FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS MATCHES, With Eden Park closed, and senior matches postponed, the Show Ground was the scene of all games on Saturday last, and the majority of the playiug fields were occupied from 10.-0 a.m. till dark. A clear day, good foothold, and no wind were conducive to improved play, and as far as the schools were concerned a marked improvement on this season's previous exhibitions was noticeable. The surprise of the day was certainly the overwhelming defeat of Vermont A by Remuera. On the preceding Saturday the form of the latter against Newmarket, and that of the former in the stubborn fight with Epsom, gave every expectation of a close contest between the greens and the blue and whites on their first meeting. However, while Remuera played much better footer than against their neighbouring team, Vermont Street were badly handicapped by the absence of three of their best players, and by not taking the field with a full side.

Another surprise was Te Papapa'a victory over Devonport. Their previous match againset the very light Mount Albert fifteen had ended in a draw, for which the suburban lads had to thank their great advantage in weight. Their showing against Devonport, however, Baw them make much better u r e of opportunities that had been formerly wasted, and by defeating one of the strongest sides in the A grade, Te Papapa will recognise the value of sound coaching upon the good material their team contains. Devonport, nevertheless must have been considerably weaker than when they fought such an even battle with Ponsonbv.

Normal v. Epsom was in style a repetition of the Normal-Vermont game of the preceding week. The blue and whites played the more open game, and deserved their win, but the narrow margin of this quite represents the respective merits of the two fifteens on the day's play.

The two neighbours, Mount Albert and Mount Eden, produced one of the most exciting contests of the round. In tho first spell, Usher, a diminutive forward of the Mount Albert team, scored, while just before time, another midget. Mills of Mount Eden, dropped a goal from a mark. The weight of the Mount Eden lads was counterbalanced by the speed of their opponents, for whom Wright and Usher played particularly well. Mount Eden possess a capital half in a lad named Bridie, whose day out on Saturday it certainly was. nis play, both in attack and defence, was of an order not frequently seen in school matches.

Parnell were altogether too gooa for Richmond Road, though it may be mentioned that the latter were playing without their full fifteen. The boys from the eastern suburb held their own for the first quarter of an hour, hut after the first score seemed to Ipse heart, though not breath, for they had plenty to say during the frequent attacks upon their line by the reds. Their player of the strange name who was so fond of accusing his backs of fear of tackling, could have set a much better example himself than he did towards the end of the game. The Parnell lads are tall wiry lot, play keenly, and have It back division that is not" afraid to run straight. On last week's form it will need a strong side to keep them from the top of their grade. Grey Lynn defeated Onehunga by 9 to nil in what was a ragged and uninteresting game. Neither side possessed any combination, and the only feature worthy of comment was the " solo work of an Onehunga lad named Olsen, who did nearly all that was done by his side. The Onehunga lads would be better for the absence of the unsportsmanlike advice offered them by several spectators, who evidently hail from their district. Such " barrack" as they indulged in is not conducive to good "clean Rughy.

Newmarket, after a good fight against Remuera. were soundly beaten by Ponsonby, which seems to be the strongest combination in the A grade. The meeting between Ponsonby and Remuera should provide a game worth watching. Point Chevalier ran all over Mount Roskill, winning by 3 to nil. At present Parnell appears to be the only side capable of thoroughly extending" the Point boys, who are playing a fine open game. Ellerslie were far too good for Nelson Street, the city team going down before the country lads, who piled up 23 points to nil. As on the previous Saturday weight told. Ellerslie would be much better matched against schools like Parnell or Point Chevalier.