FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 741, 14 May 1886, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

PONEKF. AND WELLINGTON CLOBS (firsts). This was a match in which very great interest was taken, the Poneke's success in Canterbury recently besides their general reputation as a first-class team, making the contest betweeu them and the Wellington Club’s first fifteen quite an important event. Neither Club can t, e said to have been represented by its really best team, the Poneke’s being especially un fortunate in the absence of some of their very best men, and the Wellington team was general'y considered to have the best chance of Winnie". At about three o’clock Wellington : kicked off, and after a few scrimmages Pearce made a Bhort run, and took the play to the half distance, whence it was shifted back to the Wellington’s 25 yards by Roberts, who punted the ball down the field, and followed up smartly. The Pooeke forwards backing up well, and "oing straight ahead all tile time, gradually forced the Yellows back, and after a little scrimmaging near the Wellington territory the Yellows forced down. Wellington kicked out, and Sim’s getting a mark, kicked the ball down the . where it was mulled bv the Wellington backs; and again the Yellows were on the defensive. Hirschberg got a mark, and averted the danger for a few minutes, but the Reds worked the play back agaim Inside the Wellington 25 yards a series of desperate scrimmages took place, ending eventually in the Yellows forcing down. For some little time after this the play was uneventful. The Wellington forwards appeared to wake up a bit, but were unable to go anything better than steadying the onward rushes of the Reds. Presently Barr and Pearce, by dint of runnin" aud clever passing, took the ball up to theTniddle of the field, and immediately afterwards Fairbrother made a run, and Hirschber<* kicking into touch, the Yellows, for the fir3t time were irside the Poneke 25 yards. The Reds rallied, however, and in a very few minutes the ecene of play had been changed, and Wellington had forced down. Soon afterwards fairbrother (then inside hi* 25 yards' line), started a run, and went out if the field of play, but bis error was apparently not noticed by the umpires. Coming back he started to run, and went such a long way round that he was collared beneath his side’s goal posts, ana had to touch down. Soon after the kick out Ellison made a good run, and brought the play close to the Wellington line* but here one of the Poneke men made a wild pass, and Stock, the Wellington fullback, getting the ball, made a dashing run, and passed the middle of the field before he was grassed by Dixou, the back. Half-time was called soon afterwards, with the ball close to the Wellington territory. In the second spell the Welliugtons held their own very much better, and the advantage rested alternately with either side, the Ponekes having, however, the best of it. Very little of anv consequence occurred until near the end of the spell. The Ponekes had the advantage, when Barr got the ball, and after a good “run, passed to Pearce. The latter saw his opportunity, and ran in and scored the first trv. The kick at goal was taken by* Fairbrother, who did not succeed in getting it between the posts. From this to the finish the play was desperately hot. The Poneke made the most determined attempts to score, and rushed the play down to within a few yards of the Wellington line ; but the Yellows successfully resisted attempts to trespass on their territory, and when tbs match had been fought to the bitter end, the Wellington team had won by a try to love. The Ponekes had particularly hard luck in losing by a fluke a match of which they undoubtedly had the best all through ; and, on their Saturday’s play, it docs not seem at &li hat'd to moke & shrewd suggestion as to the probable destination of the Senior Cup this year. The winners were captained by Hirschberg and the Ponekes by Nicholls. Wellington (Second fifteen) v. Petone (first). —This match created no little excitement in football circles, it being understood that both teams will be in the last “ rush ’ for the Junior Gup. As both fifteens were on Saturday considerably weakened by the absence of some of their best players, the return match, which is to be played in towD, will be looked forward to with interest. -Lbe game on Saturday resulted in a victory for the Petone Club by two points. The Yellows ■winning the toss, played with the wind the first spell. Roberts kicking off for Petone, the Red forwards rushed it into the Yellow s 25’s, and Maloney rushed in and scored first blood for Petone. J. Roberts placed a nice goal from this try. Soon after, Hempton scored for the Yellows, but the attempt at goal was a failure. Packed ecrimma"es took place in the centre of the field, UDtil M. Epuni, rushe ■ in and touched down. The kick at goal was not allowed on account of more than two touching the ball. Half-time was now called, the score being Petone, 7 points ; Wellington, 2. Robinson kicking ofl, the play was confined in the Red s territory, aud Saywell succeeded in getting over the line. Rohinsou increased the Wellington score by kicking a goal from the try. The Petone forwards made a rush after this, and Woods carried the ball over the line twice within five minutes, neither attempt at goal being successful. The game was now very fast, and within two minutes of time Hempton ran behind the the second time, a poster resulting. Time was now called, the scores being—Petone, 1 goal and 3 tries, 11 points ; Wellington, 1 goal and 2 tries, 9 points. For the Wellingtons, Robinson, Hempton, and Young (backs), and Bucholz, McLean, and Saywell (forwards), showed best form ; Roberts (2) and Ridler (backs), Woods, Butts, and Lomas (forwards) worked well for Petone,

Union T. Poneke (Second). —This match I came off at Newtown on Saturday, and resulted in an easy win tor the Unions by a »oal and two tries to a goal. It consequence of the senior match, two spells of 20 minutes were played. About five minutes after the commencement of the game, through some wretched play of someofthe Union backs, Beck was enabled to get a very easy try, off which Turnbull kicked a goal. The ball was quickly taken out again and rushed down to the Ponekes’ twenty-fives, where Kilner secured it from a pass, and got over the line after a splendid run. Little took the kick, aud placed a goal, thus making both sides even, just on the close of the a pell the Union skipper ran in again, touching down near the corner flag. The kick at goal was a failure. The game in the second spell wa-* confined to the Poneke quarters, Kilner scoring another try. For the Ponekes, Dempsey (captain), Beck, Benuet, and A. Blaok.ocx played well. Kilner, Smith, Little, and Mountier showing best form for the Unions, the former being in grand fettle. . Union (second) v. Epuni.— The Union second Daid a visit to the Taita on Saturday, and played the first fifteen of the Epuni Club. The match resulted in a tie, each side scoring a try, Kemble scoring for the Ennuis, ana Monarch for the Unions. The Union p.ayed two men short all through the game. A ma?ch was played at Thornton on Saturday between the Waverley F.F. and Thorndon School Club 3, which resulted in a victory for the former by two goals to nil. The following players will represent .he Wellington Football Club in a practice match at Newtown on Saturday afternoon. The game will start at 3 o’clock :—Fifteen : Backs Stock, Fairbrother, Richardson, Pearce, Hirschberg, Barr ; forwards Barnett, Holmes, Lynch, Morison, Reader, Shaw, J. E. Smith, Webb, and another. All comers : Backs—J. E. Hume, Hempton, Pon, Bendall, Robinson, Jennings, Boddiogton ; forwards—Aitken, Bucbclz. A. Gore, H., Gore, C. Grey, W. Grey, W. McLean, Mitchell, Pyke, Reeves, T. R. Roberts, iu. Smith, Stagpoole, Varnham. The following mixed team will represent the Wellin"ton Club against the Petone first, at Petone°on Saturday :—Back —Morrah ; threequarters —Saywell, Barnett aud Newenham ; half-backs—F. Young and Nixon ; forwards— Eliott, Craig, Balcombe, Devenish, Gordon, Hickey, Kelling, G. McLean, G. H. Wallace ; emergencies—Hutchinson and C. Young, The following teams will represent the Athletic Football Club in its matches oo Saturday :—First against Poneke (scratch match)—Kivel), King, Thomson, Pearce, Luckie, McOauslaod, Richardson, Taiaroa, Moore, Malcolm, Day, McGowan, Brown, Leckie, and Conual ; emergency back, Maun. Second against Poneke Second Burnes,. Wale 3, Mam, Batger, Woods, Simpson, Brabazon, Gibbons, Dean, Gardener Marryatt, Fitz Gerald, Kennedy, Burns, and Porter. Third against Union Second Anderson, Cromhie, Gurr, Summerell, Todd, Wilson, Biss, L. Campbell, Chegwydden, Dyer, Gal--wey, Howard, McGowan, Vennell, and Allen. Any members of the above teams who will be unable to play are requested to notify the Secretary at once. . A meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Football Union was held on Monday afternoon at the Peneke Gymnasium. Present —Messrs Bate (in the chair), King. Roberts, Kilner, and Davy. It was agreed to call a general meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union for Wedues lay week next, and to write to the Rugby Unions of Christchurch and Dunedin as to the probable dates of their visit to Wellington this year. The drawing for the Junior Cup matches resulted in the competing teams being matched as follow :—Athletic second v. St Patrick’s College fir,l ; Wellington second v. Rivals first ; Poneke second v. Petone first ; Wellington College v. Karori ; aud the Unions drew a bye. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, May fi. The Otago Rugby Union have decided to offer the New South Wales’ team half of the takings, guaranteeing at least £75. Christchurch, May 9. Some sensational scoring was done here on Saturday in a football match between Eas. Christchurch and Merivale. Francis potted three, and Ravner two goals, from the field for the former, and Crowe one for the latter. East Christchurch had much the best of a fast and exciting game, although playing with weak substitutes for Taiaroa and Holmes, who were unavoidably absent.