FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 743, 28 May 1886, Page 30

FOOTBALL.

The match between the Petone first v, Poneke second took place on Saturday at Petone, and resulted in an easy victory for the Petone by 13 points (one goal and four tries) to nil. The tries were got by Tepene, Roberts, Maloney, Epuni, and ftidler. The Poneke played with only 13 men ; consequently the home team were far heavier. The most prominent players for Petone were Roberts, Ridler, and Lomas. L. Dixon, Black’ock, Turnbull, and Robinson played weli for Poneke. On Saturday last a football match was played at Newtowu Park between the Rivals aud St Patrick's College Club, and resulted in a draw after a very exciting game, there being no score on either side. In the first spell the Rivals made matters very warm for the College. Ross and Curtis made repeated attempts to cross the line, but each time they were brought to “ grass” by the College backs. In the second spell the College qnickly carried the play into their opponent’s twenty-five?. Here scrimmage after scrimmage took p’ace, and McMahon, Mcllroy, aud Redwood almost scored on several occasions ; but the Rival forwards cleared their line more than once by good rushes. The College had undoubtedly the best of a drawn game. For the College the most conspicuous were Mahony, G. Red wood, Dixon, and F. Holley ; whi’st for the Rivals Gillon, Galloway, Boss, and O’Sh ea played well. The second fifteen of the Rivals and first Epunia played a match ou Saturday on the Newtown Park. A draw resulted, neither side scoring. Guertsen, Fraser, J. Dunce, and Pierard played well for the Rivals ; while Welch, Ralph, Drummond, Pringle, and Kemble did useful work for the other side. A match was played in the Hobson street paddock last Saturday between the Orient Ist and Rival fourth fifteens, and was won by the latter by 19 points to nil. CHRISTCHURCH CLUB v. WELLINGTON CLUB. (UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, May 24. The football match Christchurch v. Wellington Club was played this afternoon on Lancaster Park. A few minutes after starting Wellington were forced down. The Wellington forwards then went into the Christchurch ground, but the local backs carried the game half way down the field, whence Hempton made a slashing run and got behind the Christchurch goal posts, but was called back, having gone into touch. After some capital central play Hemptou got another chance, aud passed to Smith, who secured a try, and Pearce kicked a goal. Wellington had rather the best of the remainder of this spell, just at the close of which Hempton sprained his knee, and could take no further part in the game. The second Bpell was almost entirely in favor of Chriatchureh. A very clever series of passes right across the field ended in Somerville getting across the extremity or the Wellington goal line, but Mathia3 failed in the place kick. Three or four minutes afterward a good run by Harley endangered the visitors’ o-oal, and the ball being passed to Webb, that player, although in the clutches of au opponent, ran in, and secured a try in a good position, but Wilkinson raissed the goal. Resuming play, Wellington were quickly forced down twice, and immediately afterward a scrambling rush of the Christchurch forwards took the ball over the touchline again, but Wellington ju3t managed to oecure it. Smith, Stock, aud Pearce, by smart runs, menaced the Christchurch goal, but the Reds quickly rallied, aud Wellington had again to touch behind. Some more resolute scrimmaging occurred without change of scene. Then the Christchurch forwards made a strong charge, and Haast got the ball and grounded it right between the post 3, but Wilkinson again missed the goal. Only three minutes were left to play, and just as they expired Wilkinson gained a try with a capital run, and Haast kicked a neat goal. Christchurch thus won by eleven points to five. The game was a fast and interesting one throughout. EAST CHRISTCHURCH v. WELLINGTON ATHLETIC. The match East Christchurch v. Wellington Athletic followed. The game throughout was an uninteresting succession of packed scrim mages, and scarcely two minutes passed without the referee’s whistle being sounded for some infraction of the rules. After about ten minutes’ play near the middle of the field, McCausland and King got short runs, and long scrimmages took place almost on the East Christchurch goal lines. At last the East forwards rallied and attacked the visitors’ goal, Moorhouae attempting & drop which fell wide, the Athletic?., were forced , i down twice more, and. then each sids

in turn had a slight advantage without succeeding in scoring, and at half time the ball was iu neutral ground. The second spell soon saw the visisors on tho defensive and forced behind. After this a little open play wss shown, but the tight mauls were soon reverted to, the Athletic gaol line being in conssant danger. McOardeil at last got the ball past the half-way fligi by a good kick, in stopping which Has sal was disabled. Taiaroa soon afterward dashed through a scrimmage with the ball at his foot, and a cross kick by Hobbs gave the WellingtoniaDs an opening, and King got a try for them, but it was very wide, and the kick by Barns was unsuccessful. Starting again, the Yellows were quickly within the opposing twenty-five, and the Athletic soon had to touch behind. Taiaroa aud Moorhor.se for Yellows and King and Burns for the North played up well here, but close scrimmaging continued on the Athetics’ ground to the call or time, and the Athletics thus won the match by two points to nil. East Christchurch played without Francis and Fuller, and lost Hassalt’s services i or the last forty minutes, but still they 7 must be credited with showing tie best game, although the result was against them. Pearce and King for the visitors played grandly. SYDENHAM v. SOUTH CANTERBURY. Christchurch, May 24. The football match, Sydenham against South Canterbury, was easily won by the home team. THE NELSON MATCH. Nelson, May 22. The Wellington Union football team arrived this morning, and played their first match here against the Nelson Club this afternoon, when the local team won by a goal to nothing. The visitors play the Prince Albert Club on Monday. They are to be entertained by both these Nelson clubs. Nelson, May 24. The football match, Wellington Union v. Nelfon Prince Alberts, was won by the latter by a goal to nil. Invercargill, May 23. The football match, Dunedin v. Invercargill, was won by the home team by one goal and one try to nothing. The play was in favor of Invercargill throughout.