ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14688, 24 May 1911, Page 10

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The senior matches of tho Auckland Rugby Union on Saturday included a star attraction 111 tho City-Ponsonby match, an ovonfc which novor fails to draw a crowd. PonEonby's inglorious display against University on tho opening day lowered their stock, and as tho City team was reported to bo greatly strengthened a groat struggle was anticipated. Tho game, except for two bright periods, fell far short of expectations, the football played rarely rising abovo second grade standard. Tho teams lacked combination, both in the forward and back division, and, in addition, the kicking and handling was, generally speaking, very faulty. , On many occasions promising passing rushes were started, or good openings made, but these failed to come to fruition, because of weak links in tho chain, the ball being dropped at tho most important stages in the attacks. Ponsonby's win of nine points to nil is a fair indication of the run of play in a gamo full of errors and lost chances. One featuro of Saturday's gamo was tho almost entire absence of penalties, very few free kicks being given; in fact, the second quarter was half gono before a freo kick was given to either side. Another pleasing featuro was tho friendly manner in which the game was played. The Ponsonby backs, who have not yet reproduced the form of last season, wero disorganised in attack. D'Audney, at full, was only fair, while of the threequarters McGregor played well, but hangs on. to tho ball too long. His dodgy runs would bo much more valuable if ho passed out occasionally. Murray is not in form, and T. Bater has not yet dono anything up to senior form. O'Loary and Morso played fairly well at five-eighths, and Webb was good behind tho pack. Francis was tho host of tho nack, and Nicholson, who was prominent in tho loose, did not seem eager to get into tho pack. Sellars played a good solid game. The City backs were much strengthened by tho inclusion" of Fitzgerald, ex-East Coast representative, who played a fine gamo at full. Ho takes a ball well, and is a good kick, but often on Saturday he failed to find tho line. Stewart , was tho pick _of tho threequarters lino. Power's strong point was (his kicking. It. Mageo played a good gamo in tho five-eighths line, and Webb behind tho pack did well. Ho is a good tackier. The most prominent of tho City forwards were Fake and Bruco

In an interesting match against Grafton, University again proved that they arc _ a strong fifteen, and a team which will requiro substantial persuasion on tlio part_ of the other teams to relinquish tho position of loader in tho competition. Tho blues are a strong combination,, both back and forward, and when Ottersen takes his place behind tho scrum the team will bo considerably strengthened, as once a passing rush _is initiated tho ball is in capable hands with Gray, Borne, Wilson, Gedjles, and Mackey. Tho five players mentioned contributed in no small measure to University's success on Saturday. They were conspicuous in many bright passing bouts. Gray and Mackey both capped their efforts with scores, while Wilson was instrumental in securing University's first try, and Gcddos did good work in linekicking. Tho scoro of 14 points to three does not indicate tho difference between tho two teams, as Grafton put up a much better fight than tho scoro shows. In tho early stages of tho gam© it appeared ns if the points separating tho teams at tho close of tho match would bo few, and at half-timo Grafton was in tho lead—threo to nil. It was only towards the end of tho match that University's attack became so deadly, and for a short period they shattered Grafton's defence. Thero was no particular brilliancy among tho Grafton players, but good work was done by all. Marist Brothers had a good win over Newiton, one that was fairly well deserved all tho way. The Newton team has improved since . their opening engagement, the tuition of that ;energetic coach, Mr. J. F. Maguirc, an cx- *. New Zealand representative, having already shown excellent results in tho forward division. Halley is in tho lead, and played up to a high standard on Saturday, with Wighton, Griggs, Callaphan, and Poolov showing great promise. Give Newton's "backs the proper training, and tho team will not bo last •in tho fight for the flag'. Marist Brothers' fifteen shaped confidently. The forwards were dashing, and quick to feed tho backs. The backs wero smart and quick to get off the mark. J. O'Brien, in tlio centre, was doing things right through," and ho scored several trios as a result. Tobin is a back of the best class. His run in tho initial stage of a passing rush is of tho straightahead style. That leaves his wing man free to work, not crowded over to tho touch-line, andl thus hampered for want of room. Little, on tho wing, lias tho makings of a champion, but ho should remember that thero arc times when care is good policy. Forward, Marist aro just about good enough. Still, all-round tho team requires more combination to mako tho successful and rapid-scoring organisation that will bo required this season to give tho present competition-holders a fright. r<i~V protest has been lodged by the City Club against tho win of Ponsoiiby on Saturday, the grounds being that tlio winning team played a man who is alleged 'to have taken part in a Northern Union match, Iho protest will be considered at this evening's meeting of tho union. Tlio qualifications of a captain of a. football team aro varied, but a general idea of what is required is generally known. Quito a now definition was given by a fifth grado player on Saturday after a match. Ho was roundly abusing the "skipper" of his team, and suggested forcibly that he ought to resign. When asked for his reasons, he said that an older brother of his, who attended a certain club's training shed, had told him that tho captain of a senior club was a forward, " who can kick with both feet." Tho following letter has been forwarded for publication, "in tho interests of tho boys," by a Newton correspondent" The juniors in the fourth and fifth grades, playing under the Auckland Rugby Union, feel that they have a grievance, or rather a series of them. Very few, if any, of tho matches in tho fifth grade commenced at three p.m., and some, did not start till .'is late as 3.35 p.m., owing to the inability of the kids to find the grounds. Thero is no consecutive numboring, and the ground lying next to No. 17 is No. 23, whilo No. 18 is somewhere at tlio back of the grandstand, and tho others in the vicinity of tho Campbell statue. _ Surely a body like the Auckland Rugby Union could do something in tho way of pasting a poster in tho dressingrooms containing the location of tho grounds, or, failing this, have the grounds plainly numbered. Tho wails from tho warriors of tho 'fifth' were loud and long last Saturday, and a repetition of tho ground chasing idea may do this now grado moro harm than good." In this connection, it is only . fair to stato that tho union officials had a very strenuous week's work in preparing the grounds, which arc spread over an area of 80 acres, for Saturday's play._ There is a largely-increased entry, and with a number of new grounds tho work of surveying, erecting goal posts, etc., was very heavy. The defects mentioned will probably bo rectified before next Saturday. A. Hardgravc, ex-Taranaki representative) footballer, who left Now Plymouth on Monday night for Auckland, was (writes our New Plymouth correspondent) presented by tho Mayor, on behalf of well-wishers, with a silver tea and coffee service and silver cigarette holder, in recognition of his prowess in football and water polo, and from tho fact that ho had been tho means of saving the lives of six people from drowning off Mho New Plymouth beach. Tho takings at Alexandra Park on Saturday amounted to almost £60, a sum which represents a good attendance, the charge for admission being 6d, with ladies froo. Over 1000 players wore admitted free.