FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7341, 30 May 1885, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

Under favourable weather the game was played with great zest on Saturday, both at the Domain and across the water. In the senior Cap matches Newton and Grafton wai a splendidly contested game from beginning to end. The play was very fast in the first 45, and for honest forward play you could not wish for better work, except that a more extensive knowledge of the rules of offside would have made the game more interesting than it was. It waii very easily discernible from the form that Newton displayed that if they go on improving on . their forward play en similar lines to that shown against the . Grafton the blue and black team will have a tough fight of it this afternoon, and the beat match of the season up to date should result: Ponsonby's strength lies in their backs and active forwards, while their opponents' lies solely in their forwards, who combine weight with strength and activity. Gordon and Albert had a very good match, which resulted in a draw. Auckland came to the fore again by defeating North Shore after a good game. In addition to the NewtonFonsonby match to-day, Auckland and Albert try conclusions on the Domain for the first time this season, Both clubs have strong teams announced, and the match promises to be a holly contested one, while the Gordon fifteen will meet North Shorn at Devonport, on the recreation ground. It may be of interest to many to know that a detailed statement of the accounts of the Domain Cricket ground has been prepared. The Tauianga F.C. has joined the Rugby Union agair. Would it not be well for umpires to come provided with whistles for to-day's and future matches. Their usefulness has been amply demonstrated of late, and they are particularly necessary now, owing to comment that has taken place on umpiring this seasonwhether justifiable or not, it is hard to say. The Wellington College Boys have been prohibited from playing with adult clubs. Taiaroa's brother plays for the Christchurch Second Fifteen, Eanti Christchurch, Sydenham, Christchurch, and Merivale, all put three fifteens in the field this season. The game is progressing in Canterbury. It in expected that T. Ryan, the wellknown Grafton three-quarter backs, who has not made hie appearance this season, will be able to play for bis club against Ponsonby on June 13. Auckland is likely to receive into its ranks another prominent Southern player next week. North Canterbury defeated Merivale on May 16 by seven points to two. The Menvalet contended that the try from which the goal was kicked was not correct. W. H. McCardell, Wellington, is recovering from an attack of typhoid fever. Athletic v. Wellington F.C.'s was fought out before 2000 spectators on May 16, and ended in a draw, Athletic having slightly the best of it. Football in Dnnedin on May 16 was played under splendid weather, when Dunedin put the Pirates through on the Caledonian ground by a goal to love. Montecillo defeated Zingari by seven points (a gcrvl and a try) to nil. "Scragging" (says "Forward" in ike Otago Daily Times) is so rarely practised nowadays that many of the junior players do not know what the terra means, and footballers of the present day must be greatly surprised to hear that It was indulged in on Saturday in the Pirates-Montecillo content The offending player was deservedly booted, and it is to be hoped he will take the lesson to heart. Taiaroa was to have played for Christchurch F.C. on May 16, but was abaent, as he is suffering, it is said, from an * abscess on the neck. Judging by a communication from Home received by a gentleman in Wellington, who has been interesting himself in the matter, it hardly seems (sayß "Drop-kick" in the .Referee) as if a visit of a New Zealand Fifteen to the Old Conntry is at present a workable project. . The President of the English Rugby Onion seems to think that the expenses will be far too much to be recouped in the short time that would be available for play in England. " Our boys," if they go. are promised a hearty English welcome, and although the writer ox the letter seems to think that the affair is Inadvisable, I don't exactly fancy, for all that, that the subject will be allowed to drop all at once. Owing to the volunteering at Timaru on Monday, the local kickists were unable to raise three teams against Christchnrck. The New South Wales Football Association has a debit balance of £18 10s, which, it was stated at the annual meeting the other day, was owing to the heavy calls upon the association funds during the past season through the numerous engagements, and to the fact that a concert given in October last resulted in a heavy deficit. J. Pearce, late of the Athletic Club, Wellington, who has recently come to Auckland, made a favourable debut as a quarter-back for Grafton on Saturday. "Rugby Union" writes as follows to the Lyttelton Times — Recently I noticed a letter in your columns from a correspondent who urged the discountenance by the local club? and umpires of the practice of heeling out at football. Your correspondent objected that heeling-out was clearly illegal, and that it was not considered scientific play by the best clnbs at home. As to its illegality, I would refer him to the report iu the Times of March 26, of the annual general meeting of the Rugby Football Unioa, where he will see that the committee of the Union "were of opinion that •heeling-out' was perfectly legal." I have played for and against some of the leading " scientific " clubs at home, when heelingout was commonly practised with general approval, but I leave it to recent players of first-class football at home to tell you whether there has- been any change in this , respect in the last two or three years. The passing game is the most scientific development of the Rugby Union game, and, for myself, I fail to see the distinction between the "science" of parsing and heeling-out. However, I merely wish to point out to your correspondent that if any confirmation is wanted of the legality of heeling-out, we have the best. East Christchurch v. Christchurch played on May 16, resulted in a win for the former by a try to nil. The winning forwards were very smart; always on the ball, and played better in the loose work. Both teame felt the loss of a good heavy-weight back. Christchurch are weak in quarterbacks, but their half-backs do good work at times. Jewett, who is in the Silver King Company now at Wellington, has been playing in most of the towns up the coast. He was selected for Wellington F.C. v. Athletic on May 16, and waa strenuously opposed. CRICKET. Spofforth,, the demon bowler, is now permanently located in Melbourne, having received an appointment in the National Bank of Australasia. McDonnell is now in Sydney. Complications are likely co arise next season. The Surrey County C.C. have had £5000 guaranteed for the purchase of the County ground to which Lord Sheffield contributed £600. MISCELLANEOUS. The friends of Jackson, the coloured boxer, have put op £50 to box Miller for £500 in Sydney. . C. H. Hamilton defeated F. N. Robinson in the quarter-mile and 250 yards rsces at the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club races, Timaru, after a grand race in I wch event. Robinson has been for many years the champion amateur pedestrian of Canterbury, and has a splendid array of "ophiej he has won. ■ The North Canterbury B.C. has obtained permission from the Domain Board to make » racing track on the Rangiora cricket ground, and the Board also agreed to try and <

get power to make a charge of one shilling to sports on the Domain. J. Rolfe rode a five mile race against five professionals, at Newcastle, on May 9, for £25, and boat them, doing the distance in lomins, 25secg.

Rayner and his backer Harris, left Christchurch for. Melbourne on May 19. -: •' • ; It is stated that John Teemer, the American oarsman, will probably visit England in July or August next. Will he then come on to Australia to dispute the championship with Beach? ... D. Godwin and G. Bubear rowed for the Thames championship and £100 aside on April 1, and Godwin won very easily by six lengths in 22mins. 41sece. £ hear that the Jessie Logan is in the ranrket for sale. From her widely known reputation and the record of wine at Auckland regattas she has to her credit, the Jessie should meet with a ready sale. In an article on the recent intercolonial eight-oared race, the Argus hopes that South Australia and New Zealand may be induced to enter the lists, and the growing interest in the race will be greatly enhanced. According to the recent returns published in the Springfield Wheelmen's Gazette, there are in the United States 132 cycling clubs, with 2970 members. The Boston Club, established about eight years ago, heads the list with 313 members. The Bruce Herald publishes a letter from Private W. Matheson, with the New South Wales contingent, describing the voyage. Matheson was well known as an euthusiaitic cricketer and athlete while in Milton, Otago, Argus.