FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2398, 13 September 1886, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Mastebtox (2nd 15) v. Epim.

A match betweon the above teams took place on Saturday last on tho Masterton Club ground, and resulted in a win for the Home team by seven points to two. A heavy rainfall took placo just beforo tho match, converting the ground into a series of miniature lakes, which, before the game was finished wore worked into mudholos, Tho Homo toam was by far tho heaviest, but as the ground was in Buoh a moist condition this was not an advantage. Masterton kicked off and immediately ran tho ball down behind their _ opponents line, a touch-in-goal resulting. No score was made in the first spell, the visitors though hard pressed were able to hold their oppressors in check. In tho second spell Murphy, by a dodgy run, got through, and grounded the leather close to the post but no further score was made from it, This seemed to put the Home team on their metal, for they bore down on their oppononts Hue, and after a series of scrimmages Ewington got over the line with tho leather, and McKenzie further -increased the score by a splendid place kick. Immediately after the kick off E. Pelling secured a try betweon the posts', the kick being a failure. "No side" was soon after called, the score being Masterton ono goal ono try, Epuni one try.

Very little football waa shown on either side, the ground being bo slippovy that running or passing waa imp™iblo, and it waa no uncommon thing to soft a back quietly sit down in attempting to pick up the ball. The game to the onlookers was amusing in the extreme, for the sphere waa constantly in one of tho many puddles, and required more than ordinary dribbling powers to induce it to travel. The visitors were rather a smart lotot fellows, and.would no doubt be seen to better advantago on a dry ground. They should- endeavor to pay .more attention to the game, and not try to, teach the umpires and refereeß while "the game iB in progress, for there is uo doubt •that they,,. : allqwed their .: opponents to score the,first try., on Saturday through their, desire to:discuss /what. conßtitutea off-aida'plavj instead of defehding,;their. line.'. Saturday's ganie will be • remembered in Masterton aa the .*' appealing match of '86," for-from beginning to end there was one continuousappeal from the

visiting team, who occasionally took the' the game out of tho control of. the umpires and referee, " ft . The _ Maatertob Football Olub is endeavoring to arrange a match with the Carterton Olub on Saturday neit. As these Olubs have not met this season, and. the latter have twice played drawn matches with Greytown, a good game will eventuate. The Mastetton Football Club, who have gone to considerable trouble and expense in procuring and fencing in a ground, are having their fence destroyed by persons who evidently make tho paddock a highway instead of keepmp to ihe road. Thoy intend to make an examplo , of the first one caught damaging their ' property. gSfPoueko beat the Wellington Club by , four points to nil in the Senior Cup con- ' test on Saturday,

OTAGO V. NEW SOUTH WALES. , [United Pbkss Association] Dunijdin, this day, Tlioro was a large attendance aud' tho ground was in capital condition. Tho Otago team fairly outplayed their opponents, winning the match by 23 to uif.