FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9581, 30 August 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WAIRAKaPa v. BfISH. (From Our Pahiatna Correspondent). The annual matjh between the Wairarapa and the Bush representative teams took place on the recreation ground this afternoon in the presence of a large number of spectators. G Groube captained the visitors, and all the original team picked travelled for the occasion The home team were without tin; services of Connor and Thompson, the latter having a poisoned foot, and tney were replaced by Short and Foss. The teams were: WAIRARAPA: (Green). Full back: P. Rogers (Greytown. Three-quarters: S. Mason (Gladstone), C.'Groube (Carterton;, Darvill (Red Star). Five-eighths: N. McKenzie (Carterton), T. Jury (Greytown). Half: F. Ball (Red Star). Wing forward: R. McKenzie (Red Star). Forwards: P. Barry (Carterton), Allen (Greytown), H. McKenzie (Carterton), 0. Skeet (Greytown), A. Ross (Red Star), Desmond (Carterton). BUSH. (Red). Full back : Foss (Pahiatua). Three-quarters, Eccleton (Pahiatua), Collins (Pahiatua), White (Nireaha). Five-eighths: Short (Pahiatua). Half: Mexted (Mangatainoka). Wing forwards: Swainson (Pahiatua), and Lyle (Mangatainoka). Forwards: G. Smith (Konini), Robinson Smith (Konini), Howard (Nireaha), Ryan) Nireaha), Pilkington (Mangatainoka), Henry (Mangatainoka). Collins, the Bush captain, won the toss, and the Greens (Wairarapa) set the ball in motion against a fairly heavy wind, Eccleton returning well down the field. Shortly after N. McKenize marked, and sent the ball out of touch well up in the Bush territory. Darvill made a good run, up the field, and from a loose rush Groube picked up the leather, but punted too hard, the ball going over the line. The Bush's kick off was brought back owing to a man being offside. The Bush forwards then made some'good rushes, and got near the Wairarapa line, Swainson and Henry being responsible for some good work. A free kick relieved the Greens, and then Short put in a* good run for the home team. Play was then centred for a time until the Greens pressed, and White took a' mark for the Bush under their goal \ posts. Busb then initiated another forward rush, which' was stopped by Darvill speculating. The ball again got into the Reds' territory, by good forward play of the Greens, and Foss slipping with the ball the forwards were on him in a bunch, but S. Smith saved the situation. Collins then eot away with the ball, taking it down to the Greens' twenty-rive. Later Darv.ll attempted a pot without result, and play for some time was in midfield. N. McKenzie was putting in some splendid kicks for the visitors against the wind, and Wairarapa engaged in a passing rush, which was opportunely stopped by Collins intercepting. Henry, for the Bush, was following up well, and Groube tried to pick up. but had to kick, along tne ground, and the Green forwards following it up enabled PBarry to score good_try. N McKenzie made no mistake about kicking a goal from fairly difficult angle. From the kick out the Bush followed up well, but tne defence of Rogers and N. McKenzie was too good, and play wa3 soon again in the Bush territory, and Darvill was collared near the corner. White and Collins were re;pjnaible for a good run, and the spectators were then treated to a number of marks taken by both sides. The Bush started several dribbling rushes, and ogers managed to pick up the ball and kick out of touc, when in a very tight corner. A good deal of speculating was indulged in by both sides. The m;.&c sensational run of the day then place. Rogers, Collins and Swainson running for the ball. Rogers reached the ball first, but Collins was "there almost at the same time, and Swainson, who was handy, got the ball, but went out at the side line. Bush now kept the Greens near the goal line for a time. From a scrum right under the goal posts. Mexted secured the Lather, out passed out wide, and allowed the Greens to remove the scene of play m dfield. N, McKenzie securing the ball, made a splend d run, and kicked to the Bush backs, who mulled the ball, allowing Rosa and R. McKei/zie to take it over the line, the latter touching down. N. McKenzie kicked another good goal, and the whistle blew, fur half time, with the score— Wairarapa 10 Bush nil. With a lead of 10 points and a good wind behind them, it was thought that Wairarapa would put up a very big score, but they did not play neaily such a sterling game as in the first spell. Maaon and Darvill mulled the ball, o.i several occasions. The Bush were getting the best oi the scums, but did not do any good with the ball when they got it. Wairarapa had much the best of the play throtghout this spell, but held the Bush too cheap. There was no sensational pieces of individual play, although on one occasion F.isb brought N. McKenzie down when a certain try seemed imminent. From a scrum near the Bush line R. McKenzie and Cameron rushed the ball over the line, the former scoring. Roger's attempt at igoal was not successful. S. Smith shortly afterwards attempted tr. kick a goal from a free kick, but without success. Shortly after Foss kicked 1 the ball from under the goal posts, land N. McKenzie getting.hold of it scored an unmistakable try, H. McKenzie's kicK going wide. Play was up and down field for some time until Groube passed out to Mason, who beat the opposing backs and scored under the posts. Ball put the leather safely between the posts. Give and take play followed, mainly in the Bush territory, and just on the call of time Cameron from a rebound from Foss' kick scored the last try. Mason's kick was a failure. The game thus ended:—• Waira' pa 24 points Buth nil.

| Mr Chatwin Rave boch teams satisfaction aa referee, and Messrs J. JNicholls and P. Bissett were line umpires. The game taken as a whole was not a good one to watch, the ground being against brilliant passing rushes, although luckily no rain fell during the mntch. Ihe ground, however, was sticky from the rain the night before. Rogers, Norman McKenzie and Ball were the pick of Ihe visiting backs, while Barry, R. McKenzie, Ross and Desmond were always on the ball among the forwards, and H. McKenzie's line out play was extremely good, although he was well-marked by the home team. Collins, Short and Mex ted shone out amongst the Bush backs, while" Svvainson and Henry wer9 the pick of the forwards. The visitors were entertained at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday evening by the Bush Union.

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 28. The twenty-first representative match between Auckland and Wellington was played here this afternoon under unfavourable conditions as regards the weather and grounds. Rain fell during the progress of the match, making the ball greasy for the backs to manipulate with satisfactory results. About 6,500 spectators were present. Auckland scored a somewhat lucky victory by 3 to nil, O'Leary kicking a tine penalty goal. In the first spell the game was a hard-fought one, the forwards monopolising the (bulk of the play. On the day's form ther« was not a great deal of difference between the teams. The Northerners made most work on the line-out, from which they engineered many breakaway rushes. They were also' cleverer with their feet than the local brigade. The visiting rearguard handl.-d and kicked the leather with greater sureness and accuracy of force than the opposing division, which on occasions initiated excellent passing rushes, the state of the ground alone preventing them from carrying them to a successful issue. The Northerners indulged in plenty of off-siue, for which they were frequently penalised. They had the best of the play in the first spel', but the local men more than equalised matters in the succeeding half. In the second spell Magee, captain of the Auckland team, while racing for the ball near the Wellington's line, collided with an opponent, receiving severe concussion of the brain. Windel, from Thames, replaced him. Had the ground been drier the Wellington backs would | probably have proved a great thorn in the aide of the Aucklaners. AUSTRALIANS DEFEAT MAORIS. | Received August 29, 5.5 p.m. SYDNEY, August 29. A match under the Northern Union rules was played yesterday between the Australian and Maori teams, and resulted in a win for Australia by 20 points to 13. Prior to the match nine of the Maoris were arrested under an order of the Court, obtained by Mr Jack in connection with his claim, but matters were arranged enabling them to play.