FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8177, 9 July 1906, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S MAICIIES. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Mnaterton ?>, Red Star ail. Gartertou G, Greylown 3. SENIOR CUP. MASTEKTON v. KED sDaR. J The Masterton aud Fed Star seniors met on the Showgrounds on Saturday. The following weie the teams: — ivjaaterton.— Full-back, Mai-chant; threeqiiarters Millar, J. O'Leary, Prendeville; five - eighths, *P. O'Leary; half, Logan; wingd, Greenfield and Gray; forwards, Jenkins, King, Lyall, MoKellnr, Dngtjnn, Kos&, Spackman. Ked v Star. Full back, Welker; tbreequarlere, MoLachlaD, Wrigley, Minett; five eighths, Darville; half, O'Connell; wingp, Welch and Warner; forwards, F. Clarke, C. Clarke, Templeton, Chamberlain, Dixon, Scorrar, 'Fufton. Kain fell during nearly the whole jof the game. Masterton won the toss and played witb the strong wind in their favour. For the first half-hour of play the Stars were on the defensive and were forced down repeatedly. Offside plaj by a Star forward resulted in Masterton obtaining a tree kick, from which J. O'Leary kicked a splendid goal. Daring the last part of the spell the SUrs *ook a hand'at attaoking, but the snell cloaed without any alteration i.t the soore. The second spell was keenly fought oat, the Stare, aided by the wind, probably having the best of tne play. The most notable features of the spell were the good work of tbe two sefs of forwards, and fine,

but unsuccessful, pots at goal by Wrigley and Minett. Wriglay's kick from nearly half-way landed outside the posts, and Minett's kick fell under the bar. Jnst on the call of time a combined rush by Masterton nearly resulted in a score. There was no addition to the soore, and the game ended— Masterton ... 3 ti_«d Star ... 0 FV Masterton J. O'Leary played a very safe game, his kicking and taking of the bail being really good. P. O'Leary also played well. Logan, at half, inaugurated a number of passing rushes, and played a placky game. He handled the wet ball remarkably well, end stopped several dangerous Star mshes in fine etyle. Millar did bis work well, and made mr mistakes. Gray and Greenfield stood out prominently amongst the forwards. Gray was on the ball all tbe time, and shone up brilliantly in the loose. Greenheld gave as good an exhibition of wing forward play as has been seen this season. He played with great dash, and his foot work was excellent. Together with Gray he headed most of the Masterton rushes. Of tbe others Spaokman, Jenkins, and Maokellar caught the eye most, the latter playing a particularly solid game. Lyall, too, put in good work. For the Stars, O'Connell played a smart game, and got down to the rushes well. Darville, though handicapped by an injury to his shoulder, which he received in the Car-terton-Red Star match, did some fine work, and handled the ball well. Wrigley, as usual, was here, there and every where, collaring and kicking in great style. Minett played the best game he has this season. His running, kicking and collaring was all that oould be desired. McLaohlan was safe, and collared and kicked well. Of the forwards Welch and Warner played well on the wings. Fulton probably played tbe best forward game on the ground and on his performances this seaWv he should have no difficulty in getting into the reps. Chamberlain was the pick of the others. The Masterton front-rankers beat |tbeir opponents for the ball in the scrum. The Stars missed their hooker McKenzie, who, owing to an injury received in the Red StarOartexton matoh, was unable to play. Mr L. Williams waß referee, and Messrs D. Beere and T. Fielding wore tbe line umpires.

CARTERTON I. v. GREYTOWN I.

The match between Carterton and | Greytown was played at Greytown i on Saturday .under adverse weather conditions. During a great portion of the game the rain fell in torrents, and the ground was well sprinfeied with pools of water. To add to this a flock of .sheep scampered aorjss part of the ground in the second spell, stirring up the mud as only sheep can do. The Carterton team took the field shortly after three o'clock, but the Greytown team had not its full complement of men till about 3.40 p.m , at which time the game sorted. The first spell was 45 minutes long, the second was played until dusk put an end to powers of seeing, i s was to be ex peoted from such weather conditions the game was merely a mud scramble, punctuated by some good plav on the part of individual forwards of both teams. Carterton scored two tries (neither converted, though ODe was between the in the early part of the fjrft spell, and scored no more, though Henderson and H. McKenzie both croesed the line in the second spell; the former, however, lost the ball in falling, a force-down being the result. The latter, previous to crossing, had made the ball "dead" in play, which caused a sorummage. in the latter half of the second spell, Greytown, who had some time previously scored a try (uLConverted) made desperate efforts to equalise the score, and on two occasions possible tries were lost owing to the state of the ground. In the first place the Greytown forwards dribbled the ball through the Car tertou backs into a puddle, four or five tuen attempted to kick it over the line, each merely kicked up aa much water as the size of his boot would allow, the • Carterton forwards came up and the situation was saved. In the second case a Greytown forward came along at the ball and kicked

it forcibly over 'he line, intending, to follow, but iu kicking lost his foothold and fell on his face, while a Cacterton back rah up and forced. Ou the whole, the game was veiy even; but, ot course, good football was out of the question. The backs played the safe wet day gamo of playing the ball with their feet, while the Carterton backs usually attempted to piou it up, generally with ludicrous resuits. Percy Rogers played ai great game for Gieytown, he was here, there and everywhere, his attack and dofence being worth witnessing. J.

Workman, at wing forward, played , one of bi.3 host games, and was a tower of strength to hia side. Feist played a splendid dribbling game suited to the slate of the ground, but several times nullified his good work by Retting off aide. Wines played a good steady game all through; be is one of those players who say little, but do much. Perkins also showed up well, but he, too, was often off side. For Carterton E. Mcnenzie at full saved his side repeatedly by hie "huge" line kicks, and whatever mistakes he made were due solely to the state of the ball. The other baoks were not at home on the wet ground. H. MoKenzio, A. Johnston and Cadwallader were the pick of the forwards, but Henderson keDt up his reputation in the loose. With ' A. Johnston and Cadwallader, who are rapidly getting into form, the Carterton forwards are greatly strengthened. The game enaed— Carterton , 6 Greytown 3 Mr A. B. Charters was referee. This game is the last of the second round,'and leaves Masterton and Carterton level. The third round will be drawn on Tuesday evening. The Masterton Juniors were defeated by Tuhirangi, at Morrison's Bush, on Saturday, by 3 points to nil.