LACROSSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11975, 26 May 1902, Page 3

LACROSSE.

SECOND SERIES OF CHAMPIONSHIP ; MATCHES. WINS FOR EDEN AND EPSOM AND CITY. Fixe weather prevailed on Saturday, when the championship matches under the auspices of the New Zealand Lacrosse Association were continued at the Domain. The almost incessant rain earlier in the week was responsible for the somewhat sodden state of the playing ground, though this did not altogether prevent the play from being at times of a fast and exciting nature. The game between the Eden and Epsom and Ponsonby teams resulted, after a good even encounter, in a win for the former team by the narrow margin of one goal, and the other match ended in the newly-formed City team defeating Parnell. Grafton, through the North Shore team not putting in an appearance, won by default. The lady, patrons of the Ponsonby Club kindly presided over the afternoon tea function. Appended are the details of the day's play: — EDEN AND EPSOM Y. PONSONBY. The midfield duel resulted in favour of Ponsonby's centre, McCoy, who passed to Harris; then it went to Nolan, who, after passing on to Lundon, and again receiving had a shot. Goalkeeper Mcintosh settled all doubt by stopping, and "Walker put in a splendid throw, the ball going into touch at the halfway flag. . McCoy brought back to attack, but Walker and Owen bustled aside the danger, and the former threw back to centre. Stewart, with a strong run, brought play jr.to Ponsonby's 25, and H. Walton had a chance. "White, in the nick of time, saved, and transferred play back to centre. McCoy broke away, and coming through passed to Harris. - The latter was checked by Foubister, who threw back to. his attack. E. Mason threw well up field, and Wallace secured. His- pass to Nolan was intercepted by Gummer, and the bull went back to centre. Graham secured and brought to Harris. The ball was in this player's possession when the gong sounded "change ends." Right from the face the sturdy McCoy brought to the attack, and had a shot, which was received ay Walker, who again brilliantly cleared his lines. Bratlnvaite, who smartly checked Stewart in the latter's endeavour to bring the ball into tho blue-and-white's attack, passed on to Graham, and gave Lundon an opening. The last-named Van right into the goal-mouth, but the goalkeeper knocked the ball back, and Owen, dashing in, hockeyed his team out of temporary danger. > The ball went into touch at the quarter flag. Graham had the best cf the "face," and passed to Harris, who bad a shot, but it was quite a yard wide outside the post, and Walker threw up the field. Half-time. From the usual preliminary face off, McCoy had possession, and sent on to W. Mason, who had changed places with Nolan. Foubister intercepted the pass, and sent back to centre. Stewart broke away, and had Ponsonby detending. H. Walton received the pass and passed on to A. Walton, and the former running into position again had possession. His neat shot was stopped by Goalkeeper Robinson. i_ Ponsonby rallied; Lundon receiving the ball from a long throw by E. Mason, dashed for goal. Owen and Walker stooped and the former threw back to centre. Wallace brought to the attack, and sent on to W. Mason, whose shot was considerably higher than the goal net. Lundon raced around the goal, and, picking up, threw to the front, but the defensive powers of Walker, Owen, and Foubister were mainly responsible for again staving off a likely chance." Gummer threw to his attack; Stewart sent on, but Nolan received and sent back to centre. " Change ends." At this stage of the game both teams were doing their utmost to score. W. Mason, who had the misfortune to slip and sprain his ankle, had to retire, and Stewart not allowing a substitute, the Ponsonby team had perforce to play short-handed. -UcCoy went up to the attack; consequently Stewart had almost a free hand at centre. After the gong had sounded play, Stewart was in possession, making all speed to the blue-and-black's goal. E. Mason checked, but lost the ball, and H. Walton took up the aggressive. His pass to his brother was taken by Nolan, who removed all danger for the nonce by throwing well upheld. Harris brought to the attack, but bis- effort to dodge his opponent was not prolific with good result, and Foubister removed play back to the blue-and-gold attack. Stewart was looking dangerous when Burke beautifully stopped, and bis long throw sent play back past the half-way flag. Foubister smartly returned, and A. Walton had a shot, the ball going wide. H. Walton, securing behind goal, threw in front, where White secured, and, failing to throw to his wings, Sayers came down and landed, amidst loud applause, the first and only goal, for the bell rang immediately afterwards, leaving Eden and Epsom the winners by one goal to nil. Mr. P. White was referee, and the game was played on No. 1 ground.

PARNELL V. CITY. From the face Morrin was in possession. His pass in was intercepted by W. Dervan, Who sent on to Hay. Hicks stopped and transferred play back to centre. Lennox brought to attack and passed on to Fairburn. Eagileton, from a ground tussle, secured and sent on to O'Hare, who gave to Bladder, and the latter netted first blood. Leslie broke from centre, and gave to Bradley; Cunliffe checked and threw out at the centre flag. Dervan put in a very serviceable run, and had the maroon defensive division busy. Thompson stopped O'Hare's shot at goal, and ■got in a long throw. Lennox received and headed for goal. Madden stopped, and Hay, by a strong run, brought play into Parnell's lines. "Change ends." From midfield Fairburn' received and sent on to Philson, who had a shot. O'Hare, sen., in-goal, stopped and transferred play back to his attack. Blaokler secured, then passed to O'Hare. who gave to Bradley, and the latter safely piloted the .guttapercha into the goal net. From centre Morrin broke away with plenty of dash, and in a twinkling scored a clever goal. From the face Leslie gave to Dervan, who threw upfield. Cunliffe cleared the menacing danger by putting in a useful throw, and the ball went into touch beyond the halfway flag. Fairburn broke away. Eagleton secured, and, by an accurate throw, enabled Blacklev to take nossession. The latter bolted down the field, and, running into goal, put in a strong successful shot: City, 3 goals Parnell, 1. Half-time. Right from the face the ball went to City's attack, and play was centred in front of Parnell's goal. Hicks, by a series of bats, brought the ball to centre, where he lost possession, and the rubber, coming back quickly, the maroon defence was weakened, and Bradley, with a tidy shot, notched another goal to City's credit. From midfield Hay put in a strong run. "His pass in was neatly taken by Ward, who sent the rubber back to the attack. Eagleton returned to centre. Morrin again broke away, but Dervan checked, and the ball went into touch in City's 25. Change ends. In this, the last, spell the maroon vanguard, made yeoman efforts to equalise the scores, but the absence of three of their players was felt considerably, especially at this stage of the game, and, though both Philson and Ward were at times in the goalkeeper's vicinity, O'Hare, sen., was invulnerable, and was assisted manfully by a good defence. The maroon-and-black vanguard were at this stage of the play also seeking fresh scores, and they did not go unrewarded, for by the agency of Blackler they were able to net two more goals before the bell sounded "cease play," and at the termination of the game had won by the respectable margin of six goals to. Parnell's one. The match was played on the No. 2 ground, Mr. W. Noton refereeing.-