FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9081, 4 May 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND v. NEW SOUTH WALES.

BY TELKGRAPH —rRESS ASSOCIATION. Received May 2, 8.15 p.m. SYDNEY, May 2. The weather was glorious to-day for the match between the "ProBlacks" and New South Wales, under Northern Union rules, on the Argicultural Ground. About fifteen thousand people were present. The teams were as follows: —Full-back, Turtill; three-auarters, Tyne, Rowe, Kelly, Wrigley; halves, Barder, J. Wynyard; forwards, Mackrell, (2), Liie, Johnson, Pe-uce, Cross, Wright. New South Wales—Fullback, fledley, three - quarters, Stuntz, Messenger, Devrux, Cheadle; halves, Rosenfield, Butler; forwards, Graves, Hennesey, Lutgi, Roserell, O'Malley, L>avis, Moir, Holloway. In the first spell the Welshmen played the better game and put. more dash and fire in their work. In the first fifteen minutes the Blacks kept play in their opponents ground, Barder drawing first blood with a pretty drop kick, which sailed over the bar. This aroused the Welshmen, who, with a fine passing rush, carried the ball to the New Zealand twenty-five. Messenger marked and kicked a good goal. The local men were not long in following up this advantage, and a fine combined nHi ended in Stuntz crossing the line. Messenger added the extra points. A few minutes later New South Wales vvere penalised in the scrum, and Turtill took a shot at goal, but the ball rolled over the right side. New South Wales again had the Blacks bustling. The local men's passing was excellent. Cheaddle got away, ami with a feinting run crossed the line, Messenger converting. After an interval of good play on both sides, a penalty for intarference resulted in Messenger again scoring. The Blacks, with a gcoo rush, fought it out on the home line, and Barder got the ball from Wynyard and scored, but the angle was too difficult for Turtill to make anything of it. The score at half time —■ New South Wales, 14; New Zealand, 7. In the second half New Zealand played against the breeze, but did not show any form. Messenger got off the mark and added a goal. His kicking was splendid. The Blues were down on the Blacks continually, running all over them. The New Zealanders were slow in handling the ball. Off a penalty, Messenger, with a great kick over half-way, added another couple of points.- In passing, the Blacks were outclassed by their opponents. The Blacks fought hara in the last few moments, and in a rough and tumble rush, during which the Blacks displayed some roughness, Kelly managed to get over in the corner. The angle, however, was too awkward for Turtill to convert. The whistle sounded with the score as follows:—-New South Wales, 18; New Zealand, 10. Received May 3, 4.18 p.m. SYDNEY, May 3. Critics approve of the Northern game. The opinion is expressed that from a spectators point of view it outclassed the old Rugby game, and there can be no waste of time on the part of the leading team. In connection with the vicious play yesterday, the referee is considered to be more to blame than the players for allowing the outburst to go unchecked. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. CARTERTON (11) v. GREY- ~ TOWN (0). (By Telegraph—Special to Wairarapa Age). GREYTOWN, May 2. The Carterton ,and Greytown Seniors met here to-day. The game resulted in a win for Carterton by 11 to nil. Tries were scored for the winners by Cadwallader (2) and Callister, one of which was converted by H. McKenzie. There was no score in the second spel'.. Greytown played with a strong sun in their eyes in the first spell. In the seconi spell the game was very even, the Greytown forwards playing a great game, boating Carterton. Good kicking by Carterton backs, particularly Groubc and N. McKenzie rcpeately saving the visitors. Of the Carterton forwards Cadwallader, Henderson, Johnson and Levick were prominent. For Greytown Russell and Jury in the backs were good, while all the forwards played well, particularly O'Callghan, Workman, Jury and Wickens. With better condition Greytown must be reckoned with before the end of the season. Mr A. B. Charters made an excellent referee.

MASTERTON (15) v. RED STARS (3).

Excellent climatic conditions prevailed for the above match, which was player] on the Masterton Showgrounds on Saturday. There was a large attendance of the public, including a considerable number of supporters of the respective teams. Masterton won tho toss, and elected to play with the sun at their backs. The Stars kicked off in the face of a glaring sun, and were soon in difficulty, the Blacks quickly returning the oval to their opponents territory, where line out and scrum work was indulged in. From a scrum in Stars 25, O'Leary secured the oval, and putting in a clever run, beat two or three of the opposing backs, and then passed to Minett. The latter failed to take the pass, and Stars were enabled tu stem the pressure and transfer hostilities to the Blades quarters. The change was. however, only temporary, as the Mastertonians, quickly returned to the attack, and again soon had Stars on the defensive 1 . A free kick was awarded the Blacks dangerously near the opposing team's goal, but O'Leary's kick failed, and Stars forced. The wearers of the Black and White colours at this stage of the proceedings rallied, and from the kick oft' play was carried to the Blacks line, and the latter were kept very'busy defending their goal line, and were eventually compelled to torce in order to relieve the tension. Stars continued on the aggressive but their hard play was neutralised owing to Scorrar being penalised for off-side play, the free kick that fol-

lowed giving the Blacks a:i opening. O'Leary found the line and from a scrum that followed the throw-in, the leather came out to Masterton's backs. A smart piece of passing then took place, which resulted in Darvill gaining possession of the ball about twenty yards from Stars line, who, beating the opposition, scored a good try. O'Leary's kick at goal was unsuccessful. It was not long after the resumption of plav that O'Leary got the ball, and with a dodgy run touched down close to the goal posts. His effort to add the major points failed, although th? ancle was a very easy one. The efforts of Stars to relieve the pressure were futile, and shortly after the kick off, T. Handley got an opening, which lie turned to good accCunt by touching down on the corner. Gray took the kick, and the oval went wide. Half time sounded shortly afterwards with play in neutral territory, the score being—Masterton, 9; Stars, nil. On changing ends the Black and Whites made things very warm for the Blacks,, and within five minutes after the commencement of- the spell had Masterton busy defending the r line. The latter were penalised when play was immediately in front of their goal, and McKenzie piloted the oval between the posts. It now became apparent that Stars were to take a greater part in the game than was at first anticipated. They beat the Blacks in the scrum and line-out play, and hemmed them down on their line for a considerable time, but were unfortunate in not being able to increase their score. Masterton repeatedly forced. Time after time was play carried to the Blacks line, but Thompson, Masterton's full-back, never missed, an opportunity to relieve his side. About quarter of an hour before the call of time Masterton, with a spasmodic rush, carried play to Stars 25, where Logan took a mark, which resulted in a goal being placed by O'Leary, the scores being —Masterton, 12; Stars, 3. Give and take play ensued, and honours were even for a while. By a piece of good fortune Masterton got possession of the oval from a scramble, the half-back, putting it out to the five-eighth, the latter sending it on to the centre, from whom it went out to Darvill, who with a brilliant run down the line scored on the corner. The kick failed, and the scores were —Masterton, 15; Stars, 3. Although playing an uphill game, Stars returned to the attack, and it soon became evident that therßlacks had done their dash, as they were driven back, and could scarcely withstand the hard play of the Black and Whites. Luckily they were able to stem off an invasion of their goal line until no side sounded. Mr McKenzie refereed.

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Telegraph—Special to Wairarapa Age). CARTERTON 11. v. DALEFIELD. The above match for the Junior Championship was played on the Carterton Reserve on Saturday which after a hard and well-fought contest resulted in a win for Dalefield by 6 points to 3. Tries were obtained for the winners by W. and G. Hart, and Underhill scored for Carterton. Mr J. Brunton was referee. MARTINBOROUGH v. GREYTOWN. (By Telegraph—Special to the Wairarapa Age). At Martinborough on Saturday Martinborough easily defeated Greytown by 23 poits to nil. TE ORE ORE (6) v. MASTERTON (0). That match was played on the No. 2 ground at the bhowgrounds, and was a very willing contest, the native team proving successful by six points (two tries scored by Rarahuri and Ratu respectively) to nil. Mr T. Hoar had charge of the whistle. CLASSIFICATION OF PLAYER 3. (By Telegrah—Special to Age. . GREYTOWN, May 2. The classification committee of the Wairarapa Rugby Union have classified Moana, Playle, (Dalefield), Dennett (Martinborough), and K. Crawley (Dalefield, as seniors from date.

AUCKLAND, May 2. The Rugby football season opened here to-day in glorious weather. The following are the results:—City,,beat Farnell by 16 points (two goals and two tries) to nil. Ponsonby beat Grafton by 36 points to nil, and North Shore and University drew, 5 points (one goal) each. DUNEDIN, May 2. Fine weather prevailed for the football to-day. In the first grade matches Dunedin (22) beat University (18 points) after an exciting game. The winners scored 10 points in the last five minutes. Alhambra (22 points) beat Union (S points). Zingari - Richmond (9. points) beat Pirates (nil). Port Chalmers (16) beat Taieri Rovers (9). Southern (3 points) beat Kaikorai (nil).

CHRISTCHUKCH, May 2. Saturday's senior football matches resulted: —Sydenham (6) beat Merivale (3), Canterbury College (14) beat Christchurch (11), Old Boys (nil) and Lin wood (nil) drew.

WELLINGTON, May 2. Senior Rugby matches played yesterday resulted as follows:—Oriental (11) beat Petone (8), Poneke (6) beat St. James (3), Melrose (1!)) beat Southern (3), Wellington (fi) beat Old Boys (nil), Athletics (30) beat Victoria College (nil).

that the back division of that team possessed one of the best combinations of any club team in the domin>ion, and comprised Wrigiey, A. Millar, P. and J. O'Leary and Logan. Most of the scoring was done by these players, and the work initiated by the popular half-back. Mr Logan has done a great deal for local football both on and off the field. His fine sporting spirit and judgment as captain of the Mastert&n club went a long way towards improving the feeling between I ttfams and his services as treasurer of the Wairarapa Union and delegate to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union have materially assisted in bringing local interests to the., front, and improving the finances of the former. From a debit balance of something like £3O he handed over a credit of £77 on retiring from the treasurership at the 1907 meeting. Mr Logan will continue to interest himself in the affairs of the Masterton Club. A football club has been formed at Alfredton. The following officers havo. been elected .-—President, Mr W. Conder; Vice-Presidents, Messrs G. Benton, K. Hurt, A. J. Rutherford, C. Kebbell, W. Bousted, jr., W. Green, A. R. Clapham; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr A. Gordon; Selection Committee, Messrs W. Higgins, W. Conder, A. Kinzett. Mr A. Kinzett, who last season played for Masterton, has been elected captain,, and Mr W. Higgins, a prominent member of the Red Star Club, vice-captain.

There was a considerable amount of feeling in Carterton, on Saturday, over the decision of the Wairarapa Rugby Union in preventing A. Playle of the Dalefield Club, from playing in the match against Carterton 11. owing to having been classified as a senior player (writes a correspondent). Last year Playle donned the jersey for the Ruahine team, Greytown, and was considered on his play throughout the season to be a senior man.

It has been suggested by several veteran footballers that the Wairarapa Rugby Union should arrange a game between the Wairarapa and Bush representatives to piay the English team at Masterton thiß month, and a team composed of Wairarapa veterans. The latter are anxious and willing to try conclusions with the chosen reps.