FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2889, 3 May 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE ENGLISH TEAM IN NEW ZEALAND. Wo understand that Mr S, H, Wickevson, Secretary of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, bas, at the request of numerous residents, written to the Railway Department, soliciting the provision of special train arrangements and cheap fares on the occasion of the match with the English footballers at Wellington, on Saturday, 12th May.

THE OTAGOEETUEN MATCH Dunedin, May 3, . The return match England v Otago came off yesterday on the Caledonian Ground.' The weather was lovely and the ground in capital order. The attendance was about equal to Saturdays, namely about 8000. With the exception of Keogh (originally selected) taking Simpson's place, the Otago team was the same as before,

THE PLAY. Seddon the English Captain, kicked off at 3 o'clock, and the Englishmen following up, the play was at Otago's twenty-fives. The Blues (Otago) commenced at once, a grand rush taking the play up to the Colors' (English) twenty-fives, where a tight scrum resulted in the Colors being forced down. Some tough play took place in the centre, of which Otago had the best, the Colors showed tendency to off-side play. Otago made the game tight, and the play was much slower than on Saturday. Scrum followed scrum, the play swaying backward and forward. The backs had not much to do, Stoddart made a good run for England but Otago worked back again. Davie got a pass and nearly kicked a goal, The Colors cleared their lines and the play was in the centre. Lynch here made the run of the day, going right through the forwards. Nolan, for England, then made a fine run and passed to Anderton, but these were only temporary successes, Bamby and Anderton took the play to the Otago twenty-lives by good runs, but it was back in a few seoonds, Through a good kick by Thomson the play was sent into the Colors' twenty - fivos, where the Englishmen were eventually forced down by Davis making a kick at goal which went to the left of it, The English were past the half flag for a few minutes, but the Blues, worked tlie leather back to the Colors' twenty-five flag, where it was wheii half time was called, no score being recorded, Otago kioked of! in ! 1 /

the second spell, and an exchange o kicking resulted in a scrum in tli centre. A series of passes by th Otago men took the ball to the Colors' line, where it was heeled out to Keogh who ran in and touched down between the posts. Lynch took the kick and placed an undeniable goal amid tremendous cheering from ihe crowd. At the kick off the Englishmen were called back for off-side play. The Colors rushed it down to the Blues' twenty fives, but a series of passes by the Otago men, who were really playing the best game, took it to the Colors' side of the half flag. The play was very fast, both sides passing well. Thomson, Otago's best halfback, had to retire here, having dislocated the muscle of his right shoulder. For off side play on the Colors' part the Blues were given a free lack; but it gained nothing. Anderton then made a fine run along the Hue to past the twenty-five flag. The Blues worked the leather back, and a splendid dribble by Montgomery took it over, but the kickwastooliard,and England was forced down;' A'.splendid lack and dribble by TurnbulL. took it past the half flag again. The play was now much faster, Eng-. land being able to screw the scrum frequently and keep the play about about the Blues' quarters. A pass to Anderton took it into near the corner flag, and as he threw it into play at once, Banks was able to get in at the goalposts, Anderton kicked an:undeniable goal and the score was even. There was now tremendous excitement, and the Colorsjstill screwing the scrum, had the play at the Blues' 25 flag. Otago worked it 'back, but a pass given to Nolan onabled that player to run in. Paul took the kick which did not add to the score, Only five minutes remained for play, and Otago made strenuous efforts to score, but they could do no more than hold their own, and the whistle was sounded with the play in the centre, the Englishmen winning by one point—a a goal and a try to Otago's goal. The Rugby Union have handed over to Lillywhite and Shrewsbury a cheque for £5lB, being their share of the proceeds of the English Football teams' two matches here.

The following team of tlio Masterton Football Club lias been selected to play a match with the Red Star Club on the Masterton Club ground ou Saturday afternoon next Pull back, F. Perry ; threequarters, Holmwood, Wallace, Pownall; halves, O'Connor, E. Welch; forwards: Chennells, G. Day, T. Dixon, J. Bannister, McKenzie, A. Welch, Howe, F. Day, Hoffiens; emergencies: Eton, Bill McKenzie, Coleman, Mclvor. Mr S. ti, Wickersou has this morning received die following telegram from the Secretary, of the Wellington Rugby Union" Would your Union play Englishmen on the Basin Reserve, Welliii?ton, on 14th inst? Reply Boon." The Masterton delegates of the Union havo directed Mr Wickerson to reply to this, offering the Englishmen £SO to play at Masterton on that date instead, The North Wairarapa v South Wairarapa match at Carterton next Saturday has fallen through, owinp to the Groytown cripples refusing to play, but the Carterton Rivals have consented to place a team in the field that day, rather than disappoint the Northern visitors. The match will be played on the Carterton Recreation Ground. This commendable action on the part of the latest addition to the Wairarapa Union speaks well for the pluck of the Rivals.