FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 27

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES. RENIOI4. The following fixtures for the first round have been drawn : May 16th—Petone v. Poneke, Petono No. 1 ; Athletic v. Melrose, Park No. 1. May 30th—Wellington v. Melrose, Park No. 1 j Petone v. Athletic, Park No. 2. June 6th—Petone v. Melrose, Petone No. lj Wellington v. Poneke, Park No. 1. NOTES. The Wellington-Petone match played at the Athletic Park was not a very brilliant one, and resulted in a win for the suburban team by six points to nil. Baumber placed a goal from a freo kick in tho first spoil, and Tong scored a try in tho second half. Neither team made good use of their backs j if they had done so tho game would have been very fast. As it was it was quite fast onough for the forwards, who did most of tho work; some of tho players in that division being a bit " blown " before the finish. The Wellington team had several oponings for scoring, but spoilt them by infringements of tho rules. Thero wore plenty of penalty kicks throughout the game, tho doubtful honours in this respect being about equal]}' divided.

Denis Barnott, on tho wing for the Wellingtons, played a brilliant game; his following up and tackling being especially good. Ho was frequently applauded.

Pownall, on the other wing, was also in good form, but ho was not quite a bio to "bustle" with the wily McKon/.ie.

Strange played a good game; his encounters with McKenzie on tho line out causing some fun for tho barrackers.

Among the Wellingtons' backs Home showed up well, but Cox, at five-eighths, did not como up to expectations, lie obtained a mark, but allowed tho ball to roll and spoilt Tripe's chance of scoring from what appeared an easy kick. Tripe on another occasion went within an ace of scoring, the ball missing by about a yard.

Roache was tho most prominent of tho three-quarters, his kicking being done with good judgment. His collaring was also good. Ho brought McKenzio what ono of tho crowd termed a " bonsor."

Baumber, although ho appeared not to bo up to his best form, played extremely well.

McGill was tho best of the threequarters, and on his form on Saturday his claim to a place in the representative team will have to bo recognised. Ho ran, kicked and collared in first-class style, and never made a mistake.

Do Joux was not brilliant, and excepting a fow short dashes, did not do anything uy to senior form.

Slater, at full-back, did all that was required of him. His kicking was of good service.

Among tho forwards, Speedy, King and Haggar wore seen to advantage, and were instrumental in starting rushes, ono of which the try was scored from.

McKenzie, as usual, playod well on tho wing.

Tho match noxt Saturday between tho Athletics and Melroso promises to bo a very interesting one. After their excellent display last Saturday, the Blues will no doubt bo made favourites.

Another tough struggle will bo between the Ponekes and Potones. Although tho latter are not showing such good form as they did last season, a Wellington man says thoy will bo a very hard team to beat.

If the Poneke three-quarters don't get more work to do than they have had on tho last two Saturdays, somo ono will havo to scrapo tho rust oil' them.

How many better men than Kelly at five-eighths are there in New Zealand ? Not many. A Dunedin man answers promptly " Duncan." The latter is spoken of as a wonder. Of cuurso Kelly is not a " wonder," but he is unquestionably a very lino player.

If there aro any more juniors like Hart, Bush,and Barr about, the sooner they are secured by somo senior team the better. Theso kind of players aro a great deal better than some of the senior men who are " going oil'."

Harold C > ipor U a worthy football representative of the family. His play is full of promise, but he must not cling to the ball so rnuoh. Lastyear when playing for the Wanganui Collegiate School he was no doubt tho star of the team, and all the passing was directed to him, as tho best man on the side likely to score, but he must remember that the conditions are altered now.

There is one thing Crawfurd can do, and that is He got in some beautiful passes on Saturday.

Gage, although still safe and a fine kick, is not altogether tho " Davy "of old. Gage has played more football than any man in New Zealand, and ho is no doubt a little tired of the game. However, behind the scram Gage can still hold his own. with the best of them.

Lusk, so far, has boon very successful with his place-kicking. He kicked a fine goal against the Melrose, and repeated the

performance against the Athletics last Saturday.

Apparently there will bo a great choico of wing players for the representative team this season.

Polandj after tho hard battle of last Saturday, has come to the conclusion that there is nothing in playing football when you are out of condition. Of course not. Out of condition the best player is unable to do himself or his team justice. White, too, suffered from want of condition.

Laws, the ex-Napier man, whd is now playing for the Athletics, is a splendid kick. He is not only a long kick, but ho uses judgment in his kicking.

Dansey, who played forthe Athletics last year, has been doing very well for tho Merivale Club in Christchurch. ASSOCIATION NOTES. In tho Championship matches last Saturday fast play Was the order of tho dav.

The Rovers-Thistle match was the most interesting. Until within ten minutes from the close or the game the latter had a lead of three goals to one. Wooldridgo is responsible for drugging the match out of the fire, being instrumental in securing the Rovers' hist two goals.

Tho Rovers' second goal was registered by Wooldridgo after a brilliant run from end to end of the field.

Auld, at full-back, defended splendidly, having most of tho work to do.

J. Hailwood proved himself a most reliable back for the Thistle.

Cowden and Thomas played very well forward, the headwork of the latter being particularly good.

At Petone the game was not so close as was expected.

Henderson, McDonald and Heather combined splendidly and towards the end of the gamo played all round tho opposing backs.

The Maroon backs left little to be desired.

Heafford was tho best of the Park backs

Tho Park forwards lacked both condition and combination.

There wero two penalty kicks allowed in Saturday's senior matches, but both attempts failod.

Tho Swifts had four teams in the field last Saturday, winning twice, drawing onco and losing once.

Tho langungo used during one of the junioi matches was simply disgusting, and it is to bo regretted that tho referee appears to havo taken no notice of it. What is the Referees' Club doing ?

Mr J. McKinnon, hon. sec. of tho Woodvillo Club is in town at present on private business. He reports that his and tho Tutaekara Clubs aro certain to visit Wellington on the Queen's Birthday. SENIOR SHIELD. Poneke v. Athletic. Tho match between tho Ponoko and Athletic fir.-T, fifteens, which took placo at Petone on Saturday afternoon, was witnessed by about GOO people. The conditions wero favourable in every way, the weather being 1 fine and tho ground in capital order. 'Die result—a victory for the Athletics by 8 points to 3—came as a great surprise. As the Ponekes wero able to place their full strength in the field, it was generally expected that they would prove victorious, but scarcely anyone was prepared to see tho Blues play such an excellent game all round. Their football education is certainly improving, and it can bo safely taid that they deserved to win on Saturday, as thoy playod tho better gamo. The forwards were full of dash, and in Pritchard ami hart, a junior lastyear, they have the best pair of wings they have had for many a long day. Pritchard, who belongs to the greyhound order of player, should make his mark in this position if ho goes on improving. 'J he back play, too, was tar superior to anything we havo boon accustomed to from tho Athletics, hi young Cooper, 11m Wanganui Collegiate School crack <ii' last year, they have the makings of a fine three-quarter. lioherl.H found him a doughty opponent Kelly's pDy was brilliant from start to fminh, and perhaps tho best, praise that can bo given him is to say that ho spoiled Gage and several times prevented the Feds from getting their great combination going. The passing of Crawfurd and fine kicking of Laws mii.-t also be mentioned.

There is a certain amount of mystery about the play of the Fonekes this .-Jason. They have as line a *-et of back.- as any club could wish fo. - —in fact, may claim that it is goud enough to represent tho province—and yet their display in tho last two matches ha been extremely disappointing. Whatever may be tho reason, it must be frankly admittvd that the team is not playing good football. In the first five minutes the Ponekes wore awarded a free kick through Crawfurd having picked the ball out of the scrum. Although the angle was a difficult one, Lusk placed a fine goal. The Blues, however, did not appear dishfartensd by this early reverse, and almost immediately after they carried the ball into the Reds' territory. Here Hales took an unsuccessful pot at gaol, and Glasgow, following up well, just missed scoring. The Blues maintained the attack, and a good piece of play by Galloway saved a score. Except that Lusk nearly kicked a goal from a mark from about the centro nothing of note happened during the spell.

In the second term the Athletics went to work as if they meant businc?s. The play was confined to the Reds' quarters, and Crawfurd getting the ball from tho scrum gave it to Laws, who, after gaining a W vnrds. t™r. a f«rr»rl ir tn Hjll^-^l^

crossed tho line amidst enthusiastic cheering from the Blues' suppoiters. The kick at goal was a failure, and the score was three all. " Now you'll see sonic ding-dong play,'' remarked a spectator, and ho was right._ The Blues made some tigerish dashes, Kelly, £j;«linrn Rhodes and Cooper being proi« iL I: ...!,1" n.B defence of the Ponekes was iHihe it, -.tli the .. Galloway and taxed to the »W/.^;; t '7'. fl Blues were Davidson n rnvc having all the best of it, ttllfl ft* kiigt* v-, furd passed tho ball to Kelly, Kris© MM •" great dfl.sh through the opposing Beds, ,1«c1 then passed.itt the right moment to Laws, who dashed over the ihJS "ear the posts. This was unquestionably the finest piece of concerted play in tho match. Cooper took th'oj. kick, and sent the ball over the bar. for?''- dinners, all the backs played well, especially Kelly, and Crawfurd, and the same may bo said of BG '"""arris, of whom Pritchard, Hart, Rhodes, Glasgow riw Haldane wore tho best.

For the Ponekes, Davidson, Galloway and Gage (back,), and Kelly, Pender, Young, McAnally, McKay (forwards) played best. Poland did not appear to be in condition. Mr G. Fache made a satisfactory referee. I'ETONK V. WKI.UNGTON - . The attendanco at the Athletic Park on Saturday Was not as large as on the previous Saturday. There we're, however, over 500 people present. The game was by no moans a very attractive one from a scientific point of view. The little passing that was indulged in was not of a brilliant nature, and had it not been for somo good forward rushes in b'.'th spells and good runs by McGill and Do Joux the game would have been voted uninteresting. Peion* won by i! points to nil, but the Wellington team should have scored several times in the first spell, of which they had considerably the host of tho play. Petone showed to more advantage in the second spell. Free kicks were numerous, but the attempts at goal-kicking were failures, except in one instance, when Baumber placed a neat goal for Petone in the first spell. To sum up tile game, it was a succession of forward rushes up and down the field, and individual play. Of scrummages there were but few, the piny being very loose, in great contrast to the match of the previous Saturday. A try obtained by Tong was perhaps tho most brilliant piece of play of the day'. Speedy broke away in tho Wei lington's twenty-fives, and transferred tho ball to King, ho sending it on to Haggar, wdio in turn transferred it to Woods. That player, after going a fow yards, passed it to Tong, who just managed to got across tho lino at the corner flag. The score was not increased. For the winners, McGill, Do Joux and Baumber, among the backs, and McKenzie, Speedy, Haggar, Woods and Lipseombe (forwards) wero most prominent, while for tho losers, Horne, Koaoho, Tripo and F. Dunno (backs) at times were conspicuous, but Cox, at five-eighths, was disappointing. Among tho forwards, 1). Barnott played a great game on the wing, as did Strange in the pack. Johnson, Boe, Longton and Pownall also played well. Slater, the Petone full-back, put in some good work. Mr J. P. Firth was the referee, and Messrs C. Campbell and J. Laughton lino umpires.

THE MELROSE-PONEKE MATCH TO BE BE-PLAY ED.

A meeting of tho Management Committeo of the Rugby Union was hold last week. A protest was received from tho .Melrose Club against tho decision of tho referee in the Melroso-Poneko match last Saturday in allowing the Poneke forwards to charge Campbell, who was about to take a kick at goal from a mark obtained by Bell, and asking that the match be rc-playod. Tho refereo (Mr G. Fache) attended, and admitted that ho had overlooked the decision in case law dealing with the point.

Tho committee decided that the match should bo ro-playod after the first round. Applications from tho Athletic and Melrose Clubs to enter teams for tho Wednesday halfholiday competition wero granted, and it was also decided that no further entries for tho competition should bo accepted this season. It was decided that more complete arrangements should be made for keeping tho grounds at Petone in order. It was decided to ask tho Wellington Beferecs' Association to appoint a delegate to attend the conference of referees to bo held here on May 25th.

Messrs Davy, Sirnm, the secretary and treasurer wers appointed a sub-committee to draw tho whole of tho fixtures in all classes for the remainder of the season.

The annual general meeting of tho Now Zealand Football Association was hold last week, Mr L. Tripp, vice-president, occupyiig the chair. The seerotary's report, which showed a large increase of clubs all round, was read and adopted, as was the balancesheet, showing a substantial credit. The officers for tho ensuing season wero elected as under : Patron, the Earl of Glasgow ; president, the Hon J. G. Ward; vice-presi-dents, tho Hon George McLean, Messrs L. Tripp, T. Maude and Arthur Heather; lion. secretarv, -Mr A. Henderson ; lion, treasurer, Mr A. E. Gibbs; auditor.', Messrs J. McKinnon and F.J. Courtney. The secretary was instructed to procure a couple of goal nets from England for use in the tournament final. It was decided to leave over the question of registration until a later date. Votes of thanks were passed to the secretary, treasurer and sub-committoes.

11. Kelly, one of flic be.it back players ir. the city, is about to return to Napier. He will be greatly missed by the Athletic Club, and also in the representative matches

The match for the Junior Shield between tin! Melrose and St. John's teams was won by flu. former by lb' points to nil. The Third-class match Athletic v. Weilington, played at Newtown on Saturday, was won by the former by eight points to nil. In the Junior Shield match Wellington second v. Selwyn first, tho latter won by four points to nil. Horne. for the Selwyn, potted a goal. Tho Third • class Championship match Melrose v. Selwyn was won by the former by nine points to nil. The Association Cup match Swifts v. Queen's Park was won by the former by :J goals to nil. hi the first spell, Nicholson put a ball through in his own goal. In the secund spell tho Queen's Park were out-played, and Henderson and McDonald also kicked goals. The match was a championship game. Tho match Rovers v. Thistles, played at Karori on Saturday, ended in a draw. When half-time was called the score was in favour of the Thistles, but live minutes after the second spoil started the Thistles again scored, and this reverse woke up flic Rovers, who then simply walked over their opponents, but the Thistles woke up at this, ana some very

lively rough and tumble play uiisuod, the game ending with thy score of throe goals for

Mount Cook School repeated their performance of the previous Saturday by recevdinjr another win. They defeated Thorndon uy 17 to love. Clayton, Pope, Midlanc (2) and Pimm secured trios. Turner convertedSimm's try.