ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8885, 23 May 1892, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

! FOOTBAIL. 1 WINS FOR PARNELL, CIT!", AND NEWTON. The weather on Saturday was in every way favourable for the irame of football, and the ground was in splendid tondition. There were over one thousand spectators in attendance at Potter's, the priiuipal interest being taken in the Suburbs-City contest, but the Parnell-Grafton match aso attracted a considerable crowd. The (rand-stand, which was well patronised, accommodated a large number of ladies, who appeared to be highly interested in the proceedings. CITY V. SO3UIUJS. In this match Mr. J. Arneil acted as referee, and Messrs. E. O'Hare and Skinner were the umpires. Tin teams were as follow : —City : Poland, Jjlewden, Pilkington, Wylie, Golding, Mercer, Stone, Maynard, O'Connor, Langton, Parker, Valentine, Cole, MeConneil, Rogers. Suburbs : Brennan, Dacre, Davis, Hales, Le'theart, McSweeney, Major, Murphy, Otway, Pilkington, Peace, Rhodes, Smith, Connolly, T. Wilson. Dacre kicked off for t'.ie Suburbs, and the latter making a smart lush the leather was almost immediately in close proximity to the City goal. A short struggle here took place, with the result that City were compelled to force. After the kick-out the game became very exciting. Rhodes gotthe ball, and made a smart run, but threw on when caught. Suburbs soon afterwards were allowed a

free kick within the City 23. Peace took it, but failed to score, although the attempt was a good one. City then made a determined forward rush, and were making good headway, when Stone played off-side, and the ball had to be brought back. Play now continued tor a time in the Suburbs'quarters, where Stone did some serviceable forward play for City, and Poland followed suit with some fine kicks from the back. SVylie, Down, and Rogers also continually threatened to score by combined rushes. Murphy, however, responded gamely, making a smart run, followed by a judicious kick into touch, thereby bringing the leather uncomfortably near the City goal. City, however, were not to be defeated so easily, and replied with a forward rally, but this was spoilt by a smart kick by Peace. Some close play near the City 25 ensued, scrums being the order of the day. Rhodes at length got away with the ball, but was laid low by Blewden, but not before lie had passed to Hales. The latter, unfortunately, was forced into touch almost before he had got into his stride. This brought the ball well into the City side, but the latter made a determined response, and the ball was carried into the centre again. Here it remained for a time, until Maynard spoilt a kick by Hales, and City following up with a brilliant rush. Mercer seized the ball and made a splendid run ; but he held on to the ball too long, and thereby lost his chance of passing. Still the ball was kept in uncomfortable proximity to the Suburbs' goal, and eventually crossed the line; but Peace returned splendidly by a dodgy run and a useful kick. The City forwards, however, returned once more with a strong attack, and Parker fell across the line, thereby making the first score amidst loud and prolonged applause. O'Connor took the kick, but failed to increase the score, which now stood : City, 2 ; Suburbs, 0. Soon after the kick-out the ball again invaded the Suburbs' quarters ; but Murphy, the eentrethreequarter, relieved his side by a fine run and a useful kick ; but this relief was only temporary, for the attack was almost immediately renewed, and with increased vigour. Suburbs, however, rallied once more. Rhodes being in the van. He made a dashing run, but was brought to earth by Cole. He passed to Hales, who managed to get his kick. The City men were now placed on the defensive, in order to repel a determined invasion of their quarters. A close struggle was the result, but at length O'Connor was seen coining through his opponents carrying the ball with him. Suburbs, however, seemed as if resolved upon not being denied a score, and mainly owing to the brilliant forward play of Dacre, carried the- ball with a great rush right up to the City goal line ; but here a fine- opportunity of scoring was lost by Peace, who failed to take the ball when passed to him. Stone by a judicious piece of dribbling then relieved his side of any immediate danger. Cole followed suit with a fine run, but Blewden mulled the ball when passed to him. Goldie, however, got hold of the leather, but was soon laid low. Shortly after this City was allowed a free kick outside their opponents' 25. O'Connor took it, but failed in nis attempt at goal. Half-time was then called. On resuming scrums were the order of the day for a time, but at length the Suburbs' forwards made aline rush. Again, and again, and again, they renewed their determined assaults on the City goal line ; but again, and again, and again were they driven back by equally determined efforts on the part of their opponent. Otwayand others tried to get away with the ball, but without success. At length some useful kicks and a few forward rustics on the part of City brought the ball into the centre of the field, where it remained for some time. Blewden and O'Connor then made spurts for City, and the forwards also made a brilliant rush, bringing the ball dangerously near the Suburbs goal, where an exciting struggle ensued. Rogers managed; to get across the line just beside the goal post. Maynard, however, failed to convert the try, and the score stood : City, 4 Suburbs, 0. After the kick out Hales made a fine run and passed to Peace, who covered a good stretch of ground before he was laid low. Suburbs now looked like scoring. Rhodes got the_ ball, and when brought down the forwards took up the running, and City was compelled to force. A fast game ensued, the City forwards invading their opponents' quarters with great determination, nut Dacre, with perhaps the finest display of dribbling in the game, carried the leather with one rush well into the City 25, where it was stopped by Blewden, and returned to the centre. Suburbs again brought the leather up, but only to see it driven back once more, by a rally headed by Cole, close to their own goal line. However, the tables were yet again turned, and when the ball was near the City's 25 Otway made a fine pot at goal, but missed. Time was getting on, and the game was getting more and more exciting. City with a run that swept everything before it came right up to Suburbs' goal, and Cole got in right between the posts. Goldie took the kick, but no goal resulted. This left the score : City, 6; Suburbs, 0. Soon after the kick out Otway and Peace each made a useful run for Suburbs, bringing the leather close upon the City line, where a scrum followed. Stone played offside, and Suburbs got a free kick, which Peace took, but was unsuccessful. Time was then called, leaving the score City 6 Suburbs 0

PARNELL V. GRAFTON. The scene of this match was No. 2 ground. Mr. J. Webster acted as referee, and Messrs. W. Gardiner and J. Donaldson were the umpires. The following were the players Parnell: Hedges, Jervis, Kissling, Reid, Elliott, Edmonds, Ronayne, Wright (captain) Clark, Speight, Geard, Mellis, WhytP, Connelly, Twiiuune. Grafton: Taylor, Gaudin, McConnell, McManus, Branson, Whiteside, Brady, Caulton (captain), Binney, Montgomerie, Bruce, Thomas, O'Brien, Tracey, Barton, Walker. _ The latter two were juniors. Wright kicked off from the southern end, and some rather slow play ensued ; but things were made more lively when Binney seized the ball, and making a good run, carried it into the Parnell 25. Here some scrums took place, and at length Elliot, by a judicious and clever dribble, invaded the Grafton quarters. Jervis now made several smart runs, being assisted by Edmonds, and got the leather into the Grafton 25. At this point several scrums took place, but the game became very exciting when Jervis again lifted the ball and dashed across the line, thereby securing the first try. He took the kick himself, and landed a neat goal amid great applause. Parnell 5, Grafton 0. After the kick-out Binney carried the ball along into Parncll's 25, where some slow play was the order for a time, Parnell gradually working the oval into the centre of the field. At length Edmonds got away, and after a good run, which landed him near the Grafton line, lie passed to Elliott, who got across. Jervis took the kick, but failed to send the ball over the bar. The score now stood : Parnell, 7; Grafton, nil. Gaudin kicked off, but the ball was soon in the Grafton 25. However, mainly owing to the exertions of Whiteside and Brady, the Parnell territory was subjected to a dangerous invasion. Jervis stopped the rush for a time, but the Grafton team were again coming along when_ Ronayne, getting a mark, sent the oval into Grafton's 25. Here Whyte received the ball from Elliott, and ran right across the line, scoring the third try for Parnell. Jervis converted, and left the score : Parnell, 12 i Grafton, nil. Grafton uow made a de-

termined rally, showing that their reverses had not daunted them, and by the combined exertions of forwards and backs, in which Caulton showed up prominently, carried the leather into threatening proximity to the Parnell coal line. After a sharp struggle here Caulton sent the ball across, and Tracey, following up with commendable alacrity, secured a try. Caulton, however, failed to convert the same into a goal, and when halftime was called the score stood : Parnell, 12: Grafton, '2. The game had hardly resumed before the ball was in Parnell's territory, and Gaudin made an unsuccessful pot at goal. A very interesting bit of play then ensued. Jervis, receiving the ball from Edmonds, made a brilliant spurt, and seeing 'his opportunity passed to Reid ; but the latter unfortunately parted company with the ball after crossing the line, and a Grafton man picked it up. The game now opened out, and some line passing was noticeable, when Elliott made a useful run. Gaudin, however, replied with a good kick, which gave Jervis the leather, and he, by a brilliant run carried the same close to the Grafton goal line, where a scrum took place. Jervis got the ball again, and made an unsuccessful attempt to pot a goal. Gratton then rallied and made an almost irresistible onslaught upon their opponents' territory, and Gaudin, receiving the ball from McConnell, potted a neat goal. This left the score: Parnell, 12; Grafton, 6. After the kick off the Grafton men were again put on the defensive, but Caulton relieved his aide by a smart run. Ronayne, however, by another run renewed the at tack, to which the Grafton forwards responded by a grand rush, which did not stop until the ball had been carried right over the Parnell line. No score, however, resulted. Some interesting play continued for a few minutes after this, when the ringing of the bell brought the game to a conclusion, and left Parnell victorious, the scores being :

Parnell 12 Grafton 6 NEWTON* V, NORTH SHORE. This match was contested on the North Shore Recreation Grounds, and resulted in an easy victory for Newton. Harvey kicked off for the North Shore, and for some time the play was kept fairly well in the centre of the field. Siddel, however, at length by a useful run reached the .Shore 25, where Wilson made a futile pot at goal. The North Shore men were now kept pretty continually on the defensive, and Murray secured the first try for Newton, which he converted into a goal. Newton 5, North Shore nil. The play still continued in favour of Newton, though North Shore made frequent and determined rallies, until eventually the former were allowed a free kick in the vicinity of their opponents' 25, from which Donald landed a neat goal. Newton,B; North Shore, nil. Play had not long been resumed when, owing to Emerson holding the ball, Newton got another free kick, and Murray scored another goal. Newton, 11 ; North Shore, nil. After some give and take play the Newton forwards made brilliant rush, which was eventually stopped by Lankham, who kicked out; but Newton were not to be thwarted, for from the throw in Siddel seized the ball and scored a try. This was converted into a goal bv Donald, leaving the score: Newton, 16; North Shore, nil. It was not' long before another try for Newton was secured by Clarke, but though the kicked looked an easy one, Murray failed to increase the score. Newton, IS ; North Shore, nil. Half-time was then called. North Shore now played a hard game, Gerrard's work being especially conspicuous, but their opponents were too strong, and Mills got over the line again, but Murray failed to convert. Newton, 20; North Shore, nil. After the kick out play soon fixed itself in the vicinity of North Shore's 2.5, and after some loose play Donald again scored a try for Newton. Mills, however, once more failed to kick a goal, and the score now stood : Newton, 22 ; North Shore, nil. This remained unaltered when time was called, the game finishing Newton 22 North Shore 0 SECOND FIFTEENS. Parnell v. Grafton.—Parnell won by 14 points to nil. Brodie, Peachy, Brett, and Mellis secured tries, two of which were converted into goals by Mitchell. City v. Suburbs.City won by default. Newton v. North Shore.—Newton won by default. THIRD FIFTEENS. Parnell v. Ponsonby.— had secured 15 points when half-time was called. The Parnell then retired. Suburbs (a) v. Suburbs (b).—Suburbs (B) won by 8 points to 5. For the winners Ramsbottom scored two tries, and Lyle, 1, and McLeod scored 1 try for Suburbs ( A).

Grafton v. Newton*.— won by 11 points to nil. Jones secured 2 tries, and Wilson akid Kuight scored 1 each. Jefferies converted one of the tries into a goal. OTHER MATCHES. Britomart beat Native Rose by 4 to nil. Melrose beat Victoria by 18 to nil. True Blue beat Carlton by 5 to nil. Otahuhu 11. beat Ellerslie 11. by 10 to nil. Terrace beat Clarence by 14 to nil. ASSOCIATION* FOOTBALL. —H.M.S. RINGAROOMA V. RANGERS. This match was played in the Domain Cricket Ground, there being only a limited number of spectators. The mitch resulted in a draw, there being no score on either side. Mr. C. C. Dacre invited the teams to partake of refreshments on the pavilion. THAMES FOOTBALL. Thames, Saturday. — Splendid weather prevailed to-day, consequently there was a large attendance to witness the several Union fixtures. The Suburban v. City South match terminated in a rather unsatisfactory manner. The first spell was very evenly contested, and neither side scored. In the second spell however, McCarthy, for the Suburbans, scored a try, but the attempt at goal proved fruitless. Shortly afterwards, Gibbons, for City South, made a shot at goal, but the ball struck the post and glanced off. It beiag rather dark at the time the officials were in doubt about the result, and hesitated about giving a decision, consequently no further play took place. In all probability, however, the match will have to be played over at some future date. In the County v. City North match, the latter were defeated by 10 points to 4. Watene and .T. Flett scored a try each for County, and both were converted by A. McCallum. W. McGregor potted a clever goal from the field for City North. The junior fixture, City North 11. v. County 11., resulted in a win for the former by 6 points to nil.

Belore the commencement of the games a quarter-mile foot race took place between several members of the City Football Club, which was won easily by Nicholai, the scratch man, Hastings being second, and Dodd third. SOUTHERN FOOTBALL,. Hokitika, Saturday. — The Sydenham (Christchurch) Football Club played the first of a series of matches on the West Coast at Hokitika, to-day. The teams were very evenly matched, and the game was stubbornly contested all through. Hokitika got a try in the first spell, from which a goal was kicked. Sydenham got a try in the second spell, at a difficult angle, and die not enhance the score. Hokitika thus won by five points to two. About fifty footballers, including Sydenham, go North on Monday, to play a series of matches.

Dunk din, Sunday,—ln the football match, Alhambra beat Kaikorai by 12 points to 8. CYCLING. The first afternoon run of the newly-formed Auckland Bicycle Club was held last Saturday, the destination being Panmure. There was a good master of riders, and all were well satisfied with their afternoon's outing. During the afternoon the captain, E. Reynolds, was accidentally ridden over by a member of a riding party. It is pleasant to note that the gentleman who caused the accident immediately turned back with apologies, and offered assistance, and the cyclist (who was, fortunately, unhurt), on his part, was equally courteous, as the affair was, lie was convinced, purely accidental. The Club hold their first road race on Queen's Birthday, Tuesday next, and Mr. Lecky has declared the following handicaps, and the race promises an equally close finish to the last effort Reynolds, scratch; Selby"3os.; Dacre, 3m.; Nicholson and Service, 4Jin.; Firth, 5m.; Moore, 6m.; Low, Shin.; Bolton, 9m.; Buchanan, 10m.; Taylor, 11m.; Baker, lljm.; Pilkington, 13im.; Cobrough, 14m The race starts at three p.m., and the winner may be expected to reach the Parnell firebell any time between a quarter-past four and five o'clock.

AUCKLAND BOWLING CLUB. There was a good attendance at the Bowling Green on Saturday, when the following matches were played .— No. l Rink. Newcombe v. Ross Mahoney Rose llardie Carlaw Winks (skip) .. 1G Scott (skip) .. .. 28 No. 2 Rink. King v. Sutherland Mennie Lyell Carrick Dingwall Heron (skip) „ 38 Millar (skip) « „ 34 No. 3 Rink. Jones v. Holland Thomson Hooper Kingswell Edwards Frater (skip).. .. 22 Stewart (skip) .. 28 It was decided at an after meeting in the pavilion that the usual winding-up day for the season should be heldjto-morrow (Queen's Birthday), when a series of matches will be played, commencing at ten a.m. Lunch will be served on the green at one o'clock, and play will be resumed at two p.m. It is anticipated that there will be a good muster of members.