FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9112, 21 July 1888, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

Notwithstanding the near approach of the match between the representative teams of Auckland and the Thames, and the former's return game with Lilywhite's English fifteen, the greatest amount of interest among footballers is just now bestowed upon the local club fixtures. Not for several seasons have three clubs been so nearly on an equality in regard to the Senior cups as are Gordon, Grafton, and Ponsonby at present. The records of these three clubs for the matches played this season stand now: —Gordon played 5 matches, won 3, drawn 2; Grafton played five, won 3, lost 1, drawn 1; Ponsonby played 6, won 3, lost 1, drawn 2. It will be seen, therefore, that should any of the three suffer a defeat in any of its impending fixtures, that its chance of gaining the pre.mierehip of the season is thereby considerably discounted. Consequently the result of the second meeting of the Gordon and Grafton teams this afternoon is eagerly awaited, and is the cause of considerable speculation. A bitterlycontested struggle is anticipated by all who follow football events in Auckland, while the players and partisans of each team feel the question of superiority to have been drawn down to such fine limits that a decided expression of opinion in favour of either fifteen is very rarely heard. Both elubx, have suffered some losses in their football etrength since last they met, but the deficiency has been remedied as well as can be done, and may be considered to affect each tide equally. From Gordon's ranks E. McCausland has gone, having left to join the Native team, while Lusk's injury also makes a serious gap in their back division, though their new fullback, White, is said to fill his place fairly well. Otway's absence from the forward division is compensated for by the inclusion of a new player (Booth), who is highly spoken of for his play against the Shore last week. Grafton loses two valuable back players in Elliott and iladigan, who have been for some time past the most consistent scorers for the maroons, and, so far asl can hear, they have not altogether succeeded in filling the vacancies. Yet their forward division is a strong and woll-tried one, and will do much to balance any little inferiority in the backs. The game, therefore, presents a very open aspect, though Gordon is slightly more fancied as the winner than their opponents. In whatever direction victory declares itself, the Ponsonby Club must necessarily advance a step closer to the premiership. Should Gordon win Ponsonby will then have a better record than Grafton, and in consequence forge into second place, while if the maroons put down their opponents, the blue and black will tie Gordon for second honours. If neither side should be able to defeat the other, and a draw ensue, such a result would also benefit Ponsonby, as Gordon would not be so far ahead as it is at present, and Grafton would be reduced to level terms. In the face of such " close pegging," therefore, it is not surprising that the supporters of the blue and black banner are manifesting quite as much agerness concerning the probable result of the game, as the partisans of each of the contending clubs. The result of last week's match between the Native team and Wellington was not unexpected here, and was pleasing to the majority of local kickists, as by the former's victory the opinion held by Aucklanders as to the superiority of their " reps." to those of the Empire City received confirmation. No doubt tne Maori players had some good luck in the game, but the defeat of the Wellingtonians m,ust be mainly attributable to their weakness in back players. From all that I hear, and can learn from the local press, Roberts and Fairbrother are the only two behind the scrum who are worthy of interprovincial honours, but in this opinion I may be mistaken. By the time the natives finish their round of New Zealand matches, I expect them to be considerably better than they are at present, as they will play in each euccessive match with more combination and head work than in the previous one. As regards the matches they have yet to play, they will meet Canterbury this afternoon, Timaru and Oamaru during the week, and Otago at Dunedin on the 28th inst. In the first of these contests, I anticipate that they will repeat their Wellington performance, as the Canterbury team, as chosen' does not impress me as being a particularly strong one, while the reports of their club fixtures from week to week have always given me the impression that the footballers of the " City of the Plains " play in rather "patchy " form, which must be the result of insufficient training and combination. The native forwards are strong and fast, and well able to hold up the scrum, while if Madigan and Elliott are well fed, they are pretty sure to score. Concerning Timaru and Oamaru, I do not know enough of the calibre of the local fifteene to predict a result with anything like certainty, and boil-overs often occur when least expected, yet I opine that neither will be " class" enough for their visitors. At Dunedin the natives will, even when strengthend by the valuable addition of McCausland to their ranks, have the toughest struggle of their Southern matches, and the excellent reputation which has come to Auckland of the Otago players causes me to expect that they will suffer there a second reverse, though I do not anticipate that it will be so crushing a defeat as that inflicted by Auckland, because the inclusion of the three new backs, and their additional experience, have certainly added to their strength. Owing to pressure upon the Herald's space last Monday, the usual reports of the Club matches last Saturday were crowded out. and a few remarks upon the play shown will no doubt be welcome. In the AucklandPonsonby match, the - former Club was greatly strengthened in her back division by three new players. Atkinson, Mell, and Caradus, who, by the form they displayed, should prove a decided acquisition to the old Club. Their forwards are heavy and strong, and did well in scrum work, but in the open play their opponents were superior. The judicious passing and clever punts into touch of A. Braund and Arneil were a conspicuous feature of the Ponsonby play, and it was to the former manoeuvre that the blue and blacks owed two of their tries. The cellaring on both sides was uniformily good, while the dribbling was fair. Of the Auckland team, Williamson, O'Connor, Henderson, and Crowe showed the best play amongst the forward division ; while Atkinson and Caradus at half would have done better if Murphy had passed more. Mell and Fisher at threequarter showed good defensive work, both kicking safely and promptly; but Carter, though making no mistakes, seemed to take things too easily. For Ponsonby, in addition to Arneil and Braund, Stephenson, Laird, Danke, and Conway all played in good form, though I think that the last-named w»uld be of more service were he placed, at threequarter, and ran more. Whiteside, though really unfit to play, made no errors at fallback, and luckily escaped any heavy falls. Mills and Hobson were conspicuous among the forwards, while Edwards and Heffernan were always close to the leather, and Wooller played better than he has done for several matches. During the game one or two players showed a tendency to offside work, Parker, Wooller, and Baxter being the worst offenders, while " dead ball " was frequently ignored by Caradus, who should know better. In the line-up a good deal of knocking-on delayed the play, for which Mackay,Moere, and Keefe were mainly responsible. These little infringements of such well-known rules should not be seen in a senior match. Iβ the match between Gordon and North Shore the latter had some bad luck, in two men having to retire. The Gordon backs woh the game for their side, though the blues made things very interesting on several occasions. Herrold played an excellent game for the victors, running, punting, and passing with judgment. He got two tries. Dixon and McCausland also showed good form. Though not witnessing the match, I have been told by a Gordon player that " Masefield'a big run in the Maori match has spoilt hig play, aa he always ran, when he should have kicked, except on one occasion, when having a clear dash in before him, he tried a difficult pot shot, which failed." This is rather a rough criticism upon the popular three-quarter, and I cannot accept it as an accurate opinion of his play until I see that he repeats such alleged injudicious style. Booth, a new player, showed good form in the line up, while Murray played a good game all through. Tanfield was the best of the Shore backs, and bore out the good opinion I previously expressed, while Brcen and Mays also did fair work. Johnson, Harper, and Murphy were the pick of the blues' forwards. At a meeting of the Gordon club held on Thursday evening, Mr. Frank Moginie was elected captain of the club, vice E. McCausland—about as good a choice as could be made, as the new skipper possesses experience, firmness, and courtesy. By the Mararoa, yesterday, Joe and Alfred Warbrick took their departure for the South, being accompanied bv E. McCausland. I understand that in order to have the greatest amount of rest for his injured ankle, that Joe is to proceed direct to Melbourne, and there await his team, while Alfred Warbrick and McCausland will join the native fifteen at Dunedin, and probably will play against

Otago. A good number of footballers assembled on the wharf, and gave the trio a good "send off." MISCELLANEOUS. The draw between the Australian cricketers and the Gentlemen of England is regarded by the Home News as unsatisfactory, though the London papers are jubilant at the result. The Home News remarks of the colonials : — " With more than 300 runs to save being beaten in one innings, and with the prestige I of victory all on the other side, they, with the loss of only one wicket, ran up the score within 9S of their opponents'. There is no gainsaying the significance of this feat, which, if not appreciated in this country, will be received with lively satisfaction in the Australian colonies. Trie match, altogether, was a memorable one, and will be handed down to all time for two notable occurrences. One was the grand performance of the champion Dr. Grace, who is still the marvel of the cricket world, and whose powers show no sign whatever of abatement. The other was the tremendous hitting of Bonnor, who drove the English bowlers to all parts of the field and placed his hits with a judgment which has seldom been excelled. Auckland oarsmen are greatly surprised at the excelent form recently shown by the sculler Searle, while his splendid time of 19mm (the best on record) over the championship course, in his late match with btansbury, stamps him as a " hot member," and lifts him almost into the rank of the first class scullers of the world. There are not wanting those in our little city who predict that the next champion after Peter Kemp will spell his name Searle.