FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1681, 18 May 1904, Page 55

FOOTBALL.

{By “Touch.”)

The desirableness of numbering football players so that they may he recognised by the public has lately been spoken’ of. The practice has worked very well in representative matches, but there are obvious drawbacks to an application of the system to club contests. A club team is seldom completed until a few minutes before tbe game is due to start, and therefore any advance numbering of jerseys would be misleading, for the man whose name was set down on the programme as wearing the numfoer might be an absentee* Also, the public might not seriously injure itself in rushing to pay threepence for a misleading numbered programme. ‘Touch” would suggest, as an easy means of identifying the players for the public (and so popularising the game), that each club be requested to have a set of jerseys numbered from one to fifteen, and that before each game commences there be chalked up on blackboards the names and numbers of players. Under this system ail eleventh-hour ohanges would be taken notice of—a thing impossible when printed programmes are concerned. The Manawatu Rugby Union’s annual for 1904 is to hand. It is a creditable issue, compiled fby Mi- E l . G. Sutherland, and illustrated with photographs of team that won championships, and teams that tried to. In an addendum to a reprint of an article written for the 1903 annual by Mr Jewell, the editor says:—'“Two seasons have now elapsed since the foregoing was written, and matters in connection with football in the Manawatu have more than realised- expectations. The prosperity of the game can only be guaged by a glance at the Atnnual, which shows how much vigour and energy has been thrown into the game by enthusiasts. Perhaps praise should be given to Mr Edgar Wylie, who, in the season of 1902, was one of the most energetic in resuscitating the now flourishing Union. His removal to Wellington at the latter end of that year was a great loss to P'almerstonians who follow the good .old wintergame. Another gentleman who was instrumental in getting interest renewed in the game in that year was the Rev 0. C. Harper, together wrth all our officers of the present year. That more than ordinary interest is being displayed this year goes without saying, and close finishes are likely to be the order of all the competitions. Several representative fixtures are likely to take place this year m Palmerston, and a northern tour as far as Auckland is on the tapis to take place at the end of the present season. Everything bids to a most successful season.”

The Wellington Rugby Union's annual has hitherto been a bulky tome; this year it is of much-diminish-ed bulk but quite as useful as ever. Rules of the game, case law decisions, by-laws of the Uuion, information as to clubs and associations form the staple of this year’s annual.

RUGBY. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Unusual interest centred in • the senior contests played on the Athletic Park on Saturday,, chiefly by reason ot the match -between Petone and Meliose. The weather was bright and sunny, and the attendance, in consequence, was larger than that of any previous Saturday. Petone 'Started favourites, but the sympathies of the crowd were largely with the “colours,” who had to submit to defeat by 16 points to nil. From every point of view the game was the toughest fight witnessed at the ground this season. In contradistinction to the aforementioned game was the weary football produced in the OrientalAthletic fixture. The latter team faced the black-and-whites with twelve men, including two third-class players and one fourth-class. The score stood at 27 to nil in the first spell, aud ten minutes after lacking off in the second, the blues, with 33 points against them, decided to don their civilian garb. At Petone a good many people watched the Poneke-

Old Boys’ match, which resulted in a win for the former by 17 points to nil.

PETONE v. MELROSE. Hardham set the ball in motion for Petone, and Adams was instrumental in shifting play into the blues’ quarters. The Petone skipper was prominent in a dribbling rush which followed, and a mistake by Evans, in endeavouring to pick up, nearly cost his side a try. The red forwards set up a stubborn defence, and George Spencer succeeded in easing matters with a kick up the line. A good deal of scrumming followed, and Melrose were awarded a kick for'off-side play, but the ball was charged dhwn. Spencer and McGregor raised the enthusiasm of the crowd by some fine kicking, but the individualistic element soon gave way to hot scrimmaging [between the forwards. Hodgson kicked well out along the line, and Driscoll and Cross broke away from the scrum which followed. The Melrose defence, however, was not to be broken, and the full-back once again relieved his side by kicking out at the distance. The suburban team continued the onslaught, and a really pretty piece of passing, originated by Ramsden and continued by McGregor and Braid in turn, gave Barber a chance. Braid lost the ball near the line, and Barber picked up and stole through in a flash. McGregor made a good but unsuccessful attempt to convert: 3—o. Both teams bad settled down Lb the swing of things when Wrigley was seen streaking off with the ball, but he was nailed before he got into dangerous ground. Sullivan worked industriously amongst the forwards, and gave the blue full-back a few anxious moments. Evans also made a brilliant run, but lie was neatly grassed by M. Ryan. An infringement by a Petone forward gave George Spencer a chance, but his tempt to place a goal was hardly worthy

of his powers. From this stage to the interval Melrose undoubtedly had the upper hand. A-mistake by P. Ryan let his side into trouble-in the second half, and some difficulty was experienced in repelling the attacks of the red forwards. In scrumming tactics the blues were a good deal ahead of the city team, and in this fact lay their chief safeguard. Petone forwards were careering down the field a little later, and crowded G. Spencer, who made a speculative kick, and missed. This caused his side a good deal of strenuous work, and Goodwin in his eagerness to save the reds’ baton, deliberately obstructed an opponent in a subsequent rush by the blue vanguard. A free kick was awarded, and Barber placed a beautiful goal: 6 —o. The next noticeable incident wf& a mark by, Braid, Petone’s right wing threequarter, which Barber unsuccessfully afL tempted to convert. Some decidedly warm play, in which McGregor, on the one hand, and Spencer, on the other, were the most prominent, intervenedPetone’s brilliant, tricky and speedy three-quarter then shot out- from a taiu-gle-up of forwards, aud literally vibrated for the line. After dodging half a dozen opponents, ho scrawled the ball along the ground to P. Ryan, just when collared, and a try resulted. McGregor converted: 11—0. The game thereafter was. free and open, with a maximum of kicking and dashing forward play, and a minimum of scrumming and clumsy scrambling. G. Spencer had a penalty shot for the reds, with poor results, and Petone sought refuge from the fierce attacks of the Melrose forwards following by forcing down. The reverse was shortlived, though. In iesis time than it takes to tell, play was at the Other end of the field, and a wild yell from the crowd proclaimed that Hardham had scored. Once again McGregor converted : 16—0. The whistle was bfcwn shortly afterwards. Mir P. Mackie refereed.

OLD BOYS v. PONEKE. This match, played at Petone, resulted in a win for the reds by 17 points'tot nil. Throughout, the game consisted principally of straggles between the Pori eke forwards and Old Boys backs. Soon after the start Poneke had Old Boy® in difficulties. Dawson eventually relieved) the tension with a short, kick, which wap accepted by Stevens and the last-men-tioned player, nearing the posts, potted! a prelttjy goal: 4—o. Outside of this there was nothing of moment in the first spell, except the fine line-kicking of the red backs and the solid defence of the whites, which earned great praise from the spectators. The .second spell opened disastrously for Old Boys. Beds scored a try right at tire commencement. Mann was responsible for this piece of good luck and Stevens improved with a veiry fine kick: 9 —o. Give-and-take play followed, until Taylor found an opening and scored. This time Stevens failed with hit kick: 12—0. Old Boys livened up considerably after the reverse, and some good play followed. By degrees the reds gradually shifted operations into their opponents’ territory, and just o;n the call of time Taylor sooted again. Stevens converted: 17—0. For Poneke, Calnan, Caliam and Taylor showed up well amongst the forwairds, while Stevens played well for the backs. Dodids did great work for Old Boys. He was ably assisted by Dalkens, Gardiner, Dawson, Cieland and Gordon. Some-of the Old Boys’ passing rushes were very pretty and it was more by luck than management that they were not fruitful. Mi> G. O. Faohe was referee-- 1 .

ORIENTAL v. ATHLETIC. The-rewas an air of comedy about the Ohrieoxtal-Athletic match, when coni pared - wirfeh the deadly struggle between Patone * ipd Mel rose teams, close by. The blues went out to do or die with twelve men, and died ten minjutete after starting out in the second spell. It would ha, >been wiser to have forfeited the matou. O. Bush opened the account for Orientals ■wuth an easy try, which Anderson oouverted: s—o. In quick succession tries •were scored by Miller, Highet and Baskiyille, the latter’s being oonvea'ted by E. Wylie: 19—0. Bush and Wylie each soared again before half-time, and Gillespie improved the latter’s score: 27 —0. The second spell saw Best and Collefrton With scores to their ordit, and Athletic decided to quit after pla*y had been in progress about ten minutes. Oriental 33, Athletic nil. Mr J. Murray was referee. ' JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, Southern v. Victoria College resulted In a win for the former by 29 to 6. The winning team showed to advantage in all departments. Standon, Heggium, iNeilsoh, Orewes, Powell, Sheppard and jMitchenson obtained a try each for Southern. Heggium converted twice, and Mitchenson and Sheppard once. ” (Hunter and Heenan scored for Victoria Oollege. Old Boys v. St. James’s was a well contested game throughout, resulting in a draw. Neither team scored. Oriental defeated Melrose by 7 to 5. Play was fairly even. For Oriental, Beamish scored a try and Wilkes kicked a goal from a mark. Petone, on their own ground, defeated Poneke by 30 to nil. A good contest between Athletic and *Kia Ora, at Lower Hutt, resulted in a ' draw, no score being obtained by either team. Johnsonville defeated Wellington by 6to 5. The match was played on the winning team’s ground. ' WAIRARAPA MATCHES. MASTERTON. May 15. At Greytown on Saturday, the local aetnioi’s defeated Carterton by 3 points (a try, scored by Rogers) to nil. The Junior Cup matches resulted as follows: —Master! on 9 points, Tuhirangi nil; Carterton 3 points, Gladstone nil; G'raytown 11 poinits, Martinborough nil. PALMERSTON, May 14. * Old’Boys defeated Palmerston North by 13 to 9, and Institute beat Awahniri by 6 to nil. The leading teams in the junior con- ~ test, Kiatoa and Feilding, met this afternoon, the match, being drawn; each side soored a penalty goal, f CHRISTCHURCH, Maty 14. Albion (10 —-goal from a mark and two ’tries) beat Merivala (nil); Sydenham (23) beat Old Boys (nil);. Linwood (9) beat Christchurch (3). DUNEDIN, May 14. . Dunedin heat Alhambra, 6 to nil; ... Zingari beat Southern, 3 to nil; Kaikoirai beat Union. 3to nil; University beat Pirates, 8 to nil. ASSOCIATION. •' ■ f « SENIOR. ... .

The attractiveness of the weather on Saturday afternoon was responsible for an unusually large number of visitors to the Association football grounds at Miramar, and the various games were watched with keen interest. QUEEN’S PARK v. DIAMONDS. Diamonds won by two goals to one. This was the best game at Miramar—it was hard and rapid, and full of interesting incidents. In the first spell play was up and! down the field at a tremendous pace, and the defence was go good on both sides that- it seemed N . neither would score. Just before the half-time whistle, however, Reddy got away twice on the left wing with the hall at his toes, and both times he scored. In the second spell the Queen’s Park’s goal was scored) from a scramble—the ball being shot through the posts from a bunch of heads. ST. JOHN’S v. Y.M.C.A. St. John’s won by six goals two. The game was keenly contested, but St. John’s were too solid a team for their opponents. The Y.M.C.A. were kept defending for the most part, but they toade business, ver'y brisk every now snd then by sudden flashing attacks. For the winners, goals were scored by Smetllio (2), A. Mouat (2), Dixon and Brodie; goal-kickers for the losers were ! Airey and’ Miller. SWIFTS v. PEARLS. Pearls won by one goal to nil. It was a very even game, hut the Least scientific of the,three at Miramar. In the ; nmt spell attack and oounter-attaok on each other in quick succession, hut at no score nad been gained. Lx the second spell, Troll-fabk/Maitin,: frorii 'a penalty ki?rk, • Secured the Pearl victory —a very fin* goal. PETONE y. ROYERS. ‘ Roveua woln by four goals to one.

JUNIOR LEAGUE. Swifts B defeated Y.M.C.A. B by 5 goals to nil. The scorers were Lowe (2), Mason and Millington, and an excellent corner kick from Robinson, assisted through by a Y.M.C.A. man. 5 Kaiwarra defeated Rambler's A by 4 goals to nil, the scorers being Williams and Hodges, two each. Diamonds defeated Y.M.C.A. A by 5 goals to nil. Robinson (2), Black and •Taylor scored for the Diamonds, while a Y.M.C.A. player also scored for the winners. Pearls defeated St. John’s by 4 goals to nil. The Swifts A-Rambldrs B game did not eventuate, owing to Newtown Park being too web to play on.