Nelson Juniors V. Wairarapa Juniors.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7534, 10 August 1903, Page 2

Nelson Juniors V. Wairarapa Juniors.

If Saturday's match between tho above teams is to bp , taken as a criterion, junior football in the Wairarapa ie of a very inferior grade. 'There was really .'no genuine football played on either side, and a worst display could scarcely be imagined. The visitors came to Masterton with tho following records against them;—- nil to 88 v. Marlborough; nil to 22 v. Wairarapa Thursday's, and yet

they inflicted asto 3 defeat on the local *"'- ---juniors, in the face of the latter claiming equality with Thursday Senior players. The game itself demands no special mention. The Nelson team played a plucky game, but not a good one, and to the former it owes its win as well as to deficiency on the part of the vanquished. The weather wae the best possible for football, and the ground was in excellent order, yet the members of the back division of each team dropped innumerable catches and mulled till the crowd was driven to sheer desperation and jeering. NOTES ON THE GAME. Mr A. B. Charters, who made his first appearance as a referee in local football in the play-off for the third-claes championship last week, controlled the game Jinder review, and won the admiration of the onlookers and the good respect of the players. Mr Charters rules with a firm hand, and with a wide knowledge of the game. Hβ received a special compliment from the manager of the Nelson A team. .. . F. Williams, amongst the backs, and Norman and Kingdon in the forwards, with Feilding, Hart and Whiteman, a good trio for second place, were the only members of the local team to perform nearly up to junior form. "Williams, as well as O'Cbnnell on oocaeions, put in some.pretty and effective work; but were not solid enough for anything above the work they were called upon to do. . MeMaster, at five-eighth,, ™> "frost," and any forward could nil the position with as good results as he. Booth and Morris were simply awful. Neither could take nor hold the ball, whilst the kicking of the former was fourth, rate. In Morris} case it is only just to state that his play suffered on account of his anxiety to do well, and the adverse comments of a section of the crowd. He has usurped a local player's (C. Williams) position in the field, hence the criticisms. Groube played fairly, he kicked to touch in the second spell in good style, but was otherwise enjoying a day off. On if appearances, both he and Morris gave*promiso of turning out well. In the forwards, Kingdon and Norman made some lightning dashes, and Feilding dribbled fairly. Whiteman and Hart used their weight to fair advantage. Rose suffers through want of headwork. A plea of over-eagerness cannot be accepted with respect to a player of his experience, and yet it appeared on Saturday that this drawback was responsible for the loss of two tries, which Rose could undoubtedly have soored. For Nelson, Richards alone showel possession of any knowledge of the game at the rear of the scrum, and even he had a tendency to hug the ball, probably for want of confidence in his comrades. Cullen, at full, found the touoh with some splendid kicks at times. Hall Blood out prominently in the vanguard, but like all the forwards, is wanting in the requisite paoe and dash. The visitors score comprised a try converted, whilst F. Williams placed a beautiful penalty goal for Wairarapa on the call of time. 1 L_

_—______ .. The following team has been selected to represent the local juniors against Hawke's Bay, at Napier, on Saturday: —C. Williams, Groube, F. Williams,' Booth, MoMaster, O'Connell, Weloh, Eose, Feilding, Hastings, Ward, Whiteman, Hart, Jenkins and Kingdon. The team leaves Masterton by the express train on Friday, and will play in Masterton jerseys with white kilickers.