In the Wairarapa.

NZ Truth, Issue 158, 27 June 1908, Page 3

In the Wairarapa.

. The appointment of Mr A. B. Charters as referee m the Anglo-Welsh-Nelson-Marlborough match m preference to Mr C. McKenzie was one of those jokes by which the N.Z. Union has made itself famous, to say the least of it. As men, there is little to choose between the two, but as referees the gulf is so wide that the selection was humorous, but ciuite characteristic of the parent Union. Perhaps hob-nobbing to Manager Harnett on the part of one and Vjuiet reticence on the other had something to do with what is considered locally as a grave slur on the qualifications of "Scobie." , B. Wrigley, of professional "All Black" fame, witnessed one of the local matches on Saturday, but was .not favorably impressed with the standard of play shown nor with the advancement (?) of the game under the New Zealand code. He says emphatically, "Too slow, too slow." Wrigley has an engagement at Home at £400 per annum, and, intends leaving the colony almost immediately. The local Union has been called upon |by the press of Wairarapa to answer a charge of discourtesy and insult. It appears that the Union is so ,unmindful ot press obligations that only one complimentary ticket is sent to_ each paper and should the representative of any ioub- ! ual appear at the gate without this tick- ! el. he is forthwith refused admission. I .-The local "hacking" matches were ad- ; vanced another stage on ; Saturday, and

the position of the leading "hackers" is impregnable. The forwards of this team have "hacked" so successfully that the back division of every other team lias crumbled away to nothing, or been pierced like tissue paper. There is a solitary man m the Wairarapa who can outwit these notorious "hackers" and that is Joe O'Leary— his presence on the field of play invariably means a win for his side, his absence spells defeat. Unfortunately he has been out of action for several weeks and during • that time his team has lost every match. He hopes to take the field again on Saturday next. ( "Hacking" is rife m this district at the present time and will take some blotting out. When the local rep. team travels south these remarks will come forcibly home to some poor unfortunate. "Hackers" find distinct favor with the Wairarapa selectors for the same reason (?) tbat dominates nearly all Rugby affairs In New Zealand, via., beat the other man. As manager Harnett remarked at Wellington, "Your football is a business. We play for sport;" After having to play second fiddle for some six or seven years, Grreytown vanquished Masterton m what is commonly called a "football" match. How the score Was registered and an instance of lineout work (save the mark) will . indicate sufficiently that it wasn't football at all. The ball was about to be taken" by Mastertou.'s full-back when two fcrreytown men charged down on him and sent him sprawling m the mud. One left the impression of his boot m the small of the 1 fallen man's back while the other made off with the 'ball. The latter really, deserved his score for his follow-up and the general aH-round excellence of his pp av > but jthe .manner m which the full-back was nutvolit ' of action is simply characteristic of the local game.