FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4174, 25 July 1892, Page 2

FOOTBALL

Taranaki v, Wairarapa,

[By Diogenes]

The interprovinoial football matob, Taranaki v. Wairarapa, which was played on the Masterton Park Owl on Saturday last, was witnessed by about a thousand persons, The weather was exceedingly inclement, but notwithstanding, a large number of entbasiasts from the Lower Valley and other townships in the district were present. The greatest possible interest was centred in tbe game, and those who expected to see a keen contest were in no way disappointed. The betting at the commencement of the game was deoidedly in favour of Taranaki, which was attributed in some degree to the fact that'this team was ono of the few in the Colonies which defeated the English representatives in 1888. The visitors were driven to the Park in & drag, and were received at the gates with ringing obeers. Pearson's Brass Bnnd, which played at intervals throughout the game, also rendered an appropriate air. THE OROUHD, The ground was in consequence of the heavy rains of the previous few days, in very bad condition. Pools of water were lying in several parts, and under these circumstances it w»a out .of the question to expect anything like a good exposition of the game of football. As one of the visitors aptly put it, " Football on-this ground is a slippery subject." THE TEAMS. The respective teams were composed as follows:—Taranaki—Full baok, Thomaß; three-quarters, A. Uood, A. Bayley (Captain), and E. Lusk; halves, Kingsloy, Coutts, and W, Bayley; forwards, Larabie, Hughes, H. Good, A. Davies, F. Bayley, P. Pearson, Mumby and M'Kenrie. Wairarapa.-Pull baok, D'Arcy (Captain) ; three-quarters, R. Thompson, 0, Perry and Wallace; halves, De Joux, Booth and H, Perry; forwards, Gray, M'Kenzie, Hudson, Watson, T. Welch, H.Welch, Tyler, and Malcolm. The Taranaki team was certainly the heavier of the two, the lightest man turning the scale at over eleven stone. The Wairarapa team, though not the strongest procurable in the district, was fairly representative. Fir.ST Sr-ELL. Punctually at three o'clock the whistle of the referee sounded and the ground was oleared. The Wairarapa men made their way to the centre of the field and were greeted with cheers. The visitors followed, and upon taking up their positions received quite an ovation from the spectators and a round of applause from their opponents. Taranaki having won the toss elected to defend the southern goal, and took advantage of the slight breeze which was 1 blowing. The ball was set in motion by Wairarapa, who immediately got on a dashing forward rush and the leather was carried right over the visitors' line. A foroo down resulted, Play was immediately afterwards taken into Wairarapa territory, and the local men had all their work cut out to prevent a score. C. Perry relieved the situation by a judicious kick into touch. A packed sorum ' took place in the centre of the field, and l)e Joux essayed a clever run. Another Boruin and play whs in neutral territory. Some good passing on 1 the part of the Taranaki backs made things again interesting for their opponents, but a penalty kick altered' ' the position of affairs. Kingsley obtained a mark for Taranaki, but the advantage gained was not great. Scrummaging took place at the half 1 distance, and combined forward play on the part of the Taranaki forwards put the Wairarapa boys on the defensive. T. Welcb made a good dribble and a pretty piece of play on the part of De Joux took the leather some distance down the field. Taranaki got on another forward rush, and Lusk smartly taking the ball, made a splendid run. He wan, however, cleverly collared by D'Arcy. The Wairarapa goal line was now the scene of play, and it was with grsat difficulty a acore was prevented, A penalty kick was awarded Taranaki. Lusk took the kick, but the leather fell abort. A scrum in front of the Wairarapa goal lino looked dangerous, but D'Arcy relieved the situation by kicking down the field. Thomas made a splendid kick and another scrum ensued, Wallace sect the ball into touch at the twenty-fivo flag. Some loose play followed, and Wairarapa was again in trouble, but M'Kenzie, by a fine dribble, carried the sphere right down the field and Taranaki were hard pressed. Prom a packed sorum 0, Perry assumed possession and made a capital run. He passed to Wallace, but the latter mulled, and what looked like a certain score was spoilt, Wairarapa obtained a penalty kick, but gained little advantage, 0, Perry marked and kicked into touch at the twentyfive flag, A fast forward rush on the part of the Wairarapa forwards, amongst whom H, Welch was conspicuous, placed the visitors on the defensive, and they were compelled to force. Taranaki was given a free kick for offside play. Harold Welch essayed a smart run and the ball was sent into touch at tbe centre, The visitors made another determined rush, and looked very like scoring, when D'Aroy kicked into touch well down the field. Some give-and-take play followed, when A. Bayly made a capital run and passed to Good, The lattergained considerable ground, and, being brought down on t)ie goal line, transfenedtbe leather to Hughes, who fell pverthe line and drew first bloo'd for his team amidst great pheering. Lusk took tbo kick, which was ah easy one, and placed a pretty goal. On the play resuming, the ball was carried into Taranaki territory, where Gray marked, 0. Perry kicked, but failed. Thomas kicked into touch well down the field, .and the play was for somo time at the oentre. C. Perry dribbled and Watson kicked out at the Taranaki twenty-five flag. Thompson marked, but gained 'very little by his kick, The visitors made another forward rush and Wairarapa was penned in, H arry Perry relieved the position by kicking into touch, Malcolm, W. Bayly and 0. Perry marked in succession, 'and after the latter had taken his kick half time was called, with' play in tIW centre of thefield. ; ' " ' : '

SECOND SPELL, Wairarapa had the advantage of a breeze,' which increased in strength towards the close of the first spell'. Taranaki kicked off, and D'Arcy returned the leather, which was sent into touch in Wairarapa territory by Bayly. The local men were forced back on to their goal line, where Gray essayed a neat run. He mistook his man, however, and passed into the hands of a Taranaki player, The

latter claimed a mark, but tbo referee gave it as a scrum. Wutson and H. Welch got on a good dribbling rush and carried the leather down the line to the centre, Lusk made a fine run, but the advantage he gained was nullified by a penalty kiok awarded to Wairarapa, Play was for some time in the centre of the field, when M'Kenzie (Taranaki) marked. The leather was carried towards the visi-' tors' line but Thomas made a judicious kiok and there was a material change in the position of affairs. C, Perry marked and placed the ball into touch at half-way. Tie Wairarapa territory was soon afterwards invaded, but Malcolm, byagood dribbling rush, relieved the position, Tarauaki were almost immediately forced down. The visitoramade a determined rush, but a penalty kiok was given against them, and scrummaging took place in the centre of the field. Booth marked and Wairarapa were given another penalty kick, but their best efforts were frustrated by the combination displayed by the opposing forwards. The home line was again besieged, but M'Kenzie dribbled to the oentre, A packed sorum took place opposite the Wairarapa goal line, and Thompson kicked out at the twenty-five flag. Some loose sorummaging endod in Wairarapa being forced. Again the visitors looked like scoring, but a neat dribble by C. Perry relieved the position. Booth marked and immediately afterwards the visiting forwards made a desperate rush. An imminent score was prevented by Thompson running into touoh at the goal line. 4. peualty kiok placed Wairarapa out of danger. Loose play emued, and the Wairarapa forwards made a grand rush, Thomas preventing a score by kickiug into touch. After a deal of fast forward play on the part of both sides the Taranaki goal line was imaded. Scrammaging took place, from which the visitors gained considerable ground. Lambie ran and passed to Mumby, who got over the line. The ball was, however, called back on account of offside play. A series of packed sorums on the home goal line ensued, and a very trying position was relieved by Tyler, who kicked well down the field, Wairarapa was given a penalty kick on account of an unjustifiable charge on the part of a Taranaki forward, Scrums took place and from a penalty kickTaranaki was forced, The Wairarapa forwards made a capital rush and had carried the leather right down the field when the whistle blew and the gamo was ended, The scores thus stood, Taranaki five points, Wui- , rarapanil. COMMENTS There is little doubt but that the best team won. The visitors played with great combination, r,nd had all their own way in the scrums. Their tactics, however, were not the most creditable. Tboy were continually infringing the rules of the game for the specific, object of keeping the ball in the scrum. This play was strongly commented upon by {be spectators. Tho most distinguished piayers for the victors in tho forward division were Hughes, Mumby and Lambie, The backs played a slashing game, their passing being really gtod. The most conspicuous were Lusk, Thomas, A, ' Bayly and Kingsley. 1 For the home team, Harold and Tom Welch, Malcolm and M'Kenzio were the pick of-the forwards, whilst in the back division (1, Perry, D' .uoy, H, Perry and De Joux kept things livelj, The latter player was particularly brilliant in his dodgy . running.

The refereoing ofMtC. A, Pownall gave general satisfaction, although his decisions wereat times unexpected, Ono thing concerning him may bo said, and that ia that ha nevor blew the whistle without cause, and ho was withal impartial. Messrs T. H. Thompson and Kivell aoted as line umpires. Malcolm sustained a nasty accident during the game by being charged by an opposing forward. His collar bone was splintered and he was othorwise severely shaken,