PAHIATUA NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9573, 20 August 1909, Page 6

PAHIATUA NEWS.

" (Flora Oar Resident Reportei). Thursday/ The social held in the Drill Hall last evening to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of Court Pabiatua, A.0.F., was a pronounced success, and the committer ate to be congratulated for the splendid manner in which all tha arrangements were carried cut, mt a hitch occurring during the evening. Willing hands had tastefully decorated the Hall with evergreens in the afternoon, and for dancing the floor was par excellence. Over 100 couples graced the floor, and splendid music was supplied by Messrs Bluett's string band. The supper room was in charge of Mr A. East, who provided an excellent repast Bros. F. Sedcoie and E. Clarke ably filled the position of M.'sC. The members of the Lodge, who now number somewhere about 170, all wore the collars and sashes of the Order. A second meeting in connection with a Beautifying Association is to be held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening next. ,

FOOi'oA^U

BUSH DEFEAT POVERTY BAY.

The representative match between Poverty Bay and the Bush Union took place to-day, in Mr S. Girdwood's paddock, kindly l=?nt for the 'Occasion, on account of i.-j sloppy mature of the Recreation Ground. There was a good attendance, and the afternoon was an i.;eal one for football, although the ground was a little sticky for the players. Poverty Bay was represented by the following:—Full back, Fitzgerald; three-quarters> Campbell, PolJock, Ryland; five-aightha, Watchorn (captain), Tocker; half, Nehu; •wing forward, Stagpoole; forwards, Gilbert, Beech, Lyons, Lowe, JNichollas, Lincoln and Redmond. Of J:his team Stagpoole, Campbell and Redmoni played for the first time since the start of the tour. The onty alteration in the Bush team was the inclusion of Short instead of White, at five-eighths. The Bush kicked off with the wind in their favour, and for the first ten minutes Poverty Bay looked like scoring, Ryland and Pollock putting in good work. Play then worked up to the other end of the field, the result of good play by the Bush forwards, headed by Piikington,'Smith and Henry. A free kick relieved Poverty Bay, and Connor marked, G. Smith making an unsuccessful shot alt goal. Shortly afterwards Collins, the Bush skipper, marked in a good position, G. Smith this time piloting the leather safely over the bar, and drawing first blood for the home (team. Poverty Bay started some pretty passing rushes, but they were stopped by the Bush backs, who wore playing a very safe and cautious game. Play for a time hovered near the Bush line. Lincoln making a tricky run for the corner, but was grassed. The BUsh forwards then started a dribbling rush, and the ball well up the field, was snapped up by Connor, near the line, but he missed a score through slipping. iFrom a loose rush G. Smith made a pretty opening, passing out to Short, who transferred to Collins, the. latter passing out to Eccleton, who crossed the line, amidst tumultuous applause from the Bush supporters. G. Smith failed with the ,kick. From the kick off the Bush forwards again carried play right up to the goal, and G. Smith picking up the ball, passed to Short, who with lightning.rapidity dived over the line. G. Smith's attempt at goal was again unsuccessful. Shortly after, tbe whistle blew for half time, the score standing—Bush 9, Poverty Bay 0. Prom the start of the second spell the ball was kept in midfield until Poverty Bay initiated a passing rush, which was intercepted by Eccleton, and the leather was rushed down tke other end of the field. Collins, who was playing a great game, got near the line, where he was collared after passing six men. He immediately ran back to his place and took a mark. G. Smith made a splendid attempt to kick a goal, but the ball hit thu uprights and dropped in field. Poverty Bay livened up a ilttle, but the Bush soon again had the upper hand, and Thomson had an unsuccessful attempt at

goal from a mark taken oy Eccleton. Ryland and Fitzgerald had plenty of ! work to do in atoppine the determined onslaughts of the Bush forwards. Swamson, by good following up almost scoring near the corner. The home team were now having much the best of the game, Collins and Connor putting in some smart runs. Poverty Bay then made determined efforis to score, and Fitzgerald tried to kick a goal from a mark taken by Nehu. From thi3 out to the end of the game play hovered up and down, Poverty Bay almost scoring on one occasion, and when the whistle blew, play was in the Bush territory, no further score being recorded, the Bush thus winning by 9 points to nil. The result of the game came as a surprise, and the Bush played a much better game than was expected of them. Mr George Smith made a capable referee.