FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11986, 7 June 1902, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

1 \[: TO-DAY'S RUGBY PROGRAMME. i TODAY'S RUGBY PROGRAMME. the Tek fifth series of sup matches, under the I Auckland Rugby Union's district system, |; will he played this afternoon, and as the I North Shore fifteen stand out of tho first 1 grade fixtures all three contests in this grade I will be at Alexandra Park, Epsom. The j most interesting match will probably be 1 that between City and Newton, the issue I . jn which should be stubbornly contested. I As I indicated in Inst week's notes there 1 has been a tendency on the part of fo 1 lowers of the game to rather over-estimate I the merits of the City forwards, but I shall 1 yx'bt quite prepared to witness a better ox--1 hibition on the part of the central district'! 1 Tsnirtitrd this afternoon than that given 1 ';;;, gainst Ponsonby last Saturday week, when I the remarkable number of free kicks given 1 agaiust them for the illegal play of one or I •■.:■;■-, two members of the forward division served I v ,to an extent to demoralise the forwadrs. They I have since then had ample opportunity to I' : effect the necessary changes to remedy the § . J: evil, and as the material is certainly there 1 -i'. :-''■'':'we may expect to find that they have pro--1 >V fited by the severe lesson taught them. If 1 sot they will be taking on a decidedly stiff I task, M with only a moderate back division I at their disposal they will find it a difficult II T natter to break through the Newton dej fence, which, when put to the test, can bear I :':'.-"?• very severe strain, as was demonstrated II When the red and whites brought about the 9 defeat of Grafton on the opening day of '■.:■■■■ tte season. If the Suburbs forwards can ; only : succeed in working a little more in t harmony—their scrum work has been most I primitive to datethey will put up a good J tight against Ponsonby this afternoon, as I -0 their backs have been improving as an atI tacking force with each successive game, I i .'; but I fear that the weak spot mentioned 1 1 vfll bring about their Undoing when pitted J ; 'against the well-trained and all-round sound a '-'■•.;!:; team that the western suburb will place in I the field. In the remaining match, Grafton ;■ y. Parnell, the first-named team should se- !: care a fairly easy victory. The grounds 1 H>and referees for to-day's matches are, as 1 - ; : -'> under :•*■ |, FIBST FIFTEENS. .( Nov! ground: City v. Newton, Mr. P. IMackie. - 'No. 2 ground: Ponsonby v. Suburbs, Mr. B. Blakey. £ ~ ~ • No. * ground: Grafton v. Parnell, Mr. * H. Surman. SECOND FIFTEENS. No. 5 ground: Parnell v. Graf ion, Mr. I.V'-Wbite. -. ' I - No. 5 ground: City v. Newton, Mr. Knox. U No. 6 ground; Ponsonby r. SuburbSj Mr, I .-.UK*. - ■•: If; : ..; L .:-. THIRD FIFTEENS.' J No 7 ground: City v. Newton,' Mr. Oram. |i' . No. 8 ground: Suburbs v. Grafton, Mr. I ■";■" ; the field. In the remaining match. Grafton t Parnell, the first-named team should secure a fairly easy victory. The grounds and referees for to-day's matches are as under:— FIBST FIFTEENS. No, 1 ground: City v. Newton, Mr. P. Mackie. No. 2 ground: Ponsonby v. Suburbs, Mr. B - Blakey. , _ _, • No. * ground: Grafton v. Parnell, Mr. H. Surinam SECOND FIFTEENS. No. 5 ground: Parnell v. Graf lon, Mr. White. , „ No. 5 gTound: City v. Newton, Mr. Knox. No. 6 ground: Ponsonby v. Suburbs, Mr. Kits. THIRD FIFTEENS. No 7 ground: City v. Newton, Mr. Oram. No. 8 ground: Suburbs v. Grafton, Mr. Peliam. . _ „ . I 'No. 9 ground: Ponsonby Bv. Parnell A, 1 "'■•::-: ah*. MoElwain. • ' '- . m '*,+ .', I iAt North Shore: Ponsonby Av. North II Shore A. Mr. Kerr. v'; V".:. - "■•- I ;> SAtNorthcote: North Shore B v. Parnell H '. 8, Mr. Greenhough. - . I . the defeat of Newton by Ponsonby last ?1 W Saturday displaces the wearers of the ,recl--1 i llld-white. uniform from the leading posi--1 Isfetidn in the competition for the cup. leaving I City and Ponsonby in the van with New- | ton, Grafton and Suburbs a draw behind in I «cond place. The changes have been rung m *> frequently during the past four weeks II that the follower of the Rugby game really II "dtnino where he are." Look at this . 1 : Uewton have defeated in turn Grafton, I North Shore and Parnell, and followed this I ov meetir* their first reverse at the hands 1 of Ponsonby; City have won from North S Shore and Parnell and drawn with .fon--1 «onby;-Giafton suffered defeat in the openI m in« match of the season when they met I Newton, »nd have since beaten Suburbs I J ' and North Shore: Ponsonby have beaten I Parnell ana Newton and drawn with City 1 i Suburbs have lost to Grafton and defeated 1 fg North Bhore and Parnell. The two remainIi if ing teams ii the competition—North Shore 1 ' -and Parnell-have lost all four matches I j played. Truly this is a tangled skein to atI tempt to unravel at the present juncture. I The next t¥o or three weeks should, howI ever," throw some light on the knotty prob--1 lem followers are called upon tc solve as $ on Saturday next, Ponsonby meet ra «°. n I and the week following,.. City and Gra.ton i|| try oonolusicns. •M - But to remrn to matters nearer home— 0: I ! -'?? last Saturday's matches. The . Ponsonby,l i i ■; Newton match was the main attraction ot 1 ' afternoon, and in this fixture Rugby 1 enthusiasts were treated to a solid, willing J ; Pine. all thiough, with an occasional flasli 'm p ahfldßt of Vrilliancv. The Ponsonby forvl ' ;■; ward* proved themselves a very even lot, 1 without a "vaster" among them, while trie f j licks were stund, and make few serious mis- = 1 - takes. The feature of the match was peril 'lapßthe splmdid line-kicking of tho blue-m-M .Md-black -. batks. Time after time, when - 1 . Newton kick.d down the field;* did they re- | him, making ground and removing the play ,il; r from neutral territory into their opponents H ' : garters. "Kick to make ground and run ft. , to score" is sound football, and Ponsonby I tiered to it strictly. The Newton backs, 3 : on the other hand, rarely found the line m With their facts thereby giving, what should ■M have been th?ir own opportunities to their ,';' j opponents, it was rather a surprise to see I j 'we Ponsonby forwards nushing the opposing I ! Tanpiard all ever the field, and the wisdom f g Newton's action in weakening then for*»rds to place an extra back in the field, is i| I open to que.-tfon, especially with one or two I ™ their men palpably out of condition, Ihe I "novation certainly enabled them to score .i' once, but it alto enabled their opponents to H *»re, besides throwing a great deal of unfv neceSSary -wort on the backs. No matter ||: tow good in aitack a back combination may I i *> if the forwirds are getting run over, as |j , Sj their attention is then taken up in deS : I'ice, and chaices to score are rare. NewI : wn s backs go; off some good passing, and I I «howe'a rather more combination than usual. I ; ma try was ;he result of as good a bit of i Wbhihed play as could be wished. Their I « ««ence was fixed to tho utmost, and it || j *M« be gaid fimt with one exception they f! 1 «We out of tie ordeal with flying colours. I J' hen the Pacebegan to tell or the forwards, : »ua Ponsonby'i front-rankers were coming J a r-with the ball in succession of rushes, ***r with the 3a ll in a succession of rushes, ::?* Newton barks were kept buoy, and many . » threatened ssore was nipped in the bud I Si. t ' smart stopping and kicking—the lat- ■ l «l' however, n«t being always well directed. II .. j, he Place-kickhg on "both "sides was good, , I '«* penalty goal kicked by Francis, for Ponr>\ ■ « ol V>y. and the one bv A. Wilson, off New,•l J*n a try, being !p lendid efforts. It is pleasI *** to note that after all we have still some I j? n , who are useful in this department of» •i| •' SJi^S 6, as a match is won by a good 5-i AHo, it may be mentioned, 1 kicks aft frequent. •H f *° 8 Suburbs-Pamell match went to the I l™} es solely account of the superiority «1» 16 ' a? ma ay a match ie won by a good P'*W-kick. Ako, it may be mentioned, •*£*% kicks arp frequent. fern? 6 Suburbs-?arneil match went to the el df r -' so ' °y account of the superiority for»l e !i back Vision, for what the Parnell ttii*** Jacked In weight as compared with ?W]? apposing vaiguard, was compensated for mil Li" Su P er io> knowledge of what is re--1.7;o( a frint division. As I have 1' {££ u out Sakirdav after Saturday, the oobm i! fotWar( i mu3t learn the value of > M| Mtted action and improve their corum- * I --•Vth;rt*-r* ct >es if foe blacks are to earn any- " , ffl</ no'J n lhe sna le of distinction. There is ISjjj.i!? ck rtf weighs in the pack, which, with a Sll*nd v **° ' " -*aetic- together each week. mu'i "ttle more attention to training, could <■■-■ I Ride decideily formidable. Knocked

faUn tfc-tJrli*V def J enaive work that now main J- l 0t ' and with Stuekey as the mam spring, supported by a pair of such vEIEiiS&S! attackin * b » ek * as C mA ft?^: 1 * 1 '» n improving player ?;V,H there.is no knowing how often Grafcn 8 m ! (fht ? p3et the cognoscenti. thS St 'T d ■,¥ D °vonport, where lv?««? • f" d /ted North Shore (I (?"f P# S (agoal from » mark) to three ««.2& .* *i! ey ha y° everv reason to feel satisfied at the result, aS they had none the ,«!ii : L th v- d && fact ' in the second in* the nSff th Shore forwards were beat"L '° Grafton vanguard badly, and the dhffi «*♦ Wer ° SOrely pressed durin » the closing fifteen minutes of the game. They onli?? V sho "f M*" form if they are to 3ln yoar s performance. foe a?rn«Li i i>° " hOWB the positions and points scored by the various competing teams: —

HERE AND THERE. Dick McGregor has qualified to play for Grafton. There was a decided improvement in the goal-kicking in last Saturday's senior matches. ihreo goals were kicked in the PonsonbyNewton match, four in the Suburbs-Parnell match, and one in the Grafton-North Shore match, making eight in all. In view of the fact that tho Otago team goes on tour this season, " Jimmy" Duncan's determination to play again is hailed with delight in the Southern centre. The news will hardly be received with tho same measure of gratification by the provinces to be visited during tho tour. * Stuckey,_ the Suburbs five-eighths, continues to improve every Saturday. If he can continue to reproduce form such as that shown last week, the sole selector of the Auckland representative team will find it impossible to overlook his claims. We have wanted a really good five-eighths for sometwo 01 three seasons, and tho King's College master seems likely to fill the bill. Tho goal-kicking of Francis ha% contributed m no small measure to' Ponsonby' success to date, and furnishes a striking example of the value to a team of a reliable place-kicker. In the" first match played (against Parnell) he scored four of -seven points, kicking a goal from a mark; in the second match (against City) ho landed- a penalty goal, making a drawn game of it; while on Saturday last (against Newton) he scored five of eight points, kicking a penalty goal and converting a try. The New Zealand Football Association is corresponding with the English Football Association with a view to the sending of a New Zealand " socker" team to England for the 19034 season. The Otago Rugby Union has suggested tho following dates to the unions concerned for the representative matches with the Otago touring team:—Southland (at Invercargill), September 3; Canterbury, September 6; Hawke's Bay, September 10; Wellington, September 13. "Buff" McPike seems determined to make a bold bid for his representative cap this season. On Saturday last he was in quite his old-time form, and his only fault was a tendency to pot at goal when a dash for the line or a pass to one of his fellow threequarters would have been a surer means to the desired end—a score. McPike has proved himself above tho average as a drop kick, but there are times agd places for all things. Another player who will have to bo reckoned with—provided he retains his present formwhen the representative team comes to bo chosen this year, is Peter Gerrard. In all matches played to date he has been the mainstay of the North Shore back division, both as an offensive and defensive player. I hear that a football match is on tho tapis between teams from H.M.s. Ringarooma and the Auckland Naval Artillery Volunteers. At a recent meeting of the Nelson Rugby Union the secretary was instructed to write to Taranaki, Waliganui, Wairarapa, and Napier, as to monetary assistance in the event of a Nelson team touring the North Island. - The Auckland Union will have to send a team to the Northern Wairoa this season, and a correspondent who has been furnishing me with particulars of the teams up that way tells me that they are hopeful of getting a strong fifteen together this season. He says our old friend, "Billy" Harrison, is playing up to his best form of a couple of seasons Ago. " Off-side Mac." the thinly-veiled pseudonym under which a well-known ex-Welling-ton forward writes to a Wairarapa paper, is responsible for the following comment 011 a recent article on forward play:—A cheerful idiot— English international—demonstrates true British -ignorance regarding forward play, by stating, in the Windsor Magazine, that the ball should never be kicked out on the side of the scrum. North Island footballers know better than that. From the > following, by a Christchurch' writer, it will be seen that the no-charge rule is not being a3 strictly interpreted by referees down below as might be. The scribe in question says:—Several times of late I have referred to the laxity of our referees in the matter of the no-charge rule, but so far no improvement is noticeable. Every Saturday players infringe the rule, which might as well be eliminated for all the notice the referees take. In the Merivale-Christcburch match the practice was very pronounced. The ungentle art of wing-whopping is becoming very noticeable in Wellington this season (says "Advance"). The triumph of the Canterbury representative team that last season played unbeaten without wing forwards against three provincial teams has had little effect upon football authorities here. Since it is apparently decided that the wing forward and his forceful ways are to be for ever with us, it is to be hoped that a keener supervision of his off-side processes will be exercised by the referees. The following appeared in the Natal Mercury (S.A.) of April 17:—About 20 New Zealanders met at the Princess Cafe on Friday evening, with the object of forming a Rugby Football Club. The matter was discussed, and it was unanimously resolved that such a club should be formed, composed of New Zealanders exclusively. A committee was formed, and will report to a general meeting shortly, which New Zcaland"rs are particularly requested to attend. Mr. T. Neill, well known in Auckland cricket and football circles was in the chair. The chairman of the Auckland Referees' Association (Mr. F. J. OhlsOn) has asked me to draw the attention of players to an error that has occurred in the printing of the opinions. of the committee of the English Rugby Union on points submitted by the New Zealand Union, published on page 127 of the Auckland Rugby Union's Annual, 1902. Section 7 having referenco to the question of a player outside kicking the hall back into the scrummage reads that it is illegal so to do, whereas the English Union has ruled that "it is not illegal so to do." The omission of the word " not," as will be seen, has a material effect, as it allows the player outside to kick the ball back into a scrummage, and abo necessitates the alteration in the Case law. page 97, and law 11 section H, page 105. Players would do well to turn up page 127 and insert the word "not" between the words "is" and "illegal" in section 7 in order to prevent any future error on the point.

Pl„ Played. Won. Lost. Dm. For. Agst. ii , "• -i- 3 I 0 1 43 6 1 onsonby 3 2 C 1 18 f! Newton ... ... 4 7 < i i? .? Graft-on 3 2 1 n 21 I Suburbs... ... 321° 24 21 North Shore ... 4 0 A 0 24 7 J 1 arnell 4 0 4 0 9 49