THE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 144, 18 June 1906, Page 3

THE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WINS FOR CITT. PONSONBY AND GRAFTON. The football championships -were cont'nueu at Alexandra Park on Saturday afternoon, the first series of matches in the second round being played. By defeating North Shore City placed the result of the championship berond doubt, the club having a lead of two clear wins. On the No. 2 ground Ponsonby beat Parnell by S to nil, after a hard-fought game, and on the No. 4 ground Graftou defeated Newton by fi to nil. The weataer -was beautifully fine, and the ground iv fine condition, -while the attendance numbered about three thousand, for which, the American game, played prior to the Rugby fixtures, may be held partly to account.

CITY V. NORTH SHORE. (City, 20; North Shore, nil.) North Shore played a very even game with City when the teams first met this season, although beaten by nine points, and their supporters were sanguine in the return match. City, however, always had rhe jsamo well iv hand, and scored half-a-dozen tries, only one of which was converted. The Shoreites won the toss, and, defending the western goal, had the sun at their backs Iα the first 3ialf. A mn" by Little of the return from tbe kick-off lot the greens Into City's -JZ. but the forwards rushed back to centre and Magee, with a well-judged kick, turned the tables lht> Shore- worked back along the line, and then Young snapping up lv the open, sent out to Milgce, who transferred to Smith. Xbe centre made a brilliant opening, and raen passed to Gladding, who eluded W. Wynyard's tackle and scored at the end of five minutes' play. Nicholson made a poor shot at goal. (City, 3: North Shore, nil.) a City attack was stopped by a mark by XV. Wynyard. and play centred. A free kick put the greens on the attack, and thn forwards rushed inside the 'Si. I ity carried the ensuing scrum, and took play to inldfield. hut tbe backs £ot jroiiig again and Uerrard made a fine run clowufieW. Woodward was tno far away howover, to rukiFthe pass, and a sood opportunity of equalising matters was lost, rho ball gnins; bin .1 few yards from the line. A free kick brought relief, but asraln tiio gri*en forwards rushed into their opponents' iiiiartor. where Jackson made is Kood opening, which was spoiled by a bad pass, and the forwards earried'the hall back t,i niMSeM. An open rush made things luoli dangerrms fnr Shore, bnt \V. Wynynrd checked the attack by markius smartly a'ni kicking out tit rentre. A kick put City on the defensive, but

i smart play by Smith and Magee averted j danger, and M!!1p-.\ a kick, the ; !'.".11 was sent out ii:slde the -'<. A loose ] i-rsh Improved the position, and then MaI KPf\ Smith and (Jladdlng got under way, the j last-named being forced iuto touch in the nick of time by W. "iVynyard and Miller. 1 A soric3 c£ lino-nuts followed in the Shore 25, and from oce of these M'lllhone threw In to_Nicholsr.n. nhn passed like a flash, and the v ing, having nobody to stop him, dash-c-l over and scored ncrir the corner. Magee s kick went outside the posts. (City. c<: North Shore, nll.'i Immediately after Herring headed a solid rush, but Gerrard nipped hi ami by kicking an.! following np trai:sferred play io neutral territory. Ailrrher s'.rnng rush was nicely stopped by Wynyard. and a good kick by Miller, woil followed up by Vesper, again put City on thn defensive. N'eiplibmir having sin unsuc-ri-ssfnl >lint at goal from a penalty. The opening of thi< seroud *pell was 'marked by n rliip rr.n by Jackson and Germnts who In-i ke away and made a line run into the n.;:.:rtcr. Gcrrard was not properly supported, however, and Woodward, who took a slow juissi. was collared within a few fci-t of th- i.\v_c. before he conld .-'"t goir.jr. The red forwards, playing well to-K->tIUT. worked back to centre, and Seeling. Nicholson. :i D d Tylt-r. with a combined dash, carried tbe ball to the .greens' line. The Shore forwards had the best of the rpon work and thrust City back, and a good kick by Miller t'>ok play back to Clry"s h.ilf. flip forwards rushed back, and a l-.iijr kick by Ma-e.> forced Shore. The attack w;is inair.tnined. and Gladding lost a try by f.Ulin-- to l-nld a Innu pass from Mase<?. Tbe ball came to the latter player t'eora the turoTtln. and after a clever dciisrv rv.u he vms stopped on ;hi> line, -he grr-T.s fi'rclvg from thn following scrum. fit- rnadi- (Iftonnipci <'fTi>rti t,i incrons" .ror. Young. Little being ass. dated in a bout m pastfllifr which rook the hall to the iinc Llrtlf was vs-fii i-ollnrptl by Wynyprri. Directly after Yomus. Smith ii!iri (;tedding got away, tuc Ivtll bp.'ri" -C!!t our .iusr ' ;>s b.- rparhed striking di«t:i!ii-o. A scries of half-.i----rl-'-fn scrim;* and Little potted

from one or tlu-?c. The shot failed, but w'cnrjjo Sunitii. following up fasr. dropped on tb.-- hall nml s'-orrtj Clty'n third try L"> n-.inut;-* r.fter the resumption of play." The kirk was n rompaniHvely easy one. lint Matree again failed, (City. P; North Shore, nil > Th" !>.ill travelled up and down the field, until nt the er.d of n loose, scramble Masep picked up smartly and hurled himself aoross ihe Hue. Up took tup ki'-k himself, sending the hall just outside the posts. (City. 12: North Shore, nil.) From the kick- off Gerrard made anorhrr dm openitic. going nearly through tlio side tip fore ho was collared. The reds worKt-il back to rer.tr". hut Wynyard. iutorceptlni; a pass, inttlnted n rush which ended Insiile City's 2T,. wUf-rc Seeling gor off-sirip and hail another nnvscerssfnl shot at pool. Sniiih was the main factor in retnrnlng play t<. tlio ntaor nnd of thf field, and from a scrunj on :hp Hnp cor possession nnd scorwl tUe fifth, try. Ma?ec's kink was unsueressfnl. fCity. 13; North Shore, r.il.i Just on the •■nl! of time lounpr got tlie ball out to M.icpp. and. usins the blind sidf. the hall went to CJliuldiac Smith, and Uttlo. TUp latter player passed in ncjiiin. but srnt the hull too "low. Tlip reds rushed thp ball ovpr. however nrni W. Tylor ?rr%red. Masee's kick was this timp snccepflful. nnd the bell sounded v.-ith the score—City. 2i) : North Shore utl

NOTES. TTip hottnr tpam vi-on. Xortli Shore failed to make rhe most of th£r opportunities, while Cm- misused few of theirs The Insers wpro !n-king in dash, and woro too slow in irpfting to the hall or the man with Ihp ball. Tim." and again City plnyprs wprp given tinjp to g Pt r. u t of difncultips when a little extra flash and determination vroHii bavp made all the difference. The forwards werp too slow in supporting earn other, and were much too slow in following up. The backs too were weak In combination, and had Gerrard been properly supported on several oc-.-ssicns tries must have been scored Inrtividuallr. the Shore forwards showed a lot or cleverness in the oppn. but lack ,->f system and smart MlowiVlostminv advantages. The City forwards were as even a lot as usual, while of thTbacta Smith was admittedly the king P i n a !

PAK>'ELL T. poxsonbt. (Ponsonby s. I'arnell nil.) This match prorod an interesting rviie l^flD^h e^%f Cen Jr ?° ntes "« from start sustained Ttt [ h had hild • hanJ I" ; rnn t ?h S:n th °'' r "PPonents- quarters, ronsouby wore rewarded. From a X d ° Mr . th « live the ball travelled to the middle of the celd, where Francis secured and dashing for the line scored a try. Francis converted the neU Si SC p re th l a b l eiDS: 5. Parf,' 1 ™ i -. l ? nsoah * ke P r OP the attack for was'nrSas lf ™ th<? SC ° re

Ponsonby opened the second half with a strong attack, and Parnell forced The maroons then attacked, and McDonald went scram was ordered. Parnell cleared but Poosonby returned to the attack, and beinc awarded a free kick in front of the -oaf Fran-cis was successfnl. Ponsonby 8 ParDell nil. Parnell had the best of the ensuing plaj-. and on one or two occasions were unfortunate in not scoring. On" one I occasion Twinamp was thrown a foot or so ovr-r the dead-ban line. Ponsonby also instituted several attarks. but werp not effective or so frequent as their opponents The frame ended in PonscnbT"s favour hv 8 points to nil. J A WIN FOB GRAFTON. (Grafton, 6; Newton, mi.) Grafton defeated, Newton on the No 4 ground by six points to njL Graftoa. Vera fcOTsitewyjstrengtlieofld Tjy the lnch»i<M

whilst Newton had to fill vacancies wltti juniors, some of -vrhom were third grade players. Grafton had easily the best of the play right through. In the first spell the Jalack and whites scored three points. This was a try scored by Beale, who fol- ■ owed up a kick across Newton's goal. Half-way through the second spell Eaton kicked • splendid penalty goal from the half-way xuark. There was no further score, and the game ended, in a win. for Grafton by 6 points to nil. 9 Kiernan and Ren wick put in some smart work, but McKenzie, who received a bad fall early in the game, was much below his usual form. Kiernan played a heady game, but at present is much, above himself as regards condition. Should he continue to play he will probably find a place in the representative teams, as he is playing as cleveriy as ever. Of the Grafton forwards. MeCormick. Barciay, and Eaton were conspicuous. Ttie Xewton side placed Indifferently. Redwood and 11. Rowe did a Jot of saving in the backs, and 3lackerell, Hearne. and Taylor played splendidly, but lacked the support of their fel-low-players.

SECOND FIFTEENS. Parnell beat Ponsonby by 11 points to 3. Ne/wton defeated Grafton by 14 points to nil. ..-.•-. City and North Shore drew, each side scoring three points. THIRD FIFTEENS. City won from Newton by default. Farnell beat Grafton by 21 points to nil. The Ponsonby v. North Shore match did not eventuate, owing to the referee not putting In an appearance FOURTH FIFTEENS. City defeated North. Shore by 24 points to nil. Parnell defeated Ponsonby by 8 to 3. SECONDARY SCHOOLS' OLD BOYS' UNION. Sacred Heart defeated King's College Old Boys by 6 points to nil. University beat the Southern Colleges by 21 to nil. Grammar School beat Prince Albert Co'lejre by 3 points to nil. King's College 11. defeated Grammar School 11. by o points to nil. SUNDAY SCHOOLS' LEAGUE. Cheisea beat Pirates by 9 points to nil. Surrey A beat St. Patrick's by !) points M nil. Pr. Matthew's defeated Pirates by 6 points to 3. fielwyu beat Surrey B by G points to ?,. Chelsea beat Pirates by 1:2 points to nil. St. Matthew's B beat Ilobson by 3 points to nil. OUTSIDE MATCHES. A mstch was played at Government cround between. St. Stephen's School and Post and Telegraph, on Saturday, resulting after a well contested game in favour of the school boys by 12 points to 6. MATCHES ELSEWHERE. YVAIHI. Saturday. In the football matches this afternoon West defeated Clry by t> to 5. Suburbs beat Katikati by 14 to C. TAURANGA, Saturday. The cup competitions under the auspices of the Tauranjjn Unzby I'nlon wj?re continued here this afternoon in the presence if a large number cf spectators, when the Karikari seniors met and defeated Mataknna seniors by 0 points to 5. For tlie winners tries were scored by A. Asher, Kirinui. and Taiti, whilst Rohe scored for Jiatakana. PAEROA, Saturday. East and West juniors played a match to-day, with the result, that East was defeated by 0 to nil. HAMILTON. Saturday. In the Hamilton matches to-day No. 1 seniors defeated City seniors by (} points to 3. Trios were scored by Macky and Huehes for No. 1 and l>y Tapp for City. No. 1 juniors defeated City juniors by S points tip nil. CHRISTCHUECII, Saturday. At the suggestion of the New Zealand R::i,'by Union the Canterbury Union postponed all marches set down for to-day as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Premier. The various competitions will be continued next Saturday, when the Orst round of the senior championship will be completed. DUNEDIN. Saturday. . The Otago Union postponed all championship matches set down for to-day.

ASSOCIATION.

NORTH SHORE V. THISTLE (AT NORTH SHORE.) Shore won the toss and played with, the wind. From the kick-off Thistle were .awarded .1 free kink, but the ball went beulr.d. Give-and-take play followed, and then Shore livened up and carried the ball tn rbrir opponents" territory. A succession of line play followed, and from a throw-Ln (Joudle scoured and scored the first goal for Shore. Shore 1. Thistle nil. To the end ot the spell Shore had the best of the game, bur rhe art of shooting proved to be their greatest stumbling-block. In the opening of the second spell Thistle brichteneci up a bit. but Bayly in goal defied all their efforts to scare. Give-and-take play followed, and Sutherland broke away and scored Shore's second goal from a good kick. Shore 11. Thistle nil. Scrambling play followed, aud then one of Thistle's men was ordered off the field, and the Thistle rnpt.iin. not seeing why he should go off. took the whole team off the field. rOXSONBY (4) V. TABERNACLE (2). Ponsoiity opened out by making the Tabernacle goal. A good deal of head work and give and take piay followed, and within a few minutes Bradahan passed the ball to Dimerv from right wing, from which lie scored the first goal for Ponsonby. After a few minutes play Tabernacle livened up a bit. and equalised matters, Robinson kicking a beautfiul goal from the corner, after carrying the ball half way down the field. Just before half time two more goals for Ponsonbv were scored in rapid succession both being kicked by Dimery. Tabernacle were then put upou their mettle, and with -a most determined push, succeeded in carrying the ball to the other end of the field Robinson with a well-timed shot sending the ball through the goal. The spell finished- Ponsonby 3, Tabernacle 2.

la the second half Ponsonby again rushed Tabernacled goal, and on several occasions nearly succeeded in scoring indeed the Tabs goalkeeper had a very lively time for about »a quarter of an hour Eventually Dimery pot hold of it and butted it into goal. No further scores were registered, though Tabernacle struclei desperately to get through their W il- opponents, and the game finished up Ponsonby i, Tabernacle l\ ■• «j

SECOND GRADE. Olympic v. Ivanhoe.—Olympic played a man short, hut managed to avoid defeat a fast game ending: Ivanhoe 3 goals, Olvm'plc 3 goals. W.Y.M.I. A v. City (at-Kingsland).-A fast, exciting game ended in a win for W.T.M.I. by 2 to 0. Grlbble and Wlnstone scored for the winners, both goals being scored early in the second spell. The W.Y.M.I. forwards played well in the second spell, but the backs were brilliant all through, and were undoubtedly responsible for the team's fine showing. Campbell at full back was superb, while Gribblo was very prominent at half. Holy at full and Fleming in the forwards did an immense amount of graft for the losers. W.Y.M.I. B v. Tabernacle.—The former won by default, Tabernacle failing to put a team in the field. Ponsonby v. North Shore.—The Ponsonby 11. defeated Shore by one goal to nil, after a hard game.

THIRD GBADE. . Arawa v. North Shore. —After a veryfast and interesting contest Arawa won bythree goals to two. The scorers for Arawa •were Stewart, Nyt)erg, nnd Haresnape (a penalty), -while I/. Smith scored the losers' first, the second "being pnt through by one of the -winners.

THE AMERICAN GAME.

For the first time, Aucklanders had aa opportunity of witnessing a game of football played under the American rules on Saturday afternoon, two teams from the warships Baltimore playing an exhibition same between two and three o'clock. A large number of spectators -watched the game with interest. The system of play is altogether different to the Rugby code: it is nut so open, there is no passing and very little kicking. The ball was not kicked more than half a dozen times in Saturday's game, the reason for this being that a tick into touch means loss of possession of the ball, and possession is the most important consideration of the game. But the game has some very good points, :iud is interesting to those conversant with the rules. It is strenuous enough for the most exacting, it renires desperate tackling, and it leaves room for a great deal of ingenuity in instituting new methods of attack. The contestants on Saturday all wore the padded trousers and canvas waistcoats which are absolutely essential as protection against the fierce collisions which result from interference with a player who has not the ball in his possession being legalised. One side wore black jerseys, the other blue and black. The latter were too good for the "All Blacks." and had them ou the defensive nearly the whole time. One try, whieii counts i> points, fell to them after five minutes' play, and another just before play ceased. the half back getting the ball and vaulting over the scrimmage in effective, if dangerous, style. There is no serum, as ne understand the term; the seven forwards Hne up facing each other, hands on the turf like sprinters at the "set." while the middle man of the side havin" possession, has the ball between his hands-. He whips the ball back to one of the halves, an*! the remaining forwards form an advance guard for the man with, the ball, clearing the way for him until he is collared, when the process is repeated. The man with the ball seldom passes, and one unfamiliar with the system hardly sees what is going on, it being impossible to follow the movement of the ball as one does in Rugby, owing to the system of interference, and the closing in" of all the players on the man with the ball. There is plenty of room for excitement In the game, however,, though it does not appeal to the spectators familiar with Rugby an, more than the reverse proposition would be the case.

THE AUSTRALIAN GAME.

EDEN (GO points) V. AUSTRAL (38 points). This match was played on the Domain Lricket Ground. Austral were two men short the first few minutes, and Eden went "ff ivith a rush and scored two goals in the first three minutes, both kicked by Calian. Austral then livened up. with the result that Wadsworth and Callinan had shots for goal, but both failed. By good play the Eden nick now carried the ball into Austral's territory, and Calian got anofher goal from a running kick. Eden were etlll forcing the play, but Abfalter. in fine style, twice relieved Austral's goal, and, coming with a good rush, Calllinan was enabled to score the first goal for Austral, and the quarter ended—Eden, 16 points; Austral, 0. Eden were still playing tho betrer game, and Schofield scored a goal fiom a running kick. Immediately after Oary, from a good kick, just missed, the ball being marked in goal by Pratt, who was defending well. Buttle, for Eden, had two shots at goal without result. Pratt stopping ;n line style. Immediately after Wadeworth got a goal for Austral.' Moss, who was playing a fine game, and was doing the best work for Austral, stopped a shot at goal by Davis, and getting the I ball passed it into the Eden ground, when .1 behind was scored. Moss again put in iome good play, and the ball was passed on to Stewart, who forwarded to Wads- ' worth, th*ri to Callinan. but George prevailed, and relieved the Eden goal. Immediately after Ahfalter scored a goal for Austrni from a difficult angle, the result at half-time being—Eden 36 to Austral IS. In the second half Austral worked hard-to wipe off the deficit. At the start Wadsworth, who was playing a good game, marked within a few yards of goal and easily scored a goal for Austral, Moss and Abfalter played smartly for the black and whites, and passed to Callinan, who failed to score. Immediately after Stewart snatched the ball from a throw in and scored a goal. By good concerted play of the maroons' followers Welch was enabled to score a six, and then Abfalter made the best run of the jamc, and. passing to Wadswortli. the latter scored the major points. Calian got a free kick within easy distance but failed to score. Welch, by a long kick, carried the ball near the Austral goal, but Mont Pith. at fnll back, got It out of its rtangerous portion near lifct goal. Immediately after the bell sounded time.

The bpst players on the ground were Cnllan far Eden antl Moss for Austral. The Eden followers. Bottle, Carey, and Welch, all played a line game, and they were well assistPd by George and Schofiel'd, who captained Eden, and whose kicking was quite a feature of the gao?. In addition to Moss. Strange and Abfalter put in a lot of good work on the ball for Austral. Wadsworth, at centre forward, played a brllii.iut game. Monteith, George, and Pratt all played well on the back line, and put In good" fine defending play. Details of the scores are—Eden, 6 goals 14 behinds, to Austral. 5 goals S behinds. Mr C. L. Stevens made a fast and efficient central umpire, and Messrs G. R. Buttle and Thos. Brown gave every satisfaction as goal umpires.

Next Saturday the local players of the Australian game will visit Waihi and play a match against the goldfieids players. The senior team will be chosen from the following:—Edrn: E. Georgp, W. OConnor J O'Connor. H. Callan. w. Davies. Kildnff. Imperial: C. L. Stevens, p. Glenister. J. ilcPherson, R. Stpvenson, Edwards. W. Sponce. E. Goodfellow. Austral- J Abfalter, T. Wadsworth, A. Moss, Stewart Wells, Ryan, J. Hegartv

Ihe junior team has been finally picked as follows: B. Bsrnie, A. Bettls H Bettis, T." Cole. G. Cotton. Fogarty. H. p. Forster. C. Harrison, D. Kell, T. Mason. F Monk D. McKay, O. Olson. H. Rutherford, F. Rutherford, R. Sloman, G. Thwaites D Winter.

Both teams will train on Tuesday antl Thursday evenings.