THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11057, 8 May 1899, Page 3

THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

PARNELL V. KARANGAHAKE. THE COUNTRY TEAM VICTORIOUS. The football season was ushered in on Saturday afternoon, when the Pamell district senior fifteen met the Karangahake Ru*by representatives at Potter's Paddock, Epsom and suffered defeat at the hands of the visitors by seven points (a try and a goal from the field) to nil. Wintry weather and a soppy ground combined will, the knowledge that the Parnclhtes had suffered the loss of several of last year's prominent players, and would have to recruit largely from junior ranks, gave the impression that the exposition would not prove a particularly interesting one, and as a consequence the attendance could not have numbered more than 600 to 700 persons. That followers had formed a correct estimate was amply borne out, for while the karangahake men proved themselves possessed of the better combination, the play throughout was of the mediocre order, the only redeeming feature being the two or three passing runs initiated by the back division of the visitors. Mr. Angus Umpire 1 was referee, and acquitted himsi' f mart creditably, while Messrs. E. Binncy (laniell) ami G. Katterns (Karangahake) made excel out line umpires. The teams wore, as under:— Karangahake (blue and black) : Fullback Johnston; lliroequarters, Rcid, McLean, in i (captain), five-eighths, Rocklov; halfback, Houghton; wings, Sailings, McDuff; forwards, Meagher, Reislerer, Bagust, Douglas, White, Galcy, Wade. Parnell (maroon): Fullback, Gillott ; threequarters, Kissling, Carson, Hedges, Taylor; five-eighths, Hume; halfback, Harrison; wing Hancock ; forwards, Murray (captain)' Gordon, Hay, Scarboro, Arroll, Sampson, Atkinson. THE PLAT.

As ho team filed out it was to be seen that the visitors had a trifle tho best of the. weight, more particularly in the back division, where tho men were of sturdier frame than the locals. Winning the toss, Karangahake faced the western goal and tho sun, and J Murray sot tho ball in motion for I arnell. Loose even play marked tho early stages of the game, in the course of which Kissling, of the maroon thrcequarler division, was afforded an opportunity ol marking in a good position for a shot at goal, but misjudged the take, after which the visitors, headed by a forward rush, worked then way into Parnell territory, and useful line-kicking by Killed flurried hostilities below the local 25. For some minutes the blue and blacks pressed their opponent*, hut the Parnell lino was eventually relieved by Hume and Gordon, and Kissling following with a useful kick, Sampson was smartly on the ball, which was rushed down the field, Karangahake forcing down. From the kick-off the oval went out in Auckland's quarters, but Gillett (Parnell) and Hay centred from the throw-in, and Hedges gelling in a useful line-kick placed the blue, and blacks again on the defensive,- though the dashing play of the country forwards did not allow the locals to retain tho advantage long, Breaking through a serum about midficld, the Karangahake vanguard, with the ball at their feet, rushed down on Hedges before he could gather up the oval and were in full cry when (iillett whipped in and averted the j danger with a well-directed kick, only, how- | ever, to find the opposing side again on the | attack. Reid kicking well down the field, I the Karangahake forwards improved the advantage by carrying the ball below the locals' 25, where McLean dashed in, picked up smartly, and looked all over like scoring at tho corner-post, but tackled by Hedges almost on (lie line, loft possession, and the ' ball rolling over, Hay just managed to fall on , it and force down as tho Karangahake men swarmed across in hot pursuit. Nothing daunted, the visitors returned to the attack, and after two or three unavailing attempts to break down the defence— also I having a shot at goal from a free-kick, which I though well directed, failed—a smart pass- ! ing run among the backs saw McLean, who ' fended the Parnell fullback in good style, I across the line right on the corner-flag, draw- | ing firs! blood. The scorer was entrusted : with the shot at goal, but failed to increase: I Karangahake, 3: Parnell, 0. .Shortly after | McLean was afforded another shot at goal , from the field, hut met with no better suc- ! cess than in the previous attempt, and after j a dangerous rush on the part of Pinie.ll— initiated through Hockley foolishly kicking | a rolling hall in the direction of his own line i —in which Gordon, Sampson, and Hume I played a prominent part, the bail being i carried within a few yards of the Karanga- ; hake line, the spell closed without further incident of note. SKrONH HALF. I With the sun behind their backs, il was anticipated that the visitors would add to i their score, as I hoy had certainly had the lies! of the opening spoil, Almost immediately on resumption Parnell were forced down, ' and after a lew minutes' sharp work ill tho maroons' quarters, they succeeded in relieving the pressure, and for some time Hie : honours hung easy, play being confined i mainlv to looso forward rushes. Then Parnell made an effort to turn tho tide, and a couple of loose open rushes carried them | well down towards the opponents' lino, ] where Karangahake were compelled to forco down, though it appeared from the grand- ' stand that in so doing the blue-andblnck player in possession had dropped back a yard j or two in doing so, and some anticipated a i scrum on the line. They were soon after ; back to midficld, where Karangnhake ivero i penalised for offside play, and Murray essayed a long bill unsuccessful shot at goal, from which Ihe Karangahake backs gamed considerable ground by a combined run. From a serum between halfway and Ihe Parnell 25, Hockley, (iillett, and McLean were again away, anil a dangerous run was only nipped in the bud by (lilloll (Parnoll) in the j nick of time, he intercepting a wild pass, j and kicking out about a dozen yards from his own line. The blue and blacks wen-, however, not to be denied, and Gillett, with a beautiful pass from the throw-in, lauded Iho ball in McLean's hands, right in front of the uprights, the latter making every uso of his chance by landing a smart goal from the field: Karangahake, 7; Pamell, 0. This had (he effect of livening Parnell up, and, "oiling into Karangahake's quarters from tho kick-off, Hedges gathered up tho ball from a loose rush, and making a clever opening, gave his side a good chance lo score, but not being well backed up, a raro opportunity was lost lo the maroons, and they were again called upon to defend their line. From this out the wearers of the bluc-and-black had all the best of the play, and were more than once within an ace of scoring, Reid missing a good chance, by faulty handling of the ball, while Hockley was more than onco dangerous, tho game, however, ending without alteration to tho figures: Karaugahako, 7; Parnell, 0.

. NOTES AND COMMENTS. As little time lias been afforded for practice the essential to combination and good play, it was not expected that the game would prove very edifying as an exposition of Rugbj, and there must have been few but left the ground disappointed at the afternoon's display. The Karangahako team proved themselves a fair lot, but hardly up to expectations, whilo tho play of the Parnellilcs gave a pointed illustration of how sadly the district has fallen away since last year. Numbers of the old players have left the district, and others havo retired from the game, leaving the first fifteen to recruit their ranks from the juniors, a field from which it is evident that the club cannol-judging by Saturday's form—expect to draw the necessary material to do successful battle for the maroon jersey in the forthcoming cup matches, the principal weakness being the back division. In the forwards there was not much difference, though the visitors played with more dash and stayed it out bettor, evidently the result of better condition. Gillett and Maclean were the best of the Karangahako threequarters, the fine line kicking of the former being a feature of tho "ame, and of incalculable value to his side, while the latter also used his feet to advantage, and proved himself a hard man to stop; when under way. He was responsible for both scores, the goal from the field being a particularly smart bit of work. Reid has plenty of pace, but has yet to learn to handle the ball and make the most of his chances. Hockley, at five-eighths, has lost none ot his dash; he made his Openings cleanly and smartly, and passed unselfishly and with judgment. Houghton, behind the pack, picked up smartly, but was somewhat handicapped, as the ball was heeled out at all conceivable points ol the compass. He must also learn to exorcise a little more judgment in passing, which was at times erratic. The forwards were an even lot, nobody particularly brilliant, but all honest workers, and commendably prompt In getting on tho Hedges was the mainstay of the Parnell backs and without him the maroons would have suffered defeat by a larger majority of points. Like Gillett, he made good use of the touch line and got in an immense amount of solid work. Certainly, ho made one or two mistakes, but these aro pardonable at this early 6 It would be unfair to judge the other threequarters, all of whom are new to senior play, too harshly, and sufficient is it to say that thev may improve with time. , . Hume, at five-eighths, gives promise of developing into a' good man, a feature ot Jus

play being that ho always smartly followed up any advantage for which ho was responsible; or. more than occasion he averted trouble at an opportune time, and kicked fairly well. Harrison shaped fairly well behind the scrum, while in the forwards, who evidently wanted condition, none worked more consistently titan Hay. PRACTICE MATCHES. The Newton first fifteen played 20 of tho remaining members of the club," and although they had a runaway victory of something like 23 points to nil, the practice proved a useful one, and showed that the district will be as strong as last year. Roberts was in great form, scoring no less than half-a-dozen tries, while in the forwards none shaped better than Wilson and Eaton. Dodds, who hails from Chrislchureh. played on the wing, and should prove a valuable acquisition to the club. Grafton seniors had a friendly contest with the City representatives of a similar grade, both sides scoring eight points each. There was a good muster of .Suburban representatives, who gave a scratch team composed chiefly of junior footballers, a good afternoon's exercise, the game ending in Suburbs winning by 7 points to nil. OUTSIDE MATCHES. University %. Parnell IT.: A well-contested match between a team comprised of Iniversity College students and Parnell 11. was played last Saturday at Poller's Paddock. Tluoughout the game was remarkably even, as evinced from the fact that no tries were scored by cither side. Pearce, for the Parnellites, kicked a penalty goal, while Kay did the same for the University. The match thus resulted in a draw, each side scoring three points. Surrey v. Wanderers: This match was played at Surrey Hills, and resulted in a win for Surrey by 23 points to nil. Fur the winners Doran, E. Buckley. Mel .cod, and Haverfield played good games, while .7. Wheeler stood out prominently on the losing side. Roseberry IF. v. Pirates II.; This match was played at Surrey Hills, and resulted in a win for Pirates by two points, the scores being 8 to 6. PUBLIC SCHOOLS' UNION, The matches under the Public Schools' Union have been drawn, and will commence next Saturday. Tho first two rounds are as under:— A SECTION.

May 13: WeJleslcy-strcet v. Beresfordstrect; Napier-street v. Newton West; Ponsonby v. Parnell; Grafton v. Devonport; Newton East a bye. May 20: Wellesley-slreel v. Napier-street; Ponsonhy v. NowUm West; Grafton v. Parnell; Newton East v. Devonnnrl; Beresfordstreet ,- bye. B SUCTION. May 13: Wollcslov-stroot v. Remuera; Newmarket v. Mount Helen; Richmond Road v. Parnell; Point Chevalier v. Ponsonhy ; Nel-son-street v. Bayfield; Onehunga. a bye. May 20: Wellesley-slroet v. Newmarket; Richmond Road v. Mount Eden Point Chevalier v. Parnell; Nelson-street v. Pnnsonby; Onehunga v. Bayfield; Remuera a bye. TO JUNIOR CLUBS. As it is our desire to encourage and foster junior football, space will be reserved in our Saturday's impression each week during the ensuing season for notes and comments on .play and players in the previous week's matches. In order thai the column may have wide, applied ion, secretaries and captains of clubs, and others interested, are invited to co-operate with the football editor by forwarding- short, pithy paragraphs relating to uiatoihe.s played. All such communications should be addressed to the "Football Editor, Herald, " and must reach the office not later than noon of Thursday in each week. TO OUTSIDE CLUBS. In order that our Monday's impression during the coming season may contain a complete record of all matches played, captains and secretaries of clubs not affiliated to the Auckland Rugby Union are invited to forward accounts of games played, particular attention to be given to accuracy of (he scores, and the insertion of the names of players responsible In,- the scores registered. All results should be addressed In the "Football Editor, HeHAI.II Office." and should reach the office each Saturday evening, though for tho convenience of those living at a distance reports placed in the letter-box, Queen-street entrance, up to seven o'clock on Sunday evening will receive attention. TO COUNTRY CLUBS. As 111" popular winter game of football is largely indulged in by clubs in outlying districts where newspapers do not exist, secretaries of "bibs so situated are invited to forward brief accounts of mulches played to (he "Football Editor, Hkiial.ii," communications to be si'lll each week by the first available post. In addition to publication in the columns of the FlEllAl.n, matches will also be inserted in Ihe Athletic Columns of the Auckland Weekly. News, which circulates throughout He country districts of the Auckland province.

WELLINGTON' SENIOR COMPETITIONS. [BY TKLEGRAI'II.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Sunday. In tho senior football matches yesterday Athletics beat Oriental by 18 points to nil, Wellington defeated I'nnr'ko by eight to nil. while. Melrose, last year's champions, wont down before Petone to the tune of nine to nil. Strange to say, neither of tho losing teams scored a point. CHRTSTCHI'RCH CHAMPIONSHIPS. [IIV telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.! CintiSTi'inmni, Sunday. The senior football matches were continued yesterday, when Merivale beat Ivuinpni by 15 to seven, Linwnod beat Sydenham by 24 to four, while the Chrislchurch and Albion match resulted in a draw, cither sido scoring six points. DUNEDIN FLAG MATCHES. [Ny telegrami.—mess association.! Dvxkdik, Sunday. In tho senior flag matches yesterday Kaikora boat Zingari (Richmond) by 16 points to nil, University boat Pirates by five points to nil, Alhambra boat Dunedin by nine points (threo tries) In five points (a goal from a try), whilo the Union v. .Southern match was drawn, neither side scoring.