OPENING OF THE SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 111, 12 May 1902, Page 3

OPENING OF THE SEASON.

WINS FOR NEWTON, PONSONBY

AND CITY.

Time, from 'his rolling vantage, has pressed another football season, and on Saturday afternoon some three thousand odd people journeyed afoot or by the expensive 'bus to Alexandra Park, where twc of the three senior fixtures in the first draw were played. The weather was overcast and gloomy, and by the t'mes the games were finished twilight had set in, the players on the further side of the held being seen. "as in a glass, darkly." The present cnarupions, uiaf- ' ton, who had an unbeaten record last-j year, met their Waterloo in the Newton team by the narrow margin of three points. The Newtonites reckoned that, their team was 25 per cent, better than than of last year, while the Grafton fifteen, with the exception of a couple of forwards and one back, was the team which represented the district with such effect last year. The red a__d whites reckoned on keeping their end up well, but hardly expected to win, and, in fact, a draw was, at most, all they were entitled to. On the No. 2 ground. Parnell, who won the wooden spoon last season, put up a hard fight against Ponsonby, only to retire losers hy st-ven to nil, all the points being scored in the second spell. City voyaged across to Devonport;' and won a good game by ton points to three. The 'bus proprietors, taking advantage of the disruption of the tram service, increased their charges to 1/ per trip, though the Tramway Co.'s buses charged the usual sixpence. NEWTON (3) v. GRAFTON (nil). This match was played in front of the pavilion, Newton, who won the toss, defending the western goal, the weather conditions favouring neither side. Play for the lirst two minutes varied between the two 25's, and was of the tamest description. The Newton forwards then livened matters up, rushing through Ibe opposing van in good style, but a long kick gave the oval to McKenzie, who sent out in midfield. A poor re-u-.rn from a kick saw play again near the black and whites' 25, whence Kiernan made a good run up the field. His kick was marked by D. Pillenger, the leather again being .in Grafton's quarters. Kiernan again improved matters by initiating a passing- run, which Taylor and McKenzie carried on, the latter failing to pass in time. Play followed in the New-. ton half and Brady, breaking through a line-out, dribbled over the line, but Rowe got there first, and a force resulted. From "erttrn the Grafton forward division carried the ball to the quarter flag, where Taylor started a run, which McKenzie spoiled by passing too low, and play returned to centre, and then went into Grafton's half. Here Kiernan marked, and, Row*, mulling the) take, the forwards took the leather again into the reds' 25. A smart run by Pillenger was nullified hy a long return on the part of McKenzie. The blacks continued to attack, and thiners grew very exciting as D. Pillenger failed to take a kick, the ball travelling back to the line. He tried to force, but could not get behind the line and a scrum followed beside the goal-post. The black and whites heeled out, and Kiernan, picking up. whipped out to McKenzie. who crossed the line. but could not hold the ball in falling, and the second force was recorded. Just inside the quarter-line Kiernan got Possesion from a scrum and passed to Taylor who sent, on to McKenzie. The latter potted at goal, but lost the verdict by a matter of feet, the attempt being an excellent one. Grafton were then put on th, tensive as the result of a good run, McKenzie kicking out in his own half. The forwards carried tho oval inside the 25 with a good rush. Thompson kicking out. The ball returned to centre _rom tho throw-in, and Thompson, alter a good - n kicked up to D. Pillenger. He failed to ake and the leather travelled over the line with Kiernan in close attendsV He did not have a clear run. howevor' nnd the dead ball line was passed A brief attack by Newton was soon repelK a long kick by McKenzie, transferrin- tbe hall to the .opposite 25. Pilfer retur—" wm,, nn* „ f-i- coring chance was lost by two men endeavourmg to take the ban at once. M-'Kenzie shortly after attempted to pot but was rushed down, and from a scrum the black and whites got possession and looked dangerous, until a wild pass by Robinson gave the defenders a chance to relieve Pillenger sending- out near centre. In Newton's territory-'Kiernan eot »»• hali from a scrum, and passea to ray for McKenzie. Robinson, and back to Kiernan. who was run out at the nick of «me Taylor got possession from a free kick, and shot at goal, missing by a narrow margin, and Newton forced for thX_t fe™? n y wire changed the game^improved a little. Play centred m Newton's ground, through Pillenger failing to oke I kick by Kiernan clearly. Near midfield Kiernan picked up and trans Tarred to Taylor. The latter's pass was £e rrcep?ed by Roberts whe.had been shifted from wing and given a roving commission among the backs. He streamed for the line at a great pace, BflWmwn ermine at him at an angle. In endefvofring to run round his tickler R0b- „,..„ n ,it hiq foot out a couple or yaru» I s m Pthl fine Matters were again made aggressive and a passing Cowan and Brash ™* r * Ueved s rt- o hcessful, the pressure * N ly after. Braay we sending out ton's quarter the nzi attack> Rowe, The reds returned to "L c * making a Cowan, PTOftS^ESte 3*? Here Robfine run to theibw«» £ » head . erts picked up from o^np^ of ed for the line, but was tnro the bounds. The same.player^gw*^ the field for open P lay,'^ nii n e Grafton being hall went.over the bnW had forced. Robinson the game, here reAt the tire?' J- a^ Pillenger got the oval from half-way flag Kllenger & open play, transterr ng bftll _£&«|Bg*^j_s a nice run by lay z.e and Bond saw Ll'° -onncl who rush, carrying the : ball fljttt ™ enm{ They the line. Long scrum, and f^^id^eat excitement registering a try ami agio .. Wilson's shot at goal was a P"o^^ Newton 3, Grafton nib ™n near bis own ttuarterX Braay £ n into Newton's territory^. fo] . kicking out at centm Doose P y lowed until Cowan picked up,^Q.P ot tQ to Pillenger. and to Rovve w within a few yards of the, line. Tarried tbe ball bacic to the quarter, G _ oV_,i c naming run by Kiernan. centre and a "j^",1 * flir ther improved Taylor and MoJenJje further {g>£ the position Play «™™^ klckin g by lia n Fun *»"«*£» ff'cSer^ *** n few /I totmh The bell rang rn»TneSTy" ft-tbfthrow-in. leaving New£nthe victors by three points. NOTES ON THE PLAT.

£is«_%?A*^ tS early in the'season, there was a la*of combination in attack on both sfdes more especially among the for-w-rd division. The victory of Newton wa= not anticipated, though they were SSdit™ with beint. able to put ur.a.good flPht "They certainly had much the best of the luck the first spell, but In the „«5 their Dlav was. on the whole, ahead of threir D opponents'. Tbe tackHn* on both sides was excellent, each man Sclnp for his opponent with great detP Then Newton forward division played wUh more dash than did the GraftonSJ "penally Iri the second snell, and they got in one or two fine rushes. In lire out work tbe sides were about" equal, !-«? rrkfton b«d the best of the scrumAlex. Wilson. Long, and Conouer v who best work in th* OP"". Tommy Sfb-Jte was Tried on the wing but his ftmud" was admirably sunr-d up by a Newton barracks who said. B won't get Into it." In the second spell he was

given a place among the backs, where he acquitted himself creditably. Rowe, at half, got in some good work, and Cowan, at five-eighths, was in his right place. The three-quarter division was a bit unequal, Pillenger doing the most of .the work. ' Tbe ball did not come to Newton often from the scrum, consequently there was little chance of good passing runs being _nade, but Pillenger always managed to gain ground when he got the oval. D. Pillenger, at full-back, was not up to his usual form, failing to take the ball cleanly on several occasions.

The Grafton forwards played without cohesion in the open, but all seemed to graft well in the scrums. McCormlck, McGregor and " Fut" Brady were prominent, the first-named being especially good on the line-out. When the men hr.ye s v> ■•k*" into t,ir,'r p'-i"»« a little better the pack should be a hard one to baat. Kiernan played his u.»:ua, diver game at half, but was-carefully watched. Taylor, as five-eighths, took well and passed cleanly on most occasions. McKenzie tcok the ball well and kicked in good style, but some of his passes were very erratic. Robinson, an ex-Newton player, played well, and Thompson, on the opposite wing, was in fine form. King at full-back only made one mistake in taking the ball, and his kicks were strong, though he has still a good deal to learn in the"matter of direction.