FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9177, 28 August 1908, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURE. WAIRARAPA, 16; WANGANUI, 5. The representative match played on the Showgrounds, at Masterton, yesterday, between Wairarapa and Wanganui was a very interesting game, the match resulting in favour of the local men by 16 points to 5. The teams were as follow : WAIRARAPA. Full-back: Duggan. Three-quarter: Darvill, Groube, Faimrother. Five eighths: N. McKenzie, O'Leary. Half: Adams. Wing: R. McKenzie. Forwards: Daniell, Barry, Levick, McKellar, H. McKenzie, Henderson, R. Welch. WANGANUI. Full-back: T. Kilpatrick. Three-quarter: T. Craig, G. Joyce, L. Corby. Five-eighths: W. Dustin, H. Abbott. Half: W. Dowe. Wing forward: T. Souter. Forwards: Murray, Hogan, An - . derson, Lambert, Irvine, Paton, Lsahey. Wairarapa won the toss and defended the western goal. From the kick-off the visitors took the play to the Wairarapa territory, where it hovered dangerously close to the line until a blue forward penalised his side with a free kick. Play then centred, but the visiting forwards kept up a temporary attack which cave the local backs an anxious time. The tension was relieved by good individ ual play, the green backs working well together. From a mark in the visitors' 25 by Abbott, the Wanganui men gained a temporary advantage through a Wairarapa mistake. Play gradually worked into the visiturs' 25 until Groube with a strong punt sent the ball out. From a scrum shortly after O'Leary sent the ball to Groube, who transferred to Davill, the latter being collared just in time, the ball going out of touch. From the line-out K. McKenzie took the ball, and being only a few yards from home he essayed a dash through the loose. He was successful and scored a well-nnerited try right between the posts. O'Leary converted. Wairarapa ..5 Wanganui .. .0 Wanganui livened up a little and took the play'to Wairarapa's left corner, where Anderson was taken on the touch-line. Give and take play followed about midfield, N. McKenzie then working his way to the visitors' twenty-five line, where the ball was sent out of bounds. Wairarapa secured the ball from a scrum shortly a'fter, but no advantage resulted. From a line-out near Wanganui's 25, the ball was carried over the line, where Dowe fell on it in the nick of time. Shortly attcr, from a' line out, Groube was given the ball, and with a powerful run he succeeded in eluding about four opponents and scored Wairarapa's second try. O'Leary failed with the kick, which was a good effort. Wairarapa .. 8 Wanganui .. 0 The visitors were shaping rather stiffly, and were slow to take advantage of opportunities. A blue forward picked up the ball from some loose play, and streaked for the line with only Duggan to meet. The latter tackled cleverly and brought his man to earth, and a tight pinch for the local men was eased. The Blues kept up an intermittent attack, and a Wairarapa forward, through off-side play, tempted them to an attempt at goal. A good kick went a few feet wide. Shortly after a very pretty passing rush among tine Blue backs was started by Abbott, the ball passing through the hands of Craig, Joyce and Corey, in turn, and back into the hands of Dustin, but the effort was unavailing. R. McKenzie, from an irresistible forward rush, dribbled the ball across the visitors' twenty five line and through the po;its, where a race for the leather resu'ted in a Wanganui back securing it just in time, a force-down being the consequence. The Blue line was now imperilled, for a space. From a penalty awarded the Greens O'Leary had a shot at goal. The angle was only fair, and the half-way line only a few yards bacif, but the ball went spinning over the bar to the plaudits of the spectators. Wairarapa ..11 Wanganui .. 0 Play kept fairly even for the ; next few minutes. Then Kilpatrick was called upon t<"> relieve his side from an awkward predicament, which he just managed, the ball

being kicked out. Wairarapa maintained an attack, getting the ball from each successive scrum, the team playing well together, the backs shining particularly. There were some really pretty passing rushes, which gave the Greens an anxious time. The spell ended without further score. The second spell opened slightly to the local men's advantage. O'Leary attempted a goal from a penalty kick, the effort being good but unsuccessful. From the return kick Darvill sent the ball out near the corner. Off-side play en the line out resulted in Wanganui being awarded /a free kick, which brought momentary relief. The home forwards hemmed the visitors in hard for a few minutes, but a force down brought relief. Shortly after O'Leary made two successive attempts at a goal from marks, both being unavailing. From a forward ouslaught H. McKenzie forged over the line, but being off-side his effort went for nought. Shortly after the visitors were again compelled to force. Long kicks were then exchanged up and down the field, until the green vanguard again became dangerous. The tide turned a few minutes later, when the blue forwards swept down the round with little opposition. A penalty awarded them induced an attempt at goal, at which Paton failed. A scrum in midfield saw the visitors get the ball, but the green forwards smothered efforts at open play. Kilpatrick eased a minor pinch, but the iocal forwards again became aggressive, play hovering on the brink of theJine for a brief period. Darvill attempted to scramble through the ruck, but failed. Dustin saved his side further trouble by a nice kick out of touch. Line kicks assisted the Wanganui backs materially, and soon the ball was being handled in green territOiy . But only temporarily, as the combination of the home team was invulnerable to the visitors' methods, and play returned to the visitors end. Dowe was doing good work for his side, and by his line kicks centralised the game. At this stage Souter received a knock which rendered him hors de combat, which caused a cessation of play for a few minutes. On resuming the visitors opened up with a sharp attack, which resulted in Craig getting the ball from some loose play, and reaching the line after a slick run he scored a neat try. Abbott converted. Wairarapa .. 11 Wanganui .. 5 The succeeding stage was exciting. Wairarapa forwards got in some hot work, and R. McKenzie caught Kilpatnck napping and took the ball over the line at the toe, scoring in a good position. O'Leary converted Wairarapa .. 16 Wanganui .. 5 The game ended without further score. Mr G. Howe, of Wellington, was referee. The winners played with combination far superior to anything so far shown by them this season. Energy on the part of the forwards was seconded ably by the backs. The passing of the latter was swift and clean, and the line kicking well judged. The visitors were only occasionally sent to advantage. There was individually good back play, but on the whole it was weak, the forwards were a good lot and worked well and showed to advantage in dashing loose rushes.

The visiting and home teams were entertained at dinner in the Central Hotel in the evening, Mr B. Chapman presiding. A lengthy toast list was honoured, and musical items rendered.