FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7402, 10 August 1885, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

FON'SOyBY V. GRAFIfOSi ThS return match In the second roun<! for the Association Cup between the Ponsonby and Grafton clubs was played on the cricket ground on Saturday, and resulted after a splendidly contested game in a disputed win for Ponsonby by five points (a goal) to love. The weather was good for football, but the ground was very heavy and cut up from the severe struggle of the previous Saturday. Biggs, on behalf of Grafton (maroons), won both choice of grounds and goals, and decided to play with the wind during the first 45 minutes. Ponsonby, who were led by J. Araeil, had to play two new men in their tesm, Wooler and Hescott taking the places of Maoky and Besant among the forwards. Lecky was incapacitated from playina for Grafton through falling off a roof at Home Bay on Friday, and Chapman took the crack forward's place. Ponsonby kicked off, and Brown returned the oval neatly into touch at the middle flag, whereascrimmage was quickly formed, and loose work enabled the blue and blacks to open the attack upon the maroons. A good dribble by the forwards and a charge into Ryan at back, who claimed ft free kick, but which was not allowed, enabled Bruce to throw himself into the goal line with the ball. Here the maroons cleared their line by their superior weight, and a lone kick out by Brown removed the tight Into neutral ground. Soon after Grafton were pressed again, and a force resulted after ten minutes hard run. Kyan sent the oval down the ground, and Arneil pun.ed Into touch. Askew passed to W hiteside, and the half-back was wall into his stride and threatening the marooua line when Edmonds stopped his run by a good tackle. Grafton pulled themselves together, ami good forward work by Biggs, Gardner, and Von Sturmer ran the ball up the ground where Pearce gained ground by » q ui <* dodgy run across, passing W hiteside and Davy easily. The colours responded with a fine rush, in which Mclntyre carried the bad through, and Askew had a clear run in, but »he speedy Ryan overhaulad him at the ..»• yard flag, where in falling the three-quarter back threw the ball forward, and K. Whiteside, who was in waiting, ran right jl but the ball was called back for throwing m. A very neat punt of the colours captain from the centre sent the ball into touch five or six yards from the corner flag, where play centred for a few minutes, but Grafton defended their goal in tine style, Cooper, Edmonds, and Brown being very serviceable in stopping the rushes of the colours dribblers. Half-time was called with a clean sheet still on the board, although the maroons had warmed up well during the last ten minutes, and had by far the best of the play. Upon resuming the game was of a give-and-take nature, the clever tackling of the Grafton backs stopping all Whiteside's and Davy's runs, while rather reckless passing on the part of the maroons gave the colours an advantage. Upon one occasion the maroons bid fair to score, with the ball well In Ponsonby's stronghold opposite the posts, when a throw back of Pearce's stopped the chance of scoring, and Ponsonby ran the ball almost to Grafton's '25-yard flag. The ball came out of a loose scrummage about 30 yards from the goal, and K. W hiteside kicked at it, sending it high in the air into the maroons' line. Brace followed up well, and, the oval rebounding from a spectator, gave the forward an easy try just across the goal-line. Grafton, as might be expected, claimed that the ball was dead upon striking a spectator, but the Ponsonby umpire and the referee ruled otherwise, and the try was allowed. This decision was not a very popular one, and is contrary to the rule that has been in existence since the New South Wales team was here in 1832. Arneil placed the ball for Daniel, who, although it was at a difficult angle, and the ball rolled over, a very pretty gaol was landed, the ball clearing the bar by about a foot, amid loud applause. Grafton now nerved themselves up to the fray, and made most determined onslaughts on the colours. Byan went op to three-quarter back, and Pearce, Cooper, and Madigan worked strenuously behind the scrum, but they could not get through the quick and active colours, who seemed everywhere where wanted, their clever passing getting their team out of many difficulties when assailed by the maroons. As time wore on the excitement of the crowd, whose sympathy was all with the Grafton men, grew intense, and in spite of the efforts of a few, they encroached more than half way in one side of the ground. Ryan, by a sharp run, ran behind the spectators up the touch line, and had passed all but Arneil, who stopped him about a dozen yards from the gaol line. R. Skeen, one of the Ponsonby forwards, was laid-out with a kick on the head, and had to retire about a quarter of an hour before " no-side " was called. Until time was called with the ball, at Grafton's quarter flag, nothing further was done, and the game ended as stated above. For the winners. Askew, Arneil, R. Whiteside. Young, Mclntyre, Bruce, McConnell, and Pilkington distinguished themselves; while for Grafton, Stewart, Pearce, Cooper, Brown, Ryan, Edmonds, Biggs, Von Sturmer, and Veale were to the front. Messre. G. A. Orchard and A. H. Cotter were umpires, and Mr. J. C. Macky was referee. AUCKLAND V. GORDON, This match was also played in the Cricket Ground on Saturday, and resulted in a win for Gordon by four points £o nil. F. Clayton led the Gordon (green), and G. Carter Auckland (blue and white), who won the toss, and played with the wind in their favour. In the first spell the play was pretty even, but rather in favour of Gordon. A rather indiscreet kick of McDermott enabled S. Goodman, who was playing far out from the scrum, to have a very easy run in, and the plaoe kick, wbfth was taken by Crowe, ended in no further addition to the score. When ■ides had changed ends the greens, owing to their superior backs, had again the best of it. From a scrum that was formed almost on the colours' line, Crowe, by almost superhuman efforts, walked over the line with two or three blue and whites on his back, and scored try No. 2 for the greens. F. Clayton failed to oonvert the try into a goal, and the score stood—Gordon, 4 points; Auckland, 0. Roche made about one of the best runs of the day, and G. Carter also distinguished himself with a fine spurt for the blue and whites. Lusk oould not be denied in his punting and back play for Gordon, while Jordan at three quarter, and C. Clayton among the forwards, worked with a will. It is said that the Auckland and Gordon three-quarter backs are going to be reported to the Association for a wrangle they carried on, it being the only incident to mar the friendliness of the game. NORTH SHORE V. ALBERT. This match was to have been played at Devon port, but owing to the Albert team failing to turn up the match fell through. North Shore, who were all present, claim the match as a win. A telephone was sent over in the afternoon, asking the local team to arrange for a future Saturday, but, of course, this proposal could not be entertained. Lite between Waitemata and Arawa resaueaiin a draw—neither side scoring. Selwyn defeated Newmarket by a try •eoured by Ryan to love. Havoll also got a disputed try for the winners. Roseberry won their match with Cheltenham by five points to nil. E. Mell and J. Wakerley played well for the winners. Ponsonby Second had an easy win against Home Bay by six points (threee tries) to nil. Fisher, Walker, Lawford, and Steadman showed for the winners, and Tarbutt, Nightingale, and Stichbury, were to the front for Home Bay. The strong wind blowing spoilt the place kicking. The match between Excelsior and Hobson resulted in favour of the former by a goal to love. The Church of England Grammar School House Club defeated St. Stephen's Native School Second by ten points to nothing. Maunsell and F. Dawson scored the tries, Which Stevens converted into goals. For the school Maunsell, Stevens, F. Dawson and E. Dawson, and Brodie were to the front; while Fountain, Marshall, and Tnrner played well for the defeated. The match between Gordon and Albert Second fifteen, played on the outer Domain on Saturday, resulted, after a good match, in which Gordon had rather the best of the play, In a win for the Albert by two points (a try) to nothing. Grafton Second went to Onehunga, where they defeated the Manukau by seven points to nil* J. Cosson and F. Ohlson each scored a try, one of which W. Speight converted into a goal. Otway, Shields, C. Machie, J. Muir, Hill, and Hazeldine played well for Grafton,' while Hunt, Mays, McCarthy, and Leahy were to the point for the home team. Church of England Grammar School had a VlflfcQjy over Clifton in the Domain on Satur*

day by four points (two tries) to nil. Moon secured both touches, but the wind was too strong for place kicking. Kummer, Jervois, wynne, Hunt, and Battley played well for Clifton; while Moon, Pritt, Short, Stevens, Jordan, Fountain, and Kigby distinguished themselves for the school.