FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9599, 20 September 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL

WELLINGTON v WAIRARAPA. WIN FOR VISITuRS. The football season in the Wairarapa was brought to a fitting close at Carterton on Saturday last, when the match Wellington v. Wairarapa eventuated. In view of the series of successes achieved by the Wellington team on their recent tour South the j supporters of Wairarapa did not expect them to put up the good fight they did, and not a little surprise was expressed at che very creditable manner in which the local team acquitted themselves. The ground was in excellent order. Neither team had their best fifteen, as only ten of the Wellington team that j toured south were included in the , visitors' tiaw, while of the ordinal Wairarapa sellection Allen, Camer on, and S. Mason were absent A feature of the play was the kicking of the Wairarapa backs, and the fine passing rushes of their opponent's forwards. Thu teams were as follow: WELLINGTON.—(BIack). Full back, Cunningham 'Athletic); tliree- ! quarters, E. Ryan (Poneke), J. I Kyan.(Petone) ; J. Flannagan (Poneke) ; five-eighths. McKenzie (Petone), F. Roberts (Oriental); half, I Tiiyard (Poneke); wing forward, Avery (Old Boys); forwards, Ready (Athletic), Hunter (Poneke), Bruce (St. James), A. Wilson (Athletic), Alexander (Old Boys), Perry (Orien-) tsls), Dennehy (Poneke). WAIRARAPA: (Green). Full back, F. Groube (Carterton); threequarters, W Darvill (Red Star), iP. Rogers (Greytown), T. Jury (Grevtown); five-eighths, C. Groube (Carterton), JN McKenzie (Carterton), half, F. Ball( Red Star); wing forward, R. McKenzie (Red Star); forwards, P. Barry (Carterton), Riggs (Grey town), H. McKenzie (Carterton), Hastings (Greytown), ! A. Miller (Red star), Desmond (Carj terton), A. Ross (Red Star). Wairarapa won the toss, and Wellington kicked off with the sun in their eyes. Play at once went into Wairarapa territory, where Jury smartly returned, and the Wairarapa ■ forwards, headed by Ross, swept up i the field, only to be repulsed. Play I then centred for a time, till the Welington forwards led by Avery made ■ things look dangerous, but P. ! Rogers relieved the pressure. Wel- ! ling ton now began to assume the ag- ' gressive, and made several deterI mined rushes, only to be repulsed by ' the sure kicking of N. McKenzie, i and the splendid tackling of F. Ball, i The Blacks were not to be denied, I and their vanguard charged up the , field and indulgad in some pretty 1 passing. Eventually Wairarapa forced. Wellington being penalised just inside their own half way. N : McKenzie, with a splendid effort, ! piloted the ball safely , between the posts. | WAIRARAPA 3 j WELLINGTON Nil |. From the kick off N. McKenzis ' returned well, and put tne Blacks on the defensive. Their forwards, how • ever, got going, and looked dangerous, but a good line kick by N. , McKenzie put the ball out in the visitors' 25. Scrum after scrum followed, from one of which Ball secured the leather, and quickly transferred to N. McKenzie, who made a d<«sh for the line, only to be grassed by the sure tackling of the southern rearguard near the corner flag. A series of scrums on the , Wellington line kept the visitors , busy defending. From one of these ! scrums Ball, smothering a kick by ' Tiiyard, made a dive to cross the j Wellington line, but was caught by I Roberts, who temporarily relieved : the pressure. Fast open play follow- ! ed. From the line out Avery secured the ball, and after making a good I run transferred to J. Ryan, the latter sending the leather out to Cunningham, who beat the opposing backs and crossed the line. J. Ryan's kick fell short, and the score stood:— WAIRARAPA 3 WELLINGTON 3 From the kick off play at once went to Wairarapa territory, when from a series of scrambles Hunter crossed the Wairarapa Sine near the corner. "'Ranji" Wilson failed with the kick. WELLINGTON 6 WAIRARAPA 3 Half time sounded with the score unaltered. On play being resumed Wairarapa i became aggressive, indulging in a number of dribbling rushes, in which Ross and N. McKenzie were the most prominent. Piay centred for a time. Wairarapa forced, and from the kick off the ball wasjiecured by N. McKenzie, who transferred to R. McKenzie. The Masterton player put in a splendid run, and in turn passed to Desmond, who was collared on the line. A. Ross secured the leather and scored. N. McKenzie placed a splendid goal. WAIRARAPA 8 WELLINGTON 6 Wellington now became very aggressive, and it took Wairarapa all their time to keep their line dear. From a free kick in Wairarapa's 25," J. Ryan placed an easy goal, which made the the scores: — WELLINGTON 9 WAIRARAPA 8 Soon after the kick off Perry retired with an injured ankle, his place being taken by Hill. Play still continued to be very fast and open. From a scramble in Wellington's 25 Ball secured the leather and passed to Rogers, who kicked to i Bert McKeiftie, the latter scoring near the corner, the shot at goal by i, N. McKenzie being unsuccessful. I WAIRARAPA 11 WELLINGTON ' 9 | Fjrom a scrum the ball was passed ' to Avery, and a fine piece of passing, ' in which Avery, Wilson and J. Ryan | were the most conspicuous, ended ' in the latter crossing the Wairarapa line and scored near the posts. McKenzie failed to add the extra points. | WELLINGTON 12 WAIRARAPA 11 ' The superior form of the visitors now began to tell, and Wairarapa were practically on the defence for the remainder of the spell. One of the best passing rushes of a brilliant game ended in Avery again

crossing the Greens' line. "Ranji"' Wilson failed with thekick at goal. The whistle then blew ;for no-side. { leaving Wellington victors, the i scores 'being: WELLINGTON 15 WAIKAKAPA 11 J Mr E. McKenzie made a very | cax>ab!e referee. NOTES. From a spectacular point of view the game was the beat seen in the Valley .or some time. Fine passing TUBhes alternated with, fast forward play, in which, for Wairarapa. H. McKenzie, R. McKenzie and Ross were always prominent. A ifeature of the match was the fine all round display given by Norman McKenzie. His line kicking was superb, distance combined with accurraey being, the great feature. In the .first spell he made a fine run down the line on the blind side from the 25, and got over,, but unfortunately his foot had .gone out. In addition he kicked ,s. ifine goal from nearly half way. AVellingon's ! first score came from a passing rush, ' in which even their full .back participated. He (Cunningham) badly heat the .local backs and scored a fine and well deserved try. Wellington's second try was scored, from the line out. / Early in the second- speSl.N. McKenzie made a long kick. R. McKenzie, Desmond and Ross followed up like racehorses, bustled the full back, and Ross scored. N. McKenzie kicked a beautiful goal. Freddy Roberts was weM looked after, but started some qpiendid, rushes. His versatility wacin evidence throughout the game. Fred Ballsurprised the spectators bybisjplay. For a boy his work all round was most meritorious. iFrom behind the scrum he put in some.excellent overhead kicking. Percy Rogers, .particularly in-his kicking,, showed some glimpses of his old tame form. Some of his line kicks were most useful. Considering their want of training, the Wairarapa forwards put up « marvellous fight, and astonished everybody. Their rushes, especialiyi in the second spell, continually drove? back the attacks of the Wellington ■ backs. With six minutes to go Avery coin-! pletely foozled the YVairarapa hacks, and scored a try close -to the posts CLARKE CUP. OPAKI v. COMBINED TEAM. The third match for the Clarke Cup was played at Opaki on Saturday, when Opaki defeated the Combined Team fMauriceville and Kopuaranga) Ly 28 points to nil. Tries were scored by B. Welch, B. Chamberjain (2), K. Welch, D. Rofs (2), and L. Welch. R. Hunt and K. Welch converted one try each. R. Hunt also kicked a penalty goal. Mr W. Harding was reterae. All the teams are now'equal in points for the Cap., each team having one win. The resuits so far have been as follows; Combined team beat Rangitumau by y points to nil; Rangitumau, beat Opaki by 6 points to nil; and Opaki beat Combined Team by 28 points to nil. Next Saturday the Combined • Team and Rangitumau will meet on the latter's ground.

By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, September 18. O.'ago defeated Canterbury by 9 points to 3. For the winners Casey and Mitchell scored tries, and Scott kicked a penalty goal. For Canterlury Mitchell scored a try.