FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7645, 24 May 1886, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

PONSONBY V. GORDON. The matoh for the Rugby Union's senior cup, between |Ponsonby and Gordon F.O.'s, proved the most exciting contest of the season, and resulted in a win for the blue and blacks by a try (two points) to nil. It was played on the Newmarket ground before about 2000 spectators. The weather waa cold, with a slight wind blowing down the ground, during the first forty-five minutes. ( Considerable improvements have been made in the arrangements of the ground since the Union have decided upon playing permanently at Newmarket, but at the same time it has been suggested that a second line of flags should be used to keep the spectators back from the touch line, which would be much improved if cut. Ponsonby (blue and black), who were led by J. Arneil, were slightly the favourites, while Gordon (green) were captained by J. J. Poland, and had many supporters. The greens, winning the toss elected to defend the northern goal, and Ponsonby kicked off with the wind. The ball not being returned from Gordon's stronghold, play centred in their twenty-five immediately. Fast work by tho colours, wingmen soon told its tale, and Gordon had to touchdown to save their line two minutes after starting. In fact the first term was a series of forces for the greens, who were driven behind four times, casting a large amount of work upon the backs to stop the rashes of colours' forwards, and it seemed as if the greenß had their running men too close to the scrum. Ponsonby, on the other hand, who were upon the offensive for a considerable time, were repeatedly marking, R. Whiteside seouriug.Beveral, but, the angles were too sharp. One shot was made from the centre of the ground, but the distance was too great. The tackling was good on both tides, L. Meldrum stopping the colours' fast man repeatedly in the first spell, which closed without either side crossing the line ; the colours having had rather the best of it. Play was very fast, there being almost an entire absence of packed scrummages in which the greens' weight would have told. Several of the Ponsonby forwards showed a disposition to be offside. Such play is not football, and only brings their game into contempt. There was little passing, the forwards being too good, and there seemed a lack of combination among the greens in this respect. With the wind behind them on resuming, Gordon improved their position, the colours acting on the defensive, but Arneil's aconrate punting and collaring, and Davy's tackling combined with R. Whiteside's sharp runs stopped several good rushes of the greens, among whom J. J. Poland was conspicuous with severallfine runs.making a splendid one in the centre, while Jordon played a hard game at three-quarter, and Binney in the forward division kept well on the ball. Tho colours clearing their line took the oval well up the ground, where the greens fought itubbornly for evrry inch of ground. The match looked like a drawn game till the colours' forwards swept down on the Gordon full-back, who had the ball on the goal line, and McConnell took it over, but Parker was too quick for Lusk, and scored the try. Daniels took the place-kick, but failed to score further. Gordon, by a grand rush from al- * most their own goal," made the game most exciting in Ponsonby's 25, where Poland threw forward to Heed, who potted at goal, and the oval going wide.L. Meldrum followed up quickly and touched down. The ball was called back, and a match which had been roost splendidly contented up to this point was somewhat marred by the crowd, who rushed the ground and showed signs of dissent at tho decision. Upon being hacked off the leather hovered about the colours' goal for a time, and cries of "Go it Gordon," with counter calls for the defending team, filled the air. Ponsonby, clearing their lines through the greens being rather too anxious to score, removed the taene of play to Gordon's ! 25, where the greens were hard pressed for the remaining few minutes of play, and the whistles were blown with the ball almost in neutral ground. For Ponsonby, Arneil and R. Whiteside were prominent among the backs, the former handling big men well. Davy allowed few men to pass him, while in the forward division Keefe, McConnell, and Bruce was always well on the ball. The Gordon men, who had rather the pull of the weights, did not play the forward game expected, but it must be said they worked hard right through the game, showing better form in the latter part of it. Behind the scrum Poland, L. Meldrum, and Jordan were most notioeablo, while Reed also played well, but seemed to tackle rather high. It may also be mentioned that passing should have been more prominent. Lußk was all there at full back, kicking splendidly, and made but one mistake. Among the forwards, Binney, W. Meldrum, Ansley, and Clayton were to the front. Messrs. F. D. Clayton and A. H. Cotter umpired, while Mr. W. W. Robinson was chosen referee. Upon the ground and after the matoh considerable dissatisfaction was shown in regard to the ball being called back from Reed's pot shot. It would seem that this should not have arisen, as we thiuk many were led away by the impression that tho ball was called back for Meldrum's run in. It was stated on Saturday that the matter would be brought before the Union. NORTH SHORE V. ORAITON. Grafton journeyed to Devonport on Saturday, and played North Shore on the recreation ground. Ryan captained the visitors, while A. Burgess led the local team. The maroons had the advantage at the opening of the game, but the blues forwards improved, and the game became very even. The match was a splendid contest between the forwards, the backs doing but little work. Warbrick made several runs for Graf but the tackling of Askew was too g6od, otherwise the North Shore backs were weak. For Grafton Cooper, Madigan, and T. Brown, played a hard game, and all the forwards did good work. At call of time neither side had crossed the line, and the matoh was a draw. Native Rosa defeated Jervois by a goal kicked from the field by Haslam to a try. The goal was disputed, and it is to come before the association for settlement. The match between Victoria and Excelsior was won by the former by 38 points to nil. Montrose won their match with West End by 4 points to love. GORDON 11. V. ATHLETIC. This match was played at Newmarket, and resulted in any easy win for Gordon by eight pointß. Athletic played a hard forward game, but the passing of the Gordon was too much for them. Poulson secured the first try, but being at a difficult angle, Somerfield failed to score. A few minutes after, Somerfield dodging among the forwards, dropped a pretty goal. In the second spell play was almost confined to Athlotio's 25. Meldrum, in the last ten minutes, secured a well-deserved try. For the winners Wynyard, Gaunt, and Kissling made some fine runs, while Waters, Wynyard, and Grattan were to the fore among the forwards. For Athletic, Ramsay, Carr, Hazleden, Atkinson, and Brabazon particularly shone. The match between Waitemata and Auckland Second, played on the Metropolitan ground, resulted in a win for the former by 19 points to nil. Tries were scored by Stephenson (2), Mackie (2), and Mackie, while goals were kicked by Gillespie (2) and Smith. [by TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Nelson, Saturday. The Wellington Union Football team arrived this morning, and played their first match here against the Nelson Club this afternoon, when .the local team won by a goal to nothing. The visitors play Prince Albert Club' on Monday, and they are to be entertained by both these Nelson clubs. Our Mongonui correspondent writes :— A number of the Auckland Timber Company's mill employees resolved to have a social gathering on the evening of the sth instant, to celebrate the marriage of the manager's sister, Miss Rhodes. About 80 adults, with a fair proportion of children, assembled in the Pitt-street Social Hall, at eight p.m., and thoroughly enjoyed themselves until after midnight. After the chairman's opening remarks, the programme was gone through until the Rev. Mr. Thomson gave a suitable short address, when the chairman's duties ended, and the M.C.'s began, games and dancing being added to the musical items, The catering was all that could be desired, and did credit to the married ladies who provided the refreshments. The visitors, as represented by Mr. Cain, acknowledged their pleasure in being present, in reply to a few words by the chairman. " Auld Lang Syne" sung by all, ended this social gathering, the first of its kind in Mongonui.