FOOTBALL NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10621, 29 April 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL NOTES

(By All Black.)

The Masierton. and Hod Star football teams livid a practice 'match ■on the old Sliowgiroimids on Saturday afternoon.. The weather was not very pleasant, and probably prevented a good many (Sroin turning out. Never thelcrs-s, wiith .seniors and juniors, two sides were selected, and a good practice game was, enjoyed.. It being thb first game of the season, <vf course there was not nnicli evidence ot good football, but from a training point of view the gmiiv was satisfactory. The Mafcterton Club are now almost certain of getting a pretty strong team in the field .by the 18th May, when tlio Championship fixtures commence. Most of the .team are young players, which should be all the better, as they generally are mere enthusiastic than The older hands, and being keen on training and practice a young lot *>: J players' often make the best team. j

The Red Stars did not turn out in; very strong force on Saturday, but as a number of the team live out of town, they will (probably bo 'having some practice wibh the ball «it /home. In any" case, their supporters arc very confident, that they will 'have a strong ooniibinatibn in the field. "Biob" Spackman, who played such steading games, for taie Masterton C'luib last season, will be out again, this season, and Ins services should be of great value to the team. R. McKenjde, who so name was mentioned as captain of the Red Star team, may not take on the game this season. It is a pity, as Bob is undoubtedly the best wing forward in the Wairarapa, and would be a tower < of strength to hie team. Fred Ball, the Star half, will be seen, out again, and will greatly strengthen tlio defence lino.

The Masterton team are trying to arrange a match for next Saturday with a Cartenton team, to be played at Carterton. Gladstone played a scratch match on Saturday against a team from Longbuish. The result of the game is that Gladstone have secured several new players, who are at present working at thb Longbush flax-mill, and are said to kmqw all about the game. The Gladstone CCfiib -are going in for sys-. tematic practice this season., and will prove a- -haii-d team to beat .when the senior competitions, commence. Carterton (have ako some new blood-;-and" while they bavo lost four of their very best ,men in N. McKenzie, Barry, Desmond and Brough, they expect to have .a strong team in the field. The Gireytown Club are working hard to get their best team into the field-, and hlave secured the. services of several old Te Aute College bo3"e, who .should matrially assist in strengthening the team. In, the past few seasons, good back i combinations have been- lacking in Wairarapa teams, but this year I believe at lea/-t three of the five .t:-a.ms will have excel hit back comibiaiatmufi, which from a spectacular point of view should improve the game. W'ithin the next week, the senior learns will probably luive their full combinations out in practice .matches, when their relative .strength will be more easily judged. „