NEWTON'S SEVENTH VICTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1898, Page 3

NEWTON'S SEVENTH VICTORY.

A LUCKY WIN AGAINST GRAFTON.' (Newton 3 points; Grafton nil.) Newton scored their seventh successive win on Saturday. As already mentioned, the gam e was a disappointing one; there were so many chances missed. A description of the game, or at least of the first spell, can be little more than a record of lost opportunities, due in part to the greasy state of the ball, and for the rest to'that disagreeable factor—bad luck. Grafton came off worst in this respect, and consequently had to put up with defeat, though they really showed much better form than their opponents. THE PLAY. At the very commencement of the game Grafton lost an almost certain try. From a throw-in near Newton's line Renwick received the ball, but in trying to pass to Preeborn he threw the ball forward and spoilt the chance to score. After this play hung about Newton's side of the 50 for a time, D. Hay and Brady doing good work for the black and whites. A piece of play by Renwick deserves mention. He stopped a rush hi very neat fashion, and then, with the ball at his toe. dribbled right through the Newton team to the full-back, who lay on the ball in his effort to stop the Grafloa man. 11. Smith took the free kick, but his shot at goal went wide. Later on Grafton had another fine chance to score, thrown away this time by Tait, who kicked too hard, allowing Newton to force. Grafton continued to have all the best of the play, and eousidering the greasy state of the ball some really good passing was accomplished by Hobson, the two Hays, Freeborn, and others. Yet a third good chaneo to score was spoiled after one of these •passing runs, a throw-on stopping progress just at the line when the coastwas clear. Another piece of bad luck Avas in store for Grafton. C. Hay dribbled act. fs the line, but as he dived for the ball Pillenger, the Newton full-back, kicked it into toueh-in-goal. Then, shortly before the close of the spell, fine passing between the Hays anrl Renwick gave Tait a clear field, but the last named dropped the pass and the chance was lost. The spell ended without a score. The fact that Newton forced six times indicates pretty well which team had the best of the play. ■ SECOND SPELL. The second half opened with a strong attack by Grafton, and it looked as though this spell was going to be a repetition of the first. The Hays and Tait made several efforts to score, but eventually Newton forced. Soon after a run by Freeman brought Newton into Grafton's ground for practically the first time since the game started, but once there the re.d.s began to play up, keeping Grafton .on the defensive. Tait caused some amusement at this juncture by beating- a hasty retreat from the field under the friendly shelter of the liru>umpire's overcoat. He came on again a few minutes later wearing .another pair of unmentionables amidst ironical cries of 'Where did you get 'em' from the übiquitous small boy. On resuming, a forward rush by Newton carried the ball down to their opponent's line. Then the reds opened out, but Roberts spoiled the chance of a score by giving Kirkwood a wretched pass, which the latter could not get near. Tait fielded the ball inste-id, and cleared with a long kick. Newton returned to the attack and C. Freeman nearly got over the line. Then, when in a good position, Roberts gave Kirkwood another wretchedly bad pass, which was missed. Freeman, however, who was just, behind, picked up and scored a rather lucky try. Eaton's kick was a failure. Presently Newton rushed the ball back into Grafton's ground, and passing between llobson, Freeman and Kirkwood tool: the last named close to the line. Roberts threw away the chance again, however, for when the ball was passed to him from the scrum he slung it wildly over Freeman's head. It rolled .across the line and Grafton kicked into toueh-in-goal. The last few minutes of the game were the fastest since the first kick-off. First Grafton swept down to the attack, with Renwick and Stirling'in the van; then Newton rallied, only to have their progress stopped by Smith who, though knocked over, managed to get his kick while on the ground. Finally Grafton came away with a strong rush and a scrum took place right on Newton's line. The reds were too cute, however, for they heeled the ball out and forced. Time was called soon after, leaving Newton the victors. NOTES. Though Newton won, there can be little doubt that their opponents played the better game, and that on the respective merits of the teams the victory should have been with Grafton. The latter were very unlucky in losing at .least three almost certain tries in the first spell through weakness in ■passing or taking the ball, while, on the other hand, Newton had great luck in scoring after Roberts had practically thrown away the chance by it wild pass. In the first spell the game was all in Grafton's favour from first to last, and. though Newton had the best of it in the greater part of th* second half, Grafton got the upper hand again towards the end. The Grafton backs played a far more open game than their vis-a-vis and did some good passing in spite of the state of the ball. The forwards worked well too. Newton's. forward division

loafed a good deal in the first spell but played better in the second halt. It is questionable whether the two fiill-bnckc,H. Smith and Pillenmjr.ever played better than on Saturday. Both got through an immense amount of work without a blunder, stopping rushes in g-ieat style, while Smith's tine kicking fairly aroused enthusiasm, One particularly good .piece o.l' play oi the Graf ton* full' occurred in the second spell, when in stopping n rush Smith was fairly surrounded by the Newton pack. To see him \vrim?le through and get his kick with three or four Newtpnites hang-Ing on to him was a treat. Pillenger, too, was wonderfully cool in stopping rushes and never failed to get his'kick. Ren wick was the best of the Graf ton three-quarters and played a slashing game. D. liny put in'some splendid work at centre-half, and C. Hay showed good form as live-eights, j. Brady, Stirling, and McGregor were the best of the forwards. Although this was Stirling's first game this season he was in iine cue and played a hard game. Brady showed himself. rather clever with 'his feet. With the exception of Pillenger and Hobson none of the Newton backs played up to their usual form. Kirkwood was the best of the three-quarters but did not have many chances to shine. Roberts played a wretched game ana threw away more than one good opening by bis wild passing, in the forward division- Clarke, Lewis, and A. Wilson were responsible for good work. Rome of the forwards showed a tendency to 'loaf,' Otwny being the Avorst offender in this respect. Mr P. Ohlson was referee and Messrs F. W. Edwards and G. Smith line-umpires.