FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 787, 1 April 1887, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

The first club match of the season was played at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon between the Poneke and Union Clubs, in the presence of about 300 spectators, and, after a well contested game, the former won by two tries to nil. The weather was not as favorable as it might have been, the strong N.W. wind prevailing interfering with the play several times. Both clubs were represented by the players already published, with the exception of Cossan, who played three-quarter back, for the Union in place of O’Neill, who was not present. Considering that it was the first time a great number of the Union team had played together, and that they were pitted against a strong team like the Ponekes, they acquitted themselves remarkably well. The Ponekes kicked off, and the ball being returned, a series of scrimmages took place near the half-way flag. The Poneke forwards, however, soon asserted themselves, aud after about fifteen minutes’ play Beck got over the Union line, and scored the first try for the Ponekes. Mclntyre took the kick, and made a good but unsuccessful attempt at placing a goal. For several minutes after resuming the play was confined to the Union twenty-fives, until the Blue forwards, among whom Ridler aud Johnson appeared to advantage, took the ball with a rush down the field. Sim and Gage and Kilner and Smith (Union) did a lot of good work for thoir resDective sides here. A little later on the Unions were forced down, but had their revenge a few minutes after by forcing the Reds down twice in succession. JohnsoD, one of the Blue forwards, looked very much like scoring at this juncture. The Poneke forwards, however, with one of those combined rushes for which they are so noted, soon had the Blues in trouble again, and the latter were again forced down. Roberts, for the Unions, was playing a magnificent game, and repeatedly saved his side. Subsequently-H. Taiaroa, for the Reds, kicked the ball high in the air, and it appeared to go into touch, one of the umpires giving it as such. The wind, hewever, blew it into play, and Nicholls, seizing tire opportunity of a clear run in, scored the second try for the Ponekes. Mclntyre again took the kick, but no goak resulted. The Union forwards, who appeared to play better every minute, woke up after this, and removed the play from their own twenty-fives to that of th-e Ponekes’, Ridler, Cockcroft, Jeffries, and Little distinguishing themselves. Halftime was called shortly after, the Ponekes having had decidedly the best of the spell. Little kicked off for the Unions, and Roberts obtained a mark off the return. A few minutes after starting, the Reds-were very near scoring again, Hardwick, the Union full-back, mulling the ball terribly. Several scrimmages took place near the Blues’ line, but the Blue forwards more than held their own. By-and-bye R. Taiaroa relieved his side from danger by making a good run and kicking into touch well up the field. The play was in close proximity to the Reds’ line for some time after this, and on one or two occasions the Blues looked like scoring ; but the united efforts of the forwards, and of Sim, Gage, and Moorhouse behind, kept them back. The Union men lost ground every two or three minutes by passing to Cosßan, who was unable to pick the ball up. Iu fact had the Unions had one or two good three-quarters they would undoubtedly have made a close match of it. Their forwards were Dlaving a rattling game, and were quite a match for the formidable front rank of the Ponekes. Kilner relieved his side more than once by useful punts and careful play. About this time the play was very equal, until Parsons got a mark near the Reds’ goal. Little took the kick, and made a splendid attempt. The ball " had good direction, and would certainly have gone over the bar, bad it not been for the wind which turned it off a few feet from the post. Little followed his kick up very smartly, and nearly secured a try. As it was the Ponekes were only forced down. Shortly after resuming, the Ponekes’ forwards, with Ellison, Mclntyre, and Nicholls in the lead, took the ball right up to the Blue*’ line, and in a few minutes the latter were forced down. Soon after kicking off Moorhouse cot a mark, and had what is called by the authorities “a buck at it.” The buck was not a succeßful one. The Blues were again forced down shortly after this. Presently Moorhouse got another mark, but nothing came of it. King secured the ball from the kick, but hesitated in returning it, and consequently lost an opportunity of relieving his side, Sim being down on him very smartly. R.Taiaroa, for the Blues, was playing much better now, and did a lot of serviceable work for his side. H. Taiaroa and L. Dixon made two good runs for the Ponekes, and Ridler also distinguished himself for the Blues by some rattling good play. A few moments before time Cockroft made a dashing run, and successfully eluded several of the Poneke men, but, not being fast enough, was soon collared. Time was called shortly after, leaving the Poneke the victors by four points to nil. On the whole the Unions had slightly the best of the second spell, the forwards especially playing well. The Poneke forwards played their usual brilliant and combined game, and it would be very difficult to pick out the best player in that division. Mclntyre, Beck, Storey, and Nicholls were about the best, and among the backs Taiaroa, Gage, aud Sim were the most prominent. The latter played a really good game, and did a lot of hard work. The Union forwards played well, especially in the second spell, and when they have played a few times together, will be a difficult lot to beat. Ridler, Johnson, Cockroft, Little, and Jeffries were about the pick of them. Roberts as half was the stay of the backs, and played by far the best game in

the match. Smith and Kilner also played very well. Taken as a whole, the game was a good one, and the form dis> played on both sides was very good considering the early period of the season. Messrs King and McCardle acted as umpires, and Mr W. Holmes as referee. A return match will be played next Saturday at Newtown Park between the Union and Poneke Clubs. The Pirate C lub held a practice match in Martin’s paddock on Saturday afternoon. The first fifteen defeated the next twenty by two goals and a try to nil, J. Taiaroa, brother of H. and R. Taiaroa (who play for the Union and Poneke Clubs), and who at one time was said to be the crack footballer of the Colony, is at present iu Napier, not Dunedin, as has been stated. There is some talk of Taiaroa coming to Wellington and playing for the Poneke Club. The Poneke Football Club will probably pay a visit to Auckland during • the season, and play the Grafton Club, the winners of la3t year’s senior cup at Auckland. Should the match come off it will no doubt be a very interesting one, and create no little excitement among footballers. Both clubs are very strong, and include many first-class players. The following team h»3 been picked to go into training to represent the Rival Football Club in the matches against the Picton and Blenheim C.'ub3 at Easter, and they will play a match on Saturday ; —Ginders, Rose, O’Shea, Gardner, Ryan, Diummond, C. Jordan, D. Barnett, Galloway, Gillon, E. Barnett, Ross, Richardson, Govan, and Dixon. The team against them will be as follows : —Dunne, Coffey, Burke, Lowater, Watson, Dowsett, Randell, Gell, Jewell, 1 Williston, Johnson, King, Madigan, L. Jordan, Barron, McKenzie, Luxford, Smyth, Gormby, Easton (2), Guerfcsen, Liddle, Haddon, Stevens, Heron, and Mcßain. Members who are not mentioned in these teams will also be able to take part in the match. WELLINGT >N CLUB. The Wellington Football Club held their annual meeting at the Post Office Hotel on Tuesday. There was a good attendance, between forty and fifty members being present, and Mr C. A. Knapp was voted to the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet was read and adopted. It stated that the Club was in a flourishing condition, and showed the membership to be at present 107, 40 of whom were elected during the year. The balance-sheet was considered highly satisfactory. Twenty-two new members were elected without opposition. The followiug officers were elected : —President, Mr W. H. Levin (reelected). Vice-Presidents, Messrs Knapp and Werry (re-elected) (subject to their consent). With reference to the election of a Captain the following gentlemen were balloted for ; Messrs Webb, W. R. Holmes, M. Barnett and Hirschberg. Mr Webb was declared elected amidst a storm of applause. For the office of secretary Mr O. Kreeft was elected unanimously, and Mr W. Devanish was elected treasurer. The following gentlemen were proposed as a committee : Messrs Robinson, Hirschberg, Pearce, Barnett, Morrison, Richardson, Barker, Barr, Stock, E. Smith, Gordon, A. Gore, and James. The following were elected : Messrs Robinson, Herschberg, Barnett, Richardson, Stock, Gore and James. Delegates to the Union were elected a 3 follows :—Messrs Webster aud Barnett were elected, and Messrs Innes and Hirschberg tied. On a second ballot being taken, Mr James was declared elected. The following gentlemen were elected a Match Committee : —Messrs Webb, Robinson, Barnett, Richardson, and J. Smith. Mr Hirschberg, who is at present in Masterton, wrote proposing to arrange matches at Masterton and Greytown for the Easter holidays. The _ letter was referred to the Committee. Mr J. Smith proposed, that the Club adopt as part of its uniform a velvet cap. Messrs Hume and Smith were appointed a subcommittee to select samples, &c., and to submifc them to the general committee. The following gentlemen were elected unanimously life members on the motion of Mr B. T. Bate, seconded by Mr A. Reader : Messrs J. P. Firth, C. A. Knapp, N. W. Werry, C. W. Palliser, T. S. M. Cowie, T. S. Ronaldson, W. James, W. Pollen, and A. T. Bate. On the proposal of Mr Bate, seconded by Mr Holmes, Mr C. W. Palliser was re-elected delegate to the Rugby Union of England, in London. A vote of thanks was proposed to the returning officers. This was all the business, and the meeting adjourned. ATHLETIC CLUB. The annual meeting of the Athletic Football Club was held at the Empire Hotel on Tuesday. There was a good attendance of members, and Mr W. Fitz Gerald occupied the chair. Eighteen new members were elected. The annual report and balance sheet (alraady published) was read, and on the motion of Mr G. Campbell, seconded by Mr J. M. King, were adopted. Messrs H. Berry, A. W. Leckie, J. B. Dumbell, E. E. M’Causland, J. A. Thomson, and J. Young were added to the list of honorary members. On the motion of Mr J. M. King it was decided to add the following words to rule 3, 44 That the accounts of the club be audited by two auditors to be elected at the annual general meeting of the club. Mr J. M. King moved that rule 8 be amended so as to read 44 blue ” knickerbockers, instead of “white.” Mr Burnes seconded this. Mr Gibbons and Mr Connal spoke against the rule being amended. On being put Mr King’s motion was lost. Rule 16 was altered so as to read that any of the bylaws of the Club may be altered with the consent of the majority of the members present at any general meeting. The election of officers then took place, and resulted as follows : —President, H. D. Bell (re-elected) ; Vice-Presidents, J. Duncan, W. Fitz Gerald, S. Kohn (re-elected) ; Captain, Mr G. F. C. Campbell (re-elected) ; Vice-Captain, C. J. Cooper; Secretary, H. Todd ; Treasurer, Mr C. J. Cooper ; Committee, J. M. King, C. P. Luckie, J. W. Brown, C. Richardson, and A. B. Campbell; delegates to Rugby Union, J. M. King, G. F. C. Campbell, and C. P. Luckie; Auditors, R. J. F. Todd andC.Webb. It was decided, on the motion of Mr J. M. King, that the Club’s gymnasium be again

started, and that the incoming committee ■-> make the necessary arrangements. Mr •> G. F. C. Campbell mentioned that Mr S. Kohn had kindly placed a cup at the disposal - of the Club, to be competed for as the Club thought fit. On the motion of Mr J. T. Dumbell, seconded by Mr C. P. Luckie,- it was decided td thank Mr Kohn for hia gift, and that the matter of competing' for it be left in the hands of the Committee. Mr G. F. C. Campbell "stated that the Club was in’treaty for the use of the Hobson*street paddock as a practice ground, and he expressed a wish that if the ground was procured that members would make use of it, and practice for the matches in which they were engaged. It was decided, on the motion of Mr J. A. Thomson, that the Committee be recommended to appoint someone ■ to arrange matches for the second and third fifteens of the Club. A vote of thanks to the - Chairman brought the meeting to a close. WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION. The ninth annual meeting of the Rugby - Union was held at the Post Office Hotel on Wednesday. The various clubs of the city were well represented, and Mr J. King was voted to the chair. The annual report was submitted to the meeting, and on the motion of " Mr Luckie, seconded by Mr Kilner, it was - adopted. It stated that the operations; of the Union had been most successful, bothfinancially and in the field, during the past year. The balance-sheet showed, a creditbalance of £36 15s 4d. The report set forth that the thanks of the Union were due to Dr Newman, Mr H. D. Bel), and Mr William.FitzGorald for the interest and trouble they had taken with football matters, and to MessrsDumbell and Gibbs for the care and judgment they displayed in picking representative teams. The report concluded by recommending the necessity of commencing theCup matches at an early date this season. Mr Leckie, on behalf of Athletic, and MrGillon, Rivals, proposed aud seconded theEpuni to the Association ; and the Melrose Club was proposed by S. Nicholls, and. seconded by J. Hyams. Both Clubs wereadmitted to the Union. The election of officers followed, and resulted as follows: —President, Mr W. H. Levin (re-elected) j secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Davy management committee, S. Nicholls, M. C. Barnett, J. W. Kilner, J. M. King, P. P. Webb, and O. Gillon ; matoh committee, A. O. Gibbs and J. M. King. A letter wasread from the secretary of the Southern Rugby Union in reference to a New Zealand team visiting New South Wales daring the ensuing season. The writer states .in the oourse of the letter as follows : 44 Your team ought to arrive here about the Ist July, and play in Sydney on three Satur. days, the intervening dates to be filled up by country matches, as was done during the last tour. The attendance of the public has vastly increased since your laßt visit, and I feel sure that, with ordinary luck, your expenses would be more than paid. I can offer you the following terms : You receive 70 per cent of the gross takings and defray your own expenses, including advertising, men at gates, &c. ; or, we will pay all expenses, except steamer and hotel expenses, and give you half the gross takings, ray Union guaranteeing that your half shall not be less than £3OO. The last proposal is based upon the terms given by Otago to our team last year, namely, 4 £75, or half gross takings.’ This is multiplied by four, to represent your four principal Unions. We believe that half the gross takings would amount to at least £450, and your trip, if you bring only 18 men, could be managed for £400.” On the motion of Mr James, seconded by Mr Barnett, the following motion was carried ; —“That, in the opinion of this Union, it is not desirable to send a New Zealand team to New South Wales for two years at least, and that the letter of theSouthern Rugby Union be referred to the Management Committee for their action.”' On the motion of Mr Dunne it was decided that the Management Committee be asked to take into consideration the question of providing extra accommodation at the Newtown Park. It was also decided that the Management Committee be asked tomake arrangements for appointing umpires for all Union matches. On the motion of Mr Barnett, seconded by Mr King, it was decided to vote Mr Davy the sum of £lO, in recognition of his services as secretary during the past three years. Votes of thanks were passed to the returning officers and to the Chairman, and the meeting terminated. On Wednesday afternoon the respective teams of St Patrick’s College and Wellington College met for the first football match this season, at Newtown Park. The game, which was well contested on both sides, resulted in a victory for St Patrick’s by 14 points (old rules) to nil. A. Reader has decided not to play this season, and the Wellington Club thus loses a good forward. Lightfoot, late of the Christchurch Club, has joined the Wellingtons. His place is half-back. Halcombe, from the Halcombe Club, has also joined the same Club. He plays back also. McGowan, who played forward for the Athletics last year, has decided not to play this season.

In thereturn match, Union v. Poneke, to be played to morrow (Saturday) the following are the teams :—Poneke—Backs : Dixon, Gage, Taiaroa, Moorhouse, Sim, and Merlet; forwards : F. Dixod, Johnston, Muir, Astill, Ellison, Storey, Mclntyre, Nicholls, and Mitchell. Union—Backs : Coltman, Kilner, O’Neil, Roberts, Smith, and Bishop; forwards : Little, T. McCleary, R. Taiaroa, Cockroft, Johnston, Parsons, Jefferies, Jennings, and Riddler.