FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14359, 2 May 1910, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. , OPENING OF THE SEASON. < i The Association season was formally opened at Eden Park on Saturday with a programme well calculated •to - accord with the humour of spectators on an opening day, as' both the ; serious and grotesque formed a place in it. The first match was a fancy dress one, and was provocative of much merriment. The players appeared in top hats and bonnets, which, according to the rules governing such matches, should be removed before the players "head" the ball. , It can easily be imagined that' the desperate efforts of a centre forward to disengage himself • from a fantastic headgear in time to have his ; head in the correct position at the psychological moment, 1 were rather funny. This rule was, how- ; ever,_ honoured, in the breach on a good many occasions. The teams were composed -of players , from the Olympic and Corinthian Clubs, the former appearing in bonnets and the latter in '< top hats. The "ladies," besides attracting much i notice on account of the realism of their attire, managed to Win the game. Play was even until >' one of the ladies" picked up the ball, and '; carried it, Rugby style, well down the Held, and potted a goal. The referee (Mr. Edwards), who carried a bell, instead of the usual'whistle, > allowed • the point, which carried victory with it. The St. Andrew's Pipe Band was in attend- ' ance, and played selections. • ... - .1 More serious football ... was provided for the ,' spectators, of whom there was a large number present, by the six-a-side tournament. For this , 14 teams had entered, several clubs putting in r more than one team. The games were keen, taking them as a whole, and although some of the,players were not in good condition, and i the temperature was somewhat high for footi ball, the players showed excellent . form for the , opening day of a season. Some, however, felt the fatigue of playing one round after the other with little breathing time. The teams to reach the second round were: Ponsonby A, Carlton A, 1 Caledonian A, Tabernacle D, Ponsonby B, Corinthian A, and Caledonian :B. In the semi-final the Ponsonby and Caledonian A and B teams ( were left to fight it out, ' and the A team of . each club survived.' u The scores were: Ponsonby A 6 points, Caledonian B 1 point; Caledonian A' ' 5 points, Ponsonby B 3 points. As the: light was failing, the final was postponed till next Saturday, when "a close and interesting game should result. » ■■■■■■: ■■ ■ OTHERS MATCHES. Teams in the second and fourth grade competi- ' tions practised ■": at Victoria Park. • The second grade match between Hotspurs and Guild was won by the former by 3 goals to 2. Gordon (fourth grade) beat W. Y.M.I, by 2 goals to 1. ; ' - - - .;■-.-. " —— I \ ■' THE RUGBY GAME. A number of practice matches were played on the outer grounds ;tat Alexandra Park on Saturday. The grass was very long, and players were palpably short of condition. The colours of all local clubs were to be seen, but the play was not of a serious order. I: PAEROA MATCHES. .';,„,.,; [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWIT CORRESPONDENT.] .: - ..' • * ' Paeroa, Sunday. . The football season at Paeroa opened yesterday afternoon, a match being played between East and West. This insulted in a draw, .each side scoring 3 points. * ••" WAIHI SEASON OPENED. " ".' [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] ; Waihi, Saturday. The football season, under the auspices of the Waihi Rugby Union, was opened this ' afternoon. There was a . good attendance of the : public.;, In I the senior match, West v. Suburbs, the game ended in a draw, each side scoring 3 points. For West G. Morpeth registered a try, and P. . Mullins kicked a penalty goal for Suburbs. The latter had the best of the game, and looked like winning, but there was little between the sides. Mr. Moor refereed. In the second grade. West defeated Suburbs by 17, points to nil, and in the third division Suburbs put up 14 points to ' West's 3. " " , .... ■ s ROTORUA UNION."', [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]. Rotobua, Saturday. The Rotorua Rugby Union opened its season to-day under very happy auspices; the weather being all that could be desired. The attendance of the public was good, notwithstanding the counter-attractions of a tournament to celebrate the closing of the bowling season. The players displayed great enthusiasm in the newly-adopted club scheme. There was only one match played, , but a practice game was also held among those not taking part in the Clip match, with the result that indications favour the possibility of i four clubs entering for the competition. The teams that contested in the ■championship were Kahukura - and Suburbs, and a• . rattling ._ good game was witnessed. Both were very well' matched, and splendid form was displayed'for the first game of the season. Suburbs left' the field .victors, by a narrow margin. : The scores were : , Suburbs 4 points (potted goal, by G. Robb), Kahukura 3 (try by Tapiri). . For the winners Robb, Gardner, McNatty, Rika, and' Doheny were in splendid form, while for: Kahukura Walker, Taupiri, Vercoe, Tetira, and Ihau were always conspicuous. There are already indications that the club system will be popular with both players and public, and will do' a great deal to add renewed interest to Rugby.- \ MAORI TEAM'S TOUR. „,'..." . [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] /i ■-. Rotorua, Saturday. Messrs. Parata (president of the Jtotorua Union) and Tai Mitchell (secretary) leave for. Auckland on ■; Monday, to assist,, in .-., the selection ;of v the ■ Maori team which intends touring the Common- ' wealth. ; '',•'"■'■■•.'■ ' i ; ■ WELLINGTON RESULTS. •''". [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ' ■ \ Wellington, "Saturday. ' The following are the results 'of to-day's play in the senior grade championship of .the Wellington Rugby Union Poneke (3) beat Athletic (0), Petone (32)- beat Hutt (8), Oriental (15), beat .Melrose (0), St.. James's' (20) beat Wellington (9), Victoria College (26) beat Southern (0). ':,'. : : - CANTERBURY MATCHES. _ \ [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] ;,) . . Christchurch, Saturday. The first grade football: matches played this afternoon resulted as follows: —Albion (11) beat ■ Old Boys (3), Lin wood (8); beat Sydenham (3), Christchurch ' (24) beat Canterbury College ! (9), Merivale (4) beat Marist Brothers (0). / MATCHES IN DUNEDIN. ; ." . [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] ■'■■•"'•■'■:■.".■' ' v ' : ■ Dunedin, Sunday. 1 , The senior football competition commenced yesterday. The results of the matches are ..as follows :—Zingari-Richmond (9 points) beat Port Chalmers (5 points), -Southern. (9) beat Dunedin (3), Kaikorai (3) . beat Union (0), University (21) beat Pirates (14), Alhambra (13) . beat Taicri Rangers (6). ~ THE NORTHERN UNION GAME. , w . ~ NEWTON V. PONSONBY. , , ;', A 'practice' match, between "Newton Rangers and Ponsonby United was held at Victoria Park on Saturday. The players mostly showed good form, while some ' of the " converts" showed much adaptability in picking up the rules under the new code. S. Kean and'Denize, of the City Rovers : team, played on the Newton Rangersside. Mr. M. Hooper acted as referee,' and helped the players considerably .to get into the way of the rules of the new game.. Bradburn, in the forwards for Newton, played well, as also did Armitage and Maki. Among the backs Henderson, Keane, and Denize ' were .the- pick. For Ponsonßy Mac Donald, , Dunning, Bettis, Doran, and Coe, ; in the forwards, and Lynch, Morley, Tyler, Carlaw, Stevens, and .Mac Donald, in the backs, played well. The game ended: Ponsonby 17, Newton 15. .'..-.,...'. : • , J. Lane, a Rotorua representative threequarter, arrived in town on Saturday, and will probably play for the City Rovers. team. ; '',;<• A meeting of the City Rovers team will be held this evening. The Auckland Provincial Rugby League will hold a meeting this evening, when the date- for the opening of the season will be decided. . NORTH SHORE V. NORTHCOTE. ■ The North Shore Albion team journeyed to Northcote on Saturday: to try conclusions ; with the Warriors' junior team. After a very . fast game the Warriors won by 18 points to 9. The Warriors proved themselves to be in a better condition than the : Albions, and a marked feature of their play was the speedy, backs. Judging from Saturday's play they should be hard to beat in the junior competition. There were about 40 onlookers on the ground. ■ Mr. . T. ' Jackson had charge of the game. .'. >- MATCH AT ROTORUA..[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' "■ Rotorua, Sunday. . In the Rugby League game, played yesterday : ' between TaUapapa and Star, a hard match, resulted, the former proving victorious by 19 points to 8.