FIELD SPORT

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 1, 7 July 1900, Page 14

FIELD SPORT

THE weather at the commencement of the football matches last Saturday turned cut fairly fine, but just on the close of the games heavy rain set in, and completely spoilt the play. At Athletic Park, chief interest was centred in the Athletic — Old Boys match. The ground was very heavy, and suited the weighty forwards of the blue and black division. Athletics jumped right from the kick-off, and fn about as many minutes had ten points run up against their antagonists. The Old Boys rallied up, and after this kept Athletics from further scoring. Now arid" then there were some biilliant flashes of play, but the handling of the ball by the backs was made difficult by the greaSy state of the leather. The previous Saturday's spell did not improve the Old Boys' form, and take it all round, their display was rather a feeble one. Athletics were unfortunate in not registering a larger score, as they got over their opponents' line three or four times but lost the ball. # • * The Wellington-Oriental match was a rather tame go, and tlie win of the former by two points just about decided their superiority. The ball traversed from one end to the other rapidly, but forward rushes were predominant, and it was from one of these that Wellington were lucky enough to register their first score. Orientals were within an ace ot scoring several times, but the team does not seem to be blessed with too much luck. The finish of the game was played in pouring rain, and this, combined with the lateness of the homynmfle the' players hardly discernible to the spectators. # • * Melrose took a rather weak team up to Petone; consequently the "go" was a very even one. The game was not a brilliant one, and the forwards were the main factor_all through. Right up- to the end of the game the suburban team were in, the lead, but at the l&at minute Melrose pulled themselves together and secured a win by two points. Melrose score was made up by two tries to a potted goal.

Claridge; v at 'hktf, played a good game, and is improving every match. "Pony" Bush is making strides as a full back, and the only thing wanting is more weight. Judd did some fine following up for Petone, and amongst the scrummeib August was at his best. ' Hawke's potted goal was a pretty piece of play, but Barbei , in the centre, was the pick of the Petone backs. T. Spencer came out for his old love, Melrose, on Satin day, and he played one of his old time games. Glasgow put in some fine work amongst the Athletic foiwaids on Saturday, and he was closely followed by O'Biien. In the Oriental pack the best form was showed by Skelton, who is a lare grafter. Weley, Dixon and M'Kay were aLo well in the thick of it. ,On Saturday last an Oriental forward put in an acrobatic feat dm ing the Wellington-Oriental game that quite justified his inclusion in any ciicus. * This - paper wonders how Rowe managed to secure his position in a New South Wales rep. team. On his lecent form he stands " no chance " in our rep. team. The display given by Hales, o f Athletics, on Saturday, was little short of perfect, and the Selection Committee should have an easy task in picking theii man for this position. Hefternan stood out head an shoulders above any foiward in the Ath" letic-Old Boys match. He put in some splendid dribbling rushes, but should cuib the habit of getting off side. Evans and Goodwin, two of the Melrose best backs, weie absent on Satuiday, and Howe got a n.isty knock during the game, which made him piactically useless. This 'greatly weakened the back play of Mehose. The Wellington School Boys had a veiy interesting go with the Canteibui> contingent. The teams were tanly equalised, and the game wits lem.xikuble foi the fine" forwaid. digj>lay.. These matches iue an excellent Men,,' and the young idea will thoroughly leain how the game should be played." The match resulted in a di.iw — 8 points each.

De Vere put in some very clever woik for Athletics, and Kelly was also at his best, and repeatedly beat the opposing backs. McKenzie was the only back of any consequence for Old Boys. He saved his team repeatedly, and at times was well backed up by Thompson. Manson, the Wellington forward, seems to exert himself a gieat deal in his play when the ball is nowhere neai. His play inclines towaids the "galleiy." If Petone have a vacant position in their junior team I would advise them to piomote Wood to it, as he was decidedly oft' on Satuiday. Calnan is playing a stunning game, and on Satuiday he was always in the thick of it. "Wag" Fraser, on the wing, was a source of annoyance to his opponents. " Billy " Wallace made his re-ap-pearance in Otago football, and fiom accounts of his play on Saturday, has lost none of his cleverness. Piobably he will be seen battling against his old province a little latei on. Had the Wellington team forwards equal to their backs, they would make a mtiph better show. The fiont-rankers do n6t seem to be too clever in hooking the ball out. C. Bush was the pick of the Oriental backs, but having to put in so much defensive, one cannot judge his attacking powers. Of the other backs Cair and Young were perhaps the next best. Wood was again the pick of the Wellington backs. He put in some fine play, and one of his best features is his stiaight running. On his present toim his position for the rep. team seems to be pretty rosy. The fight for the premiership in Auckland promises to be a big go between City and Graf ton. Both these teams weie successful last Satuiday, and Newton's defeat at the hands of Gmfton puts them out of it, unless the unexpected happens. Sheriff, the Athletic half, stood up to his work in a masteily fashion on Saturday. He is veiy strong on defence, and his attack was very detei mined. His play was quite on a par with that shown by the ■Wellington player, Meredith. Gallagher, the Wellington forward, had his jersey ripped off towards the end of the Onental - Wellington match. He went on playing devoid of this co vexing, but the Oriental skipper very rightly piotested, and Gallagher had to don another jeisey. Melrose meet Old Boys at Petone on Satuiday, and the former should tiiumph. At Athletic, Park (Oriental play Poneke, and Wellington will battle against Petone. Both these fixtures should be very inteiesting, but I think Poneke and Petone will be on top at the finish. The football in Canterbury this season has been rehiarkable for the downfall of two teams, Merivale and Linwood. These teams for the last five yeais ha\e always occupied piominent positions, and each has been defeated in turn by an unknown quantity in the Albion team. Poneke II still keep on their victoiious career, for the First Junior Championship. They had a very easy win on Saturday, and were greatly assisted by I). Wilson, a lecent ariival from Auckland, and brother of Alick Wilsony who went to Australia with the '97 N.Z. team. Local footballers are rejoicing over the advent to Wellington of Mi A. D. Thomson, 1 who replaces Mr James (translated to the honouis of S.M.) as Cleik of the Coiut. Thomson in his day was one of the smaitest footballers New Zealand has known, and as an authoiity on the laws of the game he is A.I. The local Eugby Union will no doubt keep an eye on him for reteiee woik in ciack interprovmcial matches.