FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2362, 2 August 1886, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON V. WAIIUKAPA,

Gbkat intoreafc was taken in tho first match between the Wellington and Waitarapa Unions on Saturday last, over 300 persons travelling from the Wairaraiia by the excursion train to Wellington, where the centre of attraction for the day was the scene of the contact, Newtown Park. Threo o'clock was the hour fixed for tho kick off, by which time there was fully two thousand spectators on tho ground, As the rival teams appeared within the roped enolosure they were greeted with cheers, tho homo team, judging by the prolonged reception, being the favorites, For size and weight they were well matched, the forwards on either sido having some tall and heavy men among them. Tho following are the teams and their position! they ocou pied in the field of play: Wellington (black)—Back.—Stock; three-quarters— A. Thompson, McCausland; half-backs— PearcG, Roberts, Morlet j forwards Cooper (captain), Ellison, Molntyre, Storoy, Williams, McGowan, Geary (Tairoa), King, J. E, Smith; umpireMr Dumbell. Wairarapa (green) ; Back—E, Udy; three-quarters— A. Udy, C. Perry; half-baoks— J. Perty, R. Komble, W. Perry (captain); forwards— C. and J. Beard, Wobsfcer, G. Humphries, Ewon, Fairbrother, Hounslow, Welch, C. Udy; umpire -Mr S. H, Wickerson; Mr T. S. Ronaldson officiated as referee. It was decided to play two spells of forty-fivo minutos. Cooper won tho toss and took tho kick off, giving the greens the advantage of a slight breeze. The first part of tho came was noted for tho persistent manner in whioh both sides kept to the scrimmage, the greens' in most cases having the advantage, but through tho phenomenal punting of Roborts the gain was neutralised, and the play being for a considerable time in the centre of the field. The greens would, by hard forward play, get into their opponents territory, when the blackß, by a systematic rush would carry the sphere back into rather dangerous proximity to the greens, line. The play for the first half hour osoillated betweon both goal lines, the partisans of either party being worked up to fever heat, as the loathor neared the coveted goal. No individual brilliant play had been shown during this time, the teams, as a whole being mom defenders than agressors. Towards half time the game became more loose when the long passing of the blacks showed up to advantage. No running of note took place at the collaring of the greenß proved to effeotive, it, however, enabled the blacks to get on a rush which ended in Williams getting possession and struggling to within a a yard of the line when he paßsodtoMerlet, who managel to draw first blood for Wellington. The place, a tolerably easy one, was entrusted to Pearoe, who sont the leather wide of the posts, From the kick out more scrimmaging ensued, and half time was called. . V

The second spell showed up ! the superior forward play of the greeii's especially m their dribbling. Sever,>l times they menaced the.goal line of the blacks, only to see the leather bainy carried back by their opponont* vuuLa. One bit of dribbling of the greens deserves more than passing notice, and it is doubtful whether anything like it has ever been seen on a Wellington ground. Starting near their 25 yards they 4t the ophoro going, and the .manner' they piloted.it through was marvellous, thd half* #ere passed, aiid then the three-qiiarterß, and it looked

very rosy for scoring when the lack managed to'get in. the way. Tlio blfisks;.. : succeeded in retracing the lost ground, but the greens again came,-onMf,h ft' dribble, and 'Welch succeeded in jptin£ over the coveted line, but before he wm able to touch down was thrown into touch-in-goul. By a well directed rush the blacks again menaced the greens territory, when King got possession, aud finished a run (when collared by 0. Perry) by passing; to , Thompson, who placed another try to their credit. The place was entrusted to Ellison, who failed to score. Within a few minutes of "no Bide" being called another rush blacks ended, through some palpable M, side play of Wellington, m Elliwa plaoing a third try to the home team's credit. He again essayed the place, which proved a miserable attompiT 'No side" was shortly aftonvards JbaUed, the score standing points, Wairarapa nil. The wiuiffjra played a gamo that too* their opponents completely by surprise. Knowing full well that there is 110 penalty for offside play, beyond scrummaging off again, they played tho offside game with a system, that means success against a team that plays the genuine game such as Wairarapa team doos. /When tho wing men of an opposing teatii dodgq about among the . opposite quarterM#uring scrummaging waiting for the (Mee to pounce upon the quai-torbaoks or the ball, it tends greatly to spoil tho Rugby gams, and also causes delay in case of. appeals, but as the appeals were few, or not acknowledged on Saturday, tho ttjdm came off with success, In . Smith, and King, the Wellington representative team have a tmihat. it would be difficult to beat in this style of |>l»k The former layß himself out for thigpSl ticularbranchof the gamo,'and wai tha cause of several stoppages in tho match ou Saturday. In fact, the last try obtained was due to his judkmt offside play, which was rocognized only by one umpire, King, with his- "general knowledge of tho «ame,"-is; enabled to take every advantage with interest to his side, and apart froto his 'offside wine play he shows vnry poor representative form in picking up a "doad'ball," and collaring an opponent when dribbling. The rest of the Wellington forwards played a hard game ; indood any toam would have to against the Wairarapa selected. Among the backs, Roberts played i splendid game, and there can b« no hesitation in saying that his unselfish play was in a great measure the mom ef his side scoring, His punting aud passing were the thejne of general admiration, and made the' game loose, which proved so essential to their He wag well supported by the other jfts, notably among them being MerletfThompson and McCaußland. These, however, wefo unable to put in any brilliant runs through the collarine of tlm opposing backMjAs a representative team the Wellington fifteen require move unity action. Selfish play on Saturday was especially noticeable. They play with any amount of dash and follow up with a degree of smartness that is surprising to tho opposite backs, but as they have no regard for the rules of tho game, a swart captain, umpires, and referee would bo harass them with stoppages that they would become disorganised in a match. Tho siirummaging game was all the Wairarapa team wer* able to play, ana in thiß they gave the spectators an exhibition of genuine forward play such as is. seldom seen on a Wellington ground. Their combined action in loose Bcrumniage and superior dribbling stood them in good need, and it was only hard luck that kept them from scoring. Among a team whore all so well it is a very difficult titefc-Jq "spot" exceptional player^but C. < Beard, Webster, and HounjSr proved themsiilves worthy of speci* mention by their dashing play, the latter by his collaring and quick following up proved a decided check. to the opposing half backs. J. Perry played with all his old firehose to the scrum, dribbled well, followed up smartly, collared with a dognA- of certainty that was surprisingjfaud appeared always at' the right time when wanted on his side of the field. W, Perry's play was. a counterpart of his brothers, the pair making things very lively for their opponent?. W. Keinbltt, centre half, worked very hard in stopping the rushes. This was about all na was able to do, for the quick play of the black forwards spoiled his chance of either kicking, punting, or passing, and he kept too close up to be able to feed his three-quarters, even if ha bad the opportunity. C. Perry did very little beyond showing that he was able to collar and kick well. It shows that the Wairarapa team will have to study more back play fof future matches, when it is noted that neither of the three : quarter backs received a pats out during the match on Saturday. A. Udy picked up clean and colkredgWell, but would have served his side litter if he hud kicked into touch instead of running. E. Udy as full back did not come off well, no doubt tho greasy state of tho ground was greatly against certain play, but his repeated fumbling of the ball waa a source of anxiety to his team. He would_y«e been acquisition to tho ftSkrdi where his weight and dribblingv *lll always find a place. The form of the Wairarapa team came up to the expectations of their admirers, and the mannerin which the latter, part o£ the match wag contested shewed that the country were able to put as good a team in tho field as ever they were.. It is to. bo hoped that • before tho return match'with the Empire City team entries off, the countrymen will go in for , a series of practioe matches, under the euperviaioa of an old player, who has a knowledge of the new rules.