FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3017, 1 October 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Londoii , 28th September. „ Fifty - three matches have befefr arranged for the Maori Foowa*. ■; r,w Team. The first match will tako . 1 ' placo oil Wednesday next against Surrey. r —; i - England v> South Islai® V' ' The return match'was played at, t Christcliurch on Saturday andresulted j in a win for tho EngliehaCjßCby. six; • k\ -| points to nil. / ' J ||LJ JPoneke (Wellington) v.Masterton' I|| For several years past attempts ■ - ! havo been made from time to'time to arrango a match between the above,, , . ||f Clubs, but till last Saturday these ,y>JP attempts have been unsuccessful. The> Ponekes since their inauguration have' gained', on enviable reoord- both m . . junior and senior players, , .won, the Wellington Union■ pionship each year they have it, therefore-being justly* ».1 to be placed in tho-first ranks aiuflf ■ ' the Clubs 'in New Zealand. For m v ' past three years tho Masterto&lj4i.b j has been exceptionally successfufflav- ■ CsM? ing won the Wairarapa Eugby Union Challenge Cup without suffering a 1 defeat, besides : playing' other senior matches without having a win scored against them. As.both Clubs therefore held the championships of their respective Unions the promoters of the match were anxious to witness a ' A trial of strength between them. For • ' this purpose the Mastertbn Club sent ;; L! its representatives to Wellington on U Saturday last, it being decided that I the match should be played at New* 'I town Park, The team having arrived : ■| by the midday train, arrangements ■- ' I were made that they should bo driven " '' in a four-horse conveyance to the Post Office Hotel, but as the coach proprietor'was doubtless under the impression | that 11.40 was ten minutes to twelve the rcajority of the hoys arrived at Host Riley's beforo the spanking bayai ■ : put in an appearance. After partakiugf of lunch 'the team, with banner V <Mf ■•. - ' cup included, visited Wriggleswortu • and Binu'a studio and " sat" for a picture, which is to oatdo,al| preyigS'

groups of the team, - tors wore driven to the ground ■ in Koyal style, their handsome banner v■: which flaunted gaily in the wind, >] being greatly adiiiired en route, (£] especially by the fair sex, It also janm in for a largo amount, of criticism on the ground, the general opinion being that.it was one of the iiost handsome seen on a football Sold, and the best in the Wellington

province, tho namo— Mra George Hopper—being used in such a flattering manner, that that lady his cause, ;o bo justly proud of her handiwork. ■ The match was played on No. 2 Sroimd, which was somewhat limited, .he space behind the goal line being in ■- m some places not more than a yard in.' !xte»S. As a football ground, No, 2" is a failure; one half of it would be more serviceable as a road, seeing that \ tis quite bare, and in some places ■ iomewhat shingly, the hardness*f which was 'demonstrated amon Jfe players during. the ■ match, /isitora were ' captained by 6. H, • Smith, and tl*nJPonekes by 8. Niohoil, E, Wavy officiating ai" referee. The contest wad visited by «• i large crowd of spectators, and Ws - . played 1 in excellent spirit, appeals being few, and disputes nil, Neither team,: was . represented by'its full itrength, but in this respect things '« ivere about equal, The game, which resulted in a win for Poneke by six loiuts to nil, was a very fast one,- the ■orwurd play of the visitors being. " . mperior to: that of their, opponents, Diit was neutralised by the splendid .1 :ombined play of the winners, Time { ifter time the ball would be carried into Poneke territory, only' to bo .■etumod toother end of the field by \ rush that seemed irrisistible, the ivhole team working as one man, wing from ono to the other with juch aceuraoy that rnd persistent practice. .Tosayjnt ihe Masterton team were inferior to ilia Ponokes would convey a wrong .mprcsaion, as the game was. very jvenly contested, but tho former acked tho combined play whicljL snabled their opponents to get ajJp'' ;ho coveted lino twice. Things liade rather unpleasant for the )layers owing to clouds of dust blow,ng across the ground,'and another natch being played on the adjoining [round, the centre touch-line doinp luty for both matches, It was not in unusual thing to see the players top to the tune of tho whistle on the djoining ground, ;which naturally iffected the game, though probably lot the result. At times, too, ialls would get slightly mixed, which iccasionally caused great amusement o the onlogkers, and disappointment o. the players. As an instance, Celling got a splendid dribble on, and ooked liked scoring, when lie met he opposing three-quarter running 'ith another bail, each player being;. mder the impression that .he laying with the right learty cheers were exchanged after ho match, and wishes were expressed hat tho teams would nqain try con* ; j lusions next season. - J A Smoko Concert was lipid veniug by the Poneke Club, everalof the visitors were present r: -the majority, however, having to I / eturnhomeby the delayed train—/j nd a very enjoyable entertainment esulted, ' ;-.J