FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10045, 16 May 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF THE SEASON. SATURDAY'S MATCHES. The Wairarapa Rugby Union opened their 1910 season fixtures on Sat urday. The weather held good, but the grounds were vary and soft Both the sani-jr garne3 were good exhibitions of football, and drew large gates. The junior gaiies, with the exceptijn of. the Red StarWeraiti match, where very even, while the two third-class events were won by big margins.

SENIOR MATCHES. RED STAR v. GREYTOWN. Red Stars defeated Greytown, at Greytown, on Saturday, by 12 to 4 —four unconverted tries to a potted goal. The first half opened slowly, but the men soo i got going, and for a time Greytown looked dangerous, but the pressure was relieved, and Stars attacked. The ball travelled up and down the field in quick uecession, each side trying hard to draw first blood. Shortly before the whistle sounded for half time A. Ross got away, and the Greytown backs mulled the ball, which was kicked over the line, N. Chamberlain scoring near the posts. F. Ball took the kick, which went wide--Red Star 3, Greytown nil. On resuming both teams livened up, but the Stars pressed hard, and from a line out a scramble in front of the goal followed, which enabled Bert Welch to register the second try for the Stars. The kick again proved unsuccessful —Red Scar 6, Greytown nil. A series of scrums on the Greytown line kept the defence bu«y, and at last the efforts of the Star team were rewarded, and G. Allen scored near the Greytown posts. Ball failed to concert.—Rea Star 9, Greytown nil. Greytown livened up, and kept the Star backs busy for a few minutes. and good defensive work was done by at full back. From a mark in the Stars' twenty-five E. Skeet had a shot at goal, but the leather just missed t!ie post?. The Greytown backs now started a series of fine passing rushes, but one of their number always managed to mull, and in this way two almost certain tries were lost. Ball saved from one of the rushes, and kicked well down the field. P. Rogers was ready, and, putting in a nice run, potted a neat goal. Red Star 9, Greytown 4. Stars had the be3t of the rest of the game, and from a free kick K. Welch ran right through and scored. The kick went wide, and the whistle went soon alter with the score unaltered. Mr Charters refereed.

CARTERTON v. GLADSTONE. Carterton defeated Gladstone, at CartertoD, on Saturday by 3 to nil This match is always looked upon as a goud fixture, and Saturday's game was no exception. The pare became very willing from the outset, each side in turn attacking and defending splendidly. At half time it looked like a draw, but, with three minutes to go, N. McKenzie crossed the Gladstone line, and registered the first scors of the match. Bert McKenzie'a effort? to add the extra points were unsuccessful. Breaches of the rules were frequent. Finally a hard fought game ended in Carterton's favour. Mr E. McKenzie held the whistle. JUNIOR MATCHES. RED STAR v. WERAITI. On the Showgrounds on Saturday, Red Star juniors defeated Weraiti by 25 to nil. The game was somewhat rough, and the Weraiti players apparently did not learn their Rugby in a drawing room. T. Brown 3,

J. Stalker, V. Bilhngton and J. Wintr one each, scored two of which A. Ibbetson converted, ibbetson also kicking(]a penalty goal. MASTEKTON v. GKEYTOWN. The Masterton-Greytown junior fixture ended without either side scoring, and provided the only draw of the day. The game was very patchv, and could not bo called a good exhibition of footbali. DALEFIELU v. CARTERTON. Dalefield defeated Carterton by 16 to nil at Carterton on Saturday. The game was ncore even than the scores indicate. Dalefield's score wa3 obtained by four tries, two of which were converted. LOWER VALLEY v. LIBERALS. Lower Valley (Maryborough) defeated Liberals (Featherston) cn Sat- ( urday by 5 poii.ts to nil. The Lower \ Valley team sored a try, which was converted, tut al'hough they fought hard, the Liberals could jiot i qu-1-ise matters. THIRD CLASS MATCHES. RED S' T ARS v. DaLEFIELD. The Red Star Third fifteen defeated the Dalefied team at Dalefield on Saturday by 23 points to nil. Tries were scored by Mcllattie, C. Smith, Ewington, Golder, Wekh, Wicltens and Munn, one of which Wickens converted. CARTERTON v. MASTERTON. Masterton was defeated at Carterton on Saturday by Carterton by 25 to nil. Carterton obtained seven tries, two of which were converted.