FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8581, 1 June 1891, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

There was a large attendance of the public at Potter's Ground on Saturday, to witness the first meeting of the Ponsonby and Gordon teams for. this season. The game proved a very determined and fast one, finally resulting in a victory for Ponsonby by 5 points to 2. - The enjoyment was, however, marred by an accident which' befell Mr. A. E. Braund, captain of the Ponsonby Club, towards the close - of the game." He , was running with the ball, and had been collared, : and fell to. the ground, when ono of the Gordon forwards who had i been ; chasing him stumbled over him, . and it is thought struck Braund's head with his leg, or bumped it heavilv on the ground." ' The concussion was sufficient to render Braund unconscious, but he ; subsequently, recovered . under Dr., • Erson's care, and was' sent home in a cab. Heffernan, of the Ponsonby team, wrenched himself in the side about five minutes after starting play, and retired. :y . (Ponsonby v. Gordon.—Ponsonby kicked off with the sua in their eyes, and Gordon returned well. The Ponsonby backs mulled the second kick, I and i. Gordon's ; forwards, headed by Goodall, got on a rush which took play into their opponents' 25. " Some fast open work ensued, and a nice pass back gave Jervis a chance, and he made a splendid shot at the bars, which just missed being a goal. From the kick-out play was at Ponsonby's line until Jas. Poland headed a rush to past the centre. Some. fast open work resulted, and Masefield and Cole made a run each., -but Gordon's collaring was . sure. ;, After - some give and take work, the Gordou men, drib-, , bling well, took play to Ponsonby's quarter line, where Herrold got a nice pass to Jervis. The latter made; a splendid dodgy run and broke over the line and scored, with Stichbury clinging to him, amid great applause. >■ Otway took the place kick, but no goal resulted. (Gordon ], Ponsonby 0.) Some work in neutral ground was followed by a strong * run of J. J. Poland to Ponsonby's quarters. Gordon passed out to Jervis, but Brady smothered I him well, and Brcen relieved by a fine punt past centre. A - nice , piece ?of passing by Braund, Breen, and Masefield, aided by forward work, took the ball to Gordon's 25 flag. ■ After some scram-, bling Breen and Bruce took, it nearly to the line, and James Poland was just stopped in time by McMinamin from getting over. J. J. Poland rescued Gordon by a strong rush, and open . work - finished with the: ball .in neutral territory. Rhodes made' a strong run, but bis pass was missed. Braund followed suit, and transferring well to Masefield the play was ,in Gordon's 25. McMinamin kicked up field, and Stitchbury's return wasa force. * After some exchanges work settled again in midfield, and several scrums ensued, while Ponsonby missed their passing often. A clean pass to Brcen from Braund gave the former a quick shot, which was very nearly a ; goal. From the kick out Cole and Stichbury spoilt each other in the return, and Cooke following fast, Gordon penned the blue and blacks. for some time. . Brady and Masefield by strong running took the ball to the centre; • butSmart, comingback with a finedribble, had the leather to the 25 again. After Goodall made a smart run, - the Ponsonby backs by quick work took play to centre, and a clever run by Brady had 'jo at Gordon's 25. Smart and fterrold made a fine dash up field, and Masefield had to save at his 25. From a line up Herrold ran and dodged well, and passed across to Ansley, who sent on wide to Cooke, whose pace enabled him to run round and score at the far side. Jervis took, the shot, but failed. (Gordon, 2; Ponsonby, 0.) After some ' loose fast work in midneld, Cooke intercepted a .slow pass, ami got as far as Stichbury before he was stooped. By clever work Breen relieved, and Cole made a couple of . fine runs, but both he and Rhodes were well stopped.; The Ponsonby backs missed some passes, and Gordon looked dangerous, but Brady got a nice rush on, and Masefield took to centre. After a scrum Jervis got a chance, and made a fine left foot not without success just as half-time was called. After some scrums A. Braund initiated, by a fine dodge, a nice passing run, in which he, Breen, and Cole took part, and Mills, Brady, and Rhodes followed by another, the lastnamed being Well stopped by McMinamin. Some open work jon Gordon's 25 •« line followed. A. Braund; passed to Breen, but the latter's pot was a poor one. It struck the post low . and the Gordon back failed to steady it, when Edwards, following fast, • got possession and scored. Breen placed it between the bars safely, and the scores stood Ponsonby 3, Gordon 2. After the kick-out T. Gordon made a nice run and play was in Ponsonby's twenty-five, * Where Whyte and H. Poland were daugerous until Rhodes, by . a strong dash," relieved. The Gordon forwards had it down again, and. caused Stichbury ;.'i to i force:'" Exchanges followed the kick-out, and J. J.' Poland, by a splendid follow of - his own" punt, nearly scored, Stichbury saving cleverly. Herrold, Whyte, and Jervis got a f combined run, ; which took play to their opponents' quarters, but good kicking sent it back. Caulton ran to Gordon's twenty-five," and a return charge was well stopped by- Brady. Breen and j Rhodes did some nice passing, and Braund, by punting, neutralised a clever forward rush. Some open work resulted, and Masefield made a most determined run, and passing several and getting close to the Gordon line when stopped. < The blue- and blacks pressed their opponents for some time, and scrums on Gordon's line were fiercely contested until McMinamin sent the ball back, to Breen, who marked 'cleverly. > Masefield" took a place kick, but the attempt was poor. The play worked 1 across field, and a quick pass out by Braund to Brady euabled the latter to fall over the ; line with the ball. Some Gordon- forwards;; mulled,' but the Ponsonby man secured a try. Breen made a fine attempt at goal, but the ball fell short. (Ponsonby, 4; Gordon, 2). The play was very fast and determined, each side showing good form. A dash by J. J. Poland and Why to was replied to by a break through by Cole, and fast play followed in neutral ground, Ponsonby working up steadily. A nice punt by A. Braund sent (the ball out at Gordons 25. A missed pass neutralised the advantage, and Herrold, Otway, Whyte, and Jervis did some tine work down to mid-field. Rhodes' responded by a strong dash, and Cooke and J. J. Poland got a fast run. Breen looked dangerous in a dodgy break, and Hobson, Brady, Rhodes, and Bruce distinguished themselves in openwork. Jervis marked, but Breen by a splendid return sent the ball out near Gordon's corner flag. , Masefield was stopped in his. attempt to - get over, but T the- forwards rushed the leather over, and Edwards got his second,. try. The kick at goal • was a failure. Braund.then got hurt, and retired. The play for the remaining quarter of an hour was intensely exciting. Gordon pressed PonsonLv hard, but the latter, with thirteen men, defended themselves well. Rhodes, Masefield, and Cole did some very strong work, and Gordon were menaced .in turn. Both sides struggled desperately, but no further scores followed, and the game ■ finished. -" -i- " . ' -

Grafton v. Auckland.—There was comparatively little interest manifested in this game, ana the play was not exciting.-! Grafton were superior in both back ana forward divisions and scored easily, the Dal figures being Grafton 11, Auckland 0. \ ' Helens vilt,e v; Ellerslie.—A team from Helensyillo came down ; by train and played a game against the local club at Ellerslie. The match was fairly evenly contested, but the Ellerslie team's passing and combination were superior, and they won by several points. . ' PoxsoNiiV 11. v. J i'.rvois. —Pousonby won by eight points to two, Young (2), McMillan, and Harvey getting tries,' of which two were converted by R. McConnell. Jervois' score was a goal from a. penalty kick by C. Brown. Gordon II v. North .Shore.— match was played at North Shore. Gordon proved superior in passing and combination- and won by eleven points to nil. * University v. Victoria.This match was evenly contested. University got two tries, but Victoria securing a . potted goal won by a single point. . Native Rose v. Grafton ll.—The Native Rose won after a'determined match by nine points to nil. ; :

[BY TKJ.. KG RAM. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday.ln the Senior football match, to-day. Nelson defeated Thames by nine points to nil. The game was a very fast one, but the Nelson's kicking and passing was too much for their opponents. For the winners W. Johnston scored a try and kicked a goal from the field. Billings and Lang got a .try each, end Newdick a try from which a goal was kicked. In the Junior contests. Wanderers 11. defeated Nationals by three points to one, and _ YVaitemata defeated Nelson 111. by three points to ail. .

[liY TKLKGUAI'H. —I'KIiSS ASSOCIATION. 1 Wellington, Saturday.— Wellington Club defeated Melrose this afternoon by 6 points (a goal and 3 tries) to 3 points (a potted goal). Poucko and Petone played a draw, each scoring 1 try. _ The first round for the senior championship was finished to-day, Wellington Club leading with three wins and one loss; Petone and Poneke next, each with two wins, one draw, ana one loss ; Athletics have lost two games and won two, while Melrose have been defeated in all matches.;

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