INTERNATIONAL TUG-OFWAR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4138, 14 June 1892, Page 3

INTERNATIONAL TUG-OF-WAR.

Welshmen v, Maoris. The Footballers and the Fin Brigade,

; Ths International Tug-of-lSar, which has been looked forward to with considerable interest for some time, was commenced in tbo Mastertoti Theatre Boyal last night. The audience wait fairly large, and great enthusiasm was displayed throughout, The platform was situated a few feet from the stage and was in such a position that the whole of the audienco could get a good view of the proceedings, Only four teams competed last night, the Welshmen meeting the Maoris and the Municipal Fire Brigade the Footballers, each team being composed ol eight mon, W£L9HIiBN T. MAOBIH. The pull between the Welshmen and tho Maoris was somewhat tamo, the latter being much heavier than their opponents, The Welshmen, however, were all strong, stout-built fellows, They were the first to follow their captain, Mr T, H, Thompson, on to.the platform, and as thoy did so Pearson's Brass Band struck up " The March of the Men of Harlech," p which was cousidared an appropriate 1 air. The Maoris put in an appearance almost immediately afterwards under the command of Hapeta, and were received with cheers, tho band playing " The King of the Cannibal Islands," In a few moments the teams were ready to pull, and at a given signal the umpire (Mr E, M, D, Whatman) discharged a pißtol and the tug began in earnest, The Maoris at once got an advantage of about a foot, aud the ball remained stationary for nearly a minute, when tho dusky warriors gave a long aud a strong pull and gained another foot, It was here seen that the Welshmen had not a ghost of a show, and at the expira« tion of three minutes the natives Bet up a cry of "Toiamai te Waka," and rising to their feet pulled the ball right over the line and scored a win amidst great excitement. The average weight of the nativei must have been fifteen stone, the anchor m»n turning . the scale at twonty. The Welshmen averaged about twelve stone,' rOOIBALLERST. FIRE BRIGADE. The pull between these two teams was considered a foregone conclusion, 0f& Footballers being about a stone heavier than their opponents. The result, however, was quite contrary to expectations, The Footballers marched on to the stage attired in the colors of the Masterton Football Club to the strains of " On the Ball," Mr 0, A, Pownall acting as skipper. The Fire Brigade, captained by Mr D. Pickering, followed, and was greeted with an appropriate march by the Band entitled "Wake Up," The betting was all in favour of the Footballers. The greatest excitement prevailed as the pistol was discharged and tho Brigade got well under weigh and gained an advantage of nearly six inches. For a few minutes the ball was wavering, when a cry of "Fire I" was raised and the Brigade increased their advantage by a foot. Another desperate struggle and the Footballers had lost 18 inches of the rope. Slowly but surely the ball travelled towards the Fire Brigade, and at the expiration of ten minutes they had gained three feet. The Footballers then made a desperate effort to regain the lost ground, but only succeeded in getting the ball back a few inches. At the end of h'fminutes the Brigade bad "moreaQj| their lead to Bft 6m, and their opponents showed visible signs of faltering, Tho audience became greatly excited as inch by inch the Brigade carried the ball towards the coveted line, After pulling nineteen minutes the sphere was within six inches of borne, and two minutes later Captain Pickering shouted to bis men to pull, they nobly answered bis call, and the tug was won by the Brigade amidst tremendous applause, and "See the Conquering Hero Comes" by tho Baud, The win of tho Brigade appeared to be a very popular one. The result was undoubtedly due to the superior form of the victors, who pulled with greater combination than their opponents. As tho hour was pretty far advanced when the laßt pull was ended it was decided that no further teams should meet that evening, and tho Baud having rendered tbe National Anthem, the audienoe dispersed, following teams have been drawn to'compete to-night;— Bed Star Football Club y, Masterton Football Club; Firo Brigade v. Welshman; Maoris v. Masterton Football Olub; Colonials v, Bed Stars.