FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4093, 21 April 1892, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Tho Maatertea-Morivalo Matoli, The Lytklton Times of Tuesday refers an follows to the Masterton- , Merivale matok : . These teams met at Lancaster Park ' yesterday morning, and the result of the play was an overwhelming defeat for the crack Canterbury team by twenty-one points (three goals and three tries) to nil, This result, however, hardly represents the difference between the two teams; the local men had not recovered from the hard tussle they had on Saturday with the Ponekes, and were, in addition, quite over-matched in the matter ot weight, in fact, it is doubtful if a finer team than the Masterton, in the matter of physique, ever stepped upon the green sward ot Lancaster Park. . Although their play was not of an extraordinary nature, their { stiengtli made up for all deficiencies, and they ran away with thogameas above mentioned. Play started shortly after 10 a.m. by Masterton kicking off towards the eastern goal, They followed the kickoff quickly, and at. once gave White and Menzies, Merivalo: bucks, a decidedly busy time. The local torwards could not hold their opponents, and it was early apparent that Merivale must go down, George Horner made a great effort to stem the tide, ; but splendid collaring by 0. Perry stopped him every time., D'Arcy made more than one valiant attempt i to get over the line, but the deI fence held sound for a good while. ' Garrard, Evans, Cow and George ' Horner afforded the beleaguered ' Merivalo representatives some temporary relief, and a desultory rush by the blues raised fitful hopes in the minds of their admirers. Day led back a strong forward Masterton rush, and Merivale Were forced twice in rapid succession. Kicks out were no good, as the North Island men invariably camo back at once, and the play was getting monotonous, when first blood was at last scored by Gray getting over the line, and as C. Perry kicked a splendid goal from tho try the Merivale men were five points to the bad, After the kiok out Whatman dashed.back, ami McKeuzie went further on and followed up his effort by get'ing over the line sujii afterwards. Thompson oasily con« verted; score, ten to nil, Masterton was still the" upper dog," and free kicks only relieved the Merivale, Then J, Perry broke away and got over, but Thompson failed in his attempt to convert; twelve to nil, After the kick-out D'Arcy and 0. Perry ran back, and tho local men were in trouble ag»in. They kopt the invaders at bay, however, until half time. After that welcome adjournment had been got through, the Blues rallied a little, and for a few minutes did the attacking. Watson led a good charge down the ground, and a mark of Holmwood's nearly allowed 0. Perry to score a goal. A force resulted, soon followed by another, Whatman being almost in, Thou C. Perry potted, and anothei force in favour of the visitors was noted. Menzies stalled off a serious attack shortly aiterwavds, bui M'Ken&ie and Whatman soon cami back, and Gray was- within a hair'f breadth of scoring. White, who Lac been playing grandly all through relieved the strain in line style, ant for awhile the ball was in mid-field, A bad fumble by two or three of tho locals leltThompsoniapossession, and he dodged through in good style, another try being noted, C, Perry did not'convert this time, and fourteen to'nil was the somewhat mourn'. ful record. D'Arcy returned the kick-out in good style, and, after Meiivalehad driven the opposition back, he came down again, only to see his work undone by White, who returned to the centre. A nice passing rush; in which White, Scrimshaw and Hoar were prominent, swept further down the field, and the Masterton men were pressed hard for a while. They soon gathered up their energies though, and a fine sweeping charge was irresistible, and they went down the field in grand style, Day scoring. Thompson did not convert; sixteen to nil. At this stage D'Arcy, who had strained a leg, retired, and soon afterwards a far more unfortunate affair happened through Bannistor putting ono of his knee joints out, and being consequently obliged to be carried off the field, But four minutes were left fqr play then, and after the delay the gnnie went on with Masterton two men short. Garrard and Evans made a fine passing rush, l)ut without effect, and just on time Thompson got off and ran clear down the field, touching down under the bar, He took the kick himself, and as the ball flew over the bar the whistle went, and all was over, with JJeriyalp soundly beaten,

The Post says: Great interest is being taken in tho MastertonAlliambra match, which is to be played at Dunedin to-day. Both clubs have unbeaten records lor the past season, and each in its own styles of play is claimed as thechoropion of the colony in its own district, Maatertop vainly endeavoured to arrange a raatph ,wfth tljp /Mhambras during their visit to.'Wellington last yety', and failing in this,- they have gone down to play' them upon the southerners' own ground, and decide definitely tho question of supremacy, So far as they'are'concerned, , The Alharabra' bjicks are perhaps bptter than those of the Maatdrton club, but 'the jatter's forwards are probably the finest set of club: forwards in' the cplony, Taking-, into consideration -their'brilliant' victory over Metivale on Monday, a'nd their known strength, the Wairanpa club should win the match ppd the qlub winning it may safe)/dm to h.P'the champion'plpb of New Zealand. •