FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

Next Saturday afternoon AVill see the curtain raised on the 1898 football season. The final practice games -'prior to the commencement of the Gup matches were to be held this afternoon.

Ponsonby seniors intended to muster in full force to-day. Only four or five of them put in an appearance at last week's practice, but apparently 'it won't occur again.' Since last week several of Pbnsohby's- old senior team have promised to play again this year, and if the promise is kept this districtwill- have a really good team,1 quite as strong' as last year.

I hear that J. Breen has decided to play again this season. So much the better for North Shore.

Harrison, the Wairoa ; crack threequarter, is coining to town after all. He will play for Ponsonby, and the team will be greatly strengthened by such an acquisition. Ponsonby's senior team this year will, I am told, include Harrison, K. Masefield, A. Braund and Lendrum, among the backs; and in forwards the two Carders, Gallag-her, Rule, ' Blakey, W. Graham and Greenliough. There is aiso a likelihood of S. Riley being given a place in the team. 0. Riley is at, Coromandel just now, biit will most likely be back soon. He will probably don the jersey again if he retxirns, to town. Since last year Ponsonby have lost Eenwick, who has gone over to Grafton, and Bethwaite,. who is giving up the game.

City Will have a 'rattling' fine team this season, as a glance at the following names will show. The. forwards will include 'Joe' Martin," the veteran T. B. O'Connor, M. McMillan, of rep; fame, and his brother, R. Oliphant, another noted rep., Shepherd, who comes from the Melrose (Wellington) Club, Holt, of Waitekauri, and Beeston. The backs are also a strong set, including as they do, Geo. Smith, one of the best three-quarters in the colony last season, Evans Young, Corles, Siddle, and Moros, a Wairoa player. Graf ton will have plenty of players from whom to pick their senior team. Among the foi'wards Hedley, McGregor, Cucksey, Sid Brown, Brady (2), and Freborn are likely to find places. The last-named, who comes from Christchurch, played in Grafton's junior team towards the end of last season. The backs will include D. Hay, Tail, IJenwick (the ex-Pon-sonby three quarter), Smith, and probably Hai'dingham, who made' 'his mark as a sprinter by winning the double at the recent pavilion sports. D. .Clayton -will not play this year, as his knee, which he hurt last season, is still Aveak. Another absentee will be C. Hay, who, I believe, intends to play the Association game this season.

From all. accounts Ponsonby will b& very strong in juniors. Some fifteen of twenty of the All Saints' club have decided toplay under the Kug-by Union this season, and as these include some very j>romising players, Ponsonby's first junior team should be a very strong1 one. There was a big" turn out of juniors at practice last week, and there.appears to be plenty of the necessary enthusiasm.

i 'Darby' Ryan, in the course of an interview with a 'Sydney Referee' scribe, stated that he had played football for twelve years, and was one of. the first New. Zealand team which visited Sydney. 'No, I was never hurt,' he said in answer to a question. 'While an active player, I took part iii all the provincial matches, and was only once on "the losing side. That would be 25 or 20 games, counting those against New South Wales and England. It was in the last match against England (I did not play in the first two as I was away) that the defeat occurred, England just winning by a potted goal.

The Canterbury Rugby Union's three competitions began last Saturday. ' '■'■-.'■■ .

A disorderly scene occurred tlie other day at a match between teams from the. Gisborne and Tarnhern Freezing Works. The Gisb'orne team was awarded a free kick, but as it was aboi.it to be taken, the Tarnheru men rushed the ball before, it had been pjaced, and scored oft" it. The opposite side at once appealed against the score, and in the absence of a satisfactory settlement, recourse-was had by several players to fisticuffs.

The Thames rep. team will be strengthened this season by the inclusion of C. McGregor, a Wentworth (Sydney) forward. McGregor represented New South Wales the year before last. -Stirman will be playing1 again tin's year for the Thames, and the brothers McGregor, who, by the way, are, iiot- related to the exBydneyito of-that name., ..:■;. . : !V

Lam glad to se y e the veteran 'Tim' O'Gpiihoi1 donning'the jersey once more on behalf of his district. May lie speedily regain his old form! :

Mr H. McCardell, the delegate of the Canterbury ■Rugby Union, intends to move at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union, 'That in theopiniq'iv of the Canterbury Union the time has arrived when, in the interests of New Zealand football, the headquarters of the New Zealand Rugby Union should be removed from Wellington.' Mr F. W. Carey is to {move on 15'ehalf of the Maryborough Union, 'That the headquarters of the New Zealand Rugby, Union" be transferred every three years from one affiliated Union to another.'

I'arnell's, senior team will probably be constituted as follows:—Backs: Hedges, Lawe's (from Wellington), Thompson (late of Subui'bs), Richards, Ronayne and Edwards. Forwards: F. Murray, R. Handcock, Sampson (Waihi), B. Gordon, Thomson (from Canterbury), Hogan (a Kuaotunu player), Wh'itley and Scarborough.

Suburbs will place a senior team in the field, thanks to the energy displayed by the secretary, Mr JLeahy, and others interested in the district. The team will be chosen from the fol-lowing-:—Absolum, Morrison; Gillett, Waterman, Major, Mackie, 'Jones, Sutherland, H. Way, Wynyard, . McKenzie, Schnauer, Gordon, Ryburn, Browne, Cummings, Alexander, Trevenoe, , Owen, Stuckey, Hines, Scarboro and IMlon. Mr Jas. E. Leahy, the secretary of the Suburbs F.C* would be glad to hear from the followh)g players with:regard to their playing for the club: McKean (2), Tuakau; Gillett, Drury; B. Monro; S. Wairoa; Waterman, Waiuku; Graham, Blake, ?andki)r.a,xistQ.iii-iPukekohe.

Suburbs' first junior team:,will be raised in Onehunga, .and the, second junior team will be composed of Ellerslie players. I hear the Suburbs will petition the Union to alloAv these junior teams to play their matches in the first round on their own grounds at Onehunga and Ellerslie respectively, the sfecorid found to be played at Potter's.