FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 28 July 1913, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE WAIBARAPA CHAMPIONSHIP. Two senior Ruugby matches ,in which more' than ordinary interest was centred, were played in the Wailar.ipa on Saturday last. The matches during the season have 'been so closely contested, and the surprises have been so .-many, that the result was concealed until the very last games in the round. As it happened, Cartorton, which has held the premier position'for'several years, was again successful, for by defeating Uniteds it won the championship outright, after one of the most interesting rounds in football thai have ever been witnessed in the W.airarapa. At one stage of the championship it looked as though Carterton would go under to either Uniteds, Gladstone or Stars?" but it gradually rehabilitated itself, until it had only oi:o team to beat to win. This team it vanquished on Saturday, and won. The Gladstone team, which were the runners-uip, acquitted themselves really well, and deserved better luok than they had at Masterton on Saturday. * The Uniteds have also established themselves as a team to be" reckoned with, while the Red Stars haver done fairly well, in all the circumstances. The results of Saturday's matches -were as follow: —

RED STAB (3) v. GLADSTONE (3). Red Star won the toss, and Gladstone were required to play against, a blinding sun and a fairly brisk wind. Red Stir had all the best of i the first spell. They ihad Gladstone in trouble from the start, and were several times unfortunate in being unable to score. owards the close of the -spell Stars got on a forward rush, in which D. Ross and Clarke were prominent, Sid. Dixon snapped up the leather, and scrambled over the line amidst great cheering. The kick ,at goal,: which was by no means difficult, wag/taken by Yates, but was a failure. The Stars were aggressive for tilio remainder of the spell, and an inevitable .score was spoiled on one occasion by off-side play. In the seoon-i .spell Gladstone had slighfely tho (jest of things, although the wind seemed to change round with the play, and they had all tihe worst of the hick. The Stars were several .times;, placed on the defensive, and secured ono or two penalty kicks from which they should have sowed. At length, from an open rush, E. Mason carried the ball over at the corner. The'kick at goal was a failure. With the scores even, the play became morjj exciting. Each side made desperate efforts, but the defence proved too solid, and no further score resulted. Henderson was compelled to retire from the Gladstone team early in the second spell, and this-had a weakening effect upon his side. The -match ended Red Stars' 3,' Gladstone 3. For Red Stars' D. Ross and S. Mason - werft ulie pick of the forwards, while Jerry and Darville did good work in the backs. The .most prominent players for Gladstone were Hodge, Spaokman and Mason in the forwards, and Henderson and .Strang in the backs.

CARTERTON (7) v. UNITED (0). In; the. football match,/Carterton 'v. United, the former won after one of 4ttie most interesting matches of the championship. Carterton were without the services of McKenzie, but nevertheless carried too many guns for their opponents. Close on the call of time, United made a determined effort to score, but their efforts were not rewarded, the ball, ing out in touch. The final score was Oarterton 7, United 0, and the former thus won the Wairaf#paßugby "Union's senior cahmpionsEp of 1913. THEEIDCELASS/ CARTERTON (11) v. RED STAB (8). At Masterton on Saturday Carterton defeated! tto 8. The matenr wias very keenly contested. The first spell ended with Stars 8 points to their opponents nil. In the second spell, however, Carterton worked well, and compiled 11 points. Mr B. Chapman refereed. WELLINGTON (23) v. MAORIS (21), (By Telegraph—Prm Association.) f WELLINGTON, Last Night. At Wettihgton on Saturday, the Welfingtqn representatives met and defeated the Maori touring team, by the narrow margin of two points. The game was very even, the visitors excelling in fast feack work. The, final scores were Wellington 23, Maoris 21. BUSH DEFEATS MANAWATU. PAHIATUA, Last Night. The representative Rugby match between Bush and Manawatu, played at Pahiatua on Saturday, resulted in a win for the Bush by 15 points to 6. In the first spell, Connell kicked a goal for Bush from a mark and converted a try scored by G. Smith, whilst Manawatu,did not score* In the secpnd spell H. Mexted scored a try, and L. MoKenna potted a jgoal

for Bush. For Manawatu Allsopp and Eglington scored trieß neither of which were converted. The Bush had the ibest of the game, the forwards proving superior in rushes. After the match tho Manawatu team were entertained by the Bush Union, and the visitors returned to Manawatu'by the night train. INTER-ISLAM) MATCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Ni«jht. inter-island football match, North* v. South, was played at Lancaster Park on Saturday afternoon. The attendance was well over GOl'O. The match resulted in a win for the South Island by 25 points (two • oals from tries, four tries and a peu.ilty goal) to nil, J. Stohr, the Tara.iaki three-quarter, was at the last moment compelled to withdraw fro-u the North team owing to a festered arm following on vaccination, which greatly weakened the north team, but even with alterations, the northerners were expected to prove too good for the representatives,, of the South. In a game that waTs'full of interest from start to finish, tho South Island scored the most decisive victory they have yet registered in these series of matches. Very early in the game it was apparent that there was something faulty in the North back division, and fast following up 'by the iSouthern forwards, aad very solid tackling by their hicks, kept the Northerners very besy. The score was only three points to nil in favour of the Southerners at half-time, but their showing'had been so promising that their supporters were confident of success. In the opening of spell, North made a very determined effort, but gradually South wore them down, and in the final stages the Southern backs were playing with euch a dash that roused the crowd to rruch enthusiasm.

THE LEAGUE GAMJL, IIcKLAND (34) v. HAWSE'S BAY (7). AUCKLAND, Last Night. . For the second time this season, Auckland League representatives successfully defended the Northern Union" Cup. The challengers were Hawke'Wßay, whom they defeated by 34 points to 7. Ifwerson . wag the best-man on the field, scoring four tries and converting tw6.