ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. Though the Senior Cup matches will k finished to-day by the second meeting v tween the Ponsonby and Gordon teams Ji?" will fight out the question of second bono' ° for the Rugby Union's Cup, the football season has a good many interesting ffiti x t yet to take place. Next Saturday win 183 a representative team from the Thame s f battle against the Auckland players aiJ.l v still quite on the cards that the Emdishm may pay us a return visit. Should th'ev „ do bo, however, the Rugby Union have ■ view a proposal, by which " the ball will i n kept rolling " for about three weeks longer Je A supplementary season of one round' c club fixtures for a trophy will be hi ran , \ and at its conclusion it is most probable tl ' a sports' meeting for footballers will 1 organised. As the net proceeds of the f,, ball matches are to be given to the ;,'"j charities, no doubt the public will attend good numbers to see the clubs tight the' 11 battles over again, for though the" <';r,f eir Club richly deserved the Senior Cu>,' t - m other teams will be only too anxious to and turn the tables upon their late vi<-t 0 ' y The year has not been financially a u'.v' prosperous one to the Rugby Union, as ihX takings have been small and the extierV!'" heavy, yet the management in a liberal sViri'» have determined to give from what thev have, and will probably in similar manner make a regular donation every year. In regard to the sports'ineeting, the idea is •> very good one, and if successfully carried out would do much to remove the few remnant of club prejudice and jealousy that exU among our players. The chief items of Yho day's programme would consist of two ! three flat races over different distance kicking and dribbling matches, and a brief game of football in costume. With the larinumber of competitors that would he m-,.V, enter, a splendid day's sport could be a -' ranged that would be at once exciting ail j interesting to players and public alike. The Senior Cup for 1888 passed, on j Saturday, into the hands of the <h?.rton Club, who disposed of their old foemen the Ponsonby men, in a very easy manner ti J contrasted stongly with the keenness of th» struggles which were wont to decide the question of superiority between the rival veterans. In the match, the Ponsonhv men were from the start overmatched in their forward division (in which the played only eight men to their o t> ponents nine), and consequent upon their inability to hold the scrums, their backs were greatly hampered, while those of the margins were in the inverse ratio left free for offensive work. The forwards were, however, not to blame for the loss of the match, as several of them played sterling games, notably Mills Gash, Hobson, and Edwards. Heileni„ii worked hard, and Mackav was of use in the scrum, but Wooller ana Bruce did not do their fair amount of work, and would have been advantageously replaced by heavier men, especially against a fast weightv team like the maroons. Among the Ponsoubv backs Arneil seemed to play with lack of spirit, and Laird and J. Braund made several errors of judgment. A. Braund, as usual, made a splendid uphill fight, and saved his team frequently, while Wakerlv did ;woil work, and m?de the best runs for his side while Stephenson also played a hard, dashm • game. Ryan was in fine fettle, and his long drops into touch were very serviceable, while Mackie again shone in deftness of picking up and smartness in getting under way. ells, Lecky, and McKenzie were the most prominent of the forwards, though Mu.ir was always close on the ball, ha\ an undue advantage in this respect by frequently playing off-side. Muir would be an excellent forward if he cured himself of this failing, and I would advise his captain to put him in the scrum. In the Auckland-Gordon match the former had all the best of the game, and are to be congratulated on their victory. For many years they have had a hard struggle, I might almost say for existence, but they alwavs came up to scratch, and it must be highly gratifying to the playeis who stuck well to the old club during her season of adversity to score a decided win against a strong club like the all blacks. The pity is that they did not start the season with as strong a back team as they now possess, for they would then have made the competition for the Senior Cup much closer than it has been. If the supplementary matches come off they will make a bold bid for supremacy, and I wish them all success.

The big score made by the Otago players against the Native team in their first match was received with some little surprise her-', although it was anticipated that Otago would win. The result of the second match, however, reversed the verdict, and considerably discounted the Southerners' victory. In regard to taking Keogh with the team, many Aucklanders have expressed surprise, stating that many better three-quarters cmid have been picked up in the colony. Tiiey apparently judged by the form shown by the Kaikorai player here last year, but 1 was always under the impression that lie was then out of form, and his play this year has greatly strengthened that opinion. During their voyage home on the Garonne the Native team, with a view of keeping as much as possible in training, will go in for dumb bells, hitting at the bag, and such like exercises. It is likely also that Mr. Scott will be able to secure a road sculling machine before the team's final departure for home, which will be of immense benefit. The team will arrive in England about three weeks before the opening of the season, and go to seme country village, where they will go in for plenty of practice and systematic training. The seventh intercolonial match between Queensland and New South Wales was played m Sydney on July i 4. when a fast and well-contested game resulted in favour of the home team bv 15 points (3 goals and 3 tries to 13 (a goal and 5 tries). The Rugby Union game in Melbourne, on Saturday, July 14, was between the possible backs (for the Englishmen's match on Auras: 1) and probable forwards versus the possible forwards and probable backs. Murray formerly of Dunedin) captained the former side and Scarborough (lately of Yorkshire) the latter, which won by eight points (two goals) to six points (one goal and two tries Murray got a try and placed a goal, and Searborough also got over the line, and the two foals registered by his side were kicked by him. Ihe game was a very even one throughout. It is stated that the father of Paul, who played fullback for the English footballers in this colony, took part in the first football match ever played in Melbourne.