FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 3 July 1899, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

« SATURDAY'S MATCHES. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Tho Senior Championship matches woro advanced another stage on Saturday atternoon, in mw weulhor and (in muddy grounds. WELLINGTON V. OUIKNTAL. A fairly interesting and fust game, considering tho state of the ground, took place between tho above teams, tho Yellows haying v big sdice of luck in notching a win on the call of time by tho narrow margin of 2 points. Wellington drew first blood, Bird skilfully and prettily threading his way through half-a-dozen oppononts, and at the right time making a sliort pass to Parry, who touched down in a good position for Gallagher to kick an easy goal. The OrienUil forwards* had much the best of tho scrum and looso work, and Wellington was continually on tho defensive. A penalty kick awarded to Oriental gavo Young an easy chanco of registering a goal, but a misunderstanding between that player and tho placer of the ball spoilod tho opportunity. Subsequently lrom marks Youug cent the baft over the cross-bar in great style. In the next half Wellington had slightly the upper hand, but the good work of Bush, Young, and Millward kept tho Yellows from scoring until within a few eoconds of time, when Bonar, gotting possession from a pass, raced up to tho goaMino at a great pace, and, eluding the opposing full-back, touched down near the goalposts. Meredith improved upon Hie score, and gavo liis side the victory by 10 to 8. Bush played a fine game for Orientals, Millward and Young ' also putting- in good work. All tho- forwards . worked woll together. . Meredith was the bast of tho Wellington backs, whose general play was somewhat uneven. Wellington 10 Oriental k~, 8 PETONE V. ATItLETJC. Peto.no and Athletic met at Petonc, tho game resulting in a win for the formor by 8 points to 6. Tho gamo was stubborn, and there is no doubt that if tho ground Lad been dry the to^n team would have scored a win over their doughty opponents, who are At their best on a wot field. Petonb had a full team, while tho Bluo-and-Blackn had Kamsay as an absentee Thoir back division, however, was particularly strong, and included Do Vere, who has been laid up for repairs for tho last few weeks. Petono kicked off with a good breeze as an auxiliary, and immediately invaded thoir opponents' territory ; and tho Bluo vanguard, headed by M'Gill and King, charged vigorously over the goal-line, where tho Potono cap-, tain touched down. The score was not improved. Shortly after this M'Qill was ordered from tho field for arguing with tho referee. Tho suburbanites stul persisted in their attack, but fine defonsivo play of Kelly and Hales and Callendar to some extent nullified their efforts. Near tho ond of tho spoil another dribbling rush of tho Petono forwards, with King, Hardham, and Godfrey in the van, ended in the latter scoring. Burns 'added tho mujor points with ft good kick. In tho second half tho town men, helped by tho wind, made things very livoly for tho Bluos, and nothing DUt tho determined collaring of King, lfurdliam, and Co. prevented tho repetition of scores. However, Kelly worked tho blind side for all it was worth, and bpth Callondfir's and his own try were gained by thoso tactics in their oppononts 25's. Noither triea wero converted. Shortly after theso scores Hales kicked a poster for tho Athletics from a mark, nnu Callendar narrowly escapod scoring a second try by boing thrown into touch-in-goul by M'Konzie, the Petono full-back. Towards tho completion of tho gamo King (who played a great game) made a splendid run tho half-length of the field, and was just drnggiul down by HaJos near 1 tho Athletic goal-line. When tho whistle blow tho Blue-and-Blacks wero making desporato but unavailing efforts to augment their score. Mr. A. Campbell won rcferoe. i'otone 8 Athletic.-;, 6 MELIIOSE V. POJJKKE. The strong wind had a disastrous effect on tho PonokO'Melroso match, which was played at Miramnr and resulted in an easy win for tho latter team. Mclrose had the advantago of tho wind in tho first spoH, and scored fast, their opponents uoing hemmed on their own tine. In fact, the gamo was principally confined to lino work. For tho winners Hill, King, W. and G. Spencer, Soffo, and Bennett srored tries, two of which were converted by King and G. Spencer. The latter also kicked a penalty goal. Melrose 23 Poneko '. 3 JIWIOB CrTAMPIONsIIIP. OLD BOTB V. PONRKE. Tho mooting of tho Old Boys and Ponoko second teams supplied interest, as neither had tasted tho dregs of defeat this season, and tho winner was looked upon as practically certain to annex the honours m this competition. On the two teams appearing in tho field it was jeen that the advantage rested with the Old Boys in physique, and this was more noticctiblo when tho scrumming combinations got to work. Tho wot state of tho ground and tho strong northerly breeze caused the gamo to be purely a forward tusslo to get possession of tho ball. The fust score came when a Poneko- loose forward lush swept the ball over tho Old Boys' lino, and Thompson grabbed 'it in the nick of time. A poor attempt • was made by Hodgson to register tho extra points. Then College mado two fine forward rushes, Hanson and Johnson scoring in each instance. Tho scores wero improved upon by Popp (whose kick was a Deauty) and Gilmour, Tho second ftpell was in favour of tho Old Boys, though their opponents mado soverul good rallies. There was a great deal of rough play, Mid on one occasion tho rofereo ordered a Poneko forward oK the' field, though his clubmates claim, and sovecal of the opposing side admit, that it was tho wrong man. An exceptionally brilliant pieco of work by Johnson enabled M'Konzio to score' another try for the Old Boys behind the posts, but Gilmour mado a wretched attempt at goal. There was no further scoring, and Old Boys won a ding-dong match by 13 to 3. A feature of tho winners' play was the superb work of tho forward division, .which kept solidly together on every occasion. Mr. F. L. Seagor was referee. Old Boys 13 Poneko 3 Wellington College offocted a slight surprise by defeating Orientals by 5 to ml. Wellington beat Kia-Ora by 15 to nil. Athletic defeated Mclrose by 20 to 6. 1 Tiiiud Class Championship. Molroso won from Wellington Collogo by default. Poneko defeated Athlotic by 6 to nil. Fourth-class Championship. Poneko B forfeited to Poneku A. Melrose beat OrienUil by 6 to nil. Athletic defeated Wellington by 12 to nil. Miscellaneous. A well-contested gamo between \ijO Southern and Tukapa teuins resulted,' »] a. draw, each sido scoring 10 points; (Jroskcrjr wvd Roberta far Tukapa, wia Alorilng and Jones for Southern, scored tries, all of which were converted. Tho results of Saturday's Senior and Juuior cou tests virtually place Petone » nd Old Boya in the portions of winners

ot thuso respective competitions. Petone lias yet two Sonior matches to play — Oriental and Melrose. Should tho suburban men loso both thoso matches they will tio with the Melroso Clvb — providea, of course, tho lattor wins all it* remaining engagements.