FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8460, 10 June 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. MASTERTON v. RED STAR. Considerable interest was displayed in the first meeting of the Masterton and Red Star senior teams, this season, which took place on the Masterton Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon. The ground was heavy, but the weather was fine and an interesting game was wit"essed. The teams were evenly matched, but Masterton used their back division to more advantage than the Stars, their scores all being the result of smart back play. Red Star were superior in the forwards. Masterton had perhaps slightly the best of the first spell, but in the second spell the Star forwards put in capital work, and for the last half-hour had Masterton on the defensive. The Stars secured the ball the most times in the scrum. The teams were as follow:—Masterton (blar-k)—Full-back. Baird; threequarters, Minett, O'Leary and Duggan; five-eighth, Kinzett; half, Logan; wings, Gray and Riley; forwards, Fielding, Barry, Lyall, C. Ross, Mackellar, A. Ross, and Chapman. Red Star (black and white) Full-back, McLachlan; threequarters, Wrigley, Walker and Marsh; fiveeighth, Dorsett; half, Adams; wings, Chambers and Chamberlain; forwards, Clarke, Norman, Collett, Todd, Corbett, Scorrar and Wickens. Masterton won the toss, and Stars played with the sun in their faces. Wrigley made a good run along the touch-line, and was nicely collared, in the nick of time, by Duggan. From a obtained by Adams, Wrigley made a fruitless attempt to kick a goal. Gray, A. Ross, Logan and Minett were instrumental in taking play, by a good rush, into Star territory. A free kick relieved the black and whites, and a dangerous rush by their, forwards was stopped by Baird taking a mark. Forward play, with no advantage on either side, followed. Then a brilliant piece of forward work by Todd and Collett took the struggle to the, Masterton 25, where Kinzett got off-side, and Stars were awairded a penalty. The kick was returned to touch by O'Leary. A kick'by Duggan and smart following up by A. Ross saw play back in Star quarters, where Adams and Wrigley were prominent in warding off an attack. After more tight work in midfield, Wrigley punted up the field. Duggan missed the ball, but Riley found touch in Star territory. Kinzett obtained the ball, and passed to O'Leary, who made a good run and transferred to Minett, and the latter scored a good try. O'Leary failed to convert. Directly the ball was again set in motion, Logan snapped it up, made a dodgy run, and passed to Minett, who crossed the line just as he was grassed by Wrigley. O'Leary again failed with the kick. Masterton continued to attack. O'Leary secured the ball, and after a fine dodgy run scored a splendid try near the posts. O'Leary's kick was again fruitless. Several more passing rushes were indulged in by Kinzett, O'Leary and Minett, but the Stars' line was not again crossed. Stars then rallied, and carried play into the Masterton territory, where the blacks were forced. Wrigley made an attempt at goal from a penalty, from which Masterton were again forced just on the call of half-time. The scores were— Masterton 9 • Red Star ..'. ... 0 On resuming Masterton assumed the offensive, and O'Leary sent the ball to Minett in the Star 25, but the latter missed the pass. Wrigley stopped a rush by smart work. Kinzett made a useful run, and having no | one to pass to, was forced to kick, , and Marsh marked. Duggan returned the kick to Wrigley. who found touch. Play of no special interest eventuated. A. Ross and Barry were associated in a forward rush, which took play to the black and whites' quarters. Todd and Dorsett were instrumental in transferring the play to Masterton territory, where Duggan .marked, and O'Leary sent the ball into Marsh's hands. Marsh returned, and O'Leary kicked to touch near the half-way flag. From this put Stars had Masterton continually on the defensive. The blacks' line was in great danger when they were awarded a penalty under their own goal posts. The rest of the game was played in semi-darkness, and very little of the play could be plainly seen. Stars continued to assail Masterton's goal line, and Wrigley made a brilliant run and scored in the corner. His kick at goal was a fine attempt, but it was fruitless. Stars returned to the attack, and kept Masterton onthe defence till the whistle sounded. The game thus ended with the scores — Masterton 9 Red Star 3 The Masterton backs all played well, their strong' point being their passing. O'Leary was the mainstay, and was exceedingly safe. Logan's tricky work was wholly responsible for the second try, and he showed good head-work all through. Kinzett played a safe game, and did some good work in cutting in and passing. Minett, on the wing, was safe, and took the ball cleanly and well. Duggan was prominent in defence. In the forwards, A. Ross played a splendid game, and was continually on the ball. Gray, Riley, C. Ross and Mackellar also did good woi i;. Wrigley played the best back game for Red Star, and his play was excellent, both on attack and defence. Adams, at half, played a good game, and fed his forwards in fine style. Most of the forward rushes in the second spell were started by Adams, who, with a little kick, would put the ball at the feet of the forwards. He took several clever marks. In the forwards, Todd was the best forward on the ground. He was ably assisted by Collett, Scorrar, Corbett and Clarke. Mr F. Hawkc was referee.

CARTERTON v. GREYTOWN. Grey town Seniors forfeited to Carterton Seniors on Saturday. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. MASTERTON v. RUAHINE. The Masterton and Ruahine (Greytown) junior teams met on th 3 Mas-

terton Showgrounds, on Saturday, when a very even game, ending in a draw, was witnessed. The game was fast from start to finish, the second half especially. .In the first spell a try was scored for Ruahine, and in the second spell Cook kicked a penalty goal for Masterton. The Masterton team put up a good fight aginst their heavier opponents, both forwards and backs playing up to their best form. All the backs handled the hall well, Holmes and Jackson being perhaps the best. Richards, Daniell, Hanley, and McHattie were the pick of an even set of forwards. Mr A. Millar was referee. RED STAR v. MARTINBOROUGH. Martinborough defeated Red Stars, at Martinborough, on, Saturday, by 9 points to 3. Stars were much lighter than the Martinborough team. The game was evenly contested all through. Martinborough scored three tries from forward rushes. Bannister scored a meritorious try for Red Stars. Wing and Ball were the best of the Star backs, and Diggins and Flaws also played well. Langley played a splendid game in the forwards. Smith and Langstone also did good work. Mr J. Brunton was referee.

A meeting of the Committee of the Masterton Club was held on Saturday evening.lt was decided to allot the gold medal presented by Mr T. Porter to the most useful player amongst the juniors. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Porter, and also to Mr W. P. James for a donation of one guinea. Letters of appreciation of the kindness extended to them on the occasion of their recent visit to Masterton were received from members of the Southern Club. It was decided to arrange a return visit during the present season, if possible, and to send the Seniors to meet the Athletics at the same time. The following new members were elected— Honorary, H. Lett, P. Lett, D. Lett, P. Smith, W. Lawrence, W. Redmond, T. Porter and H. O'Leary; Active—B. Hounslow, A. Miller, W. G. Lang, J. Latimer, F. Phillips, A. Kinzett, A. Eddy, D. M. Loader, D. Baird, W. Spring, West, Tanner, E. T. Meredith, W. E. Costello, W. Cook, L. "Spackman, M. Riley, making a total of 45 new members for the present season.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 9. Splendid weather was experienced, • yesterday, for the football matches. The senior games resulted as fo'lows: —Petone beat Victoria College, by -29 points to 3; Athletic beat Melrose, 13 to 3; St. James v. Wellington, a draw (each 11 points); Oriental beat Old Boys, 18 to nil. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 8. The first-grade football competition was continued, to-day, in fine weather. Results:—Sydenham 8 beat Albion nil; Old Boys 5 v. Merivale 5; Christchurch 18 beat Canterbury College 5. By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, June 8. The results of to. day's football matches are as follow:—University beat Alhambra by 25 to 3, Phutes beat Union by 6 to 3, Port Ch;.i nets beat Taieri Covers by 23 to 3, Southern beat Dunedin by 9 to 6, Kaikorai beat Zingari-P.!chmond by 14 to nil. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 8. In the Senior matches., to-day, Ponsonby beat Parnell by 17 points to nil, City beat Newtown by 24 points to 3, and Grafton beat North Shore by 5 points to nil. NEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND. Received June 8, 7.37 p.m. SYDNEY, June 8. Twenty-five thousand people witnessed the football match, Queensland versus New South Wales. j Queensland won by 11 points to 6. Judd, captain of the local team, had a leg broken. The visitors fairly outclassed their opponents in nearly all points of the game. I