FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16860, 27 May 1918, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

'• THE RUGBY GAME. RESULTS OF SATURDAY'S PLAY. Matches in the Auckland Rugby Union championships were advanced a further stage on Saturday afternoon at Eden and Alexandra Parks. Previous rain made the grounds muddy, and the ball soon became difficult to handle. The games, however, were list and exciting, and although the attendance was not what is to be expected, much enthusiasm was shown. University beat College Rifles by a narrow margin, Ponsonby drew with Grammar; Old Boys, neither side scoring, and Marist Old Boys defeated Grafton. UNIVERSITY V. COLLEGE RIFLES. Collese Rifles (dark blue) won the toss, and th« «« me i " y was confined to the centre, the Kines later coming up with a good passing bout, which, however, ended in Montgomery missing tie pass at the line. An infringement by University (light blue) gave the dark blues a shot at goat, which missed, tno students forcing. Play was fast, with MjUege Rifles gradually advancing, when Gibbons and Gasparich broke through for »?, "F h .t .blues, and dribbled well down the nines line. Fast and exciting play kept the game up and down the field, and good play was the rule for the backs of each team. A **• kick by Montgomery had the University fullback in difficulties, and the ball went over, but the advancing dark blue forwards missed the scoring chance. Pine play by ijewis after the drop out sent Rifles back to the defence, Grierson improving with a clever mark. University, by ' high kicking, reached the opposing twenty-five, but another infringement and resulting penalty sent them back to home territory. Rifles once more attempted a passing rush, but a lone shot at goal failed. Play remained fast, S? 8 fin * Passing bout ran. the length of the light blues' line, but a dropped pass enabled the defenders to clear just on halftime. The change, over brought exciting individual work and good kicking. Play was fast, with a tendency to keep in the centre, until a free kick brought the students to the Rifles' territory. The light blues then commenced another passing bout, but Grierson sent, them back. In the final spell University came up well. Good defensive play for Rifles by Grierson sent the ball to the centre. College Rifles forced the pace, and attacked, but Birnie stopped them. Sims cut off a Rifles pass, and Gibbons, Laoey, Thomas, and Gasparich got away, and dribbled right down the field, Gasparich picking up at the line and scoring for University, the only score of • the day. The game, ended with University attacking. The final score was. i University . . 8 College * Rifles . . .. .. 0 Mr. Wetherilt was referee. GRAMMAR OLD BOYS V. PONSONBY. Grammar (white) kicked off. and an ex-" change of kicks between James, Paul, and Marsden was responsible for a scrum at midfield, -where Ponsonby (blue) got the ball, but Leo Kronfeld was too quick for them. Ihe whites soon reached the opposing twentyfive. The ball came out to the Grammar backs, but Marsden kicked too hard, and a force resulted. Ponsonby . forwards went to the attack, but bad passing spoilt many chances. Poison took a clever mark for the blues, and they remained on the offensive. Drummond averted trouble, and Caahmore led the whites in a good dribbling rush, which, after a lineout was continued. The blues repelled the attack,, and play went to the centre, where Ponsonby was penalised.- Leo Kronfeld again broke up the opposition, but was not supported. , and was collared by Kelly. In the white twenty-five a good centring kick by Righton placal Old Boys in difficulties, but no score resulted. Play continued to be fast, and Ponsonby took up the offensive. The white, backs spoilt chances by faulty and erratic passes.' Kelly took a long dropkick, which missed, and Molloy, who was playing .well, .forced. From- a scrum Rossthrew out to Drummond, ; who passed to Marsden,, but 'the latter mis-handled. Halftime arrived without score. 'On resuming the blues attacked, but Molloy cleared, and Leo Kronfeld broke through the ruck. When collated he passed to Drummond, but Righton intercepted. Molloy and Adams did good co-operative work.. A fine passing rush along the whole white line ended in Molloy beunr. collared near the posts, faulty handling by the Old Boys' backs preventing a score. .In the last spell play was willing' but • uneventful, and the game ended

Grammar Old Boys . . .. 0 • Poneonby. . ... . . . . 0 Mr. A. Kennedy was referee. GRAF-TON V. MARIST OLD BOYS. Grafton (black and white) commenced with an attack, but play was brought to the centre. From a line-out Marists (blue) took charge, and with'the ball at foot, took a fine attack to the black-and-white line, where Culpan scored. No goal resulted. Grafton again attacked, but what would have been a fine rush wag nullified by flagrant offside play. After fast play the blue forwards got away, compelling their opponents to force. From a scrum at mid-field, Grafton backs put in fine work, but the Marist fullback saved the situation. The blue forwards again attacked, but the ball went out of bounds. Play became slow, until the blues secured from a scrum and back play ensued. Cutting-in by Grafton brought the ball well into the opposing twenty-five, where, from a free, kick, Nixon kicked a goal, thus equalising -the scores. Within a short time Nixon kicked another, goal from a- penalty near halfway, placing the black and white's in the lead. _ Grafton kept up the pressure, high-kicking being noticeable, the ball going over the • dead-ball line. After hard play the] blues came up, but a series of speculations in Grafton's twenty-five sent the ball over the line, a force being recorded. At the commencement of the fourth spell. Belcher, for the blues, set his team attacking from the kick-off. but the attack failed, play being brought down field. From a kick. Dyer, on the. wing, r>icked . up. and scored between the posts. The blues still attacked.! and play moved up and down the field, until Pain©, following up fast, beat the "tiposition and scored. The kick failed. The game ended:— r Marist Old Boys 9. Grafton •* - 6 Mr. B. Webster was referee.

SECOND GRADE. University, 6 points, drew with Grammar Old Boys, 6: Marist Old Boys, 6 points, defeated College Rifles, 5. , THIRD GRADE. Green Lane, 6 points, drew with Normal Old Boys, 6; Grammar Old Boys, -25 points, defeated Parnell, 0; Ponsonby. 6 points, de-. feated Newton 3. FOURTH GRADE. Ponsonby, 41 points, defeated Public Schools, 0; Newton, 17 points, defeated Suburbs, 0: Marist Old Boys, 34 points, de feated Normal, 0; Grafton won by default from Parnell. SECONDARY SCHOOLS' .MATCHES. SECOND GRADE. Technical School, 6 points, defeated Sacred Heart. S. j. ' PRIMARY SCHOOLS' MATCHES. A Grade: Remuera, 12 points, beat Maungawhau, 3; Mount Eden, 11 points, beat Bayfield, 0; Napier Street A, 3 points drew with Parnell. 3; Vermont Street, 40 points, beat' Richmond Road. 0. .... B Grade: Nelson Street, 6 points, beat Te Papapa, 3; Vermont B. 6 points, beat Point Chevalier, 3: Ponsonby, 8 points, beat Epsom, 0: Mount Albert, 9 points, beat Onehonga, 0; Normal, 12 points, beat Beresford Street, 0. '~„„, . . . . C Grade: Mount Roskill, 6 points, beat Avondale, 0: Takapuna, 42 points, beat Mount' Albert, 0; Ellerslie, 18 points, beat Grey Lynn, 0; Newton E., 12 points, beat Newton Wi, 0;- Newmarket, 12 points, beat Napier Street, 3. UNDER LEAGUE RULES. CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. Both League matches played at Victoria Park on Saturday were excellent displays of the possibilities of the Northern Union code fast, open, interesting. There was a large attendance. Ponsonby beat Newton 4 and City beat Grafton, both one-point victories. North Shore defaulted to Maritime. NEWTON V. PONSONBY. Lawry kicked off for Ponsonby (blue and black), and an immediate attack resulted. Newton (red and white) gained the blue Quarter line, but a breach sent them back to neutral territory, a scrum on the halfway line resulting in Keenan getting the ball t out to Lovett. and the two were well up tho field when an offside recalled them. The blues retaliated, and a succession of long shots ensued. Newton went up with an organised rush, but a nice kick by Minogue, i the Ponsdnby fullback, saved th© situation, and made an opening for Maddison and Cadman. Mansill collared we'll, but Ponsonby kept up the attack, and Southernwood scored the first for the blue and blacks. Maddison converted with a nicely, judged kick. Ponsonby kept up the. attack, and Newton were not slow in asserting themselves. From a scrum near halfway Maddison attempted to start his forward pack, but Thomas stopped them, ■ and a free kick was awarded to Ponsonby. Thomas attempted to make an opening with a long pass to A. Des, but it resulted in . a knock-on. Edwards, for the ' blues, stopped a solid rush with a good - mark, and halfway again became the scene of play. Fast and open plav became the rule. After some time Newton pushed through from a scrum and attacked A ■ penalty kick was taken by Castles from a long shot at goal. Newton tried hard to keep .the blue jerseys in their own territory, but spoiled two chances by mishandling. Minogue, whose play-was a feature of the game, i stopped another heavy

rush with a good-: kick, but Newton continued to -press. An offside .by . the blues gave the red and. whites a- kick, from which Castles scored a goal. A scrum at halfway gave Newton all the advantage, and Homers was almost across ' when Cadman **" on the ball. The play following was fast and-exciting, and a good game ensued until Lovett was hurt' and time taken off. The spell ended soon after with unaltered scores. Newton commenced the second half with another fast attack, and spectacular play ensued. A spell of clobo play followed. A. Rae secured the ball, well followed by the forwards, and the attack carried McGregor over the line. Cadman failed with the kick. After another spell of very fast interesting play, in which Minogue'waa seen at his best, Keenira beat heavy opposition and scored for Newton. 'Williams converted. Spurred on by close scores both teams tried hard, but the game ended without further score. The final ■ scores were :— Ponsonby . • .. .8 , Newton .. .. ... ~ ..'7 Mr. Ferguson was referee. . GRAFTON V. CITY. City (red and black) commenced the attack. From. the mid lino Rukutai took the ball, and sent on to Haddon, who passed to Paki. The latter made a bold attempt to cross, but was stopped on the corner. Grafton (black and white) cleared from a free kick,' and play worked across to midfield, where the backs of both sides tried to get the ball, which was too greasy to manipulate easily. -Tremain marked a high kick .in the City twenty-five. Ifwerson made a good shot, but went wide. He later, from a I free kick, put up the first score for Grafton. City attacked, pressing the black and whites ,in their own territory, where Mitchell secured for the reds. Haddon coming up from the back received' a cross-kick and scored underneath the posts. Stannaway i converted. With the red and blacks in the lead Grafton rallied, and sent them back with -loose rushes. The defenders invaded I the black and white territory to within a I few feet of the line. The game became fast, and • both teams tried hard to score. Paki, | who was conspicuous by a fine rush, fell ! at the corner while attempting to secure the ball from a bounce. Half-time came with- ! out further score. After the change over j City again attacked, and play for some time was kept in the black and white, territory. I Hard play was the rule, Ifwerson! doing good work for Grafton. There were several acciI dents, Campney and Fyfe receiving minor I injuries, which necessitated their going off the field. Roid was rendered unconscious, and was removed to the Auckland Hospital. Ifwerson made several attemnts at " opening up," but olay was invariably brought back to the ruck. A scrum was ordered, and the Grafton backs secured the. ball, which was carried over by McGregor. The line umpire maintained that the ball | -went out, but the referee gave a try. 'Ifwerson converted. In the shore time ; 'Paki ard Hoiran scored for City, and Simpson for Grafton. The final i scores were:— City 11 Grafton . . 10 Mr. Vause was the referee. SECOND GRADE. Otahuhu, 14 points, defeated Mangere, 0. THIRD GRADE. Manukau, 8 points, defeated Northcote. 8: North Shore. 6 points, defeated City, 5. FOURTH GRADE. Manukau, 0. drew with Newton. 0: Richmond. 2 points, defeated Grafton. 0: Parnell, 5 points, defeated Telegraph, 3. FIFTH GRADE. Manukau A. 13 points, defeated Manukau B, 6; Richmond, 6 points, defeated North Shore. 5; Otahuhu. 7 points, defeated City, 0: Telegraph, 11 points, beat Ponsonby B i O -; SIXTH GRADE. m C l ty 3 D° in - defeated Riohmond. 0Otahuhu. 6 points, defeated Telegraph. 0. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. SATURDAY'S MATCHES. Matohes under , the ' Auckland Football Association were played on Saturday. Wild Wild lL£ ea « Y -% CA -V,. No , Shore beat Wild Rose B, and Brotherhood drew with Devonport Presbyterian. " n WILD ROSE A. V. Y.M.CA. MC i4; kic V ed ? ff - with » strong head wind. After play in midfield a free kirk well *?"&* Y-MX.A ..and Skipwith well m the centre. Pooch clearing. The R aept in , %>, mi until the Wild th« \i?r ,da &* oke away ' Tantrum taking attacked In!? he /Otolith. Wild Rose attacked and forced several corners. From SSf+SP'fc &Jh B towards a melee ensued th« fi»c* * C - A r t ,K fLl ' J 3 Connor- scoring ! the, first for wild Rose. .From the . dear, Marsden secured for. Wild Rose and the dl ¥xr m rs s°* Bhot : from halfway,' teat the- Y.M.C.A. defence and scored. After JuS fe Y^ C,A - took th defensive. an" with Wild w. < i 8 pressing hard, Rawnslev cleared. Half-time came without further -Wl%,£ r £ m *&• kick ' off Wild Bo™ missed, and Pooch, after smart work, sent in a SSii'&'- wl # the Y-M.C.A. goalkeeper saved. Skipwith was playing a fine defensive game for Y.M.GA.. hut O'Connor secured and beat Rawnsley. a score resuf£ for' to-! j wJL corner Graham scored again t for Wild Rose. No other scores resulted ihe final scores were:— Wild Rose A ;.. .. ~ a Y.M.C.A. .. .. .; ;; J Mr. Nowbold was referee.

BROTHERHOOD V. DEVONPORT PRESBYTERIAN. . , Brotherhood won the toss and kicked off with the wind. The Presbyterians made a determined attack, but were repulsed. The ball was then takjm into their, territory, but a long shot by Harrison failed, Wilson saving. Fairgray _ made a fine run down the line, his shot just missing the .goal. Neil, the Brotherhood goalkeeper, was playing a fine game, completely baffling the opposition- Half-time came without score. On play being resumed Brotherhood made a tine rush, and play continued at a speedy pace for some time. Webster just missed the goal with a long shot. After solid play Fairgray scored the first for the Presbyterians. In a few minutes Martin, after a fast line run, scored for Brotherhood. The final scores were;— Brotherhood .. 1 Devonport Presbyterian .. .. 1 Mr. King was referee. WILD ROSE B V. NORTH SHORE. The North Shore team were without the ?rvlc^-,°, their captain, C. Dacre, who was ill. Wild Rose won the toss, and were placed on the defensive in a very short time. Innis was fouled in the area, and from a penalty, scored the first for North Shore. Wild Rose secured and made well down-field to enable Stewart to make a shot, which failed. Lockwood scored again for North Shore. Play was dull, neither side trying hard. Shore kept up an attack, and, from an extremely difficult angle, Muirhead scored for his side. After a few minutes' play, Lockwood scored again, and half-time came. _ After fast play upon resuming, all the Wild Rose opposition proved useless, and North Shore scored four more goals before time was called. The final scores were: — North Shore 9 Wild Rose B . . 0 SECOND GRADE. Y.M.C.A., 4 goals, defeated Devonport Presbyterian, 1; Northcote, 6 goals, defeated Tabernacle, 2; Brotherhood, 21 goals, defeated Technical Old Boys, 0. FIFTH GRADE. Northcote, 3 goals, defeated Technical College B. 1; Technical College A, 1 goal, de. feated Takapuna 0; North Shore, 3 goals, defeated Mount 'Albert, 1; Tabernacle won from Ponsonby by default. SIXTH GRADE. , North Shore A, 8 goals, defeated Belmont B, 0; Belmont A, 1 goal, defeated Devonport Presbyterian, 0; Technical College, 1 goal, defeated Northcote, 0.