SPORT AND PASTIME.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 21, 24 July 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

SPORT AND PASTIME.

Football, [By Ex-Forwabd.] ' Oh ! it's all over, Melrose will win easily,' was the impression in the minds of many persons who otherwise would have put in an appearance at the Athletic Park last Saturday, to witness the meetingrivals Melrose and Poneke. Certainly the style in which the Bed and Blues had beaten their opponents in the various matches played this season warranted this belief, for tho second time this season of those old But a great struggle can always be relied upon when these two teams meet, and the spectators may rest asmred that the respeotive players are ' all out ' and doing their utmoxt. Some of the moot hotlycontested matches in the history of local football have occurred between Melrose and Poneke teams. The performance of the Red and Blacks on Saturday last astonished their opponents and surprised and delighted their admirers. The most sanguine of the latter never for 'a moment expected to see the Poneke team make such gallant headway against their hitherto iu vincible opponents, still less to place a viotory to their credit. It was essentially a forward game, the backs in each team being seldom called upon to show their abilities. If the Melrose forwards were more'prominent in the loose rushes (and some of them were well worth seeing), as well as in the touch-line work, the Poneke team could undeniably claim an advantage in the pack, which was better organised than the opposing 1 division. Young and White secured the ball of tener than the Melrose front rank men. It came out much quicker and cleaner to the back ranks than was the case with the Red and Blues, and Pudney had no difficulty in finding an opening for himself or his fiveeights before his opponents realised what was taking place. Individual brilliancy on the part of the Newtown team did not compensate for the more solid and serviceable scrum work of Poneke' s reps. Knowing that several of the Poneke players had been lax in their gymnasium training, it was anticipated that the team would go to pieces in the second spell ; but, on the contrary, they seemed to get a new lease of life, and infused a truly wonderful amount of activity and vigour into the game. It was a desperate forward battle, and the fifteen minutes that Poneke was defending its line in the second half was noticeable for one of the fiercest pieces of play (hat has yet been seen on the Park. Several of the contestant went at it with such force as would have justified the interference of the referee. A player, when once in the embrace of an opponent, was dumped on the ground with less care than would have been shown to a sack of potatoes. There was not the slightest consideration or mercy shown. Bleeding noses, bruised shins, scratches, torn jerseys and garments were everywhere. Arthur Pender played a great game for Poneke, one of his very best. He was always in the thick of the fray and on the ball." His collaring abilities were duly recognised by the Melrose. White, Young, and Sullivan acquitted themselves with great credit. Sullivan is a very fast and dashing forward, but is apt to lose his head at a critical moment, and requires coaching. Wallace played brilliantly at five-eight, and from start to finish he was always on the ball, his smart and well-timed kicking and following up proving of inestimable service to his side. It was an ideal fiveeight display. There can be no question that Wallace's present form must entitle him to consideration for a position in the rep. team. A great deal of sound work unseen by the spectators was performed by Pudney, who shopped several fierce Melrose rushes in fine style. Slater never made a mistake the whole afternoon, and his display was in striking contrast to that of the opposing full-back. Though suffering from a cold Kelly played up to his best form, and, together with M'Kay, incessantly harassed the Melrose half and five-eight. Adams stood out prominently in the Melrose forward ranks, and for consistent work towered above his fellows. Spencer and Sievers were also very noticeable in the afternoon's work. Generally speaking the back play of the Melrose team was only mediocre, and far below that exhibited in previous matches. Their inability to handle the ball was surprising, while the kicking as a whole was much below the standard of recent contests. Warwick was the best in this division, but even this smart young player caught the prevailing infection and did not evince that judgment which has characterised his play this season. By the way, he narrowly missed scoring two tries, and only Slater's aotion in kicking the ball up the bank saved the scores. Of course the Melrose 'barrackers' howled at Slater's tactics, but in the interests of his team it was perfectly legitimate play. A great scene of enthusiasm occurred when Kelly raced across the line and touched down. He nearly stumbled in t&s attempt, and it was a close shave.

No one expected to see Petone beat the Athletic reps, so easily. It is apparent that the suburban players, judging from recent results, are improving. Pritchard and Kelly are said to have played a splendid game for the ' blues,' while Matson and Puketapu stood out conspicuously for Petone. Last Saturday's defeat of the Melrose makes the issue for the Senior Shield more interesting. As matters now stand Melrose still have a big show of winning and, whatever the results of the remaining contests, must tie with Petone or Poneke provided the two last-named teams win their remaining matches. Should the Petone-Melrose game to-day terminate in a draw, Melrose will annex the Senior Shield for the second year in succession To-day should also wind-up the Junior Shield aud Third- Class Championship. The Athletic juniors are almost bound to win againßt St. Patrick's College, even if the latter put a team in the field, which is doubtful. Poneke's chances against the Wellingtons to-day are considered rosy, and I look upon them as actually tbe winners of the ThirdClass Championship. A late Australian mail brings a full account of the second test match between the New Zealanders and the Welshmen. As there has been a great demand for the papers in question many of my readers are now no doubt familiar with the reasons which contributed to the non-success of our men. A very good indication as to the causes which led to their downfall is given in the series of chatty articles contributed to this journal by one who is travelling with the team. Apparently ' our boys ' were dead stale when they took the field. Several of the players were better fitted for hospital treat1 ipent than to take part in a 90 minutes tough football struggle against the pick of the befit Rugby players in the Australian colonies. With no less than eight or nine of the I team crippled it was hardly surprising to see the fresh sturdy Cornstalks run away with them. The folly of playing so many matches in such a severe campaign as the present was clearly illustrated in this match. At all risks the fixture with the New England district should be cancelled. If not, the chance of winning the rubber against the Welshmen may be considered lost. Whoever was responsible for the inexcusable piece of blundering in arranging the matches deserves the severest censure. Surely it did not emanate from our Union Its action in writing to the manager to cancel the matoh if possible, and its professed ignorance of f-.uch a fixture, seem to absolve it from blame in the matter. With a week's iuterval to set up our representatives, and an imperative order to abstain from partaking too freely of the good things offered by their hosts in the way of reception*, dinners, smoke concerts, picnics, &c, they should enter the field on the 31sfc better fitted to uphold the honour of the colony than on the previous occasion. If in condition they should emerge triumphant from what promises to be the most exciting match yet played between the reps, of the two colonies. The defeat of the New Zealand reps, is principally accounted for by ' the staleness of the men,' but a contemporary inclines to another view. It says, 'A. great deal of wageriug takes place in Sydpey over these big matches. Of course tho members of the team are not supposed to bet either directly or indirectly, and a bribe would be indignantly refused. Yet cates have been known where the almighty dollar worked the oracle. Anyhow a good deal of unfavourable comment has been occasioned through the result of the matoh.' In the first test match of the present tour, three ex-Wellingtonians now resident in Sydney made a fine haul by backing' the New Zealandors. As Wells has only been picked twice during the present tour, speculation has j been indulged in by the Taranaki people as to the reason. Before he left Wellington Wells sustained an injury to his knee while jumping off a tramcar, and could not play in the luter-laland matoh. This may account for his absence. Allen appears to be standing the strain of playing in Australia well. He has been included in every match up to date, and invariably puts his name to the list of trygetters. Taking a line through tbe Queensland team's performances when on tour through this colony last year, it was generally expected that the Maorilanders would score a viotory last Saturday, and consequently little surprise was expressed when the news came to hand. Many people thought our reps, would notch a larger number of points. During their stay in Queensland the New Zealanderu will be quartered at O'Connor's Oriental Hotel, which is convenient to the Rugby Union ground where their matches take place. Interest in the contests is very keen. The Auckland Rugby Union is trying to arrange for a team representing Poverty Bay to come up and meet an Auchland fifteen on 31st July. Most footballers will agree with ' Lynx ' (Auckland Herald), when he truly says that the off-side play of wing-forwards is becoming monotonous, and unless the referees take a firm stand in the matter and penalise freely, the open scientific advance of the game will probably be retarded. I shall welcome the day when the wing men are done away with altogether. More than half of the wrangling is caused through them. M'Ara, formerly of Wellington College, is making a big name for himself in Otago. Speaking of his play last Saturday, a local paper credits him with being perhaps the moßt dashing back on the ground, the most noticeable point about his play being his smartness at making openings. He is a perfect passer and a strong hand at stopping rushes. Kaikorai continue to hold ihe pride of position for the Otago Rugby Union premiership, with Pirates second and University third. Dunedin, Zingari- Richmond, Alhambra, Union, and Caversham follow in that order. Up to last Saturday Kaikorai had played nine matches and won all, scoring 95 points for, as against 15 recorded against them. The Stars (Invercargill) have won the premiership for the eighth year in succession. Viotories of this order, become monotonous. After a stubbornly- contested game, the Thames fifteen defeated, for the first time, the Auckland representatives by 9 points to 6 points— two tries and a ' penalty goal to two tries obtained by the visitors. Despite a strenuous defence on the part of the Auckland men, the local team repeatedly defeated them in all departments of the game, and in both the 40 - minute spells played they had decidedly the best of the game. The Auckland men played to the best of their ability, and although defeated, they at times made very strong efforts to frustrate the tactics displayed by the local team. In this respect they failed repeatedly, and, whai^ was very noticeable, they lacked combination at certain stages of the game. The forwards in this respect were very dilatory, and did not follow up with that well-known dash they usually exhibit. Their scrums were well packed, but in this important department the Thames forwards had the advantage repeatedly, and managed to screw the scrum and carry the ball forward with splendid dash. For Auckland Mick Hyland, formerly of Wellington, is singled out as playing a good game in the line-on, and in the open ; while D'Arcy, at full-back, kicked well and with judgment, and altogether played a faultless game — in fact, he was perfectly safe from beginning to end. A Sydney pressman, in reporting the New Zealanders' opening match, tells his readers 'Bayly picked up opposite the home i team's twenty-fivs and, dodging superbly, ' punted " for goal. The ball travelled

just outside the upright, to the great relief of the N.S.W. supporters.' If this is correct, Bayly's action in punting at goal, instead of drop-kicKing, is on a par with the kick by a Canterbury half-back when playing against Wellington in 1883.