FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4827, 17 September 1894, Page 2

FOOTBALL

[By Damocles.] Greytown v. Masterton,

The match between the above teams whieli has been the talk of the week, was played on Saturday, and resulted in a well-earned win for Masterton by ton points to nil. Con-siderable-interest must have been manifested in South Wairarapa over the game, as a very large number of enthusiasts came in from "all "threetionsto witness the struggle, Greytown being particularly well represented, / Both .teams had "hosts of friends, and the barracking was enthusiastic throughout. The capkins of both teams, E. Udy. and D'Arcy were absent, Smith and J. Perry playing in their places,whilst Maguire and Watson skippered the men. Mr Geo. Hansen was chosen referee, and Messrs Thompson arid Brnnton lino umpires, ;;' The game opened in a fast and furious manner, and it was soon ovidont . that both teams meant business, The play throughout was fairly equal, both goal lines being oftentimes menaced. Brilliant individual play was rather the exception .than the rule. Grey town having great, faith in their forward division kept the ball among tliem as much as possible, and therefore made the game rather slow than otherwise, Greytown sailed down to the Masterton line soon after the start, and made their admirers jublant by the inannor iu which they kept their opponents penned in. Two jrthreo fine rushes by the Masterton forwards were always met with good opposition, and the ball was returned as often to the local team's territory, Watson, who had been playing three-quarter, saw how matters stood, and. if the game was to bo made a forward one, he " must bo in it," so placiug Joe Perry back, the veteran came on the wing, mid the difference was soon felt. From a brilliant forward rush by Gray, Malcolm and Mowlem, H. Perry managed to snap utp f the oval, and streak for the line. He had several men to pass, but his bluffing tactics came off, and he scored a try underneath the post. R. Thompson easily converted. A series of scrums now eventuated, in which Masterton were slightly in advance of their opponents. The ball was heeled out splendidly to Williams, hut the Greytown wings woro on him bofore lie could mako use of his opportunities. Gray come through with the ball at his toe, and went over the line, but fell too soon, and the ball escaped his grasp. Mowlem next made a fine run, and passed all till he reached Udy, who collared him splendidly. McGovern and Thompson had very little to do, the former being watched by about half-a-dozen, and he was not given a chance to show his usual dash and cleverness, Kuowles secured a mark in Masterton twenty-fives, and Dockery placed, but the ball fell short. The leather was not taken cleanly by the local backs, and A. Welch was almost over, Masterton soon had their line out of danger, and Whatman marked, Thompson taking a long shot, no score resulting, Soon after Gray dashed over the line, after a rough and tumble run, and scored the second and last try for Masterton. Thompson agaiu proved equal to tlie occasion, and ten points were 'registered. The'spell 'soon- afterwards ended with play in noutral teritoiy,

Rain commenced to fall, and Greytown Lad a better chance to show their ability, haying tho wind and rain at their back, Masterton, however, assumed the defensive, and wero far too clever for their opponents. Although Greytown had the best of the spoil, the local goal lino was soldom in imminent danger the rattling forwards always opposing tho efforts of Greytown to gain an advantage. Dockery had another shot at goal, but luck was against him, anda score lost. Several times Masterton dashed down the field, and Gray and Watson made things very merry near Greytown's line. Gray managed to place tho ball on the lino, where ho was successfully stopped, and a scrum five yards out was ordered. No play of any very brilliant naturo occurred during the spell. Thompson got away several times, but the collaring of Groytowr backs was good and proved useful No scoring was done in this spell Masterton therefor# being declared the winners by 10 points to love. For the winners, Agnew, as full had move work than usual to do,am played a lino defensive game. Th thrao-quaita,Thompson, McGoven and J. Perry played well, but wer not worked nearly hard enough, Mc Govern was not seen to advantage and soldom got possession of th ball. The passing of tho half am live-eighth was weak and erratic, al though the fast men of Greytown Maguire, Loach, and Knowles, wer mainly responsible for this state o things. H. Perry and Williams dii some very useful work, the former' dodgy runniug and tho latter's rush stopping being their strong points All tho forwards were oxceptionall; good, and Watson, Gray, Mowleii and Yates on tho loose were in grea form. The line and scrum work c Malcolm, Whatman, Day, and Mac donald was also irresistable, am these four old stagers earned all be fore them. Macdonald worked han for his team, but has a fault whic' should be remedied, In looso rushe he endeavours to pick up a rollinj ball, and oftentimes spoils a certaii advantage.

For Grey town, Udy, as full, was about their most useful man, being called upon to do his own and a three-quarters work as well. He played a splendid gamo from start, to finish. The tliree-quarters were not a strong combination. Hawko was hurt early in the game, and was of little use to his team, Brunton did not play tho game he usually does,' and Smith was a weak spot. Maguire was tho main-stay of the team, and his play throughout places him as a certainty for tlm"reps," Knowles was useful .in stopping rushes, and 'played with a lot of dash. Of tho forwards Sim, Udy, Dockery and Haigh wero about the most conspicuous, the latter mentioned, _ for ; 'a 'young player, being very brilliant, arid a regular stayer.

Greytowu play Carterton' on Saturday next. .

;, I'he four veterans included in the Masterton team on Saturday—Whatman, Malcolm, Day; and Joe Perry -without whose services Groytown must have scored a victory, should be presented with long service medals by| the Club, if they wiii the Bahiior .tins season. Wliatmaulsrlficoi'd asa football player .at} Home and in the polwies idates back about twenty ■years, and Malcolm was a representative player for . Nelson in 1882, I Day and Perry have been connected

with the Masteiior. Olub ever since- Vs% tho wliolo deserve Jf some their services. They liavo all-represented this dis- ■ > • tnot in representative matches, and '* it lvill be remembered Joo Pei-ry met ''• £ with an accident' when the last Syd* "t ney team was in Masterton, some eight,yean. ago. The play of the whole four on Saturday showed that , they still retain somo of their old ' J dash and energy," and there is " life in the old;boys yet."'**'; 1.. ■ SWI ° I New Zealand ut: New South . . . Wales. ~: : MoryforJkGomtalhsfy (5y Telegraph.—Press Associal ion), " Giiiiisicuuiicu, Saturday. ■f New South Wales defeated Now Zealand by eight points to six,

The. Christchurch correspondent *" / of the Now Zealand Tim Saturday's iriaicli, N.S.W.' v.N.Z., has been the ,talk of tho town last i. night nnd'to-day.The explanation I of tlie apparontly inexplicable result ."3 is simple, and maybe ivii® in ono word—over-confidence. The New Zealand team went on the field con- I - fident - that towards tho end 'of tho pS second spell they would spore as i 1 they liked, and took things eailjK nil «« the first spell, only playing, up de- - < ' : w*| terminediy when a; goal was kicked 1 against them, when they rapidly put -fyl up two tries. Having thus gotahead . | the team slacked, off again, meaning to corno up again at tho middle oftho second spell. Tho folly of this course became apparent when at the j I beginning ,of tho'second spell, Alf J f Bayley, captain of tho teanfand centrc tlireo-quftrtoi', was soon staggering about from concussion of tho brain, and had to betaken off, and attended to by Dr Jennings He 1 did not fully recover consciousness, till late at night,-■ ■■ This completely disorganised tlie backs, though But-" land presently went full-back and D'Ai'oy to three-quarters, and V '"HJ|-~ when the home team tuod ik> force the play they found tltoy ; could not do it, many times it looked' x fw if a score must come, but tho lack ■ - of back combination prevented it The visitors saw the oppoitumty, and redoubling their efforts played much the finest game they had yet -ft shown in the Colony, infusing great dash into their efforts, Whon they had scored the winning try from ft ■ dribbling rush they began playing ** ■■■■■a. out time, kicking-the ball over the heads of tho crowd into touch'whenover the backs got tho ball, and i presently the idea was borne in on s the hitherto incredulous crowd that N.Z, was not going to win tho match, although it was in doubt to the last inomont.