Football.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 28

Football.

fixtures for the season. The fixtures for the first round of the Championship are as follows : April 25th— Wellington v. Poneke, at ISew2nd—Athletic v. Melrose, at Newtown ; Petone v. Wellington, at Petone. Mav 9th—Poneke v. Athletic, at New. own. May 16— Petone v. Melrose, at Petone ; Athletic v. Wellington, at Newtown. May 30th—Poneke v. Petone, at Petone ; Melrose v. Wellington, at Newtown. JUNIOR CUP. April ISth—Pioneer v. Oriental, at Newtown ; Melrose second v. Wellington second, at Island Bay No. 1 ground ; Selwyn v. St. Patrick’s College, at Island Bay No. 2 ground ; Petone second v. Poneke second, at P April 25th—Navals v. St. Patrick’s College, at Newtown ; Pioneers v. Selwyn, at Island Bay No. 1 ground ; Athletic second v. Poneke second, at Island Bay No. 2 ground ; Pirates v. Orientals, at Hutt; Petone second v. Wellington second, at Petone. THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Poneke v. Melrose.— The match for the Championship between the Poneke and Melrose first fifteens was played at Newtown Park, on Saturday, iu the presence of about 1500 people. The weather was fine. After an interesting game the Ponekes were returned the winners by S points to A. Toward the end of the first spell, which had been in favour of the Ponekes, the ball was thrown forward to Ellison, who transferred it cn to Lee, and the latter, sided by his weight got in near the corner flag. The angle was a difficult one, but Ellison succeeded in placing a splendid goal. Just before the spell ended Eagle (Melrose) made a grand run, ending up by touching down near the posts. Brewer took the kick, but failed to place a goal. In the second term the Ponekes scored three more tries, White, Stuart, and Ellison being the scorers. Ellison converted White’s try. Toward the -end of the game Pell potted a neat goal for the Melrose. The winners played a good same all round. Amongst the forwards Kt lly p'ayed brilliantly, and the some may be said of Stuart, who has seldom been seen to more advantage. He made one brilliant rrn in the second spell. Of the others, Broderick, Pobinson and Riley rendered the most service, the latter being very good on the liue-out. All the backs played well, Ellison and Wynyard in particular. The former passed well, and made several good runs, and Wynyard played with his a:customed dash. Morton played very well at half, but he is too selfish. Lee did well, bat he depends entirely on his weight. Dixon bad little to do, but he did that little well. Davidson was reliable at fall back, Moor*> house, who wa3 playing half-back, sustained an injury to his ankle early in the match and had to retire. The Melrose forwards played a good combined game, but there were several weak spots in the back division. Eagle played a fine garao amongst the forwards, and. his run in the first spell which ended in a score was one of the features of the match. Byan (who worked very hard), Eyre, Johnson, and Gillespie, were the pick of the others. Bell and Brewer were the best of the backs, the former doing exceedingly well for such a young player. The real •weakness of the team was the halves, who did not seem up to their business at all. There was almost an entire absence of that feeling which marked the last championship match between these two teams. The nmpires werß Messrs Sim and Burns, Mr H. Mclntyre acting as referee. Athletic v. Petone. —The Athletic first fifteen journeyed to Petone on Saturday, where they defeated the suburban club by 6 points to 3 for the Senior Championship. The Petone team was a weik one, both back and forward divisions being minus several of their prominent players. Fraser (Athletic) having won the toss, elected to defend the western goal, Wynyard kicking off. The Petone forwards by good following up forced their opponents down amidst loud applause from the spectators, On resuming, the Blue forwards had the play in the Petone’stwenty. five, where Campbell made an unsuccessful shot at goal, but shortly afterwards the same player placed a goal to the credit of the visitors from a "mark” obtained by Fraser. The play then became fast and furious, the leather being rushed from one end of the field to another by the opposing forwards. 'Che Petones, who showed more combination in this division than the Athletics, by a rush, in which Johnston and McArthnr were prominent, carried the ball over the Blues’ line, McArthur scoring a try. The kick, although a difficult one, was safely negotiated by Jackson. Ha'f-time was called shortly afterwards. The second spell needs very little description, the Athletica form telling in their favour during this term. Hyland, Mnrphy and Fraser touched down for the Athletics, bat Campbell and Fraser made very poor 3liots at goal, although the kicks were very easy ones. The Petones made several efforts to score, but the Blue backs proved too strong for them, and when no side was called the play was in neutral territory. For the Athletics, Fraser, Smith, Baker, Murphy and Galloway (backs), and -Hyland; Campbell, Johnson an 1 Hickson (forwards) were the nao3t prominent. Wyoyard, Pringle, Love, ami Jackson (who played a splendid game at fall back), of the backs, and Miltio, Speedy, Brooks and McArthur, of tho forwards, played well for Petone. JUNIOR CUP. Tho Poneke second defeated the Peioue second at Petone on Saturday by two tries to one. Hoed and King scored for the Ponekes, and Cfcatwin touched down for Petone. For the winners Beauchamp, Simeon, Mahoney and Hood (backs), and King, Tier, Barr and YVarcup (forwards) showed tho best form. For tho Petones, Daigla'sh, -Jackson. Chatwin and Arnold (backs), and Parker. Spcedv, Johnson and Hawaii ’.forward?) played well. The Orientals scored an easy victory over the Pionoar3 at Newtown Park on Saturday by II points to nil. Hood, Gormley and Itawi'on touched down. The attempts to increase the score proved futile. t WoQn

potted two goals, and Anderac.n placed one from a penalty kick. Of the winners. Hood, Gormley, Woon, and Read (backs), Ranson, Sanderson, Drummond and Liddle (forwards) showed the best form, whilst Brennan, Page, Burke, Murray (backs), McKay, Waters, Thomson and Bernasconi (forwards) worked hard to avert defeat.. The Selwyns v. St Patrick’s College match, played at Island Bay on Saturday, resulted in an easy win for the Thorndon Club by S points to 3. Tries were obtained by McKay (2), McKerrow (2), S. Allen and Beale. J. Curtis converted one of McKay’s tries. From a touch down for the College, Fay succeeded in placing a goal. Of the Selwye, Curtis (2), Earle, McKerrow (hacks) Bensoh, McKay, S. Allen and Beale did good work. Of the College team Jones, Fay, Hunt, Hanning (backs), Henley, Prendergast, Harper and Ryan (forwards) showed the best form. The Wellington second defeated ten men of the Melrose second at Island Bay on Saturday by IS points to nil. For the winners trie3 were obtained by McDowell (3), Stuart (3), Nicholls, and Barnett, K. Duncan converting five of the tries. The Wellington team were all Been to advantage against their opponents, of whom Warwick, Taylor, Mar. tin, and Grant (backs), and McCarthy, Johnson, Bristow, and Hart (forwards) played well. CAMPBELL TROPftY. The Roseneath’s scored an easy victory over the Carltons for the above trophy at the Railway Reserve on Saturday by 5 points to nil. Seager scored a try for tho winners which was converted, and Driscoll placed a goal from a penalty kick. OTHER MATCHES. A mixed team of the Pirates defeated the Selwyn second at the Hobson street paddock on Saturday by 4 points to 1. Staploa, of the Surreys, potted a goal, and touched down for the Pirate?. Heigbton for the Selwyns also scored a try. The Rugby-Surrey match did not come off owiDg to the latter team not turning up. The Rugby’s however, defeated a team of All-Comers, by 4 points to nil. Gordon and Phelps obtained tries for the Rugby’s, Staples converting Phelps’ try. The Thorndon Marist Brothers School match resulted in a draw. The game was played at the Railway Reserve. Mr A. Thompson, the referee in the Athletic-Petone match on Saturday, awarded the football suit (presented by Messrs Davies and Clater to the local club, to Mr M. Hyland, the well-known forward. The Association players practised on the Melrose ground on Saturday, and had a very goodgame. Sides were pickedbyA. Fergusson and Shields, the latter winning by six goals to three after a fast game. The scorers for the winner were Brunton three, J. Brown two, and Henderson one goal ; and for the losers Fergusson got two, and W. Brown one. T. Shields, J. Brown, Brunton, and Fergusson were the most conspicuous by their good play.

The meeting of the junior members of the Selwyn Club which was to have been held at the Royal hotel on Monday lapsed for want of a quorum. The Secretary of the Council of the Association Clubs in Wellington received a letter from the Canterbury Association on Monday stating that the Southern representatives are likely to play Wellington in J une. The Senior matches playedj in Christchurch on Saturday resulted as follows : Merivale defeated Liu wood (la it year’s winners of the Junior Flag) by 4 points to 3. Garrard and Joe Horner scored tries for Merivale, Garrard converting Horner’s. Orr touched down for Linwood, and Stapleton converted. Canterbury College defeated AddiDgton by 6 goals and II tries (29 points) to nil. East Chriatohurcb, who recently drew with the Ponekes, defeated Christchurch by 1 goal and 3 tries (6 point?) to a try. At a meeting of the delegates of the Warrarapa Rugby Football Union, held last Fridav night at Carterton, Mr S. Nicholls, the well-known skipper of the Poneke Club, was elected as a member of the Match Committee. On the following afternoon the Greytown players put in some good work under the coaching of the newly-elected committeeman. A meeting of the Sydenham Football Club was held at the Tramway Hotel last night, Mr W. Weston occupying the chair. The meeting decided to play in black jerseys, with a black cap and the initials of tho Club on the jersey. Mr L. Campbell was elected captain of the second fifteen, and Mesar? Ho ard, Souper and McGuire were elected delegates to the Junior Rugby Union. Eleven new members were elected to the Club during the meeting, which terminated with the usual vote of thanks to tUe Chair, man.

Mr S. Niobolls, the well-known Poneke player, it is stated, has sent in his resignation of his several offices, viz., member of tho Management Committee and Match Committee, delegate to the Rugby Union, and captain of the Club. Before accepting Mr Nicholls’ resignation, is i 3 understood the members of Committee will endeavour to get him to re-eonsider his decision, as they are thoroughly aware that it is owing chiefly to their captain’s exertions both on and off the field that the Club has attained its present premier position.