FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2587, 2 May 1887, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The first practice match of the season of the Mastertpn football Club was held' on Saturday afternoon, when the Cap'tain's and Vice-Captain's team met and played a continuous spell of about an hour and a half, resulting in the latter winniug by two goals and two tries to two tries. There were between thirty and forty players present, but the form shown was fur from creditable, for, with a few exceptions, the forwards were' continually handling tho ball, leading the onlookers to suppose that a no<v rule had been introduced, and that the leather was to be propelled by the hands instead of the feet. Several of tho Star players took part in the game, and made things.-lively with their fast back play, tho.passing being a feature of the match." Two new 'men wereintroduced to the Mastertonfootball field, viz,, Messrs Coxand Dalziell. The latter comes with a West Coast reputation, plays a hard- :: forward game, serviceable near his opponents line, but evinces a desiro to pick up too much whether in or out of scrimmage; Cox is a genuine playor, hia forward game being worthy of /imitation; always on the'ball, at his place on the lino out, does all his work with his im, and leavrs the picking up to .his; bucks. Although ho did'not'mako himself conspicuous on Saturday, a keen observer could not buinotiee that ho is thoroughly up Viu the game. Among the old players who made 1 a show on Saturday were: W.,E, Welch, Hounslow, and'o!Connor. F. Welch, by his dashing play bids fair to be placed in this year's senior team'.j ' "