FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 28

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES. SENIOR. The following fixtures for the first round havo been drawn : Juno Gth—Petone v. Melrose, Petono No. 1; Wellington v. Ponoke, Park No. 1. NOTES. Pritchard played a splendid game on the wing for the Athletics on Saturday, and several times relieved the pressure by some excellent runs.

Crawfurd lias seldom played a better game at half, and the goal he potted in the second spell was one of the neatest, ever Keen at Petone.

It is a pity that Cooper's injury to his right arm will put a stop to his playing any more this season. He had already shown himself to be a three-quarter of more than average merit, and the Athletics will not find it easy to replace him,

The number of free kicks gained by the Petones was phenomenal, but the shots at goal were of very poor quality indeed.

liaumber put in one or two very good speculators, but was unsuccessful. He played with great dash at five-eighths, and was admirably fed by Wynyard, who put in some fine work at half.

De Jonx gained golden opinions for his play at three-quarters, and was loudly cheered for the dashing run with which In: scored a try for the Potones.

MeKc.r.zie's versatility was oxemplifi ■ 1 by his taking 'Jong's place at three-q'iarters in the second !-]>(-! 1, alter putting in some really good work as wing forward dm in;.' the first half.

A regrettable incident occurred shortly before the close of the game, Dagger, a Petone player, being ordered off the field for rough play. The referee is to be commended for promptly putting a stop to such conduct, which cannot fail to lower the status of the game. SENIOR SHIELD. WELLINGTON v. MELROSE. This game took place at tho Athletic Park ground on Saturday under the most favourable conditions, and was won by the Melrose by six points (a penalty goal and a try) to nil. The play was almost devoid of interest, and there was very little good play on either side. Tho Wellington men had one or two goo.l opportunities of scoring, but, as usual, failed to take advantage of thorn. The winners' lorw.rds wore not neon to such advantage as in the match against the Athletics. In the first spell Fordyce kicked a goal from a penalty kick, and in the second Calnan secured a try, which, however, was not convortod. For Melrose, Osborne, Bell, Fordyce (backs), Campbell, Calnan, Soff'o and Ilardcastlo (forwards) played best, and for the losers, Itoacho, Donnelly (backs), Hallamoro, Pownall, Koo, PJlliott (forwards) were tho most prominent. Mr Ward was the referee. ATHLETIC V. PETONE. The attendance of tho public at Petono to witness the Athletic-Petone match on Saturday was not largo, and was chiefly oomposed

of local visitors. The game was an open ono from the start, and, especially in the second spell, the play was exceedingly interesting. Both teams were in good condition, but the passing all round was not of a very brilliant description. The game was marred by frequent breachos of the rules, and the whistle of tho referee was heard far too frequently. In tho first spell a forward itish of the Athletics carried tho ball from their own twenty-fives right into the Petono territory, and Glasgow, securing the ball from the ruck, fell over the line and scored, the try being converted by Pitt. Shortly after the commencement of the second spell McKenzio, who had replaced Tong atthroe-quarters, secured the ball out of some close play in front of the Athletic goal, and passed to De Joux, who made a brilliant run, and scored near the corner amid great applause. Baumber made a signal failure of the kick at goal. The game was very lively after this, but the only other score was a very neatly potted goal by Crawfurd, who secured the ball from the serum after some exciting play in the Petono twenty-fives. The Athletic thus won by 9 points to 3. For the winners, Hales was not up to hil usual form at full-back, mulling the bale badly on several occasion". His brother and L-iws put in some good work at three-quarters, and Crawfurd showed groat dash and judgment at hall'. Pritchard did well on the wing, and Glasgow, Pauling and McKoe wf.ro tho boitoftho forwards. For Petone, De Joux played a really tine game at, three-quarters, and was ably seconded by McGill at centre. Wynward showed fo great advantage at half, and succeeded in frequently getting the ball away to Baumber, who played admirably at five-eighths. Of tho forwards, McKenzio (who played three-quarter in the second spell), Speedy and Woods were tho best.

An unpleasant incident occurred towards the close of the game, one of the Petone team having to be sent oft' the'field for rough play, Mr Hoc acted as referee, and Messrs Luekio and J. N. Curtis as line umpires.

The Junior Shield matches on Saturday resulted as follow :—Meliose second defeated St. Patr'ek's College by 5 points to nil ; Petono second beat Wellington second by 2(1 points to nil. The Third-class Cup matches on Saturday resulted as follows : Ponoke thirl beat. Athletic third by 17 points to nil; Petone beat Wellington by 30 points to nil. Mount Cook first fifteen drew with Clyde quay on Saturday morning (3 points each), and the second fifteen defeated Kilbirnie by 21 points to 3. At a meeting of the Management Committee of the Now Zealand Rugby Union on Saturday night, it was resolved that rule 2 of the New Zealand Union's by-laws should include the words "and rules as to professionalism." It was decided to obtain power to delooratc authority to tho district unions to deal with cases of suspected professionalism. It was decided at tho request of tho Wellington Union to ascertain from the English Union whether the payment of a salary to an officer of a union or the granting of a bonus would make such officer a professional. The matcli Rovers v. Swifts, which was played at Newtown Park on Saturday, ended in a draw—one goal each. For the Hovers, Fraser scored a goal with a beautiful curling shot from the touch-lino which completely surprised the Swifts goal-keeper. Heather scored for the Swifts from a bully in front of goal. Tho Rovers were badly handicapped, as Forme could not get away, and Richardson was disabled 10 minutes after play started. The Thistle defeated tho Diamonds by two goals to ono. The Senior Banner football matches wore commenced in the Wairarapa on May 30. Greytown defeated Mastorton by 11 points to 3, and Carterton beat Red Stars by three points to nil.

At tho meeting of the Management Committeo of the Rugby Union last week a protest was received from the Petone Club against the Tradesmen's Club being allowed a win in the match played on May 20th for tho Duthie Cup, on the ground that tho Tradesmen had played a man who had been posted as a defaulter. The treasurer of the Union explained fiiat the amount for which the phiyer mentioned had been posted was paid before the match took (dace, and the protest was therefore dismissed.