wairarapa were the first to liven up. P. O'Loary touk tbe ball from a throw in, and passed to J. O'Leary. The latter put in a good run, but was collared in the corner. Canterbury worked the ball down into tbe homo team's territory, and the visitors got daugerously near the line. A freo kick relieved. As the result of some good play by J. O'Leary, Wairarapa were again in the visitors' territory. Fitzgerald relieved brilliantly and Canterbury *?ere again the attacking party. Fraser had a shot at goal from a free kick, but the attempt just fell short Shortly afterwards the most brilliant pieces of play in trie matoh were seen. A series of brilliant passes from Burns to Fraser to Fitzgerald to Gray to Egan saw the latter right on the lino ia the corner, but he was thrown out of touoh by E. MoKenzie. Canterbury kept up the attack and the same players as before were again associated ia another brilliant passing rush. Tbe ball went from Burns to Fraser to Fitzgerald to Gray, who I ran over the liue without meeting with any opposition, and touched down behind the posts. Fraser easily converted. Canterbury 10, Wairarapa 3. Wairarapa staved off the Canterbury rushes for a time, but the visitors' back division again got to work, and the ball was sent i frorc Pearoe to Fraser to Fitzgerald to Fryer, who scored under the paosts. Fraser again converted. Canterbury 15, Wairarapa 3. Wairarapa then livened up, and the backs took the ball right up the field, whore Logan passed to Mason, who crossed in the oorner. Spack-

man failed to convert. Canterbury 35, Wairarapa 6. Walrarapa again attacked. The ball wont up and down the fleld for some time. The home team again placed the visitors on the defence, and eventually Darville scored in tbe corner. Spaoktcan / failed to convert. Canterbury »15; Vfairarapa 9. Shortly before the final whistle McKenzie, tbe Wairarapa fullbaok, made a splendid run down the field to within a few yarda of tbe line. The game thus ended—Canterbury 15, Wairarapa 9. Mr P. Lawa, of Wellington, was referee, and Messrs G. S. Matthews (Canterbury) and J. Lyall (Wairarapa) wpre the touch line judges.

ROVER v. KIA TOA

The Rover Juniors met and defeated the Kia Toason the Masterton Showgrounds, yesterday, by 13 points to nil.

The following team will represent Red Star against Masterton, for the Renall Cup, on Saturday:—Williams, Darville, Wrigley, MoLaoblan, Walker, Dorsett, Welch, Warner, 0. Clarke, C. MoKenzie, A. H. Clarke, Fulton, Dixou, Chamberlain, and Scorrar.