RIFLE MATCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2115, 8 October 1885, Page 2

RIFLE MATCH.

The return match between teams representing the Masterton Rifles and Civilians took place at the Solway butts yesterday afternoon, and, as might have been expected, resulted in an easy rictory for the Volunteers, who, though they did not put their bost team in the field, won by 89 points. The Civilians had only two rifles available between them, only one member of the team being acquainted with one of them, while the Volunteers fired with the weapons they are used to, The Civilians now offer to fire another match, provided both sides use Btrange rifles, but the volunteers appear to be disinclined to agree to this. So far as the match itself would be concerned, such an arrangement would be perfectly fair, but as it would be no practice to the Volunteers, they cannot be blamed for objecting to it. With regard to the scores it will be seen that the Civilians did far better, in comparison, at the longest range than at the two shorter ones, as they only lost eight points, the average of their absentee being, of course, taken into consideration. The weather was fine for shooting. The following are the scores Volunteers.

200 300 500 Tl. Sergt Matthews ... 21 17 17-55 Lieut Cameron 20 18 16-54 Oorpl Kibblewhite 21 16 16-53 Vol Hoffeins 18 16 14-48 Vol Wilton 11 18 18-47 Vol Hoar 19 19 7-45 Sevgt Thompson 20 14 9-43 Vol Matthews ... 20 7 15-42 Vol R. McKenzie 16 21 5-42 Vol Blane 23 13 2-38 Total 467 Civilians. 200 300 500 Tl. Ankotell '18 lit 20-51 Warner 20 16 8-44 W. Kibblewhito... 18 13 12-43 E, Hare ... 14 20 8—42 T, James,,, m ie 12 14-41 J. Williams 21 4 13-38 C. J. Freoth ,,, 14 5 10-29 J. Vile 14 7 6-27 Rockell 11 7 7-25 Average, one man short ... ... 38 Total 378