FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 163, 12 July 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

Last. Saturday saw Ponsonby put Gordon in the background by 6 points to 2. The match was most interesting from every point of view. The majority of players and also of the public hoped to see a different result, for if Gordon could have beaten Ponsonby then Graf ton, Ponaonby and Gordon would have been on even terms for the Cup, and tho final struggles would have been very exciting. A3 it is, Ponsonby's position is strengthened, and it will be very difficult to keep the blue and black men from winning the Cup.

The game last Saturday was throughout fast and good, especially in the tirsb spell. All the men played with vigour and determination, and much improvement was shown by both sides in forward work. The Ponsonby men were, howevor, most improved, though they have yet a lob to learn in the way of dribbling. The line work at throw-in was better than it has been ab any match this season, and there wore very few free kicks for knocking on. The Ponsonby forwards as usual were good at heeling-out, and the Gordon men did little ol ib, and that little was nob first-class. But Gordon need never expect muoh good heeling-out till the team has a capablo centre-half to feed his three-quarters. Tho Gordon dribbling was splendid at times, and Horrold and Rees did tine work in starting the ball on the roll. Some of the back play was very brilliant in the match, and some was very weak. The kicking all round wan good, and so was the collaring. The Gordon men were cleverer than their opponents in defence, and in attack the opposite held good. Though Ponsonby won tho match by 6 to 2, tho scoring does not ab all represent the actual play. Gordon had most palpable ill-luck. Four times at least goals were just lost by the narrowest shaves. One try was all bub gained when Jervie lost the ball, and two or three others were just missed. Of course, ib is all very well bo growl after the match, bub the general opinion on Saturday was as I have expressed it. Ponsonby scored at nearly every good opportunity ; and Gordon nearly scored. The individual players in both teams last Saturday on the whole played well. There were some cases of undoubted weakness, but nob many. Among the Ponsonby forwards Beamish, who is reckoned almost a junior, played a hard, good game, and gave proof that he will turn out a valuable player. Jas. Poland was hardly so good a3 on the previous Saturday, when he played against Grafton, but still played a fine game. Heffernan played hard and showed improved form from the previous Saturday ; bub he still shows a tendency to pick up at wrong moments. Cole played well. Hobson was very clever at times, but ho doea not play a consistent game, and is so fond of trying to take advantage of tho rules that with a strict referee there would probably be trouble for his side. It very often happens that tho referoo can be caught napping; bub it is not a safe thing for a team to have many men who think the referee is always napping. Mills played his usual consistent game, and did somo very trood foot work. Caulton showed an improvement on his play against Graf ton, no doubt becauee ho felt more ab home with his team. He showed last Saturday that he is a valuable addition to Auckland's football ranks. Tho remarks I have made about Obway's play on previous Saturdays will again apply to last Saturday's game. He seems to satisfy the committee of his club, so I suppose it is all right. Albie Braund was as usual the centre of the back play. He either gob more show from the Gordon halves on Saturday or was in bettor form than against Grafton, for he played a much more useful and dashing game. Everybody was really sorry when he was hurt." Breen also played a very clever game. He kicked and stopped rushes in fine style, and some of his feinting was most successful. Conway did bits of work well, but was not conspicuously good. He always played hard, however. Tan field was a bib patchy. Masefield played steadily, bub without brilliancy. He needs to liven up considerably to regain his old reputation. Caradus, ab half, played consistently, blab did nob geb many shows bo distinguir!. himself by big runs. Laird played aa usual ab full-back. Hugh Poland was down from Helenaville for Gordon, and played as u&ual a splendid forward game. He worked very hard in the scrum, dvibbled well in the open, and collared in his old sbyle. His bry was gob very cleverly from Logan's clever pass. Next to Poland, Logan played about the best forward gafno. His dribbling and play at throw in were especially good. His game on 'Saturday was about the best he has played this season. Maynard was also down from Helensville. On the whole he played well, but not quite co well as we are accustomed to see " Jeff" play. He showed better football on the Southern trip. Perhaps it was because he had nob played for some time. Harvey worked well and played well. Cantley was very good at throw in and in the open, bub in scrum work he was nob brilliant. I don't think the other forwards felb his weight too often. Ib is a mistake to keep out of the scrums. Gordon was also very good in the open and played with_ great dash. Aβ a rule he works hard in the scrum, bub the rule had its exception on Saturday. Inglis did nob play at all up to his usual form. He was distinctly weak. Tom Murray I nearly forgot, though he played a really good game. He is the best of the Gordon forwards at throw in, worked hard in the scrum, and was always about the ball.

Jervis and Rees divided first-class honours among the backs. The former played a splendid game. His running was the beat on the ground, and so was his kicking. He had very hard luck in losing a try and in just missing the goal three times. He collared all he could get near. Rees never dribbled better, and collared well too. His shot at goal was very good and dropped only a few feet short. Herrold played a fine game and with judgment. He does not always use that judgment when throwing in. Poland wae safe at three-quarter, but should have been more dangerous when he got a show in his opponents' territory. E. Rees was weak. Meldrum, at fullback, played well, but for hia bad judgment in regard to collaring. , He' kicked well, and took the ball very well.TJut he left his collaring till too late.

Very general regret will be felt at the loss of Harry Wynyard, or " Pi," who left for Wellington last Thursday. He played a fine game at centre-half for Grafton. I believe he is expected to join Poneke at Wellington, though as Poneke will not be playing in the cup matches owing to the dispute with the Rugby Union, he may join some other club.

The accident to Albie Braund last Saturr day caused much regret among footballers, Of oourse, the aooident was not a. very serioue one, nor likely to have any per-

manenb consequences, bub it will prevent his playing for some time. Some of the Pcnsonby men say he will very soon be fife to play again ; but bhe wish is probably father to the thought. Let us hope, however, thai he will be right in a few weeks, for he will bo needed before we meet Taranaki.

W. Warbrick, who is now in Queensland, captained the Brisbane Fireflies against the Arfoma Club, Sydney, on May 31sb. The Arfoma' Club won by 18 points to nil, their first try being obtained owing to Warbrick fumbling the ball. Do you remembor Wellington ?

Football seems to be flourishing among the natives ab Rotorua, where they have a very good team. Recently they visited Tauranga and other districts, playing inatchea, as I learn by a private letter from our old footballer, Mr Tom Ryan, who is at preeent there for the benefit of his health, and who, by-the-by, has been umpiring and coaching them. He says that the Government are about to lay out a football ground on the Reserve at- Roborua, and bhey will have a splendid field. Our Auckland footballers would be a bib shy ab playing on ib, for the other day they were doing a iibtlo digging and came on a hob spring, with the result that the man with the spade nearly did tho " disappearing " trick. Ifc would certainly be a very curious, though nob improbable ending to a game, if sixteen forwards were engaged in a packed scrum and the thin crusb of earth should give way with the resulb that they should be plunged into black night and boiling waber. My Sydney correspondent sends me one or two interesting items this week. Regarding the defeat of Zealandia by Arfoma he says: "Our chaps (Zealandia) showed the worst form of the season. At times their play was not up to -junior standard form. It is true they had a weak team and had bo play against an extra strong one. We had the besb of tho scrums, bub were overmatched in the back play. Wixey, Levein, and G. Lusk were our most useful backs, while Manlowe, Penny, and White played well forward. Ned Mills was unable to play. Whibeside is in the Hospital for treatment to hie leg. No matches were played last Saturday (28bh) owing to very heavy rains, Luckily, we had a bye. Next Saturday we go to Parramatta to play the local club, who, by the way, have no good blood for our team, because on the last occasion that we met we had three of the Maori team to assist us. This will be another defeat, but nob by much. In the Arfoma v. Zealandia match the former had a young Aucklauder to help them named McMurdo. He played well, and obtained a try. Many of your readers will remember S. E. Buchanan, and be pleased to know that he won bhe Lillie Bridge 100 yds. Handicap this week off the BJyds, mark in 10 sees." He started first favourite in the final at 6to 4 on. He told me the other day that he was going better now than ever ho did."