FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15613, 20 May 1914, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The 'Auckland Rugby .Union's competitions opened under most unfavourable conditions tot Saturday. It was. unfortunate that the-weather did not hold good, for the senior fifteens were all evenly matched* and good football was expected. As it. turned out, the weather was. extremely bad, heavy rain falling almost .throughout the' afternoon. ; Nevertheless' there was a very, fair attendance .' at ■•- Eden Park, and though good football, owing to the prevailing conditions, was out of the question, still the spectators appeared to enjoy the sight of the players scrambling in the mud, and their enthusiasm was by no means damped. It was expected that City arid Toneonby would provide a first-class game, but followers of the two teams were disappointed, as hardly at any period was the game exciting. The score was not large, but City held the upper hand throughout the game, and were never seriously troubled. By their 8 to 0 victory City registered their first win against Ponsonby for seven years. Previous 'to that they had not lost a match against the blue and blacks for 10 years.

City's forwards were undoubtedly the :hief agents in the red and black's sue-.-ess. They beat the Ponsonby pack at avery point of the game. In the;., scrums they had the advantage, and in the loose work they were considerably better' than their opponents. The wet and heavy ground was naturally adapted to forward play, 60 that, with a beaten pack, Ponyonby had no chance. One of the most noticeable' features of the game was the difference in the condition of the-two teams. City had been training hard for about five weeks, so that the lack of ground practice had little effect on them, and all were in good form. Ponsonby, on the other hand, were clearly wanting in condition. Many of their men were palpably far too heavy, «-.nd hardly a member c2 the team appeared to be anywhere near real football condition. '.-:

The winner's' forwards all played well, and it.Vould be haid- to individualise amongst them. Tresize was not as fit as he might have been, but .the others gave little cause for complaint. McNab was particularly conspicuous for good following up on occasions. The pack adapted itself well to the conditions, and indulged in plenty of footwork, which was practically the only method of play perniislible. r\ ■ '

Amongst the backs, J. D. , Ste A-art played his usual very solid game.' Han- | cox,- who figured as a. forward in last ! year's fourth grade team, played on the ! wing in the threequarter line.'and gave a very promising display. Burns, on the other wing, did not find. the ground to Lis liking, but got through a lot of work with credit, and should prove a very valuable man on a dry day. Ho is,probably the fastest back in Auckland, and should develop inVi> a- very dangerous scoring man. Moffatt i gave a very good exhibition at' fullback, but was not called on to do much. As a matter of fact'he was not called on to tackle a single man all the afternoon, and City were not once required to force down. The five-eighth line was weak, and an alteration will probably be made this week; but God-: frey, the halfback, played a really fine : game. His try was the result of a clever and nippy piece of work. ! ' : Avery was, perhaps, the pick of a mediocre lot of Ponsonby forwards, though Sellara played a good hard game. Hall, on the wing, was plainly very much out of condition.: The backs had practically ik) opportunities, and were on the , defensive, nearly all the -.' time. Murray was by far the best man on the side, _ and he got through a vast amount of spoiling and defensive, work. ; M. R. Stewart, played a safe game, and his kicking was an asset to his side. McGregor .on the wing, was also not in form, though Dance, at Fullback, was really good, and 6ayed his sid© time after time. With practice, the Ponsonby team should do much better,, but training is. at present badly needed. The game between Marist Brothers and University, played on the second. ground at Eden Park, was full of interest, peciaJly in the closing stages. Marist' Brothers were very lucky to securp a draw, as University had considerably the better of matters, and thoroughly deserved to win. i -

• It was in the backs that the students had the advantage, notwithstanding the heavy state of the ground and the greasy ball, the' blue backs essayed several good passing rushes, and, judging by their display, they should be very dangerous on a dry day. The Marist Brothers' backs on the other hand did not indulge in passing. The two packs were very evenly matched; Marists secured the ball on nearly every occasion, and endeavoured to carry it through, but the supports broke out lar too quickly, and allowed the 'Varsity forwards to come through, thus snoilin<r the' good work of tho hookers. It was in the tight work that Marist Brothers shone, but the 'Varsity forwards were consider.ably better in the loose. "'/ . ' V The University men were in , much better condition than their;opponents, and this was greatly in their f&vour. in fact, the lack of training on tho part of Marist Brothers was plain from the fact that . until irriving on the gound the pack had not been down together. Of tho University backs, Wilson was tne of the best, and his following up, was good to see. Lambert showed Nip well, and his kicking was valuable to the side, but he gave the impression that if 'wdly hustled he might be found wanting. Geddes played his customary good game, and Ross, at half, was far superior to Olseu, who. of course, was behind the Marist Brothers' scram. The forwards were a very even lot, and McKenzie and Bilkie were, perhaps, better than their confreres.

Amongst the Marist Brothers-..!. O'Brien at centre, played a good game. He developed a roving tendency, which suited very well on the day, but which Imight lead to disaster "under better conditions. B. O'Brien was by no means convincing, but McKenzie, the cxWellington man, was a tower of strength in the five-eighths lino. On the wing Cornaga was probably the best-conditioned man in the team, and on several occasions lie used his pace to advantage. Ryan and, Casey wcro easily the pick of the forwards. Downing was not in form, but had only arrived that morning after a wearisome journey from Napier. He will 'no doubt soon regain his old-timo dath. . ;

-..- The game was a fast and interesting one, and it was not until half-way through the last quarter that University scored after a clever niece of back play. - It '. seemed as though the students must win, but near the end of tho game Coniaga kicked hard and followed up well. ■;.'■;. His pace seemed to ensure a certain score, but ie was smothered by Lambert. Casey, however, was handy, and dropping on ' the ball alongside the posts, equalised tho scores. A poor attempt at goal saved University from defeat, and a well-con-: •':-.'. tested, game ended in a draw. : • ~ ' From a footballer's point of view it was ,:r-?.nofc.easy.'to; gauge, with reasonable satisfaction, the comparative merits of the two : :■■ teams 'which met on the No. 1 ground at '-; Alexandra Park on Saturday. To at- _ ."tempt to run on tho ground was a '; task, .;: ; and , with a, ball which could hardly.; be - held 'at all, condition proved the dominl. ant factor, As it hannened, '.Pamell: and ; College Rifles proved equally ' fit, and, :.,.:.:-. neither team- should have any reason to ,;. complain . that the result was not' in its favour. ■ : ~/';The.match ,was"a,-' very straggling oneV, ;■.. generally,. due, 100- doubt, to the . :. fceavy going, and the players ; ap- : . re«cd • to fce in all parte of • the

field, and' rarely in. their proper places. .: There --was-.-. little or -no combined Slay ill; either team. . Indeed, after -. the ; first ; v few'attemptsi 'among■? the >; backs .'at passing,;-the;spectators speedily y came to tho conclusion '■••that'; if victory, were to;.be gained by .": either side,; it would.be ■;gained : by the forwards, i Although the first-halt of - ■ the' match ■ was/: .until v': the last ; few minutes* very dull -and: uninteresting,, it was noticeable that .the..College: forwards were t«,o good.' for the maroons. They all worked hard, and it wofild bo unfair tto single out any one of them; ■: nevertheless, sucn stayers as Sellars;;- Sutherland, and : MeHugh were .■ of ten -noticed, ,:• bearing ■the brunt of the attack. Fountney did' yeoman 'service i;n the > front row. and •- ■ his I try '■.- was .; - well '■■■ earned. Ncsbitt was often 'to tho fore, and showed up well asi ! a : - tackier. The other wing-thrcequarter, L. Hill, of Taranaki fame, was conspicuous on one or two occasions,, though .it was evident he was not at home in ft quagmire. • The• College .backs, as a. whole, .were very ragged, and had it riot been for good work by Weston, they, would havo been of even less account. ' Weston ; was the mainstay of tho team. ■•H'o : : was difficult to get past, was always in the .right place at the proper moment,.and his kicking was first-clas!*. ', ■ ■ Parnell showed that: they have; good material in their ranks. Tim .manner ill which thev turned the tables on tho blues in the first'part of the second spell was very ; pleasing ai;d good to watch, the fact that College had eight, points advantage over them before they commenced the second half,: showed that they must have recovered well. . The ; forwards, .be-, came verv ' aggressive under the; leadership of Wilson, and they were.smartly backed up by the half, Casloy, who played a good game throughout. Cusley was very quick at ■getting the ball away, but tho live-eighths were always slow to move. Hardwick was one of the. most prominent men on the field, and his following up -was a feature of his play, It was certainly through his agency amongst tho backsthut College did not record a -win. ■- . Smith who last season was a North Island countrv reoresentative, was to have played amongst the City backs on Saturday, but an accident sustained in a hockey match at Cambridge has put him out' of the game for some time. ■ ; , Junior players on the agricultural ground were loud in their complaints regarding tho condition of the playing \areas, and many asserted that tire' grass Wfio long that place-kicking was practically impossible. It surelv would not take much to have the grass cut, and■ by so.doing the Rugby Union would earn the gratitude of tho juniors, who will have to use the ground all the season. < - Church, who bade 'air to be a tower of strength to City this year, has gone to Wellington, and will probably not return beforo the, end of the season _- j ,■[ . A very promising little team, judging by its display last Saturday, is the North Shore fourth grade.team which defeated City by 11 points to 0. Steward, at fullback, played a remarkably good game, his handling of the ball leaving nothing, to be desired. Perrett, behind the scrum, also acquitted himself well, and the same might ho said of A. Turner, wing thrccquarter, and H. Bennett, five -eighths.' Of tho forwards, E. Johnston was perhaps the pick, but all consistently followed the ball, -Tho fifth grade team,, though defeated by a heavier team, also showed promise. Parker and McLeod, in the threequarter line, both proved speedy backs, and Webb, the halfback, despite an injured '■ hand,, played well. Pr.obert (captain) showed cleverness in cutting in. The forward!!, though light, were quick and Jones and King showed up prominently. :':.• V : ':■'-.<

UNDER LEAGUE RULES i -.:.".,'■','.'-.'...; • ■■■.;■•...'.•-. .-..■- ,:■:■-■ -:■■ •■■•:

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Good football was not a feature of any of the Northern League games played on Saturday. Doubtic'fe, tho. heavy rain which 'ell at intervals was; a' contributing factor, but. the rawness of tho first games of the season was , very noticeable. The men seen out, however, gave promise of better things for the future,, and, doubtless, a little : more , training will '"result, in the production of some first-class teams. '.-•■ Curiosity as to the calibre of the Grafton team drew;many people to Victoria Park, whero the new" combination met. Newton Rangers on a wet and slippery field. Grafton led : until close upon the' call of time, but then the luck went Newton's way, and the red and whites snatched a lucky victory. Of' combined play : there Was little or none,' but individual, play at times got in some clever work. Ifwerscn was head and shoulders above any other player on the field, and to his good work' Grafton owed most of their score. Considering the state of the ball his kicking was excellent, his best ;. effort being a goal secured from just; inside. the half-way -line. Both in offensive and defensive tactics he was most valuable; to his team.. Dawson, at fullback, also worked hard for Grafton, and it is questionable whether Newton would have won the match, had he not been compelled to leave the field owing to injuries received late :in the .'game;.; McDonald, at half, did a:lot of the heavy work, and it was a smart cut-in , on his part' ■ that enabled Ifwersen to score in the.first half.

j.) Although they won, Newton . wore disappointing. ; From the , outset they were tired, and the forwards, following tho example of their : captain, Bennett, spent & great deal of time loafing side. Bennett, however, made up to, 6ome . extent for his laziness by securing a good try : after a determined charge through;the ranks of the black and whites. At time* Newton backs executed some pretty work, but; as was the case with Grafton, there was little concerted action.. •

[ . North Shore Albion • and Ponsonby United had a hard fighji on the: North [Shore ground, which was 1 . in. a somewhat worse 6tate than Victoria Park._ Ponsonby had the better backs, while ■ North Shore forwards more than held their own in tho loose. . :McClymoht/.. fed the Ponsonby backs assiduously, ; :frid, at ■ times made brilliant solo efforts, He made one .. particularly good ; \ save. When ! North Shore had been pressing Ponsonby on to their line for some five minutes, Mc Clymont suddenly ninpedjn and, securing the ball, wriggled and side-stepped his way down practically, the whole length of the' field. Although the North Shore backs did little in the way of attacking, their defensive 'tactics were' good. Time and again solid collaring prevented, the Ponsonby men from getting over, ; A dashing attacking back, however,; appears to be North Shore's greatest need at tho present time.: }-'.- :.>.;.:- .;';'-..-VV''

The Otahuhu Club had very bad luck in having to send its senior team shorthanded, on. the field on Saturday last. One Would not have been so much surprised had tho absentees not -been old members of the club, who played for Otahuhu, in last year's junior team. However, the team stood up well against big odds and;'judging by the play, should do. well in later i fixtures. •-.- .• -,"-. ';.::' '•'.

City is a good strong combination, of which it is hardly fair to mention anyone as being much better than the rat. ■'. McCollough, at fullback, \ played a; sound game, and should bo sei.Ti to advantage shortly, as he was last year a junior forward, and, consequently, is somewhat strange : to his new position.' Of .the'. other backs, Rogers ... was, perhaps, the ; most conspicuous, . but j Kenneallv; and the Asher brothers, who were well, looked after, did a lot of good work, : Tho forwards a very even lot, and ' worked well together. '- Denize was, perhaps, a shade, better than tho others, but they ' all 'played . well. ), ■ The Otahuhu team . possesses some lino defensive players, both back and forward, but on*. Saturday .they' did. not get much chance of . displaying ; their .attacking powers. Cooke made some good runs, and more than once was very* < unlucky in.not scoring; his tackling was faultless and his kicking very useful". .' Bargreaves ; played a brilliant - game at fivci-eighths, and: his try was -the' result of a 1 splendid piece of play. Brennan. at halfback 1 , played a, solid game and, under more favourable conditions, should improve on any, of. his previous exhibitions. ! Galbniith, V a promoted junior, played I a good- game, and the club will do well to \ keep /turn in thoj senior' team.;Tho fullback, Stockman, was ; bard-: ryorked, and deserves a word of praise for bis consistent good work-; i There were only; four of the forwards on : the'field, but; played 'well'• and, except . in the. scrums, where extra.; weight on the other ..side/ paralysed their efforts, held their end: up . . •'• . '.':'. :■ n .".•:..•' " .-::' . i\ :■ ■ -' ' ;.

1 ' well. "'■" Moiiiie,". the younger Stumawat; was; easily % the: Beat*- forward [ oh' the *field,. ! while his brother and i Baskevill©.were.both good.: The other forward, Browne, is.very light," buthe is, very eager, atid is always; in the thickest ■■ parts. *~':'' .."■• • '■•' {'Judging by\tho.'■'form "displayed by .the various teams in ; the % opening K matches, City - should 1 , be >> hard , to. beat ..this year. : Grafton , showed I much, promise, and', the • fact ■■'-_ that J the' team - ■ had not ' been i together 'before :ho : doubt hampered their efforts to: a considerable: extent. «, Ponsonby is ia! team I which can always be relied on, and, if its members reproduce the fine form they displayed at the ■ latter end of last season, they, should bo well in the running. ; Y r : .a An amusing incident- occurred 'in the Grafton-Newton match on' Saturday.;: Newton lucked .a goal,, which* put them in the lead;, and Ifwerseri placed the hall at halfway for the kick off. 'A ; beautiful effort ■, sent the "ball between 1 the posts,, and for a minute the Grafton players-and: supporters alike thought '• that .. the scores had *-been equalised. ; Thei cheering, however, was cut short, when :it was suddenly realised that tho kick was only the kick off. : ; ; The League game is slowly, but surely, getting: a strong hold '■; in 'Ohrisichurch (writes ;pur. Christchurch ~ correspondent). Another club, to bo known as ; the Christ' church Club, was formed last night, with the following list .of prominent , and influential citizens :as an executive: — Messrs. T. Maud, ; S. -Barrett, C. H. Croxton, J. Reynolds, ' W. Hayward, John Holmes, N. Duncan-, S. Staples, P. C. Freath, and . S.D. Robinson .secretary, Mr. L. Guiney; committee of organisation, Dr. ■'- Thacker, Messrs. Milne, H. Cook, 15. L. Woodhouse, W. Hall, F. Harvey, T. B. Pike, W. L. Clark, and J. F. D. White. , ■'■■•;

/FIXTURES FOB SATURDAY, Following are the , Auckland Rugby League's fixtures'for Saturday next, with grounds, referees, and times of starting , First Grade.—Newton v. City, '■] Victoria Park, 3 p.m., Mr, Ferguson Grafton v. North Shore, North: Shore, 3 Mr; Benson; . Ponsonby iv. Otahuhu, ; Otahuhu No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. Eddows, Second Grade.— v. City, Victoria Park, 2 p.m., Mr. Vauso; North Shore v. Grafton, North Shore, 2 p.m., Mr. Fielding; Northcote v. Otahuhu, Otahuhu No. 2, 3 p.m., Mr. Tyson.Third Siinnysido A v. Grafton, Sunnysido A, 2 p.m., Mr. Whitley; North Shore B v. Otahuhu, Otahuhu No., 3, 3 p.m., Mr. Shaw Newton v. Sunnyside B, Sunnyside, 3 p.m., Mr. Aughton; • Northcote v. Manukau, Northcoto, 3 p.m., Mr. Dempsey; Remuera v. Hobsonville,. Hobsonville, 3 p.m., Mr. , Herrick; North Shore v. Ponsonby, Domain, 3 p.m., Mr. Wynyard. Fourth Grade.—Grafton v. Otahuhu Bj Otahuhu No. 1,2 p.m., Mr. Shaw; Newton v. Ponsonby, Northcote, 2 p.m., Mr. Dempsey; \ North Shore v. Otahuhu A, Otahuhu No. 4,'3 p.m., Mr. Rogers; - City v. Sunnyside, Domain, 2 p.m., Mr. Wynvard; Remuera v. Manukau, Otahuhu No. 5, 3 p.m., Mr. Calthorpe. ■••'.'

THE, ASSOCIATION GAME.

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY.

The following are the Auckland Football Association's fixtures for Saturday next, with grounds and referees :— First Division.—North Shore v. Adult School, Nor';h Shore, Mr- Good; Corinthian v. Everton, Victoria Park, Mr. Horsley; Y.M.C.A. v. Thistle, Bayswater No. 1. Mr. Rutter; Brotherhood v. Carlton, . Domain No. 1, Mr. Speed. . . Second Division.— section :, Everton v. Tabernacle A, Domain No. 2, Mr. Swindall; Adult School v. North Shore A, Richmond, Mr. Guest W. Y.M.I, v. Epsom,- Epsom, Mr. Lock. B section : Tabernacle B v. Brotherhood, North Shore No., 2, Mr. Matthews ; North Shore Bv. Pukekohe, Pukekohe, Mr. 'Martin; St. John's v. Y.M.C.A., Bayswater No. 2, Mr. Bond.