FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8490, 19 July 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

EKETAHUNA v. ROVER A. The Rover A team defeated Eketahuna on the Masterton Showgrounds, yesterday afternoon, by 3 points to nil, after an uninteresting game. Rovers' score was obtained in the first spell, C. Fairbrother kicking a goal from a penalty. The teams were evenly matched. Eketahuna were superior in the forwards, and Rovers had the best back team. Mr EL. McKenzie was referee.

LIBERAL v. ROVER B. (By Telegraph—Special to Age). GREYTOWN, July 18. The match Liberals v. Rover B was won by the former by 6 points to 3 (two tries to "a penalty goal). Mr Tinney was referee. The following team will represent Masterton Seniors against Red Star, on the Masterton Showgrounds, tomorrow:— A. Ross, Duggan, J.. O'Leary, Minett, Kinzett, M. O'Leary, Gray, Daniell, C. Ross, Lyall, Brenchley, MacKellar, Spackman, Barry and Fielding. • Tne following team will represent Masterton Juniors against Martinborough, at Carterton, to-morrow?"— Phillips, Ashley, Cook, Latimer, Jackson. Holmes, Lett, M. O'Leary, Hounslow, MacMahon, Tanner, McHattie, Selby, Richards and Hanley.. Emergencies—Prow and Miller.

THE TOUR OF THE ALL. BLACKS. THE MATCH AGAINST NEW SOUTH WALES. Received July 18, 9.17 a.m. SYDNEY, July 18. Commenting on "yesterday's football match between New Zealand and New South Wales, the Sydney Morning Herald says:—"The New South Wales men fought like men possessed, but all the time played consummate football. They invariably got the maximum of effect. To the forwards belongs the honour of lowering the historic banner of the silver fern." Describing the New Zealanders' efforts to retrieve their position, the Herald says: —"If they played strenuously before they did sd doubly now. They realised the task ahead of them, but also realised that the garre simply had to be won. With all their glorious traditions to back them they bent every ounce of muscle, every iota of brain power, to the effort, but they counted without their hosts, and the crowd went well-nigh frantic when it realised that the Blues were showing themselves the better team, and that the dreaded second-half ruilaway of the mighty All Blacks was not to be; and thenceforward the match went on amid continuouscheering. There perhaps has never been seen -on the ground such enthusiasm as when the conquerors of the great All Blacks returned to the pavilion." The Daily Telegraph says of the match: —"It v, 13 a sweeping victory. The Blues rake J the enemy fore ar.d aft. It was a contest in which the strong man at last found his hold on hi 3 reputation weakening, and the grip of confidence weakening as against his adversary, and the end of it all was that the spoils went the opposite way. The game was contested in admirable spirit from the outset. Slowly but surely it went the way of the home team whose combination, sound tackling, deadly linefinding, and accurate judgment were excellent. "And what of the losers? They showed as much skill as on the previous Saturday. They played as vigorously up to a certain point as ever, but were out-generalled, even as they had previously out-generalled others in the past, and outplayed in all departments of the game. The one thing that stood out in the visitors' play was the grit they showed in face of adverse circumstances. That they lost was due to no want of • energy or perseverance." Murnin, the New South Wales captain attributed the victory of his team to their line-kicking. Speaking at a subsequent reunion of the teams, Mr Wylie, the New Zealand manager, congratulated the New South Wales players on their victory, which he said they honestly deserved. Hunter, the New Zealand captain, declared that every New Zealander would admit that the better team had won. Mr Wylie, on being interviewed, admitted that the New Zealanders were fairly and squarely beaten at their own game. He had never seen such an exhibition of back play by New Zealand or interprovincial teams. The New Zealand backs were at sixes and sevens. The forwards did not last as long as those of New South Wales, and the backs did not support them.

An amusing incident occurred on the Masterton Showgrounds, yesterday afternoon, prior to the Rover AEketahuna football match. Two ladies in a gig were driving round the ground, when a player kicked the ball high in the air and it landed on the horse's head, right between the ears. The animal continued on its journey, taking no more notice than if it was an experienced footballer.