Benefit Football Match.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4282, 29 September 1936, Page 5

Benefit Football Match.

MYSTERY MEN v. LOCAL SENIORS. The big football mystery was solved on Saturday. The first suspicion of the thickening of the plot was created when a team of four bullocks drew up beside the post-office at 2 p.m., with an ancient buggy in tow. The animals were labelled “Savage,” “Semple,” “Coates and “Forbes.” respectively, to show, no doubt, that the mystery team was not lacking in political influence. Realising that something extraordinary was afoot the ranks of the spectators swelled to carnival proportions; and from vantage points they eagerly awaited further developments. The arrival ol the Queenstown team was a colourful event, especially as so much lemijdr.e apparel was draped about their forms. One who was labelled McCrcady created some amusement among the spectators by arriving in a short— very short—blue dress with hat to match. Cameras clicked and banners waved. Imbued with the sporting spirit (none other) the onlookers showed their appreciation of the arrival of the Mystery team, wearing whiskers, masks, goggles and, in fact, anything by which to hide their identity for the time being. The Wind played “High Jinks,” as their first number, and it was then noticed that the team (bullock team) was contentedly chewing its cud. The next step in unravelling the mystery was made when the mystery men bunted and pushed their way into the wageon. One wag side-slipped —only to be hurriedly replaced though not before a lynx-eyed boy caught a glimpse of the face beneath. One buffer at least had lost his mysterious charm. The procession then took the shape of a “dog’s hind leg,” and then, led by the band, closely followed by the “political influence,” and the Queenstown “dreams,” it rolled down the street amid cries of excitement from the small boys, who tailed behind. The The bovines appeared to make light of their task, under the control of their drivers, the Messrs Eason Brothers. The procession at last arrived at the rec. gates and it was learnt that no one had been arrested for a breach of promise. The team then made ready. That is to say, they draped the pavilion with' all the feminine apparel at their disposal, thus giving the interior the the resemblance of madarae’s boudoir, so much so that an old timer dim of eye, was observed to arable by only to stop suddenly alter a gin pen within and b‘gin a hurried Did he think he had lest his way and stumbled upon the undressing scene of agh’ ‘ oa- a-.ri vam!! I He has sympathiser?. Both team - took Mm lu-d. were J photographed and the garni commenced at' about 2.50. The weather was fortunately fine with a cool breeze blowing throughout the afternoon. The ground was in excellent order and lent to fast open play. There was a good crowd of spectators, who thoroughly enjoyed the game. The match was played in the best of spirits. The Mystery players showed old-time dash, and many brilliant efforts went to their credit. It was onlv the lack of training that made them shake the hand of defeat. A noticeable fact was a shortness of breath, hut a merciful referee recognised this and called several halts. The Queenstown team, ; despite frequent changes in position, played really well, though they probably learnt much from their opponents tactics during the game. There was a lot of offside play and consequently the referee had to divert a good deal of his breath into the whistle. The buffers controlled most of the scrums and line-outs in the first half and they used the advantage rule to make bright back play. Queenstown were more fortunate in the second spell and held off the buffers to win by a margin of 6 points, the scores being B—3. The mystery was soon solved, for shortly after the commencement of play the chief actors stripped off the cloak which hid their identity and revealed them as former footballers who had come down from the Rugby shelf to meet worthy opponents _ for their common good. The “shield” is in the hands of the Queenstown team now, but they must take their bonnets oil to the Mystery buffers who, real sports, came off the “reserve” at the risk of their dusty iseats being taken by the opposition qre they return.

THE TEAMS AND PLAY.

Queenstown— Backs: E. Scheib; W. Philp, Boyle, P. Anderson; J. W. McSoriley, G. Lynch; Robins; _ forwards: F. Lynch, Townsend, White, L. Hunt, Inglis, Perks, Hore, J. McSoriley. Mystery team (unmasked) with several changes—Backs: W.- Davies; W. Farrant, L. Codings, A. Farrant; J. T. Lynch, A. Tripp; L. Hanrahan; forwards: J. D. Seekup, J- Braden, F. J. Gavin, R. Davidson, O. Kelly, C. Roderique, J. Hood, R. Robins. The play, as already indicated, was fast and open and it was remarkable that the old hands were able to sustain the penetrative movements. Hanrahan (X Change), behind the scrum, fed well to his backs and was responsible for some fine openings. Both Farrants (A. G. Niblick and W. Sugarloaf)) showed much of their old form, whilst the country storekeepers, Eb and Zeb (J. T. Lynch and A. Tripp) often left their opponents standing. F. J. Gavin (Hobnail), Roderique, Wee Willie Davies and J. D. Lookout (Seekup) were forces to be reckoned with all through the game. The Queenstown team was fairly up to strength and if they really endeavoured to pile up a bigger score it looks as if they failed against a surprise team of comebacks. Their back play got them a little further than the Mysterincs, but the latter, even it they were in offside positions through want of breath, risked the referee’s eye to stop the onslaught on their lines. Playing the old rules, the teams changed ends after 15 minute spells and the game was divided into four quarter hour

spells. The “buffers” only score (3) was the result of a brilliant piece of play on the part of Hamrahan after constant hammering away at the Queenstown defence. The score was made near to the end of half time. Shortly after resuming play in the second spell, Allan Inglis took a pass at the 26 mark, ran along the line and toucned down behind the goal posts. G. Lynch goaled. The final score came as the result of a passing movement. In mid-field, G. Lynch passed to J. W. McSoriley. The centre sold a dummy cleverly, passed to Boyle, who ran up-field and scored about five yards from the side line. Robins failed to convert. The final scores were: Queenstown 8, Mystery men 3. Rev. Father Ardagh was the referee. We have been asked to announce that, the lucky ticket was No. 05(5:52. Wi 1 the holder pi a:e communicate with L. G. Lynch, secretary Q.F.C. In the eighth and final challenge for the Ranfurly Shield in Dunedin on Saturday Otago soundly defeated West Coast by 30 pts. to nil.