FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 915, 13 September 1889, Page 13

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON y. WAIRARAPA.

The return match between the Wellington VTairarapa representatives took place at Newtown Park on : Saiqrday afternqon, in the presence of several thousand people. The weather was fine during the part of the game, but rain fell toward the end ,o£ the second spell. There were seyergl absentees from the Wairarapa team, notably Baumber, G. Welch| and Mitchell, and their inclusion would doubtless have strengthened the team. The match was not looked upon as an easy thing for Wellington, and this view was fully borne out by the result. The Wairarapa team is undoubtedly a very strong combination, and with a little play together they would make a big fight with the best teams in the Colony. Hawke set the ball in motion for Gage making a rather poor return into touch jnst outside the twenty-five flag. .Almost immediately after D’Arcy, by a splendid drop kick, forced Wellington down, and as the result of some good play between Hawke and Kellegher the Blacks had again to touch down. The success of the visitors was loudly Cheered by the spectators, who were very impartial throughout. The Wairarapa forwards—a warm lot —soon made it apparent that the Wellington men were not going to 'H&vb things all their-own way in this deSfjftment of the game, and - they made some very fine rbsh'ea fnfco quarters., The Blacks early jn -fchip game-were on the 1 defensive, and ; they we>e pressed for \ several minutes, until • Ellison headed a ' rush up to the centre, 1 ' from whence 1 Gage made a fine • tud, -and- then: passed to Mclntyre, who tumbled two or • three of the Greens over, and carried the ; leathei* to 1 the visitors' quarters. All attempts of the Wellington halves- to pass : bij b jb;b fcfieir three-quarters were''spoiled byj "fche ' opposing halves; who invariably! smothered fchejm before they could'get 1 the! $3! away, tn tbeij) anxiety, however, to | prevent the passing they were .frequently off . idffe. " A njee little dash by Ellison took the j frail pp-to within' a few yards of the Greens’ j frut Watson, Eagles and Day! frfcWgfrfc # |° twenty- j five, where Roberts, possession! of the bs.ll, kicked across tp $ol. ; lins, who picked it up splendidly, an.<? was only collared a little short of the frpe, From the throw in the ball was passed out to Gage, who made a fine attempt at goal, the ball just going outside of the posts. Soon after r.espming the Green forwards swept the ball right up the field, and Sim saved his side by kicking into touch. The play remained uncomfortably close to the Blacks’ line for some time, Sim eventually relieving his side by a good punt. After some uninteresting play about the centre of the field, J. Perry got possession of the ball, and he made one of the best runs of the day, not being brought down until within a yard or so of the line. Cockroft, Moore, El’ison, and Mclntyre rushed the ball up to the centre, and the two'jast-named play ers carried the ball into the Wairarapa quarters, D’Aroy just bring-

ing Ellison down in time. A well directed i punt by H. Perry relieved the pressure, and shortly after Wellington was again forced |- down, as the result of a long punt by Pell- i ing. Soon after resuming Wairarapa were 1 allowed a free kick for off-side play, and J D’Arcy potted a magnificent goal, amiclst j great applause. On kicking out the Blacks rushed the leather up to the Greens’ line, but Thompson made a good punt and relieved his side. Nothing of note occurred until J. Perry, Kellegher, and Day made a grand passing rush right up to the Blacks’ line, which, however, was soon cleared again. A free kick was allowed the Greens for offside play, and D’Arcy made another splendid kick, the ball just dropping a few feet short of the bar. Soon after resuming the Green forwards rushed up to the Blacks’ twentyfives, and Watsou made a fine run in. Pelliug, however, failed to increase the score. The Blacks had slightly the boat of the remainder of the spell, which up till then had been greatly in favour of the visitors. Ellison started the second spell, and, the backs failing to get hold of the ball, Wairarapa was forced down. From the kick out the Wellington backs failed to return, and Kellegher charged down, and getting hold of the ball, soon showed hi 3 opponents a clean pair of heels and touched down. Thompson took the kick, and sent t.ho ball fair between the posts, thus increasing the score to seven points. From this out the Wellington men improved in their play, and they went to work with a will to overtake ihe score of their opponents. Tho Greens’ quarters were invaded, and a free kick being v allowed, Nicholls kicked a good goal. Following this success the Blacks by a series of good rushes carried the play into the Greens’ quarters, the ball going iDto touch near the corner. Nicholls threw the ball in to Moorhouse, who made a short run and then passed to Ellison, who struggled over. Collins failed in the kick at goal. The hopes of the Wellington supporters were raised at this success, but they were immediately dashed to the ground again, for almost immediately after the kick off the Greens rushed the ball up the field, and J. Perry touched down under the posts. Thompson took the place kick, and succeeded in putting the ball between the posts. The Wellington men played up with great determination after this, aud ■ the Greens were kept on the defensive. Moorhouse got the ball from a scrummage near the line and just succeeded in getting over before he was brought down. Nicholls was successful in the place kick. The Wairarapa men were ! again in difficulties after the kick out, aud a I free kick being allowed, Collins kicked a fine ; goal, thus equalising the scores.!’ After thj3 ; the Greens liveried up again, arid \yVlJingtdn ; was forced down after a good rhah of the opposing forwards, but on kicking off the \ Blacks made their way into the j Greens’ territory again, and Moorhouse i passed out well to Collins, who made a | serviceable run, and was loojking dangerous I whep be w&s Jbro.ught <jown. Thompson was ; instruinental in clearing the line, and then ! Fairbrother frad a quick shot' at goaj, thq I bal> going a little wide of the posts. Tfre : play after this was very fast and exciting, and Kellegher getting hold of the ball wes ! off like a shot for the Wellington goal, and jon beipg grassed passed to Perry, but tfre I hp.eedy half-back stumbled soon after getting | the hall, otherwise fi,e would haye probably ! got in. Wellington was forced down soon ! after, as the result of a pot shot by McCarthy. ! .Qu resumption the play was again very 1 fast, the Wellington men working ypry j Jiard to score, but the Greens defended i their goal.-lipe .excellently, and they re- | peat.edly smothered the Wellington backs. At lust, hpwevejr, opportunity was offered, and Roberts giadg a sple'pdjd pa?§ to |CoHjns, who dashed oyer at the popnep gmiid's]b a deafening roar of applause, and scared the try which won the match for Wellington. ElMum failed in the kick &t goal. For the remainder of the game the play was in favour of the Blacks, Moorhouse on one occasion being within an ace of scoring again. The visitors played a splendid game all through, especially the forwards, who made things very sultry for the local team. They were fast on the ball, and repeatedly spoiled the Wellington backs. The kicking, running and tackling of the backs were alike excellent. J. Perry played a grand game amongst the latter, and he was ably supported by Thompson (who has improved a great deal since he played in Wellington) and Kellegher. D’Arcy also played a fine game as full back, his kicking and tackling being excellent. Eagle, Watson, Day, and Weloh were the best of the forwards. The play of the Wellington team was very disappointing, and unless some improvement is shown their chance of defeating the Aucklanders will be an exceedingly- remote one. There \ was no combination amongst the .forwards, and they played with but little dash., Hardly one of ' .them upt.empted to follow up, jand in many j other respoetU'their play .was of a poor charanter. -In the second spell, hpvgever, they j showed something like, their, .true form. i Mclntyre, Cockroft, Ellison, and Moore were \ the best of them. The back play; as a whole, was also weak; especially the collaring, Gage being the best of them. Moorhouse also did ■ a lot 1 of good work, j and Collins 'made a few serviceable j runs. oiin did hot play ar* well as usriaj, arid the sarnie 1- may be said of Nicholls. Roberts“passed well, but the injury to his leg prevented him from doing anything else with any 1 SuocessV It is quite evident from his forth fin Saturday that he is not'yejb well enough to play. 'The umpires i werp Messrs arid Dumbell, and j Mr MpOunJell acted as referee. Tjie visitors left i» thg eyepipg fqr P-fonhejm, where they play to-day.

JUNIOR CUP. Union First v. Athletic Second.—Won bv the former by four points to nil. Pudney piacr 1 a goal from a free kick, and Dean scored a fcty. Oriental First v. Rival Second —Won by former by four points to three. For the winners, Jordan kicked a goal from a free kick, and Gormley secured a try. For the losers, Gell kicked a goal from a try. The Auckland Match. —The following players have been selected to represent Wellington against the Auckland team to-

morrow (Saturday) :—Fullback—Sim ; three quarters, Thompson, Gage, and Collins ; halves —Roberts, Nicholls, and Moorhouse; forwards—Reich, Cockroft, Moore, Ellison, Mclntyre, Coulton, Johnston, and Stuart. Owing to several members of the Rover team not turning up the match with a team representing Pitono workshops was nob played on Saturday. A scratch game, however, was played.- H. Candlish, of the Northern Association Club, Dunedin, who has been in Wellington for some time, returns to-day, and willendeavour toarrangefor an Association team to travel as far as Wellington. A meeting of the Management Committee was held at the Club Hotel on Saturday evening, there beiner present Messrs Camp, bell (in the chair), King, Nicholls, Gillon, Hyams and the Secretary. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Campbell, King and the Secretary, was appointed to confer with the Committee of the Cricket Association as to whether the Basin Reserve will be suitable to play ou. Messrs G. Fisher, H. Gully, H. D. Bell, D. G. A. Cooper, Batkin, Moeller, Brandon, Chapman, Drs Collins, Gillon and Newman were appointed a Reception Committee to meet the Aucklaud team on their arrival here on Friday next. Various other matters in connection with the match next Saturday were arranged. The visitors will bo entertained at dinner on Saturday evening, and will be driven out to McNab’s on Sunday afternoon. The combined team of junior members of the Pirate and Napier Clubs played a match against the Athletic second fifteen at Newtown Park on Tuesday, and defeated them by a goal to nil. Toward the close of the first spell Miller got a try, from which O’Conneli kicked a splendid goal. The visitors had considerably the best of tho play all through, their forwards proving much too heavy for the local team. The latter played up very well toward the close of the game, and they were allowed a free kick almost in front of the goal, but Houldsw.orth failed to send the ball over the bar. For the winners O’Connell, Newton, Miller, Collinge, Cato, and Wrightson were the best, and for the losers Lucena, Houldsworth, Earle, Luckie, Hill, Cooper, Atkinson, and Roe. were the most conspicuous. This afternoon the visitors will play the following team from the Rival Club :—Fisher, McKerrow, Galloway, H. Barnett, J. Curtis, Le Creu, Buck, Baird, Pow Dall, J. Barnett, Benson. Gell, MoKelvie, B. Drummond, H. Murdoch. A match wa3 played at Newtown Park on Wednesday between the combined junior team of the Napier and Pirate Clubs and a mixed Riv;l team. The ground was in a very sloppy state, and the game, such as it was, wa,3 won by the visitors, who scored two tries within the last ten minutes. Collinge and Millbr were'the scorers. There were only thirteen phiyefs on the losers’ side. ' ’’ "

(PER press association.) Christchurch, September 8. A picked football team, consisting, with three exceptions, of the men who beat Auckland lasjfc Wednesday, was defeated to-day by an improvable sixteen players by 7 points to 4, on Lancaster Park. Blenheim, September 9. The interproviucial football match, Wai* rarapa v. Marlhoropgh, was played this afternoon in glorious weather in the presence of 800 spectators. With one exception the local team was the same as that which faced the Hawkes teaip. The visitors’ team was an exceptionally fight one, trie average weight being fist glfis, while the local team averaged l2st 21b. In the first spell Marlborough had the best of the play, although the scores stood equal. A brilliant rush of the visitors took the'ball across jbhs line, when Amos scored a try, frorijt wfyiqji Thompson placed an easy goal. A fety minutes afterward tfre home men were awarded a free kick in the Wairarapa twenty-fjve, from whicli Mowatt kicked a goal, In the secqnd spell tfie Wairarapa men carried all before theip, and with magnificent runs Thompson scored two tries within a few minutes of each other. Darcy converted one into a goal. The Wairarapa team thus won an exciting game by 7 points to 3.

Auckland, September 10. Lecky and McLean left by the Rotorua this morning for Wellington. Where they will join the Auckland football team.

AUCKLAND v. OTAGO. (per press association.) Dunedin, September 10. The football match, Auckland v. Otago, resulted in a drawn game, the teams obtain, ing one goal each.

NELSON v.- WAIRARAPA. ..Nelson, September 11. The interprovincial football match, Nelson v. Wairarapa, was played to-day in lovely weather, and in the presence of five hundred spectators. |n the first spell the visitors scored a goal, and in the seeond they got an easy try, which was not converted. The Nelson team did not score in the first spell, but got a try in the second, but no goal resulted, the ■ visitors thus winning by 4 points to 1. The game was very fast throughout, excellent form being shown by both teams; Very frie'ndly feeling prevailed throughout the gam'ri, and 1 the'visitors' were heartily congratulated on thfeir victory. " "BLENHkiM, September - 11. The victory of'the VVriirarapri team over Nelson is immensely popular here. TfiCresrilt of the match was -watched with thffkoeilest interest'.' L ' *'