FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 761, 1 October 1886, Page 13

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR CUP MATCH.

The final contest for the Senior Cup between the. Athletic and Poneke teams came off on Saturday afternoon at the Newtown Park, and resulted, after a well-fought game, in a victory for the Red and Black (Poneke) by a goal to nil. The ground wa3 in splendid condition, the rain which fell on Friday having softened and put it into good order. Both teams were very strong, although the Athletics were not quite as good as when they met the Ponekes a little over two months ago in the fir.-fc match for the Cup. There was a good attendance of the public, over 1000 persons being on the ground, and very great interest was manifested in the play throughout. Shortly after 3 o'clock Nicholls, for the Reds, kicked off from tbe eastern end. For the first few minutes tbe play was confined to a series of scrimmages close to tbe Blues,’ twentyfive flag, until King, by a splendid dribble, took the ball down the field, and shortly after the Blue forwards, headed by Taiaroa, worked the leather into the Reds’ twenty-fives, when Roberts, by a good punt into touch, relieved his Bide. The Athletic forwards, however, by a good rush, ia which King and Richardson were conspicuous, again invaded the Red and Black’s dominion. At this stage the Blues looked very much like scoring, but tbe Reds, playing a good defensive game, krpt their opponents at bay. A little later oa Thompson got a pase, and took a fluke shot at goal, but did not succeed, the ball soariug away in the air, and then falling very clote to the Ponekes’ bar, and resulting in the Reds being forced down. Play being resumed, the Athletics again, by good combined play, worked the ball iuto the Poneke twenty-fives, Daunt aud Fraser distinguishing thtmselves. The Reds now began to wake up, and a good rush cleared their quarters of the enemy, but the repulse was ot short duration, for King, Taiaroa, and McGowan worked the ball back again, Muir being instrumental in working it

i out again. Shortly after this Daunt had a show for a ran, which might have ended in his getting over tho line but he fumbled ‘he ball, and a good opportunity was lost. EULon and Mclntyre for the Bede, aud Cuma- and McGowan did a lot oi : useful work for their side?. Play was now of a more even character, the advantage resting alternately with lit.her side. R. Taiaroa gained a lot of ground for the Blues by a good dribble, winch was neatly stopped by Dixon. The latter player shortly afterwards made a good dodgy run. Presently Merlefc got a mark, from which Mclntyre made a very good but unsuccessful attempt to kick a goal, the Blues being forced down for the first time. On resuming, King, by a brilliant piece of play, took the ball well down the field, Roberto, by one of his clever punts, sending the ball back again into touch. Half-time was sailed soon jitter. Cooper kicked off for the Blues in the second spell, and Roberts returned well into touch. A rush of the Red forwaids, with Johnson and Edison at the head of affairs, took the ball down into tne Blues’ twenty-five. The Blue forwards, rallying, came down with a good rush which Moorhouse stopped splendidly. F.aser (who had been playing remarkably well) got a in irk in front of the Ponekes* goal soon after this. Richardson was entrusted with the kick, and although he made a good attempt, nothing came of it. The Red forwards were now ploying a much better game than in the first apcl’, and considerably better than their opponents. Daunt was again conspicuous by a good run, but was well collared by Merltt/ A series of scrums now took place, uncomfortably close to the m Athletic line, the Reds working hard to score. Luctie, by a smart piece of play, and Daunt by a good run, removed the scene oi play, bus only for a little while, for soon after this a rush of the Reds brought the play right back again, and ended in Ellison getting over and scoring the first try for the Ponekes. Mclntyre took the kick, and succeeded in placing a beautiful goal. On the play being resumed the Blues wont at it manfully, striving might and main to score, but Roberts, Merlet, and Sim were not to be denied, the latter player shining especially in stopping rushes ; and despite the desperate efforts of the Blues to score, the advantage still rested with the Reds. Roberts securing a mark, the ball was placed for Moorebouse, but the kick, which was not at all an easy one failed. No side was called shortly after this, leaving the Poneke Club the winner of tbe Gup, a fact the importance of which was not by any means lost upon the supporters of the Red aud Black. For the winners, Mclntyre, Ellison, Nicholls, and Storey were about the best among the forwards, and Dixon, Sim, J. Roberts (who played his usual brilliant game) and Mooibouse, who proved himself a real good one, were the pick of the backs. King played splendidly for the Blues, and was well supported by R. Taiaroa, McGowan, and Cooper. Daunt, as a three-quarter, fully justified his selection, and Fraser at quarter played very bold. Lucltie played an unusually good game. Thompson, apparently, was not ia form. JUNIOR CUP MATCH. Rivals v Union, —Owing to tbe difficulty of obtaining a Referee, this match was not started until half-past three on Saturday. Gilloa for the Rivals won the toss and elected to defend the western goal. Little kicked off for the Unions, and E. Barnett, returning the kick, put the play in the middle of the field ; but the weight of the Union forwards told against their opponents, and the Rivals soon afterwards were forced dowD. Close to the end of the spell Rigg got the ball, an i passed to McLeary, the latter player making a good run and drawing first blood for tbe Unions. Little took the kick at goal, but failed to add to the score. Barnett kicked off, and the Rival forwards following up formed a scrummage ia the Union’s twentyfives, half-time being soon after called. Barnett began the second spell by kicking off. The Rival forwards again following up smartly, prevented Rigg from returning the kick, and scrumming was the order of the day. From a series of combined rushes by the Union forwards the leather was brought into the Rival twenty-five 3, and Kiluer, getting the ball, made a Althing run, aud was beautifully brought to grass by Shannon just on the Rival goal line. By a fine dribble by Barnett the ball was removed to the centre flag. Nothing interesting occurred during the remainder of the spell, the Unions thus winning by two points to nil. For the Unions, Kilner, Smith, Little, McCleary, and Coltnaan, and for the losers Barnett (2), Gillon, O’Shea, McCulloch, and Dowsets, played extremely well. Messrs O. Kveeft and MoCardell acted as umpires for tbe Rivals and Unions respectively, and Mr Keiliog acted as referee.

A football match is to be played to-morrow afternoon at Newtown between the Union first fifteen and tbe second of the Wellington Club. The match ia for a cup presented by a gentleman in this city, to be competed for by the Wellington second and the winners of this year’s junior cap. This will probably be the fical football match of the season.

NEW SOUTH WALES v. AUCKLAND

(UNITED PHESS ASSOCIATION.)

Auckland, September 26. The match, Auckland v. New South Wales, took place yesterday afternoon at Newmarket. About 3000 people were pretext. There were -nine new men in tbe Auckland team, only six being representatives, and the team was lighter than the Sydney team. There was some delay in starting the game. Gardiner and Wells (Auckland) not showing up, were replaced by Thomas Henderson and Jordan. Ihe Sydney team was nlacecl a 3 follows :—Bellbridge, full back ; ‘Biaxland and Weaver; half-backs ; Golquhoun, Caird, halves ; forwards—Read, Austin, Walker, Shor.us, Shaw (captain), Warren, Carr, Allan, Wisehart, DeLaust. Auckland b nil back—T. Brown j three quarter backs™T. Ryau (captain), L. Meldrum ; halfbacks—R. Whiteside, J. J. Poland, aad G. Madigan ; forwards—J. Wcoller, W. Meldrum (wing men), J. Lecky, W. Veale, C. Z. Claytcn, A. Stewart, E. Mills, Thomas Henderson, and Jordan. Mr Cotter umpired for Auckland, and Mr McArthur for Sydney ; and Mr Thomas Mackay was referee. Ryan won the toss, and elected to kick down hill against the wind. Shaw kicked off for New South Wales at 2.30, and play immediately centred in neutral territory, where the visitors gained ground by some very

good passing. Whiteside took the play into the New South Wales twenty-fives by a smart run from a pass. The Reds made repeated efforts to get the ball out of their own ground by passing, which was smart, but not always a good policy. Several times the Auckland forwards charged quickly, and gained a decided aavancage. Ten minutes after the kick off Auckland had the visitors penned and carried the ball over the New South Wales goal line, where Wooller was in. the act of falliD-'' on the ball when Brown kicked it, and a force down for New South Wales resulted. Immediately afterwards Wooller dribbled down to the New South Wales territory, but Austin, by a careful run, carried the play back into neutral territory. Brown them by a well judged kick, took the ball back into the New South Wales’ twenty-fives. The pi a v for a few minutes was fast and open, and Auckland had all the advantage, Whiteside and Wooller repeatedly distinguishing themselves. The Auckland forwards charged down towards the New South Wales goal line, where W. Meldrum got over and secureda good try, from which Lecky kicked a splendid goal. Madigan and Poland distinguishe3 themselves by tome good play, and Whiteside was again to the fore by a fine run. Fast open play was the order of the day for the next few minutes. Carr and Warren showed up very well for New South Wales, and once more got the ball into neutral territory. Whiteside, by a grand charge, got the ball from a wild pass by Colquboun, but was thrown out about five yards from the goal line. A scrimmage was. formed, and the ball was passed out io Whiteside, who missed it. RyaD, however got it, and, running well and fending grandly, got over the line with two of his opponents hanging on to him. l'lyan. took thekick, hut a poster was the result. Walker, who had been playing full-back, having hurt his leg, went forward, and Bellbridge took his place. The play was continued, and a hard kick by L. Meldrum resulted in a force-down for New South TVales. Poland got a mark, and Ryan took a place kick. The attempt was good, but the ball passed about five yards to the right of the post. Whiteside accomplished another grand run. and baulked every man that attempted to collar him until be got within a yard of the goal line, where he was held. The hall was kicked over the line, but Leckie, in falling, missed it, and New South Wales was foreeddowu. Wooller and others dribbled the ball very prettily after the kick off, and Mills secured another try for Auckland. Reekie took the kick, which was a failure. New South Wales then dribbled the ball well up to the Auckland goal line, and Ryan returned it to neutral ground, The visitors then pulled themselves together and kept things mors lively for Auckland. When half time was called, Auckland was close upon the Sydney goal line, but there was no further scoring. New South Wales forced Auckland down two minutes after play was recommenced, and held their own very fairly during the next twenty minutes. The play was fast and open, and a good deal of passing was done by the visitors. Auckland was eventually forced down again, and it was only the smartness of Whiteside that prevented the visitors from scoring a try. The Sydney men were awarded a round of applause from the cpectatorß for their play. L, Meldrum was compelled to retire but subsequently resumed his place in the field. W. Meldrum got over the New South Wales’ goal line and claimed a try, which was not allowed. Sydney claimed a mark from a throw od, and Colquhoun took the place kick and landed a goal. The goal was disputed, owing to Allan having run OYer his mark. During most of this spell Sydney played much better than at first. Auckland being repeatedly forced down. Hie New South Wales men were cheered in their desperate efforts to turn the tide of fortune. Just before the close of the game Ryan got the ball wi-hin twenty-two yards from the Sydney goal line, and instead of potting, as he might easily have done, tried to run,but was collared. Whiteside then, got the ball, and, running and fending in his best style, passed all the New South Wales men, and ran in easily and touched down behind the goal. Reekie took the kick, and, although it waa an easy one, made a poster of it, the play ending in favor of Aucklaud by eleven points to four points (disputed.) Among the Aucklanders Ryan, Whiteside, Madigan, and Wooller distinguished themselves, and for Sjdney, Shaw, Walker, Bellbridge, and Austin.