FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1767, 21 August 1884, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The famous match between the butchers and bakers v blacksmiths and wheelwrights came off in Mr G. Dixon's paddock yesterday afternoon, Between four and five hundred spectators assembled to witness the contest, among them being a goodly number of ladies. Neither team was exactly the one selected, the emergencies having to be enlisted, Messrs Ross, and Wickerson officiated as skippers, while Messrs Harvey and MclCenzie acted as umpires and Mr O'Connor as ; referee. " Two spells of twenty minutes each were played. Ross won the toss and took the kick off. The game at once became furious if not fast. Great amusement was caused at the attempts made by some of the players to kick the ball, Several of the backs would sometimes wait till the ball became almost stationery before they would venture to raise their feet at it, and when they did they were just as likely to send it towards their own goal as not, But, notwithstanding all this, at times a very fair display of football was shewn, Several large pools of water added to the discomfort of the players, while they considerably increased the merriment of the onlookers. The umpires were very lenient, and unless something very glaring, such as throwing the ball forward ten or fifteen yards took place, the ball was not called back. The first spell ended without any score on either side, though the men of meat and dough had rather the best of it. The first part of the second spell was confined to the middle of the field, but after' this, principally through the instrumentality of Pelling, the men of wood and iron were forced down once or twice. Shortly before time was called, by a piece of good play, Pelling carried the ball over the line, but it slipped from under him, and Wickerson, who was following up well, secured a try. Pelling took the place and kicked an undeniable goal, the game ending in favor of the butchers and bakers by a goal. Hearty cheers were then exchanged by the rival teams, The greatest interest was manifested in the game by the spectators, and each piece of play, whether good or bad, was loudly applauded. Messrs Perry and Clay son (the Jumbos of the team) were received with cheers on coming .into the field, but the latter, after about ten minutes play, 'found the excitement was too much for him, and he had to retire from the contest and hang over a rail for half an hour. We understand his training medicine did not agree with him. A junior partner of a firm of butchers brought down the house when he disappeared in a pool of water, and a man of iron also received loud applause for the manner in which he went fishing for the ball in the same small lake, Some of the attempts at kicking proved highly amusing to the admiring public, A. , back would secure the ball and put enough force into his kick to get a goal from half way, but to his chagrin he would miss the ball altogether, and in his attempt to recover, himself would send the ball flying towards his own goal. The game was played in the best possible spirit, the kickists laughing almost as much as the onlookers. Of course where every one did his best it would be inviduous to mention individual players, but as a matter of course Pelling (one of the fifteen of the Masterton EC,) showed to considerable advantage; and had he not been ,in the team the game would undoubtedly have ended in a draw, We understand the printers of the town will invite a combined team to play them on Wednesday next, when the public will have the opportunity of enjoying another pleasant hour.