FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8529, 7 September 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON v. WAIRARAPA

A most interesting game is anticipated between Wellington and Wairarapa, on the Masterton Showgrounds, to-day. The Masterton public have not had an opportunity to see Wellington's representative team play for some years, owing to these matches having been previously played in the Lower Valley, where, it is alleged, the public give football greater support. On this occasion the Union has been prevailed upon to believe that the Masterton public support football, andjja large attendance is expected to justify such belief. Although not all of the "All Black" celebrities from Wellington are playing in to-day's team, it is still a very rtrong combination, and a fast and scientific exposition of football is assured. Wairarapa will probably be weaker in the back diviison, but their supporters have every confidence in their forwards. A contest between dashing forwards and fast, scientific backs will probably result in the best exhibition of Rugby seen here for some years. The Wellington team will arrive by the 12 o'clock train to-day, and as some of the players will return by the 5.30 o'clock train, the match will commence at 3 o'clock sharp.

Mr A. Williams, of Napier, will act as referee in the match.

At the last moment the Wellington Union have decided to place the Athletic Park at the disposal of the Athletic Club to play a match against the Masterton Seniors, on Saturday next, and an effort is being made to get a strong team away to represent the local club. Definite arrangements are to be made to-day. Owing to the fact that it was i npossible for Manawatu to get anything like a representative team together, the Manawatu v. Wellington match, which was to have been played at Wellington, to-day, has fcein abandoned.

Our London correspondent writes: —Next spring, I am informed, a British team of Rugby Union players is to visit you. Mr G. H. Harnett hus almost enough promises to complete the party from the English side only but the Scottish, Irish and Welsh Unions are also considering what they can give so that the side can be representative. Mr A. L. Stoop will probabl-y be among the halfback?, and it is understood that Messrs J. P. Jones and W. Morgan of Guy's Hospital have accepted. At East Melbourne, on Saturday week, a match between Melbourne and Essendon was turned into a series of fights. Although in the first half of the game tripping and shoving behind were the chief features of the "play," there was no general melee. Later on there was a conflict between two players, and at once a score of opponents fought viciously for a couple of minutes. Play was stopped, and from then onwards there was no genuine football, if a player attempted to mark the ball hs often as not alighted upon his head or shoulder. If he tried to run h'i was tripped, and if he were unfortunate enough to get kst in a bunch a Mow from a fist was his probable fate. I