FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7342, 1 June 1885, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

PONSONBY V.NEWTON.: 1 With splendid football weather on Saturday, «ad the turf in going condition, it was no wonder that the Ponsonby v Newton match attracted the largest attendance of the season, there being upwards of ' 1500 people on the Domain Cricket round, The game, as had been anticipated, was very closely contested, and the blue and blacks just managed to score a win by a try to nil. Newton having won the toss for the choice of goals, Young lucked off against what little wind there was for Ponsonby, and . the Newtoi Lack fumbling the ball somewhat enabled the blue and black forwards to follow up well. The play was oonfied to the quarter-distance flag for some time. In the scrummages Newton were superior in weight, but Ponsonby playing their usual loose game, the forwards invariably brought it through on the wings, and - within the first ten minutes the amber and blacks were compelled to force in self* defence. Upon the second occasion, Ponsonby dro r the ball over the line, and Nev; >■. by more good luck than play, sto;.,.<: 1 them scoring. In fact, all through tl a game their fine forward play was considerably discounted by the mistakes of their baokd. For -• . long time the ball hrive-oc! about Newt >V« side of the middle ?,g, V;» Bruce ,:s book •> "J ffective dribbias, i. Waging the'.*" througi. sp ■> "y apon one occasion, whi' > ,ie was w«*U e«.j-ed up by Young and Daniels. Ar„..:il at the three-quarter was in fine form, kicking into touch with great judgment. When halftime was about to be called Newton were sorely pressed, but a short serviceable run from opposite the posts by Sexton to the touch line averted the danger, and sides changed ends soon after. Newton rushed the leather down from the kick off, and 0. Sexton securing a mark within 30 yards of the goal, let fly, but unfortunately the leather struck the bar and fell into play again. . Soon after T. Whiteside afforded a good deal of 'amusement by - running about two-thirds of the .ground' after the whistle had been blown. The black and ambers had the ball well into the quarter distance and looked like scoring, it. Whiteside took a flying shot at the bar, but the ball went high to the right and Arneil charging down splendidly pounced upon the ball on one of the top-iir easing heaps, amid great excitement. The place kick taken by Arneil, although a good kick, went to the right, and the score was : Ponsonby, 2 points ; Newton, nil. From this stage the game appeared to be Ponsonby'a, although in the last five I minutes Newton made some very determined rushes, and Pritohard got away once across the ground in good style. Soon after this | was . followed by ft. Whiteside responding j with one of his (lashing runs round the corner ' acrum and up the touch line, where he was stopped by being pushed into touch. For the viutors, .uueil played a good all round game. Whiteside, who at times made a dash or two, seemed out of form altogether, but his pass ing on several occasions was exceptionally good. Arneil made a long pass to him opposite Newton's goal, and if he had been in himatch form would have easily run in. Th play all through was , very fast indeed, the Ponsonby forwards shining in the dribbling, Bruce, MoConneil, Daniels, and Besant doint. good work; while for Newton, Pritchard, Mills, Sexton, and Salt worked hard. Messrs. A. H. Cotter and C. Colgsn umpired, and Mr. T. Ryan stood as referee. GORDON V. NORTH . SHORE. Thin match waa played at the North Shore on Saturday, and resulted in a victory for Gordon by a try to nil. • Gordon took acros* a full team, and, during the first; spell, the game was tolerably even, although it was evident that the greens were the superior team for all that. The dark-blues played a plucky game, and gave way stubbornly to the Gordon charges, their captain (J. C. Webster) being in good form, while he was well seconded by Jones., When sides change" for the second term tie greens rushed the 1 leather into', the blues ; territory, where re peated attacks were made upon their goal, and Goodman, 'by a good run, crossed the i line in bringing the ball out for the place kick, the marking on the goal line was | omitted, and the kick-off was ordered by the North Shore umpire. Soon after Wood kicked the oval hard "across the line, and Goodman secured it in ,touch in goal. Kicking at a rolling ball''..'was rather noticeable. A good pot shot at the North' Shore goal was made, and no further ,score being made the game resulted as above.' 5 ' For the Victors, F. and i C. Clayton, O'Bpilly, M. Webster, Ansley, Poland, Jordan; ' Meldrnm, and Laßoche (who collared well) were to the fore ; and J. C. Webster, Jones,. G. Wynyard, Sims, Wells, and A. 'Burgess did good work for the North Shore. . _ AUCKLAND T. ALBERT. - The, ' above clubs met On the Domain Cricket Ground oh. Saturday for . the first time this season, and after a finely contested game the match" ended in! a victory for tbe blue and whites by a try (two points) to niL G. Carter led Auckland, and Stewart captained Albert (red and black). In the first 'term, Roche by a good effort crossed Albert's goal line. The shot at the bar was taken by G. Carter, but it resulted in no further addition to the score. Albert played up in good - style, but could not come on terms with the blue anil whites. In the second spell, although Auckland lost the services of T. H. Williams at half-back, who unfortunately had his thumb dislocated and the flesh broken. He was taken to the Hospital, where Dr. Bond promptly dressed his injuries. Moginie, G. Carter, Henderson, O'Connor, Roche, Penn, and Parker played for the victors, while Ridings, Stewart, Smart, and Miller were to tbe front for Albert. In the match between Parnell and Union the latter won by a try to nil. Parnell retired before time was called. . Ponsonby and Albert Second Fifteens played a draw on the Metropolitan Ground, neither side scoring. The game was spiritedly contested, and Mackv, Colebourne, Goldsmith, and Ambury * for Ponsonby, and Lincoln, Ridings, Bruce, and Wheatley for Alberts diutinguished themselves. Waitem&ta defeated Gordon Second on the outer Domain by 20 points to nil. For the victors Mackie scored two tries, Stewart and P. Finlayson one each, and Stephenson three, while Mackie and Graham converted two of the tries into goals. Victoria played Manukau at Onehunga on Saturday, and won by 11 points to two. Somerfield secured two tries and W. Quick one, while a goal was kicked from another! Athletic won their match with Home Bay, at the ground of the latter, by a try to nil. S evens seoured the try while Gage* place kick failed to score. The game was well contested throughout, but the Athletics showed their superiority in combined play. The match in the outer Domain, between Auckland and Newton second fifteens, ended in a win for the latter by a try to love. [BY telegraph.—PßESS ASSOCIATION. I Wellington, Saturday. The Wellington Football Union have deoided to send a team South, leaving here