FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1316, 20 May 1897, Page 29

FOOTBALL.

FIXTURES. SENIORS. May 29—Petone v. Athletic, Petone, No. 1 ; Melrose v. Poneke, Athletic Park, No. 1. June s—Petone5 —Petone v. Melrose, Athletic Park, No. 2 ; Poneke v. Wellington, Athletic Park, No. 1. June 12 —Wellington v. Petone, Petone, No.l ; Athletic v. Melrose, Athletic Park, No 2. JUNIORS. May 29—St. Patrick's College v. Poneke, St. Patrick's ground; Selwyn v. Athletic, Newtown Park; Petone v. Melrose, Athletic Park, No. 2. June s—St.5 —St. Patrick's College v. Melrose, St. Patrick's ground; Wellington College v. Selwyn, Wellington College ground; Poneke v. Wellington, Petone, No. 1 ; Petone v. Oriental, Petone, No. 4. Juno 12 —Wellington College v. St. Patrick's College, Athletic Park, No. 1 ; Poneke v. Athletic, Newtown Park ; Petone v. Selwyn Petone, No. 4; Oriental v. Wellington Petone, No. 2. THIRD CLASS. May 29 —Melrose v. Wellington, Petone, No. 2; Petone v. Poneke, Petone, No. 3 ; Selwyn v. Oriental, Petone, No. 4. RUGBY MATCHES. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP._ The Poneke and Athletic senior teams played their heat for the Senior Championship on No. 1 ground on the Athletic Park on Saturday. The Athletics, who kicked off, were playing with the sun in their eyes, and soon after starting compelled the Ponekes to force. The Reds, however, had a satisfactory revenge, for they were not long in crossing the Athletics' goal line. A grand forward rush in which Kelly, Young and Pender were prominent etided in Young scoring. Roberts took the kick, but the ball went wide of the posts. The Athletic forwards put in some good work, but the Ponekes brought the ball back again, Kelly and Young taking it past the full back. The Poneke men had only to pick up the ball and a score seemed probable, but Baker outpaced them, and securing the leather kicked well down the field. The Blues then had a chance of retrieving themselves. Pauling with a big kick followed up well, and Crawfurd, who was next to him, spoilt the return. The play was then only a few yards from the Ponekes' line, and it became very vigorous. The Ponekes just afterwards roused the crowd to enthusiasm over a splendid forward passing rush, Kelly White, Youner and McKay being prominent. The spell ended without any further score. Early in the second spell the Ponekes became very aggressive, and their forwards, keeping weil together, kept the Athletic backs very busy. Both teams were playing much better than in the first spell, and the spectators were treated to some fine play. From a scrum at the half-way the Athletic forwards got the ball, and Crawfurd, on getting possession, sent it on to Pritchard, who just began to get under way when the Poneke backs swooped down and carried the ball to the Blues' corner. Fierce fighting ensued, and ultimately the Athletics changed the scene of play. The Ponekes returned to the attack, and the forwards took tha ball from half-way to the Blues' 25 yards line, when Roberts got it and went right up to th 3 goal-line, whero he unselfishly passed to Kelly, who scored. Driscoll increased the score by sending the ball over the cross bar. The Athletics then woke up and the Ponekes had rather a merry time defending. The Blue forwards were playing especially well, and were getting the ball in the scrum. They were making strenuous efforts to equalise matters, and were at last rewarded with a score. Crawfurd got the ball away, and started a rush, which ended in W. Haies getting over the line. Laws took the kick, but the ball struck the post and rebounded into the field of play. The game then ended. White, the Poneke captain, was injured just before this and had to retire for a'while. The Ponekes had by far the best of the game, and played with more dash and combination t'han the losers. The game throughout was not a brilliant exhibition of football, being mostly confined to the forwards, who, however, made the game sufficiently interesting to the spectators, who were liberal in their applause. One of the features of the game was the " screwing " of the scrums by the Ponekes, they gaining many advantages over the Athletics by so doing. Roberts, Wallace (a player of some promise) and Pudney played well amongst the Poneke backs, the former's kicking being splendid. Of the forwards, McAnally, Young, Kelly, Sullivan and Connell were conspicuous. The Athletic backs did not have many opportunities to shine, though Laws, Baker, Pritchard, Kelly and Crawfurd did good individual work. W. Hales (threequarter) played wretchedly, and time after time made expensive mistakes. He made amends, however, by scoring the Athletics' only try in fine style. Pauling played a sterling game in the forwards. McClusky, Harteand Bush also did well. Mr G. Fache was the referee, and Messrs King and A. Campbell touch judges. Last year's champions, the Melrose, made their first appearance on the Athletic Park this season on Saturday, when they defeated the Wellingtons by 7 points to nil, Though

they were returned the winners they certainly did not have the best of the game, for the Wellingtons were their superiors in many respects. For the first ten minutes honours were even, the Wellington men carrying the scrums, and the Melrose having the best of j the loose play. Up and down the field the | teams went, until at last Mason potted a goal for Melrose. From the kick-out the Yellows were the aggressors, and they took the ball down to the Melrose line, where it remained for some time. Home, for the Wellingtons, made an unsuccessful pot at goal. A lit "le later on a breach of the rules gave the Wellingtons a chance to score, but the ; ball fell short. The Melrose backs mulled it, ' and a scrum on the liae resulted in the Reds having to force. The Newtown team then stirred themselves, and Eardcastle, spoiling a return by one of the Wellington backs, dribbled the ball over the line, but over-ran it, and a Wellington man secured it. Before the <md of the spell Wellingtons had another good opportunity to score, but Hutchinson spoilt the "chance by kicking the ball hard enough to have sent it over the hills. The Wellingtons put the Melrose on the defensive in the second spell, and were again beating them in the scrum. Cuff, Hallamore, Meredith and Roe rushed the ball over the Reds' .line, but again hard kicking spoilt all likelihood of a score. The Melrose, who had not been playing: with anything like combination, now took a hand in the aggressive, but not for long, for the Wellingtons soon turned the tables, and took the ball into tho Melrose quarter. Wild passing was this time the fault, when the Yellows were becoming: dangerous. A fruitless pot at goal relieved the Melrose. A glimpse of the Melrose form of last year was then given the spectators. Calnan, Adams, Hardcastla, Mason and Warwick by fine passing took the ball to within a few yards of the Wellingtons' line. Again this was done a' few minutes later, and they were making it very warm for the Wellingtons, when a breach of the rules enabled the latter to shift the scene of action. The Meirose men were evidently in better condition than their opponents, and a fine rush by them resulted in Wellington having to force. The Reds kept at it, and eventually King slipped over the line. Mason failed with the kick at goal. Time was called soon afterwards. As on the previous Saturday the Wellington team spoiled all their chances of scoring, and they had numerous chances, reckless and careless play. It seemed to be the ambition of a number of the forwards to kick the ball in halves, and to see how far they could throw the ball in front of them. The latter remark applies to the backs also. The Wellingtons had the best of the scrum work, but in the loose they were not in it with the Melrose. Fisher, Roe, Longton, Hallamore and Kember did good work amongst the forwards, and Meredith, McKenzie and Home among the backs. The Melrose team were very disappointing in their play, and will have to greatly improve if they expect to be again returned champions. The forwards were lacking in combination. It was not until near the end of the match that they showed anything like their old form. Certainly the team has a number of new additions, only seven of the last year's players being in the team on Saturday—but it is no excuse for Saturday's exhibition, which, to say the least of it, was a poor one. Adams, Nicholls, Calnan, Hardcastle and Trevor were at times prominent. Of the backs, King, Warwick and Mason were now and again conspicuous, but never at any time first class. Mr W. McKenzie was the referee, and Messrs Ridler and Davy line umpires. Dunedin. May 15. The Dunedin v. Zingari-Richmond match was played on the Caledonian Ground to-day. Dunedin, with a gale of wind behind them, scored four times in the first spell, Stephenson being responsible for three tries and Williams for one. No- goals were kicked. In the second spell Reid kicked a penalty goal for Zingari-Rich-mond, and Caradus gained a try, which McDonald converted. The final score was Dunedin, 12 points ; Zingari, 8. In the UnionUniversity match the former scored a try and University a penalty goal and two tries (one of which was converted). The Alhambra v. Pirates match furnished a tough struggle. No score was made till the last quarter of an hour, when Stalker got over the line, Matheson converting. Final score —Pirates, 5 points; Alhambra,nil. Kaikoiai defeated Caversham by 28 points to nil. As was anticipated, last year's premiers simply ran rings around Cavorsham, putting up a very respectable score. Their opponents never had a look-in. Auckland, May 15. Ponsonby defeated Parnell by 10 points to 7, and the City defeated Graf con by 9 points to 7. Christchurch, May 15. Christchurch defeated Sydenham by 12 points to 3. The Lin wood-Merivale match ended in a draw, neither side scoring. WAIRARAPA MATCHES. The Greytown first V. Kotahitangata match was played* at Papawai on Saturday. The ground was in a very heavy state and not at all fit for a football match; in fact, the Wairarapa Union should not allow another match to be played on the ground. The game was fast and furious. The veteran captain, E. W. Udy, played a magnificent game, and scored a try, which was converted. William Judd scored another try, and the game resulted with the score —Greytown, 8 ; and the natives, nil. It was a very enjoyable game throughout. Mr J. W. Card gave every satisfaction as referee. The Greytown second v. Featherston match resulted in a win for the Greytown team by 10 points to 8. Tho game was very fast and even. The Featherston forwards had the best of it, but the Greytown backs rather more than equalised matters. Mr Charles Amos was referee, giving complete satisfaction to both sides. i ASSOCIATION NOTES. Whatever the provocation, no excuse can be made for the unseemly conduct of several Queen's Park players towards the referee at iSiewtown Park on Saturday. Mr Buchanan has earned tho reputation of being most impartial always, and it is to be regretted that he was subjected to such coarse treatment by members of the Park team —some of the principal offenders being old and leading playprs who should certainly by this time have learned to behave themselves on the field. It in to be hoped that the matter will be severely dealt witti by the proper authorities. Tho defeat of the Thorndons by the Thistles surprised a good many, and somewhat upset calculations. Both these teams may be expected to be close up at the final, but the

members of the former club should go in for training 1 more consistently. Charlie Hail wood, the crack centro forward, who did not intend to play this season, was battling 1 again for the Thistles on Saturday, displaying all his old dash and energy. The Wadestown team (juniors) is composed mostly of strangers to the sockergame, but it was thought they would make a stronger stand against the Queen's Park than they actually did. Though the older team had a rather easy victory, the suburban players may be relied upon to render a good account of themselves before the end of the season. In the Red Cross team are some of the heaviest players in the Third Class Competition, and as the Diamonds (who were defeated on Saturday) are of opinion that these members will never see their 17th birthday again, a protest was to be lodged against their inclusion in the team. Accordiug to the rules, no member who is over 17 years of age is eligible to play in Third Class Cup matches. The Eovers, in their scratch match with the Diamonds on the railway ground, were very poorly represented, as they had only bix of their own men playing, the remainder being mostly Third Class players. The Diamonds, however, had a strong team and were returned the winners by two goals to one. Boxing is not the only game to which American law-makers are giving their attention just now (says an exchange). The unusual number of fatalities which occurred during the recent football season seems to have suggested legislation, and a heroic movement has been started in several States to enact laws to prohibit the game being played. Nebraska has a Bill passed by the Legisla ture which provides that any person or persons who shall engage as participants in the game shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than 25 dollars, or not more than 100 dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both. But it does not end there. Backers, trainers, assistants, referees, reporters of the game, and even spectators, come in for penalties, each and all be : ng subject to arrest and a fine up to 25 dollars. The final clause enables law officers to place under bond to keep the peace persons who shall be caught training for football games. The Auckland Star says that at one or two matches played in the Northern city last week some of the players handled their opponents in a manner that vras nothing short of brutal. The Auckland Eugby Union has decided to reprimand and caution the offenders. Mr H. Osborne (" Kia "), who played for the Melrose seniors last year, has joinod the Randwick team which won the Sydney football championship last season. Dunedin, May 17. At a meeting 1 of the Eugby Union Committee to-n'ght attention was directed to the report of a meeting of the Canterbury Union Committee, in which it was said, " That it was shown that a full statement of the facts of the case (in regard to the Canter bury-Otago appeal) had not been forwarded to the New Zealand Union/'and that " the statement of the Otago Union was altogether at variance with that made to the New Zealand Union."

It was resolved to ask the Canterbury Union whether the report was correct, and, if so, what statement of the facts had not been forwarded, and on what point was the statement cf the Otago Union at variance with that made to the New Zealand Union.