Football.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1700, 29 June 1885, Page 2

Football.

GREYTGWN y. MASTERTON;

Great interest was taken in the event tins year, not only by footballers tbemselves, but also by the residents in the Valley generally. In Masterton, on Saturday afternoon, the arrival of the Greytown brake was looked for with eager expectancy. The Greytown men, as usual, were conspicuous by their want of punctuality in mustering, consequently it was quite half-past three before all the Greytown team were upon the Masterton oval. Contrary to the anticipations of many the match this year resulted in favor of Masterton. For five years consecutively, Greytown had had secured the victory; and as a good portion of the old blood of the team still remains, their sympathisers at this end of the Valley and, indeed, many in Masterton, still pinned their faith in the prowess of the team from the west county; but, alas, it was not to be —the match resulting not only in a “ heating ” for Greytown, but a most ignominious “ thrashing,” Masterton winning by two goals and two tries to nil.

This should prove a salutary lesson for all footballers at this end of the valley. It should teach them that it is presumptive folly to imagine that however good their man may have been in times past, and however good their former prestige as a club, without regular practice, well concerted action, and thorough training, they may at all times expect to be beaten, hands down, by a club that makes football a business, such as that of Masterton. There is no mistake about this matter, the Masterton club have made football a study this year. They can place men in the field of heavy calibre, and although they do not play a proper game, and with such umpires as they unfortunately provided on Saturday foul play is unnoticed, still with some exceptions, which will be shortly remarked, the Masterton men endeavoured to do their best without resorting to many unduo advantages. The men who really did violate the recognised rules of football, were perhaps less to blame than those who allowed the malpractices to go unchecked, when they were there to prevent them. We do not cast any invidious reliectioua on the umpires, they were both Masterton men, as (ireytown did not provide an umpire, and there was no referee, and no doubt the umpires did their best according to their lights, but every good footballer is not an heaven-born umpire, consequently those gentlemen in endeavouring to carry out duties for which they must know themselves they ate not fitted, should receive every credit for the best and most honest intentions, aud the many mal-praotices that escaped their notice cannot be imputed to any sinister designs or laxity of a wilful nature. The respective teams were arranged ns follows : —Masterton —Full back, F. Felling; half backs, Whatman and 0. Perry ; quarter backs, W. Perry, J. Perry aud O’Connor [captain] ; forwards, J. Bannister, C. Bannister, Beecher, Hounslow, Chennells, W. Welsh, Kauginui, Ewington, Holmwood. Greytown—Full back, J. Terry ; half backs, A. Beard, A. Udy ; quarter backs, J. Humphries, J. Wenham, J. Tucker; forwards, H. Udy [captain], Webster, F. Jackson, E. Udy, J. Beard, F. Fisher, U. Cameron, C. Beard. C. Udy. Umpires, for Greytown, Mr Wickerson ; for Masterton, Mr McKenzie.

Soon after the Greytown team was prepared, the game commenced by Greytown winning the toss, and the ball was kicked off by Hart Udy. Then for about half an hour a series of close packed scrimmages were the order of proceedings, neither party gaining any material advantage. W. Perry got the ball for a good run, but was cleverly collared by J. Humphries, who then made a good kick out of bounds. After another closepacked tussle, Tocker made for a good run, but failed to get away. A. Udy, who is a plucky little player, but too light for the company on Saturday, got a nasty kick on the knee in the middle of the scrimmage, but the youhg fellow soon recovered, and again entered the melee, not at all daunted by the circumstance. Tocker then, by a very adroit action, again secured the ball, but was overpowered before he could negotiate a good run. At this stage a great struggle ensued, Tocker holding on to the ball “like grim death.” Several more packed scrimmages and throws in took place, after which Webster collared the ball and dribbled it to within a foot of the goal, but O’Connor, by a supremo effort, tugged it away just in time to save Greytown atouchdown. After a kick by Beecher Terry collared the ball, but bad to succumb in a remarkably summary manner to Whatman, who made a great rush, but was grandly caught by 1), Cameron and C. Beard at Hie half way peg. Tocker made another dash with the ball, but received a heavy fall from Felling. Humphries and Wenham then had a turn, and very nearly secured a touchdown. This was a grand performance. Cameron passed the ball to Humphries ; from Humphries it was passed to Wenham, and from Wenham to A. Udv, who, but for W. Perry's timely interruption, would have got clean away. W. Perry then ma le a good run, but Humphries was not to be resisted. .1. Perry then, after a severe struggle, especially with Tocker, secured a try, but, in the opinion d many, not a legal one, as it was alleged that the ball was previously defunct. Belling kicked for the goal but failed. Thus one try was effected by Mastertou, Jackson next made a grand effort for a touen down. 0. Perry then kicked off and soon after C. Perry carried the ball by a fluke, owing to the slippery state of the ground beyond the goal ; bo thou assayed a kick for goal, which resulted in a bad try. The Perrys, Beecher, and O'Connor, did great work for Mastertou. We cannot say the same for Whatman ; Bang! was also rather rough. Whatman butted Webster twice in very foul style ; be has yet to learn the rules of tbo game. If the other side had worked on the rough tack the result might have been different. Tocker, Webster, Cameron, A. Udy,C Board, H. Udy, Jackson, and Wenham, wuie well up to the mark. It may be as well to veuture a remark that tiro team suffered for waut of Tiuga, a very smart runner. Soon after the second try the Mastertou men managed a goal very cleverly, The ground at this stage of the game was, in many places, like a duck puddle, and it is surprising that uo more casualties occurred. Soon before dark, to the ecstasy of tbo Mastertou onlookers, the home team secured another goal. Tins concluded the game. There wore about 300 persons present looking on, and the utmost good feoliug prevailed. Greytown was at a greater disadvantage through being the lighter team, not playing sufficiently loose. On the contrary, Mastertou bad a greater advantage on account of their close packing ; thus by reason of their heavy weight crushing down upon tlit ir opponents. Loose play was the only chance for Greytown. Felling kicked the two goals, the last of which is persistently disputed by the Greytown men, us they aver that the ball was dead when Wenham fell with it,