FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4845, 8 October 1894, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

[By Damocles.]

Greytown ut. Masterton.

Masterton i/l'ins the Banner.

The finitl match of the season'for the championship of the Wairarapa was played at Carterton on Saturlay between the two strongest teams n the district-Greytown and Haserton. The day was beautifully iiio, and crowds of people attended ram all portions of tho Wairarapa, he roads from the northern and outhern ends presenting a particunrly lively appearance before and iter tho match, 'Between six and even hundred people were" on tho ;round, ovor £l4 being takon at the.. ;ates, which sum goes towards the unds of the Union, The ground ens in perfect order, and everything lointed to a really good display of ootball, and a the hampionship, Grcjtifli» played Volch in tho place of Oliver, and lastertoi'i called upon McKenna ake Day's position, and: with': .those xceptions both Clubs wore 'fully nd strongly represented, -Wagering ras freely indulged in, although heore tho game the Southern supiortei'B only accepted odds'. After ho first spell, however, with no core, and the play greatly-in favor f Groytown, rivons were taken up n numerous places. The barracking ras good-natured throughout, alhough the moro noisy.would hear i nothing but " Grey town,'-' and it fas not until after the first Bcore i T as mado that the Mastertou coutin;cnt were heard to advantage; Mr W. Booth acted as refereo,and lessrs Hawke (Groytown) mid I'hompson (Mnstcrton) earned the ine Hags.

Greytown opened tho proceedings..,--by kicking off, and at once assumed the offensive, \peiming Masterton on their line in splendid • style,. • The fine set of southern forwardsastonished tho spectators by their dashing play, and but for the excellent defence shown by the nortliern backs, would have scored several times. They were superior to Masterton in scrum work, and came through repeatedly witli the ballat their feet. 111, Udy and J, Beard were responsible for this state of affaire, and Masterton had to play all they knew to avert the inevitable. McGovern at

last secured a mark, and for a timo play was in neutral ground, D'Arcy and Cockroft also putting in some good saving work. From another scrum E. Udy carried all before him, and Sim, D. Udy, and Haigh rushed the ball along, and Agnew hadtoacccpt a forco. From the kick off, Maguire marked, but Dockery mulled the shot at goal, and Gray, Cockroft, and Watson carried the game to the other end for the first time, the former nearly scoring, The Mnstcrton backs now commenced to work, but the passing was wild, and opportunities were thrown away. H, Perry dashed for the line, but failing to pass in time, lost achance,and the Greytown forwards soon came to the rescue, transferring the play with great determination to Masterton territory, A splendid rush resulted in another force for tho northerners. Knowles marked, and E. Udy had a.shot at goal, failing in the attempt, Gray picked up smartly, and to Bnmton, whore fully stopped, and fierce and rattling on the Mnstcrton line, plunged through, and stopped on the coveted D'Arcy. Perry and another score by Greytown forwards

and half-time was called with no ad« vance. ■• ~■

Masterton had now to play with a low sun staring them in the faco,

and Greytown supporters were conlidcnt of victory. The northerners were determined, however, and contrary to expectations played hotter last than first. The Masterton backs weio given instructions, and obeyed them to the letter. The ball camo out, McGovern obtained possession, and racing down the field, drawing bis oppononts towards him, gave' Thompson n clear opening, and the latter, going at break-neck speed, safely deposited the oval behind the posts, amidst loud cheering from their supporters. Thompson took the kick himself and easily registered the five points. Greytown again livened up, and attacked brilliantly, McGoveni's long kicking proving a, safety valve. Maguire, who was playing a dashing back game spoiled the passing of Masterton, the other Greytown backs not being nearly so successful, The game was now more open, and Iho line passing rushes of Mastorton wero cleverly done and hard to stop. Gray, McGovern and D'Arcy did a lot of work, hut tho latter always found his stumbling block in cither H. Udy or Maguire, Moreplayinginthecentre of tho field, and a second try was scored under precisely similar circumstances to the first, McGovern doing tho work and Thompson gaining the line, Another goal resulted, and Masterton were ten points to the good, Cockroft was now seen to advantage and showed his opponents a taste of his quality. Masterton now W«J£ fairs well in their own Imiu^fe

Greytown backs had 11 in stopping rushes, ad another-score' by sfl

ting dangerous tor the' thi73 time, and Udy did like service to D'Arcy, Mowlem and Gray made'several grand dashes, but the game ended without any further advance, Mas*, terton proving victorious by ten points to nil.

1

Tho game was a vory • inter."* cstiiigone from start to finish, and at the end of tholii'stspellGroytown Imd many confidentadmirers. When the ball was amongst the forwards the southerners were equal, and 'at times, far superior to theii opponents, but immediately the ball was out, the Masterton backs weie seen to advantage, and the' fast and dashing rushes told their talo. For Greytown, there was little to choose from among the forward division, every man playing like a Trojan. As I have oft said before, if they had , backs who could play, an equal game <\ to t heir forwards, their team would _y be invincible, and Masterton would never have won the banner.; Maguii o / was head and shoujders albvc tlie rest, and had ■ the lion's share of work to do tk'rohghout." ■' - For Masterton, _ CockroftSuns a ,„,i| l distinct advantage in the scrams, and \ sent the ball out to his half in grand ' style. On'tho.lopse, Gray played „ r | the bestj and'was J brilliant:!fi'om ,-ssl starttofiriishi-'lntho backs,Thomp''/ *k| son,.'and : MeGoy.ern v-sl form, and were work.hact^^^^^^^H