FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8220, 25 August 1906, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

WAJRARAPA THURSDAY REPS v. GOLDEN BAY.

The match between the Wairarapa Thursday and Golden Bay representatives was played on the Masterton showgrounds yesterday. The weather was fine, and the ground was in good order. Being an "off" day, there was only a small attendance of the public. The following were the teams:— Wairarapa.—Fullback, A. Holms; tbreequarters, J. McUuiness, V. Fairbrother, H. Williams; fiveeighth, N. McKenzie; half, W. Darville; wings, M. O'Leary and G. Hall; forwards, Hunter, Major, Livick, Callister, Phelps, Wickens and Jaoksou. Golden Bay.—Fullback, Bickley; tbreequarters, Oban, Page, McGrane; five-eighth, D. Fauchelle; half, F. Fauchelle; wings, Crooks and Muore; forwards, Feary, Beßt, Wilkinson, H. Sparrow, R. Sparrow, Coombs, BarHett. Golden Bay kioked off. McKenzie returned promptly, and play was confined to midfleld for some time. Darville, with a good kick, found the line well up the field, and Wairarapa attaoked. Bickley relieved splendidly, but Wairarapa kept in the Bay's "25, and several fruitless shots were made at goal by Darville and McKenzie. Golden Bay attauked, but faulty passing among the backs lost them possible chances of scoring. A good Kick by McKenzie relieved the home t«am, and another long Jkick by Darville transferred play light to tha corner and placed the visitors on the defence. Darville, from a free kick, had a shot at goal. Tha ball hit the bar. The home team were now forcing the olay, and from a scrum Darville took the ball and passed to McKenzie who transferred to Fairbrother to McGuiness, who crossed in the corner. Darville failed to convert. Wairarapa 3 Golden Bay 0 The visitors then worked the ball down into the home team's territory, and give and take play followed. When the spell ended, Wairarapa were again attacking. The scores at half time were— Wairarapa 3 Golden Bay 0 The second spell proved generally more exciting than the first, though at times the play lacked interest. Immediately on resuming Wairarapa rushed the ball into the visitors' territory, but the Bay forwaids came away with the tall at their feet, and Page was only prevented from scoring by Darville, who collared him. A series of passing rushes then took place on the Wairarapa line, but the visitors were unatile to cross. Shortly afterwards Page marked, and kicked a good goal. Wairarapa 3 Golden Bay 3 The visitors attaoked for some time until Holms, by a good kiok, transferred play to the centre. Play for some time lacked interest, until the visitors' forwards again took the ball into Wairarapa's territory. From a free kick Page narrowly missed kicking a goal. Play was again uninteresting for some time, until, through the faulty/play of the visitors' backs, Wairarapa soored another try. McGrane passed wildly, and the Wairarapa forwards lushing op a try was scored by Fairbrother. McKenzie failed to oonvert. Wairarapa 6 Golden Bay ... ... 3 From then on till the end of the game the play was up and down the field, Golden Bay perhaps holding the advantage. At the final whistle the soores were— Wairarapa 6 Golden Bay 3 The visitors were superior in the forwards, but their back play was very faulty, hardly any passing being indulged in. The home team also gave a. rather poor display of back play. Mr F. O'Connor was referee, and Messrs J. T. Moore-andE. Moore were line umpires.

In the evening the visitors were entertained by the Wairarapa Thursday Ruebf Union it a dinner at the Central Hotel, Mr A. 0. Major, President of the Union, presided, and there was a large attendance. An excellent dinner was provided by Mr F. C, Cooper. During the evening the following toast list was honoured:—"Tlie King," the Chairman; "Golden Bay Representatives," Mtr A. l-Jolms—Mr P. E. Moore; "Host and Hostess," the Chairman—Mr F. 0. Cooper; "Wairarapa Thursday Representatives," Mr J. T. Moore—Mr V. Fairbrother; "Kindred Sporr's," Mr J. Wiokens —Mr H. Sparrow; "Ladies," Mr G. Hall—Mr D. Fauchelle; "President of the Wairaraua Thursday Union," Mr F. O'Connor—Mr A. 0. Major; "The Press," Mr N. MoKenzie. Songs were sung by Messrs P. Page, W. Biokley, F. Lj. Moore end B. Feary.