FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 54, 2 July 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

Tin: splendid weather last Saturday, and bhe prospecb of a good match, induced a large crowd of spectators to journey bo Epsom bo wibness the Grafton and Ponsonby Clubs meeb for bhe firsb bime bhis season. Both fifteens were very strong, the blue and blacks having if anybhing the advantage in backs. As usual, bhe mabch was very excibing, and every piece of play on bobh sides was eagerly nobed by bhe partisans of eibher side. Afber a hard struggle bhe, game finished in a draw, Whiteside obtaining a try for Ponsonby, and McKenzie one for Grafton. The kick in bobh ca.es was at a very difficult angle, and no goal resulbed, bub Wooller should have placed a goal bo Ponsonby's record from a . mark by Albie Braund. Whiteside obtained another try, bulb ib was disallowed on the score of offside play. Ponsonby had the best of bhe back •play throughout, bub bhe maroon forwards were too good for their opponents. Madigan, for Grafton, played the best among bhe backs, and I do nob suppose Barlow has ever.shone so well before, and if he had only been as eager in the match with Taranaki, the game might have resulted slightly different. Elliott made two or three good runs, bub he missed a certain score once by being unable to pick up the ball when he had a clean run in. George Johnston was very good at three-quarter punting, and kicked well. Twiname did the besb work among the forwards, while' Leckie and McKenzie may also be mentioned. Muir and Smith on the wings did good service, but they were cflside nearly the whole game, while Smith, on two occasions by kicking too hard on the goal line, spoiled all the hard grafting of bhe forwards. Whiteside, as usual, played a good game, bub did nob seem bo be in quite such form as he has displayed in past seasons, and for a threequarter back played albogether boo close up to the forwards. Danks was passable, while Stephenson, although he ran well and with judgment, neutralised all his work by careless passing. Albie Braund played tho best game, and he has become simply indispensable to tho fifteen. Arneil and Wooller had few shows, but they made the most of them. Keefe and Otway worked the best among bhe forwards. The blue and black forwards have nob learnt to pack their scrum properly yet, and some of them indulge too much in pffside tactics. The Graf tons have protested against Whiteside's try on account of his knocking bhe posb down, and the question will come up for decision after this has gone bo press. If the match is given to Grafton, it means an almost certain win for them in the Cup contest, while, if it remains as at present, the position of the Clubs will be the reverse to what it was, lasb year ab bhe end of the first round —Grafton a win and a draw ahead of Ponsonby. ..,; • , ........

All Auckland footballers, and athletes generally, learnt with deep regret the sudden death of Mr It. Woods through the sudden discharge of his gun. The deceased was well known here as a prominent mem per of the Gordon Football and Cricket Clubs, and of the Auckland Amateur Abhlebic Club, and during bhe many years he played here made many friends.

I hear Johnsbon of the Grafton F.C. will be shortly removed to Wellington. He is a very promising player, and his club.will miss him. , His place will, in all probabiliby, be filled by a young brother of W. Warbrick's, who is ab presenb in Tauranga. I hear he is a splendid kick and collar, and a dangerous runner. Grey, of bhe labe Waitemata, left for Melbourne this week.

Ponsonby,lL pub Grafton 11. bhrough by 7 poinbs bo nil. The match was,; very rough, and Cleaver, the captain of the Ponsonby, had his, nose broken during the first twenty minutes and had to retire, the team playing a man short for bhe rest of bhe game. ~ An old Canterbury representabive footballer writes to the " New Zealand Referee" suggesting that, as bhe dribbling game is so much in vogue now, a, round bail should be substituted for the oval. He says—" This would give the backs a chance to pob straight, and, consequently, many matches thab are now left drawn would be accompanied by a more sabisfacbory verdict." Speaking of the inbroduction of .the Association game in bo New Zealand, a Newcastle paper lias the following : — " As is well-known, bhe New Zeolanders ore enthusiastic footballers ;. hitherto, however, bhey have known only the Rugby game, which seems bo be gradually giving place bo bhe other in.bhe colonies."

The Universiby F. C. smote the Gordons hip and thigh to the tune of 20 points to 2 in bhe match in Sydney on Jubilee Day. The Gordons went to pieces after the first twenty minutes'play. North Shore had great difficulty in scoring a win against twelve men of the Alberts by a try, obtained by Patterson.

Auckland 2nd beat Waibemaba 2nd by bhree bries bb nil. The losers played a man short.