FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 147, 22 June 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

Our footballers musb have interviewed bhe clerk of bhe weabher for the splendid day bhey got lasb Saburday ; at all evenbs bhey deserved the elements to be favourable, aftei the rolling about in the mud and wet they gob on the two previous Saturdays. The ground was in grand condition for running and kicking, and in consequence a good fast display of football was the result. There were over 1,000 spectators presenb, who found ib a cold game looking on, and all looked as if they would like to join in and have a kick to warm themselves.

No end of inberesb was cenbred in the Ponsonby -Selvvyn match, which, after the latter defeating Gordon and the all blacks beating Ponsonby, promised to be a hard and close struggle. But such was nob the case, as the Ponsonby, from the kick off to the call of time, romped over our last year's crack juniors, and, as most of my readers know, won by 11 points to love. The game, was very fast and interesting, the feature of the match being the clever passing and running of Masefield, Stephenson, A. Braund and Breen on the winning side and the splendid defensive play of little Loo Hill for bhe Selwyn. Of the personnel of the Ponsonby, J. Braund, ab full-back, had very little to do. Whab he did he negotiated with success. Breen, at three-quarters, played his usual useful game, not making any mistakes, and always kicking with good judgment. R, Stewart showed improving form, but he is nob yet in the same street as his mates. He wants to practise catching a ball, while he is also slow in getting underway. I must lump Masefield. Stephenson, and A. Braund together, for their combined play on Saturday last was as good as I have seen. Masefield made several good runs and deserved the two tries he scored, while he also potted a goal. Stephenson also made a number of long runs, the try he scored being the finishing touch to one of them. Without A. Braund, neither of the other two would have been so successful, as ib was chiefly by his clever and unselfish play that they scored, so he should come in for some of the kudos. Tanfield was only conspicuous on one occasion, and he had very little show. Of the forwards, the two shining lights were Heffernan and Bruce, who seemed to play in.double harness. They were generally the first through the scrum and were in company, in the van, of almost all the rushes. Murphy, Edwards, Arneil and Hobson were several times very prominent, the two firstnamed being especially so on the line out. Conway followed up well and was rewarded with a try. Mills played an honest game, but picked up too much. He was very successful by doing so on Saturday, but he will find the wisest game in the long run is for a forward to keep the ball ab the toe.

I was greatly disappointed with the play of the Selwynites, for they did not work with the same combination or dash as they have done previously, and I cannot account for the fact. They were certainly overmatched, but three of their backs seemed very nervous, and consequently fumbled the ball and did not collar well. Ib is nob a very difficult bhing to pick their best man, for without L. Hill in their ranks last week they would have been beaten by twenty points. Hill, whose weight I hear is only Bsb 81b, played a wonderful game, his plucky and successful tackling gaining him rounds of applause. He also kicked well, while he was the only back on his side who would follow his kick up and put his forwards onside. Sheriff, at three-quarters, was the next man in merit. He played a cool game, stopping several rushes and kickingandcollaring with success. W. Edwards, at three-quarter, should liven up a bit. He plays fairly, bub can do bebber if he likes ; he is too much of a sluggard in his work. He played a fair game last week gaining considerable ground on more than one occasion. Major, ab three quaibers, was very nervous, and fumbled bhe ball badly ab bhe commencement of the game, bub when he warmed to his work he kicked and collared very well. Pennalligan, ab full-back, could nob have been well, for I have seen him play a hundred per cent, better than he did last week. His collaring and stopping of rushes was nob gone ab in a foobballer's style. A. Cooke and Hicks were very seldom prominent ; the former did not like tackling Masefield or Stephenson. In the forward ranks, Murray and Green were nearly always the leaders of every rush, and played aboub the best game, Pearce gained ground on several occasions by brilliant play. Graham, Tracey, Gear and Speight all grafted hard in the scrum, and all three followed up well. The last-named had his nose badly"split open, having to retire from the game for about ten minutes.' Barnett played with no heart in his work, and a little training would do him no harm.

I was glad to see that there was little or no talking this time amongst the Selwynites.

The form shown by the Auckland Club against Grafton proves that they are going to have a say in the finish for the cup this year. They played a good combined game, and if they had not been so slow in their passing: I think would have won by more. All their backs played admirably. Potter, at full, kicked well; but he was not troubled with any tackling. Pritchard was their besb back, playing a dashing game and kicking well, while he was all there for collaring. Belcher, Atkinson, Hales, and Caradus all played up to form, running and passing cleverly. Goodwill is a man that will be heard of before this season is over. He got no shows last week, but made a splendid run at the end of the game and deserved better luck than losing the ball after crossing the line. If Auckland feed him in future he will take a lob of watching. In the forwards, who deserved great credit for their combination, Tim O'Connor was a long way the besb man, playing with his usual dash and handling his men well, while he was always conspicuous on the line out. Next to the captain came Williamson, McLean and Baxter. The last named did not play his usual game. He was doing a lob of loafing, and consequently was repeatedly offside, Keefe, Henderson, Bond and Walker all did their share towards scoring the victory.

The Graftonites had • a weak team in the field, having some difficulty in getting fifteen. Harold Kissling was their back, playing a good defensive game. He kicked and collared splendidly, while he showed one or two instances of very cunning work. J. McCausland did not play as well as usual. W. Gardiner did some long kicking, and was also very dashing. G. Geard was very cool, and rendered good Service. This junior, with a little coaching, will prove a useful acquisition to the maroons. T. Ryan was not very conspicuous, and was suffering from a bad hip. Moresby and Collins did not do anything worth notice. Lecky was the pick of the forwards, playing a fast uphill* _ame. Jacks-play

on Saturday was the best I have seen him' do this season. Marshall. Whyte and ' Spencer all grafted hard, being especially ~ : noticeable in the scrums. Donald andSbone were fasberthan their companions and on several occasions gained considerabler ground by quick following up, while both' - aid some useful collaring. Tom Ryan, who ihas been suffering with; a bad hip lately, tells me that he has given the game best. v . Jack Lindsay returned to Auckland by. 1 the Te Anau on Tuesday last, and looks-i bigger than ever. Sam Bob Whyte. of the Grafton 11., had the" wrist of his left hand broken while playing; for the Banks against the Law. , The average weight of the twenty! ; members forming the Selwyn Footballj Club is a fraction under lOst sib. r Archie Gledhill playing for Gordon T[¥ last week injured his leg so badly that he; will be unable to play for some time. The Canterbury Rugby Union have offered l the Maoris 50 per cent, of the gross . takings for a match in Christchurch. .'.; 1 A private letter says that our old friend! Barlow Madigan is getting as fat as.a por« poise, while at the same time he is growing' bald-headed. M The Selwyn Football Club were _o have paid a visit to the Thames to-day, but owing, to several of their members not being able to get away the trip had to be postponed. ,-; The Grafton 11.-Pirate match, which; resulted in a draw, has been ordered by the. Union to be played over again. The former! had Downey in their team, and his name, had not been sent in to the Union. j I notice a man named Francis has been: playing for. the Maoris in This will most likely prove to be Francis,! late of Christchurch, who, •it will be ie-. membered, potted a goal against Auckland' on the last visit of the Christchurch representatives. \' Harvey played a splendid game for.the Pirates against Gordon 11. and scored twotries. Lou Harris ran well, and also! '■■ crossed the line, if the Pirates fed Harris f t and played more unselfishly, they would! find it a great advantage. ; M Athletics and Ponsonby 11. had a close; fight for victory on Saburday, bhe latterj.. winning by a point. For the Somerfield, Head, Wakeley and Laird were! the most conspicuous, while for Drummond, Smith, Ifwerson and Cruick-j shank did the most work. | Owing to the Onehunga Racing Clubi holding a trotting and pony meeting ab! Epson next Saturday, the 29bh inst., there; will be no cup matches played for the; Senior or First Junior Clubs. It is exm pected that a team from Tauranga will pay! us a visit on July 6th, and) if so, a practice; match for our reps will be held at the. North Shore on the 29fch inst. .; I have often heard football enthusiasts, argue that Tim O'Connor was a slow mover! on a football field. If any of these had been 1 j present at the Auckland-Graf ton match on! Saturday last, I think they would havealtered their opinions. Moresby, whom we' all know as one of the fastest sprinters in! Auckland, ran with the ball (which had been ordered back) nearly the whole length; of the ground, and O'Connor, who also did not hear the whistle, gave chase, and a very! interesting race was witnessed by the players and spectators. The heavy weight not only gave Moresby a start, but caught him. .

It is no wonder that Auckland is the crack New Zealand province for football; when we have nearly 1,500 of our youths and young men playing every It is not very generally known that there, are four Rugby Unions in this city as well! as a competition for a School Cup. We have! the Auckland Rugby Union, whose five! senior and five junior clubs each compete for a cup and caps ; the Junior Rugbyi Union, consisting of seven clubs, competing, for a cup and badges;, the Second Juhibi Rugby Union consisting of nine clubs*; competing for a cup; the Third Junioc Rugby Union, consisting of eight clubs,; competing for silver medals; while we have the public schools competing for a silver! gup, as well a3 a number of outside clubs,: who play odd matches with our junior clubs on the days they stand oub. Ido not think there is a city south of the Line that can beat this record. ■

One of the members of the Athletic Foot-; ball Club has written to me aboub their game last Saturday against Ponsonby 11. He states "that there was a deep cart wheel rut running parallel with the goal, line, and that one of their players fell on, the ball when he saw it pass this line,' thinking it was the goal line, whereupon Jihe referee awarded the Ponsonbyites a free kick, from which they scored a goal,thus winning the game." He also comJ plains of the language used by a few of the! Ponsonby players in abusing and threatening the referee, and says " the referee's in-, tention was to have those players brought, before the Rugby Union only that an apology was.given." With regard to the trench around the touch line, I have before recommended through these columns that the Union should use a white wash line*; which would be much more distinguishable*' With reference to the other matter, the abusing of the referee, I have heard other gentlemen who have taken this thankless, billet complain of the language they have! to "put up with from different clubs. One player went so far as to offer to fight one referee for £1. If this state of things is allowed to go on, the Juniors will find it very hard to get uninterested gentlemen to fill those positions. I think the Union should appoint someone to acb in each, game, the same as they have done for tha senior clubs.