FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2915, 4 June 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Junior Cup Match, The first match of the season for the Wairarapa Union Junior Cup took place on tho Masterton Club ground on Saturday last, between the first fifteen of the Red Star Club and the second fifteen of the Masterton Club, and resulted in one of the biggest surprises experienced in Wairarapa football, the victorious Stars having their career suddenly checked by the second fiftoen of the Masterton Club. When the Stars defeated the Poneke team on Queen's Birthday and the Masterton team wore licked by the second of the Wpllington Club on the same day the partisans of the Stars predicted great things for the leading junior team of the district, and it was looked upon as a " moral" that they would win the junior cup right out, and a fifteen points to nothing victory was looked for on Saturday last, but there's many a slip betwixt cup and lip" even in football. The young ladies of Masterton caught the infection from the sterner sex, and determined to show their appreciation of the' boys' in a fitting mauner, and immediately after the Poneke defeat a handsome fauneyette was ordered, with strict instructions that it should be ready on the first" cup day." The instructions were obeyed to flie letter and on Saturday last a bevy of the youth aiid beauty of op city unfurled the mystic fla" op tlip ground of their opponents —tlie Masterton Club Ground--and the leading lady pf the group in a neat and pretty speech handed the capj,(tjn qf tlig Ret] Star Club—Mr J. Emmett—the Club's first colors, The captain who was surrounded by his

blushing team accepted the handsome present in a most graceful manner, promising that the reputation gained by the Stars previous to the presentation would not only be maintained, but under that banner be increased. Three hearty cheers were given for the ladies and the ceremony ended. In anticipation of the victories in store for the team the poet laureate of the Club—Mr R. Bannister-com-posed a song to be sung by them, which, having about six verses and a rollicking chorus was to still further add to the name of the Club. The chorus, which is as follows, was not sung on Saturday. "Here's to the Stars, the jolty jolly Stars, -( Who have won for themselves a name on the

football field. And now for the match. The following are the respective teams and their places in the fieldMasterton Back, Pownall; three-quarters, H.HiAHHj H. Perry, M. Welch; halves, StewarfcjSr Holmwood; forwards, J. Bannister, F. Day, Dixon, Kibblewhite, F. Kummer, McKenzie, O'Connor, F. Perry, A, Welch. Red Star first fifteen: Back, D'Arcy; three-quarters, 11. Thompson, McCarthy; halves, E. Felling, Alb. Hear; forwards, Emmett (captain), Iggulden, Wilsone, Thomas, Jisvington, Walter Welch, 0. Peifpf ilf. Hoar, E. Bannister. Mr W. Hirschberg umpired for Masterton and Mr J. Williams for the Stars, the Rev J. McKenna acting as referee. O'Connor (captain) won the toss and F. Perry took the kick off. The ball was brought back and scrummaged in the centre for an infringement of the rules. The. Masterton men started off with a will, and in a few minutes their opponents line was in danger. This livened the Stars up, and by dint of hard slogging, principally forward work, they relieved themselves and play was centred in neutral territory for some time. The Star backs Mid some wild passing about this time, which gave their opponents an advantage, and they were again defending their line. Some good play by McCarthy, who runs and kicks well, relieved the pressure, and the Star forwards by a nice rush invaded the Masterton twenty-five,Thomaswas very dangerous once or twice with his dribblas, but was nicely (|gti'ed by Holmwood and M. WelcliPrelling and Thompson did some judicious passing at this stage, but the quickness of McKenzie and Stewart and the fine collaring of Hill completely frustrated this dangerous pair. The Star forwards, though working well together, were unable to make any headway, and the ball was gradually worked back to the centre, the game being a continuous run of scrummages. Each side would gain momentary advantages —the Stars by the back play and the Masterton by their loose dribbles, but neither of them were able to get over the line. When the whistle i half time the ball was in touch near the Masterton twenty-live. The second spell was simillar to the first, except that the Stars had the best ■ of it, giving their opponents some desperate work on their goal line, which was relieved on each oecasion by sterling good play. JL, Welch, who did great service side, ' more than once profitedby his oppo-. nents long passing. On one occasion 1 he cleverly took the ball between Pelling and Thompson and put in a splendid run, being grassed by the full ■ back when he looked like scoring, i This bit of play gave the Stars some hard work, for tho ball was well i backed up by Masterton, and scrim- ' mages took place near the Star line. ; R. Thompson did some serviceable running, but invariably had to run ! into touch owing to the pressure of tho ' opposing backs. No side was called s with the ball in the centre of the field i neither side having scored or been i forced down during the match. The ■ game was, as the- result sktos, a i keenly contested one. The* was rather more wrangling than was ) necessary, but this will doubtless be mended in future. There was only one dispute, in which R. i Thompson claimed a try, he having J run into touch, and back again into ■ the field of play, and planted the ball ; behind the posts. The urnfis both held up their sticks, and wreferee ' blew his whistle, and the ball was i ordered back, owing to an infringe- . ment of the rules. On the Masterton , side, tho whole of the backs played a good game, and in this they were ably i backed up by the forwards, who ' seemed to play as one man, and will, doubtless, with a little practice, develop into as good a lot of junior forwards as there are in the district. The Stars were no doubt out manoeuvred. They played a splendid game, The forwards buckled into it manfully, and the backs ran, kicked, : punted and passed in a manner that ; showed careful training, and had they 1 a less experienced team to play against i they would have scored time after i time, There was an inclination for , rough play once or twice during the / match, which, it is to be hop# will - be avoided in all cup matches. Cheers were exchanged at the conclusion of the game. Jtt