FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5113, 26 August 1895, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

—_# [By Damocles.] Tho Wellington-Tavanaki match on Saturday resulted in a drawn game with no score to either side. The match between Auckland and , Otago resulted in a win for Otago by j jjwjeven points to eight, i

WITH THE WAIRARAPA "REPS." By Telegraph.—Special. CiimsTCiiUßCii, Saturday. Canterbury won by 12 poiuts to nil, after a splendid game from start to finish. The back play of tho winners was marvellous, four tries being scored in the first spell, and no score in tho second. Wairarapa had much' tho best of the game, the forwards playing brilliantly. 0 Although tho scoring looks heavy it is uo criterion of difference in tho teams. Four tries were scored in the first spell, two by Johnston and ono each by O'Brion and Kerr, A splendid set of backs completely out-clnssed Wairarapa with passing rushes, and tho visitors suffered sovore disadvantages in the first spell, with a strauge ground and against a strong wind and sun. In tho second half Wairarapa fight and played brilliantly. WDashing passing rushes among both . forwards and backs, made tho gamo one of the best eyer seen on the ground. The Canterbury line was continually invaded, and several grand opportunities to score were missed. Canterbury is perfectly satisfied with the strength of tho Wairarapa team, but form and combination of tho winners won theganie. Watson, Wood, and Udy were most brilliant in tho forwards, and all tho backs collared splendidly in tho latter part of the game. After a smooth passage up of U hours, tho team arrived safo at Wellington on tho return journey, N'TU AHURIRI r. WAIRARAPA JUNIORS. This match was played on the Park Oval on Saturday in the pre.eouco of about 200 spectators. When it became known that none of the Papawtii nor Fcatherston members chosen to represent Wairarapa ilmd put in no appearance, all hope JpUgood game was abandoned, for it was known that only a very stiong combination of our juniors could provo anything like a match for the famous Southern team. Finding how lamentably weak the Wairarapa was, it was suggested that one or two seniors might be included and the Natives were consulted on this point, but they evidently wanted to place the game beyond doubt and strongly objected to the senior men being included, Tlioy were asked if they had any objection to McGovem playing, but they held out saying that lie was too " rough." This is quite a new reputation for our centre three-quarter—-ono that he will not appreciate. The result was that a team which would not have been a match for a good junior club team took the held. From the commencement of the game it was seen that the visitors would have things all their own way, and there was little in tho play. The ball would ■JBf> into tho scrum, be immediately taken possession of by the Natives and then handled by their backs in a most approved stylo, always resulting in their gaining a great deal of ground and often in a score. The Wairarapa backs did little to stop tho progress of their burly opponents, and mulling was often • evident. Even allowing for the very weak team they had, they played wretchedly and seemed to become thoroughly disorganised directly they found they were over-matched. The Natives won after a ridiculously easy game by 21 points to 3, It would be impossible to single out thoso natives who played well, for during no part of the game were they asked to exert themselves, and as tho aboriginal is never too fond of hard work, they took every advantage of the many opportunities offered thorn of taking things easily. Had they had a team against them which could only have extended them at all, tho spectators would, no doubt, have seen a fine exposition of tho game. ! The action of the Foatherston jffini Pnpawai representatives cannot bo too' Strongly commented upon, seeing that they sent lio word whatever of their inability to attend and left their team to collect substitutes within a few minutes of tho commencement of tho gamo. It is with them that Wairarapa's ignominious defeat rests.