FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5059, 24 June 1895, Page 3

FOOTBALL

CARTERTON t>. STABS. [BY DAMOCLES.!

Saturday afternoon turned out a . miserable day for football, and tW Oval, where the above match was played, was nothing but a mud-pool soon after the game was started, Bittorlycold rain fell at intervals, and any display of good football was out of the question. Prom a sheltered spectator's point of view, the game was full of interest, but the unfortunate players suffered considerably, The Stars were without the services of Owen, Norton, and Bragging, and Tully was an absentee from the Carterton ranks. Mr C. Pratt acted the good Samaritan in sticking to bis post as referee, and obtained a thorough drenching for bis trouble. The Stars were the favorites when the match commenced, but as the rain fell, and the ground assumed the appearance of minature lakes, opinjßfons differed considerably about how Hho game would eud. Contrary to expectations, Carterton made the paco from the start, ami their web-footed forwards kept the play among them in lino style. The Stars endeavoured to make it a back game, and while it lasted they showed their superiority in this department. But when . the ball became heavy and greasy, the forwards took possession of tile game, and fought it out between themselves, The Star backs were all there on the defence tactics, and when called upon to relievo their team from being pressed too heavily, they always managed to equalise affairs, without giving Carterton even a chance to score. Hudson, behind the scrum, was doing good. work throughout, and by clever tactics managed, when in Carterton's territory, to elude his opponents.and ■wed for the line, with only the Mil-back to stop him. The one score of the day was thus made, and although great efforts were made on both sido to equalise or increase, ! all efforts proved futile. Towards > the end of the second spell, Cartcr-

ton mado a big bid for victory, showing a great deal of pluck and endurance throughout. Their efforts were not rewarded, however, the whistle proving a thankful relief to all concerned, with the Stars ahead by three points to nil. For the winners Ross, Wrigley, and Hudson played splendid games, ■ considering the state of the ground, tho former player, after a Gno run down the field, being within an ace of scoring, when he slipped and fell. Cochrane, Wrigley, Percy and JlcKillop played hard and fast in the forwards, although the (earn as a whole was not seen lo such advantage as was expected. Carterton have improved wonderfully, and now go in more for back work and passing than before. fth,Telford and Allen put in some work, especially in intercepting passing of their opponents. Their forwards, too, managed I affairs in the scrum exceedingly well and proved too weighty for the Stars. The slippery ground seemed to. suit them splendidly, and the fast following up of Merewood, Cad aud Moore proved a great deal of trouble to the blacks. Football on a wet day is very uncertain at any time and it would not have surprised anyone on Saturday bow the result ended. High kicking and fast following up was the order of the day, in the hope of the receiving player mulling, but this was exceedingly rare, and speaks well for the safeness of the men behind tho scrums in both teams, Messrs Fellingham and Merewood acted as line umpires, Next Saturday's championship fixtures are as follows:—Mnstcrtou v Stars on the Oval, Greytown v. Cjßterton, at Greytown. No junior W»ches will bo played. The following team will represent the Stars against Masterton:— Agnew, Ross, Wrigley, Owen, Thompson, Hudson, Norton, T. Wrigley, Morris, Cochrane, McKillop, Reraeni, Welch, Percy, Stone. The first and second Stars are requested to meet at the Drill Hall on Tuesday evening. Points for the Senior Banner now stand:—Greytown % Masterton '2|, Star's H, Carterton H. The interest in the remaining matches will, therefore, be more keen than ever. The WhiteStarsand first Orientals are to try conclusions on Thursday afternoon, and the meeting of these two capable junior teams is looked forward to with no little interest.

GREYTOWN v. MASTEBTOH. The abovo match, played in GreySaturday, created a great aHmt of interest throughout the district, as it is considered the championship for the season will bo taken by one of theso teams. Visitors were present from far and near, and the attendance was the largest seen on the Greytown gronnd for a considerable time. Both Clubs had strong representative fifteens, and the match promised to be an equal and hard-fought one, And such prayed to be the case, the game onding in a draw, -with no score for either side. The gronnd was in a wretched state, a junior match, played previously, having stirred up the mud nicely, making fast play an impossibility. A forward game was the result, and the splendid set of the home team assumed the aggressive, and kept Masterton extremely busy defending their lino with might and main. Several tiroestheMastertojforwards would come to the rescue, and play was transferred to the other end, but thoy failed to keep it there for am period, the fine looso rushes' oWthe Greytown men proving the principal play of the day, Greytown had several chances to score, and may therefore bo said to haye had the best of the game. One easy kick at goal from a mark was mulled, and the chance of winning the game thrown away, much to the disgust of the onlookers, who

■werenot slow to give vent to their f feslings, The fine backs of Masterton had little to do in forcing the play, bat on the defence they all showed filtrate quality. Dowser, Perry, and Johuston were the most conspicuous, McGorern not shining very brilliantly. In the forwards the inseparables, Gray and Watson, were always to the fore, and tho old-stagers, Day and Whitman, showed some of their old form, keeping the scrum together, and . playing splendidly on the loose. The Greytown backs played a far hotter gamo than usual, Maguire being the mainstay throughout. His quickness in intercepting, and following up on to the opposing backs, again marked him as one of the best men in the tct The -weight of the forwards id all before them on the loose, and in the scrams they-proved qnito a match for Masterton. Cress, the Udys, Dockeiy, and Mitchell were - over to the fore, and they had| extremely hard lack in not winning]

the match for their Club, Mr J. Card noted as reforee,and interviewed the mud on several occasions in the performance of his unthankful duties. |

Tho Masterton team to play the - Stars noxt Saturday will bo:—Moraj ing, Thompson, Earley, MeGovern, I Perry, F. Johnston, Mowlom, Gray, Holyoake, Emuiett, Watson, Fowler, Day; emergencies: Ankotoll, Goring Johnston, Williams. A great gariic was played- on Saturday between Petone and Poneko, when the former proved victorous by 12 points to nil. ■ This is only the siith time the Ponekes have been defeatod in nine years, Ikumber potted n goal, and Roberts kicked a goal from a free kick. Wynyard streaked away in the gloom, and scored the only try. Melrose defeated Wellington by sovon points to nil. Tho Kaikorni-Dunedin match on Saturday resulted iu a draw, neithor side scoring,