OUR FOOTBALLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 109, 11 May 1896, Page 2

OUR FOOTBALLERS.

OPENING OF THE SEASON.

WINS FOR PARNELL, GRAFTON

AND CITY

Some 2,500 people were presenb on Saturday, ab the opening of tbe 18.95 football season ab Epsom. The weabher was warm and pleasant, whilst bhe soil was in bhe very best condition for indulgence in the favourite game. On No. 1 ground the first meeting of Parnell and Ponsonby senior beams took place. During tho first spell bhe progress of the game was marked by ecenQß of intense excitement amongst the spectators, whose unusual sympathy for Poneonby found expression in cheers ab almost evory little advantage gaioed by tbab team. In the second spell, however, when Parnell's lead marked them as almosb certain winners, bhe enthusiasm very considerably decreased. Taking the game as v whole, Parnell had much the beat of lb, and the scores (Parnell, 13; Ponsonby, 3) gives a very fair indication of how the contest wenb. Mr A. J. Parker acted as referee in thiß match. Before the game started, a little girl dressed in maroon, the colours of the Parnell Club, wenb on bo bhe field and presented Mr Edmonds, the Parnell captain, wibh a handsome flag with tho initials P.F.C. neatly worked upon ib, tbo gifb being made on behalf of a number of Parnell lacUea who take an interest in the game. The team followed the presentation with three cheers for bhe donors.

PARNELL V. PONSONBY. i The Ponsonby capbain, A. E. Braund, won the toss and elected to defend tho western goal, thus having the sun ab their backs aa there was no wind. Murray kicked off for Parnell and Mitchell returned bo centre. Judicious kicking by Jervis saw the ParnaH»fce« in their opponents' territory, but the latters' forwards, with D. G illagher in the van gradually worked the ball bo Parnell's 25 ; the tatter's vanguard responded in kind and the Ponsonby backs were kept busy in defending their lines. A free kick brought relief and after some fasb piay in noutral territory Jervis, whose fine kicking throughout tho game was greatly admired,- sons the ball bo Ponsonby's quarters, and through V. Masefield fumbling, tho Parnellites were afforded a lino opening, bubAnd.erson made an erratic pass and bhe opportunity was lost. Play of an exciting- nature followed in close proximity to Ponsonby's goal lino, Elliott and Jervis each nearly scoring, but the defence of R.. Masefield, Lendrum and Mitchell proved sound,,and only a touch down resulted. Mitchell kicked oub, bub the Parnellitea reburned to the attack, and Jervis socured a mark in Ponsonby's 25. Murray essayed at goal, and sent the ball in the desired direction. Parnell, 4; Ponsonby, nil. On play resuming, tho game became faat in neutral territory bill bho Ponsonby forwards made a sweeping "rush, which looked like being successful till Edmonds interferred in the nick of time. The Ponsonby forwards again broke away with tho ball, and a tine passing run between (he Ponsonby backs, initiated by Braund, gave Mitchell an opening, bub again Edmonds proved a safe barrier. From the throw in Braund secured a mark, and Val. Maaofiold essayed a goal, and although he made a splendid effort tho ball struck tho crossbar and Parnell bouched down. Hard luck for bho blue and blacks. Play continued in midfield till a long. kink by Jervia was fumbled by Mitchell, and Ponsonby's lino was endangered till Jervis made a quick pob ab goal, bub without the desired resalb. After the kick out the Ponsonby forwards, witk Gallagher, Colo, and Clarko in the van, made another finorusli, bub'Taib stopped their progress and returned to midfield. From the throw in, Murray, flandcock and Gordon dribbled the ball to Ponsonby's 25. where quick passing between Edmonds and Elliotb gave Ronayne an opening and ho ran in. Although ab an acute angle, Murray was again successful with hia kick ab gaol. Parnell, 9 point.; Ponsonby, nil. Give and take play of n fasb nubure followed till half time waa called. SECOND SPELL, The opening of the second spell was followed by play ab centre. Braund paseed to Galloway, bub.tho latter fumbled. A fine forward rush by Ponsonby transferred play bo the marooiiß' 25 amidst enthusiasm, ] and for a few moments Ponsonby looked dangerous, relief being made by Ronayne kicking oub near the centre. From the line oub bhe Parnell forwards _ob their own way, despite the poor attempb to check thorn by Galloway, und took the ball to tho 25, where only a scrum for infringement of the rules prevented a score. In the ensuing play Ponsonby were obliged to force. Mitchell kicked off and Jervis returned bub Hancock gebbing offside Ponsonby ohoso bo take the ball back to where Jervis kicked at centre. Loo*e play followed. Aa a resulb of a badly-judged kick back by Braund, tho Parnell backs scoured, and a line passing run between Jervis, Elliott and Ronayne transferred ploy to within a few yards of the blues' lines. Another passing run across the field between Elliott and Ronayne was checked by Mitchell bringing down the lacter jusb in time. Ab thia stage tho passing tactics of Parnell appeared to confuse their less proficient opponents, who had consequenbly much difficulty in staying off the attacks. Ponsonby's kicking ab thia stage was poor. A kick by Mitchell gained some ground for the blues, the advantage gained being followed by Masefield accepting a pass from Galloway, and running to beyond the half distance. Good passing between Braund, Galloway and Masefield now became the principal feature of the game, bub bhe ground thereby gained was losb through Masefield budly returning a free kick. Play followed ab centre. As-a result of another bad abbempb to use the toe for pas.hig insbead of the hands, Ponsonby had another narrow escape from being scored againsb. V. Masefield kicked oud of touch, and on the throw in ab centre Jervis marked and kicked out ab tho 25 flag. Edmonds bhon ; forced Ponsonby, by having an unsuccessful pob. Resuming, Jervis and Masefield exchanged kicks, and Kiasling clinched by aline kick'oub ab bhe 25. Edmonds secured behind the scrum, and passed bo Elliott, who sent the ball along to Jervis. The latter fumbled, bub succeeded in sending ib on bo Ronayne, who potted, bhe ball going within a .few inches of bhe bar. In,the ensuing open play ab centre, Anderson was conspicuous in running, Mitchell (Ponsonby) in collaring, and Edmonda in kicking, A pass from Braund was smothered by the Parnell backs, and Jervia accepted a pass from Edmonda and had an unsuccessful though excellent pob at goal. Shortly. after kicking off Murray did bhe too pass to Jervis, and the latter evaded several of the Ponsonby men, and taking anobher pob with hia lefb foob, secured an excelloob goal. Parnell ... ... 13 Ponsonby 0 Though wibh defeat almosb a reality in fronb of them, Ponsonby now made Btrong , endeavours to show thab bhey wero nob yeb i beaten. Braund and Masefield were both playing fine gamea for their side: In. bhe nexb few minutes Masefield received a neat pass from Ramsay, and ran well into the Parnell 25. In the ensuing play a Ponsonby forward scrambled over tbe line, but a scrum was ordered a yard oub. Preeenbly Millar dashed over and scored. The kick ab goal, by no means a difficult one, waa entrusted to V. Maaetield, bub the posts were ab the end of bhe field instead of ab she side and tbe score remained as ib was. Parnell 13 Ponsonby 3 From this point to the end of the game,

the ball, showed a decided inclination to remain in Ponsonby tetritory.' During the lasb ben minutes ib scarcely lefb their 25. NORTH SHORE V. CITY. This match was played on the ground at Devonporb, there being a large attendance of spectators. Mr Geo. Mills has gob the ground ia first class condition, and on Saturday it was superior for play to any of the grounds on this side of bhe water. Mr Katterns acted as referee. It was hia firsb appearance wibh bhe whisble in bhe senior cup matches, and he a'cquibted himself admirably, giving every satisfaction to both sides. " City won the toes, and for the first spell North Shore played wish a strong sun- in. their .yes, aud they were further handicapped by being one man short during the firsb half of the game. Despite this, however, the match was very even and interesting from a spectator's point of view. City scored all theit points in bhe first spell, bhe tries resulting from fasb passing rushes between Corles, Surman, Hales and Absolum, the lasb named player gebbing acroaa at tho. corner and being the scorer on each occasion. The last try was converted by Stone. For North Shore Walker kickod a goal from close on half way from a penalty kick which left tho position of tho gamo ab the interval as follows : — City ... ■ ... .„ ... 11 North Shore ... 3 In the second spell, the North Shore forwards played with more combination, holding their own both in tho scrum, and in the open, while they heeled out somewhat better bhan their adversaries. The play was interesting till the end, being fasb and open, neither side obtaining much advantage. The only score was- a goal potted by Clarke from a pasß oub from the scrum when in fronb of City'a goal. Thus the game ended in favour of City by 11 points to 7. For the town players, Corles (behind bhe scrum) and Surman and Absolum (three-quarters) were particularly prominenb, while for North Shore, McPhail, Walker and Clark' did good service. SECOND FIFTEENS. Suburbs v. Grafton. — The former gained an easy victory by 20 points to nil. For tho winners Jones secured four tries, two of which were converted, and a goal was kicked from the field. Ponsonby v. Parnell. — The Ponaonbyibes won easily by 25 points to nil. THIRD FIFTEENS. Ponsonby v. Grafton.—The Ponsonby jnniora gained an easy victory by 25 points to nil. Parneel v. Suburbs.—After an interesting and well-contested game Parnell won by 7 points to 6. The winners eecured a goal from a mark and a try, while Suburbs | scored two tries.