ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8987, 19 September 1892, Page 6

ATHLETICS.

— FOOTBALL/ VICTORIES FOR PONSONBY AND GRAFTON. ■ , t There was only a poor attendance at Potter's Paddock to witness the Rugby Union football contests on Saturday afternoon. There would doubtless have been a much larger attendance but for the counter attraction at Ellerslie. The games were not of a very interesting character, the PonsonbySuburbs match receiving the largest amount of attention. Ponsonby won by 27 points to 7, Riley securing no less than four, tries. The match between City and Grafton was little better than a scratch match, City being represented by a very weak team. Only two half-hour spells were played, Grafton winning by 13 points to nil. Great excitement was created by the struggle between Ponsonby 111. and City 111., the latter winning by 9 points to nil. PONSONBY V. SUBURBS. Owing to numerous delays it was nearly half-past three before play commenced. Andrews kicked off for Suburbs, and Ponsonby was at once placed upon the defensive; but some clever passing brought the oval to the centre. Masefield and Braund made a fine passing run, but Williams replied with a useful dribble. A long kick by Riley, followed by a run by Airey, brought the oval into the Suburbs 25. Here Dae re headed a tine dribbling rush, which once more put Ponsonby on the defensive. The blue and black forwards, however, were not long in coining back. Langsford picked up and passed to Masefield, but the latter failed to take the bull. Almost immediately afterwards Roberts received a pass beautifully, and,' after a brilliant run, scored the first try for Ponsonby. Flynn failed to convert: Ponsonby, 2; Suburbs, 0. Hales got on a rush, but Stichbury saved well, and once again Suburbs v were called upon to defend. Riley at length picked up, and after a very clever feinting run secured the second try. Flynn, though he made a good attempt, failed to convert: Ponsonby, 4; Suburbs, 0. From the kick-out Ponsonby came back with a strong rush, aud Oruiekshank got across the line. Although the kick was an easy one Flynn again failed to convert. Ponsonby, 6; Suburbs, 0. The blue and blacks still kept up the attack, and after some extraordinarypassing Riley received the oval, and sailed in almost without opposition. Roberts took the kick, but failed: Ponsonby, 8; Suburbs, 0. Roberts made a good run, and passed to Masefield, who kicked to Fellowes. The latter responded with a clever run, and play centred for a time. Masefield came right through his opponents bv a clever feinting run, but Hales managed to save his side in time, and sent the ball back to the centre. Riley hero picked up and passed to Masefield, who ran straight in right behind the posts. Flynn converted : Ponsonby, 13 ; Suburbs, 0. Suburbs now made a strong response, and made things very uncomfortable for Ponsonby for a time. Rtiodes made a good run, and play went on, within the Ponsonby 25. Ponsonby made a rally, and when half-time was called the play was in the centre of the field. In the second spell Ponsonby were the first to assume the aggressive; but Suburbs soon responded, and the blue and blacks were compelled to defend. Masefield made a useful run, and Leitiiart made a fine run and kick ;and Hales following up smartly secured the ball, and shot like a flash across the line. Hales took the kick aud converted. Ponsonbv, 13 ; Suburbs, 5. Ponsonby came back with a. great rush, and after an exciting scramble in Suburbs 25, Masefield made a pot at goal, but failed. Roberts, however, followed up fast, and scored. Airey failed to convert : Ponsonby, 15; Suburbs, 5. The blue-and-blacks again swept along with an irresistable rush, and Riley secured another try, but no goal resulted : Ponsonby, 17; Suburbs, 5. Almost immediately afterwards, Ponsonby again attacked, and Riley again scored, the try being converted : Ponsonby. 22; Suburbs, 5. Masefield received the hall from a pass, and shooting across the line scored another try, from which another goal was kicked: Ponsonby, 27; Suburbs, 5. Roberts made a poor return, the ball going out near the Pousonby's corner Hag. From tiie throw-in Andrews scored a try for Suburbs. No goal resulted : Ponsonby, 27 : Suburbs, 7- Riley made a useful run, and the Ponsonby forwards followed up, but when in a few minutes time was called, the scores still stood : Ponsonby 27 Suburbs 7 GRAFTON V. CITY. After considerable trouble the City captain managed to get what was little better than a scratch team together, and it was decided that the game should consist of two half-hour spells. Grafton had the best of it during almost the whole time, though more than once their opponents made things uncomfortable for them. Pennalligau hud sufficiently recovered from the injury he received some weeks ago to he able to play again, but although he had five shots at goal from tries, he only managed to convert one. Gaudin scored two tries, and Montgomerie, Parsons, and Biuney one each. The game thus ended in a victory for Grafton, the scores being Grafton 13 City 0 CITY 111. V. PONSONBY 111. A very considerable amount of interest centred round this contest, and the game proved a very exciting one. The toftms were very evenly matched, each side experiencing an equal share of attack and defence. At length, towards the end of the first spell, Devan secured a try for City. Howard took the kick, but failed to convert. Ii» the second spell, although the Ponsonby lads made great and telling efforts to avert defeat, their opponents increased their lead. Two more tries were scored for City, one by Devan and the other by Gillespie..From one of these Howard kicked a goal. The game thus resulted in a victory for City by 9 to nil. By this match the Third fifteen Championship falls to the lot of City 111. OTHER MATCHES. Terrace v. Albany.— won by default. St. James's v. Clifton.—St. James's won by 4 points to 2. ' THAMES FOOTBALL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J Thames, Saturday.—A benefit football match was played at Parawai this afternoon, between the local reps that recently visited Auckland and a second fifteen, the funds accruing being devoted to a player named J. Williams, who had the misfortune to break his right leg a few weeks ago whilst playing for the City North team. The •weather was splendid, but the attendance was poor. The game throughout was by no means very interesting, as the rep. team proved superior in all departments, and eventually defeated their opponents by 12 points to 4. During the afternoon the Nelson Club ISO yards and half-mile handicaps were run off, the former being won by W. Bacon, with J. Laing second, and the latter was won by H. Kennerley, with W. Bacon second. CANTERBURY V. OTAGO. CANTERBURY VICTORIOUS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] \ Dunedin, Saturday.— sixteenth match between Canterbury and Otago was played at the Caledonian Grounds in the presence of fully eight thousand spectators, and resulted, to general surprise, in a win for Canterbury by seven points to four. The weather was fine, and the ground in splendid order. A strong north-east wind was blowing down the ground, and it was evident that whoever won the toss would have a big advantage, as those playing against the wind must be " baked " in the second spell, and there was a chance of the stiff breeze dying down. Canterbury was fortunate enough to be favoured by the turn of the coin, and to some extent the above prognostications were verified. Montgomery kicked off for Otago, and for a few moments play was in the Canterbury 25. The visitors, however, cleared their lines, and a few minutes later a long kick caused Otago to force down. The Otago men did not grasp the situation that they must defend aud use the touch line, and after some play, in which some fair passing was shown by the local men, King, the fullback, attempted a long kick in touch. The ball after it rose was actually carried back by the wind, and Lee being down on it smartly, carried it over at the corner, notwithstanding the fact that he was in Burnside's embrace. Balch failed with the kick, and the score was : Canterbury, 2; Otago, nil. The blues now commenced to make use of the touch line, and line-out play and scrums were of frequent occurrence. Otago was given some free kicks, but nothing could be gained by them against the wind. When near their own 25 Cran passed to Downes, and the ball went from him to Laurenson, who was pushed into touch, by Batch's smart following up, about five yards from the goal line, the ball having been taken over three-parts of the ground. Playing well together, the Canterbury forwards cleared their lines. The breeze prevented passing, as when Canterbury attempted it the wind carried thy ball forward, while the Otago men were afraid if a pass were missed the red and blacks . would be down on it. Canterbury being awarded a free kick fully 60 yards from*, their opponents' line the attempt to place a goal forced Otago. Shortly after Otago gave one exhibition of passing and the Canterbury* men were soon in the blues' territory, where from a series of loose scrums and passes between Price, Forbes, and Baku, the last-named got ever. F.

Hobbs' kick was only moderate: Canterbury, 4;* Ocago, 0. A lot of uninteresting play followed in Otago's territory, the blues being twice forced by long kicks. Canterbury was awarded a free' kick, and F. Hobba from near the ceutre just managed to land the ball over the bar, and half-time was called almost at once, with Canterbury 7 points, and Otago with nil; with the wind still fresh, Otago's supporters were confident that the score against them would soon be wiped off; but it was soon evident that the forwards were well pumped, and instead of getting the ball in the scrums and allowing Crawford at halfback to play the game at which he shines, the combination of Canterbury forwards proved too good. The blues, in fact, appeared to have no combination. When passes were given they were not taken, and the local men appeared unable to dribble, tackle, kick, or follow up in anything like their usual style. Play was soon in the Canterbury 25, but Lee by a fine run shifted the play to Otago's side of the centre. The blues were soon back again, and from a free kick Burnside made a good attempt to place a goal, but failed. Canterbury followed their opponents' tactics of making good use of the touchline, but they were steadily forced back. Pass after pass, which, if taken, would, probably, have ended in a score, was missed by the blues, and the Canterbury forwards, keeping well together, cleared their lines. An attempt by Laureuson to place a goal from a free kick failed, but a few minutes later the ball was passed to Downes, who potted an unmistakeable goal. The game now seemed to be in Otago's hands, but the Canterbury forwards, playing a sterling game, and assisted by slashing runs by Lee and Hobbs, had the best of the play. The blues did not at all respond to the cries of their followers, and as time went on the excitement became very great. From a free kick Torrance had a try at goal, but a gust of wind caught the ball just a moment too soon. Duncan, following up well, almost scored a try. Play was still in Canterbury cerritory, and as the last few minutes passed away the Canterbury men strained every nerve to defend their lines, and they succeeded. The game thus ended in a win for Canterbury, by 7to 4. There is no doubt the team with the best combination won. The visiting forwards played a sterling game. Lee was very brilliant, and though Balch made some fine runs, he was not as good as his colleague. Of the local men, it can only be said that no Otago team has for some years shown such poor combination. _ Of the forwards, Turton, who was considered by some not good enough, was about the only one who played up to the mark. Downes was really clever, and so was Crawford, but his forwards did not play his game. King, at fullback, always brought the speedy Balch down. WELLINGTON MATCHES. Wellington, Sunday. The football match between juniors representing the Wellington and Manawatu Rugby Unions, played on Newtown Park yesterday, resulted in a win for the Wellington team by 10 points to nil. The senior cup matches were resumed yesterday. The Athletics defeated the Wellington Club by 5 points to 2. Poneke beat Petone by 14 points to 3. Poneke have not been defeated this season, but have a couple more matches to play, though they cannot possibly lose the cup. NORTH SHORE CRICKET CLUB. The annual meeting of the North Shore Cricket Club was held on Thursday evening last, Colonel Goring (one of the vice-presi-dents) presiding. There was a large attendance, the meeting proving an enthusiastic one. The following officers for the ensuing year were elected :—Presidents : Messrs. J. Palmer (M.H.R.) and the Mayor of Devonport (Mr. E. \V. Alison). Vice-presidents: Messrs. J. F. Logan, C. W. Hemery, W. Philcox, T. Self, and Colonel Goring. Committee : Messrs. Wynyard, Jones, Goudie, Hughes, Chapman, Benge, and Brown. Secretary and treasurer, Mr. Bunby; auditor, Mr. W. R. Goudie: and delegate to the Association, Mr. R. Wynyard. Mr. Hughes was elected captain, and Mr. Jones vice-captain. The trophy for the best batting average, presented by Mr. Self, was won by Mr. G. W. Harden. Trophies for different branches of the game were promised by Messrs. J. F. Logan, T. Self, and C. W. Hemery. After the usual amount of routine business was transacted, the meeting was brought to a close with a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman and to the Borough Council for the use of the Council Chamber.