FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14730, 12 July 1911, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME'.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The star Rugby attraction on Saturday between Ponsonby and University drew a largo attendance to the Park. The spectators were rewarded with a keen struggle, which developed sensationally in the third and fourth quarters. Some brilliant work was done by both sides, and three especially meritorious tries were scored.- Ponsonby by their win, havo created a fresh interest in the contest, and the next meeting of City and Ponsonby is sure to attract a, large attendance.

Tho Ponsonby team was not the wellbalanced combination the club has possessed in the past. Tho hack division had a screw loose, and rarely brought off any effective passing work, whilo the forwards lack the devil of old-time packs. 'Murray, McGregor, and O'Leary were tho pick of the backs. Murray, who did some fine lino kicking, spoiled good work by faulty handling. Hall, Sellars, Campbell, and Cunningham were tho pick of the vanguard.

Tho University backs did not play up to expectations. They were sure in taking the ball, but many passing movements lacked finish. The backs to do well were Macky, Wilson, Otterson, McDonald, and Wilkes, while of the forwards Bilkoy, Bamford, and McDuff wore the pick.

FIFTH GRADE CHAT. j Tho Ponsonby A team journeyed to Papa-1 kura and played the local fifteen. The, gamo ended in a drawsix all. Bator scored a try and Stanley kicked a penalty , for Ponsonby. , The Newton A team, containing nino invalids, met and defeated Ponsonby B by 12 points to nil. The "ponies" are said to have played soveral unregistered men, and it is quite timothe union took a hand, as this kind of thing is becoming too frequent. Hammond, Tiernan, Stone, and Veal were the pick of the Ponsonby backs, while Cramond, Carlson. Harrison, and Bell played good games in the forwards, For Newton A Saunders and Morgan were the best in the forwards, .while Lynch played a very good game. Of the backs Erio Poison was easily tho best, playing a real heady game. Tho lads of tho Newton A team are holding a smoke social and tangi in tho Foresters' Hall on August 5, in aid of tho club's funds. Already a large number of tickets have been sold. Jim Maguirc (of All Black fame) will occupy the chair at tho smoker. All "fifths" should roll up, and endorse the Newton enterprise. The suspension of the City team has created another vacancy in this grade, and this, with Grafton B always defaulting, means loss of two games to each team in the first round.

The Newton B team put up a surprisingly good game against Parnell on Saturday, and should have scored at least twice. The margin of 14 point* in no way indicates the respective merits of the teams. Handcock and Wollodgo were easily the pick of Parnoil's backs, and played real heady, unselfish games. Tho Newton A team will journey to Whangarei at the end of September, and spend nearly a week away, playing a match every day of their tour, except Sunday. Tho Newton A team still have their line uncrossed, and their record up to date is: Played 6, won 6, points for. 98, against 3. North Shore team, who are well in the running for tho championship, had a win by default on Saturday.

COMBINED UNIVERSITIES' TOUR. An exciting game between teams representing the combined colleges of New Zealand the Sydney University was watched by 5000 spectators on July 1. These intor-'varsity games 'are played alternately in New Zealand and Sydney, and the last occasion on which tho visitors were in Sydney was. in 1908, when they were defeated by probably tho strongest forward side that ever represented the local collegians. On this occasion, however, the New Zcalanders triumphed over their opponents by means of some splendid football, especially in tho second half, when they worked the spectators up to a high state of excitement. Tho visitors' forwards wcro brilliant with tho ball on tho ground, and were' always looking for chances, going hard and strong at anything that looked like an opening, and generally giving glimpses of that crispness and effectiveness for which New Zoalandors are noted. The backs were not made.full use of, excepting the wing threequarter Faire, who seemed to bo a magnet, drawing nearly all tho play to his wing, and ho acquitted himself with distinct credit. His running along touch was excellent, and although forced out on a number of occasions ho always sent tho ball infield, thus keeping it in play. The other backs woro fine, steady players, and will probably show some fine form in the remaining matches. On entering tho field each team cheered the other; then tho visitors gave a weird "war cry," led by W. Grace, who went through somo particularly quaint actions. The Now Zealanders undoubtedly were the better side, and their play had the spectators excited right up to tho final whistle. Sydney University were caught napping on two occasions in tho line-out, and a player unmarked caused all the damage, wing-for-ward Quilliam performing the try-scoring on each occasion. Tho other try was a neatly-executed cross-kick to Curtayne, who ran over. Five tries and no goals is not an enviable record so far as kicking is concorned, against two tries two goals. The visitors missed one especially easy shot. THE RANFURLY SHIELD. [BT 'XEI-EGRATB.. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Gisborne, Tuesday. At a special meeting of the Rugby Union, a letter was received from tho Auckland Union, stating that it was unable to suggest a dato for tho Poverty Bay match at Auckland for the Ranfurly shield. It was decided to write to the New Zealand ; Union, pointing out that the Auckland Union had notified Mr. Parata that any Wednesday was available for the Maori team, and to ask tho New Zealand Union to be good onough to fix a date for tho Poverty Bay match. COROMANDEL V. THAMES. [BY telegraph.— correspondent.] * Corohandel, Tuesday. The Thames representative team will journey to Coromandel on Saturday next, and play the local team. The Coromandel representatives will be as follows:—Fullback, S. McNeil; threequarters, L. Howe, T. Campbell, and T. Blithe; five-eighths, J. Kneebono; halfback, W. Jones; wingforwards, F. McGuinness and J. Hovell; forwards, J. Wells and E. Moore (front row), T. Ryan, W. Wells, and Edwards, (second row), E. Lowden and J. Gold (back row). Emergencies H. Jones, W. Loram (backs), G. Jackson and Boswcll (forwards).

NORTHERN UNION GAME. LOWER WAIKATO LEAGUE. The selection committee lias selected the following team to represent the Lower Waikato League in a match, against the Rotorua representatives at Ngaruawahia on Saturday next: —• Fullback: A. Raynor (Huntly). Thrcequarters: S. Berrynian (Huntly), P. Crean (Ngaruawahia), J. Kay (Komakorau), S. Runciman (Ngaruawahia). Fire-eighths: R. Gleeson (Huntly). Halfback: M. Vincent (Ngaruawahia). Forwards: A. Duffull, H. Henderson (Komakorau), J. Robson, H. Sampson (Ngaruawahia), J. Dunn (Huntly), F. Hall (Komakorau). Emergencies: Racks—J. McGill (Huntly), S. Park (Komakorau). Forwards—M. Park (Komakorau), F. Jones (Huntly). A carriage will be attached to the goods train leaving Ngaruawahia for Mercer at 5.15 p.m., so that visitors from the lower end of tho district may return after the match. A junior —Ngaruawahia A v. Huntly will bo played as a ourtain-raiser. Following is the Ngaruawahia" team: Edwards, 0. Gusson, J. Wright, T. McKeown, H. Booth, 0. Breen, W. Berryman, W. Fuller, R. Kellow, E. Quintal, J. Collins, J. Booth, J. Prondersraat.. , :":'-.. '

The junior Northern. Union match, Northcote. Ramblers versus Ponsonby Uniteds, created much excitement amongst the large number of spectators who assembled at Victoria Park on Saturday last. ■ It was evident from the start that both sides were well trained, and that a fast, open game would eventuate. In this respect the spectators were not disappointed, as time after time the backs of both sides indulged in fino passing rushes, but the doadly tackling prevented much scoring. In the first spell play was very even, Northcote scoring towards the close, after a splendid effort on the part of Jordan. In the second spell Ponsonby attacked, and after many efforts Oakley secured from the scrum and crossed the line, the kick at goal being resultless. The scores even, Northcoto put more dash in their play, but could not get through Ponsonby's defence. However, towards the close the ball was picked up from amongst the forwards by Clow, who made a dash for the line, crossing with two opponents hanging on. The whistle sounded shortly afterwards, leaving Northcote winners by 6 points to 3. Tyer, Tremain, Osborne, Sceats, and Jordan for Northcote, and Stanaway, Oakley, Forbes, and Liversidge, for Ponsonby, deserve special mention. During the match Taylor (Northcote) and Strong (Ponsonby) had to retire owing to injuries. . The selection of a team for England is causing much discussion. The eight certainties chosen—H. Messenger, A. Broomham, A. Hallett, C. H. McKivat, P.' A. McCue. E. Courtney, C. O'Sullivan, and S. Pcarce—are men who would be picked by 9G out of every 100 League followers in Sydney. Several more arc certainties in tho public mind, such as C. Russell, W. Earnsworth, D. Frawley, A. J. McCabe, H. Gilbert, V. Farnsworth, H. R. Francis, C, Savoury, W. Noble, W. Cann, C. MacMurtrio, and Stanaway. , Tho Now Zealand' team won their first match against Queensland by 24- points to 13, a score which about represents the play. Dunning, Francis, and Savoury showed fine form, though Francis was hardly the brilliant forward ho was when last he visited Brisbane. Late in the second half Woodward had to rctiro with both ankles injured, and. Munro played instead for the rest of the game.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. Baker -and Cantell wore both greatly -missed from Everton team, especially Baker's placing to his forwards. Caraclus, who took his place, played a good game. Love, the Evorton inside right, was stunned early in the match, and was unconscious tor some time. It was thought at first he was badly hurt, but recovered and played a good game. , " •Evcrton and Ponsonby have now lost, three points in the league competition. With North Shore a good third, a great deal depends on the return match between Ponsonby and North Shore at North Shore. , The latter team aro very hard to beat on their own ground, and Ponsonby will have to go all (.lie way to win the two points. Everton have good cause to remember their visit to Shore this season, for, although they scored a win, their goalkeeper (Canton) was bardly hurt, and is unlikely to play again. It is hardly fair to ask any club, especially those teams in the running for tho championship, to play both matches at North Shore. • .' ■ ■ The Everton-Ponsonby match did not provide the exciting contest expected. Tho 'latter club had a strong side on the field, j and every man playing up to form, and tho forwards with good combination, fairly \ walked over Everton by 5 goals to 1. In ! justico to the Everton team it might be said they have lost two good players, and this has upset tho combination of the team. Since Cantell's unfortunate accident a novice has been the custodian of the Everton goal, and has allowed goals through which could have been stopped by one used to the position. , H. Webster showed up very prominently throughout the game. His brother Rod. also did good work. ' ( ' It would be useless to single out the back division, as all did their allotted work in good stylo. • i _ The Gordon-Caledonian, fourth division gamo proved a fast contest, and ended in a draw. Every week one hears a constant noise from one or two players of each side, and wo think that something ought to be done by the captains in putting down the continual talking which ' goes on. The culprits are not hard to single out; they are noticeable every week. Some fourth-grade players should learn to bo unselfish in their play. There are soveral fine players who aro clever, but forget there are others on the field. No doubt the fourth-grade selectors will bear this in mind, as a selfish player is no good to any side. A little combined play often means a score. .

Mount Albert, through their win on Saturday last, are now leading for the third division championship. ■ ;:; We learn, unofficially, that the local association will bo asked to. accept August 12 as the day on which to play the fourth division Wellington-Auckland representative game. Owing to the departure of H.M.S. Cambrian for Suva, to pick up tho flagship and from there to go to Sydney to be paid off,' the local clubs - will not have the pleasuro of meeting the men-o'-warsmen. , Mr. Smithyman (the local secretary) tells mo that in a conversation with Mr. McGlashan, of the Cambrian, the latter said his team has an unbeaten record on the Australasian station. H.M.S. Powerful's team declined to • meet them, and they therefore claim the navy championship. Mr. McGlashan regrets very much that his side could not meet an Auckland eleven, as they were looking forward to having a keen contest. !

The Canterbury reps, are evidently not going to let the Brown shield go without a hard fight. Their decisive win over Otago by 4 goals to 1, shows that the Canterbury players have a strong team. Tho Canterbury team is practically the same as played | Auckland last, season. .. v ~

Mr. Walker, of To Aroha, who contemplates starting the game at the thermal springs town, called on the secretary of the local association and ■ received ■ some valuable advice. s ,

North Shore fourth division team are now leading for that championship. The splendid combination of the Shore fourth's is a great factor in their successful career.