RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, 17 May 1923, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. NEXT SATURDAY’S FIXTURES Next Saturday’s games are the final matches in the first round of tho senior, North and aiso South junior and North and South 3rd-grade. Some of the keenest and most important fixtures will eventuate. All senior matches were on Saturday last won in the last few minutes, and some exciting games are again expected. The principal attraction is Red Star seniors v Featherston, on Memorial No 1, at 2.30. A number of the principal Red Star forwards were last Saturday suffering from severe colds and minor injuries and could not do themselves justice. A big improvement wi I be noticeable next Saturday.

Featherston were only beaten by Carterton in the last few minutes, after one of the most willing games witnessed in Wairarapa for some time. The Donald brothers, Cundy, Burt (2), Matthews, Hutana and Co. are all showing much improved form. Masterton seniors again journey to Carterton on Saturday to meet the Carterton seniors, who are very fit, their vanguard playing with great combination. It is expected that 4. or 5 from that division will secure representative honours.

Car tert on are so far undefeated, and are leading with 8 points, while Masterton are runners up with 6. Much interest attaches to this match, especially after last Saturday’s fine display.

Gladstone and Grey town seniors meet at Greytown No 1 and it is on the cards that Greytown on their own ground will give the yellow and blacks their hardest game. The big attraction in North Wairarapa junior section will be Mauriceville v Opaki at Mauriceville AVest. These teams are at present equal in championship points, having won all their matches to date.

Mauriceville backs are handling the ball equal to the best and seem to b'o equally at home in wet or fine weather.

Opaki are playing fully up to their best form of last season. They also have nice aggressive backs while tht forwards should prove a good match for their northern opponents. Tauern residents will again be provided with one- of the best junior fixtures, when Pioneer Alaori meet the local team. Pioneer last Saturday, in a fast game, proved themselves a very keen and rapidly improving side

Taueru junior, proved the hardest nut the Mauriceville team have -yet had to crack.

The other game in North junior section i s Red Star v Alasterton, on Memorial No 2. These teams should b<' evenly matched. Owing to the shortage of Rugby grounds in Alasterton, 3-rd grade matches must be played as curtainraisers. Their games have te be cut down to spells of 30 minutes each. The light young High School 3-rd grade team will try conclusions on No 2 Memorial at 1.30, with pioneer Maori, who are probably one of the heaviest teams in this division. School are gaining greater combination each week. Carterton 3rd-grade, who are so fiv: undefeated, will meet Mauriceville on Carterton Reserve at 2.30. Red Star and Alasterton meet in 3rd-grade on Memorial No. 3, at 2.30. So far Alasterton have only suffered one defeat, and are second in championship points to Carterton. The first round of 4th-grade fixtures finished on Saturday last. It has been found necessary to again play this grade in one division, and redraw for the second round. North teams will now have to travel instead of having all home matches. The first matches in second round commencing on Saturday are: Red Star v. High School 8., on Memorial No. 1, at 1.30; Alasterton v. Greytown, at Greytown No. 1, at 1.30; High School A. v. Carterton on Carterton No. 1, at 1.30.