WELLINGTON MATCHES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 40

WELLINGTON MATCHES

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. The weather on Saturday was by no means suitable for good football. A strong, bleak southerly wind whistled across the grounds, bringing in its train showers of driving rain and sleet, which began to fall while the first spells were in progress, and soon made the fields slippery. Most of the interest was centred in the match between Petone and Athletic, at the Athletic Park. Prior to the game these teams were tying for second place in the championship table, .with fourteen points each. When they met in the first round, at Petone, a draw was recorded, each team scoring sis points. This time, however, Petone had little difficulty in winning. The results ©f Saturday's games keeps Poneke in the lead for the championship, with seventeen points to their credit. Petone are second, with sixteen, and Athletic andOriental are level for third place, with fourteen points each. PETONE (16) / v.' ATHLETIC (0). Athletic played almost entirely without system or combination. Occasionally they would start a good combined rush, but before it had gone far the organisation would evaporate, and then Petone would quickly turn defence into attack, and sweep down the field. Both sides threw away many good opportunities, but the blue and blacks more so, and thus the “all-blues” won. Athletic kicked* off and invaded Petone territory, but not for 10ng... Short, sharp rushes by Petone, in > which J. Ryan had a large share,, brought play into the blue and blacks' twenty-five. Cupningkame blundered and nearly let the blues over, but Evensen relieved, with some clever work. Petone kept play in Athletic s twentyfive. Presently- the blues were awarded a free-kick. _ M, Ryan's shot was a bad one, and was returned by The wind carried the ball in-field to J. Ryan, who calmly potted a goal from betiveen Athletic's twenty-five-line and half-way. Petone 4, Athletic 0. Prom the kick-off Athletic invaded the blues' territory. Slowly but surely, however, Petone took the ball back. Petone continued to press, and a loose rush across the line ended in Driscoll scoring, Cunninghame slipping in attempting to force. No goal. Petone 7, Athletic 0. For the rest of the spell the ball was. chiefly .on Athletics' side of half-way, no further; score being ™On & ' resuming Athletic:settled in Petone's territory for a time,. A sweeping rush by'the blues carried, the ball to Athletic’s line, but a .forward kicked too hard-", Cunninghame ..picked up the leather behind his,, own. goal-hue, and with, a splendid kick.,sent it into touch at lialf-way,. The ..struggle went on un

and down the field for eomO minutes, ;uv d then a loose rush ended in Green scoring for Petone behind the posts. M. Ryan failed, making too much allowance for the wind. Petone 10, Athletic j. For some time after this Athletic strongly attacked in Petone’s twenty-five, but failed to pierce the defence. The bines raised the siege, and a series of loose rushes ended in Green again dodging over. A. Held's shot hit the crosshair and rebounded into the field. Petone Hi, Athletic 0. Petone kept up- tho pressure and after a time were again rewarded with a try. O'Meara in trying to force slipped and missed tlio ball, McGill falling on it. No goal. Petone 1(1, Athletic 0. The bell rang soon after, with the play in Athletic's territory. Mr G. Howe refereed. OLD BOYS (6) v. VICTORIA COLLEGE (3). Of scientific football there was none in this game. Still, the match was fairly fast and interesting, and occasionally mirthful incidents happened along to keep the spectators in a good humour. The scores are a good index of tiie balance of play. Both sides appeared to treat the match will) some levity, and allowed innumerable opportunities, merely, it appeared, through disinclination to take them. The urst spell ended with the scores even, three points each, Gardiner kicking a penalty goal for Old Boys, and O'Leary scoring an unconverted try for college. In the second spell Gardiner kicked a goal from a mark for Old Boys. Mr Connell refereed. MELROSE (91 c. ST. JAMES (6). These teams met at Miramar on a slippery ground and with a greasy ball. A strong and bitterly cold southerly blew almost straight down field, and St. James had the good luck to win the toss, and avail themselves of the wind in the first spell. In spite of this advantage, however, St. James did not do so well as their supporters expected—they seemed to lack cohesion, and appeared to be like parts of a piece of mechanism with the essential pivots missing. This was in part accounted for by the absence of three of their good men, and there were those among the spectators who went even so far as to say that some of the men were loafing. Anyhow, Melrose set their teeth and buckled down to stop every chance, and to such good effect that the spell showed only one score—a penalty goal kicked by Crewes for St. James. The wind continued with unabated vigour in the second spell, and Melrose, keeping the game as close as they could, made all they could out of the wind. From a mark in a good position, Gilchrist landed a goal, but failed to add the major points to a try obtained a little later by Kerr. Play continued in St. James's territory, and Cameron had the good luck to follow up on one occasion fast enough to fall on the ball and score. Gilchrist failed with the kick. St. James now made a great effort, and; working along the line, got the ball out rig’ht on the corner. From the throw-in Moffat obtained the leather and fell over the line. The attempt at goal was futile in face of the wind. No further score resulted, the game being mostly in St. James's twenty-five’s. PONEKE (3) v. ORIENTAL (3).

The representatives of these clubs met on the Petone grounds under conditions which were decidedy the reverse of favourable. An icy blast swept across the ground throughout the whole progress of hostilities, and matters were rendered more miserable still by frequent heavy showers. After*a short time the park began to churn up, and at the finish was practically a quagmire in places. As a natural sequence play was considerably interfered with, accuracy in passing being impossible, as it took the men all their time to endeavour to maintain their equlibrium. Play was keen throughout, and those martyrs to enthusiasm who braved the elements to witness the contest were somewhat recompensed for their temerity. In the /opening stages the advantage fluctuated a good deal, rush being met by counter rush, the ball being first at one end of the field and then down at the other. Orientals were nearly let down by their full-back on one occasion, as ho just failed to force in time, while in another instance, but for D. Twohill having the bad luck to lose the sphere after having it in his possession, a try would probably have eventuated. War wa.s . desperately waged by both sides until well on towards the end of the initial half, before the efforts of the respective sides were fruitful. Poneke were the first to draw blood. They invaded the black and white's territory, where Twohill, on the left, wing, gathered up the leather-and his superior pace enabled him to register a try. Patrick's attempt at goal was unsuccessful. The temporary set-back had the effect of imparting more vim to the black and whites, they speedily had their opponets busy defending, and soon after, got a lucky try. Slater, Ponelce's full-back, thinking, the ball had crossed the line, fell on it with the object of forcing. It was, however, about a foot short, and Manning appearing on the scene, speedily sent it over and scored. Matliieson failed with the kick. Oriental again became aggressive on resuming, and from a scrum in front of the black and reds’ goal the ball shot out past the halfback, a (rood chance being lost. Oriental were ewbpt down the field and forced just before half-time sounded. The second spell opened with Poneke in an aggressive mood, but the black and whites were equal to the occasion, and coming away with a loose forward dribbling rush changed the venue to mid-field. They were speedily driven back, but a free kick afforded Orientals temporary relief, and for a time they reversed the tables. Play then opened out for a brief interval, and ended in Poneke getting down on their opponents’ line, a scrum taking place. Over-anxiety resulted in a free kick being given against Poneke for off-side play, and the ball travelled right down the field,, a kick behind affording Poneke desired re-, lief. After a time the black and reßs again got into dangerous proximity to the chalk-line, where ascramble , t:oofc nlace under Jhe goal, Rush and an OrR

ental player appearing to fall simultaneously on tho ball as it rolled over between the uprights. From a scrum five yards out Oriental relieved and worked down the field, only to be again repulsed and forced. From this out Poneke had the better of the game, and despite* their efforts to put a. ‘‘bit of devil" into their play they were unable to penetrate the defence, though several times within an ace of scoring. JUNIOR GRADE. Athletic (9) defeated Melrose (3). Selwyn (12) defeated Brooklyn (3). Southern (8) defeated St. James (3). Petone (17) defeated Oriental (3). Petone and Melrose now tie for first place in this competition, with Selwyn second, ope point behind. THIRD GRADE. Southern (G) defeated Athletic (0). "Wellington College (19) defeated Old Boys (5). Petone (5) defeated Oriental (0). Johnsonville (9) defeated Selwyn (0). Poueko beat Kia Ora by default. FOURTH GRADE. Petone (14) defeated Southern (3). .Athletic and Oriental drew, neither side scoring Melrose (18) defeated Wellington (0). FIFTH GRADE. Petone (8) defeated Southern (3). Oriental (12) defeated Athletic (0). Wellington College A (14) and Melrose (14) played a drawn game. AUCKLAND v. THAMES.

AUCKLAND, July 27. The annual inter-union football match between Auckland and the Thames was played here this afternoon in fine weather. Auckland proved superior in all departments, a number of tneir players showing fine form. Auckland won by 26 points to five. - MANAWATU v. WANGANUI. PALMERSTON, July 27. The Wanganui representatives met Manawatu before a large crowd of spectators. Before play had been going half a minute Meuli, Wanganui, scored. Manawatu then warmed up and kept on the attack with vigor. After a splendid forward rush Wingate scored for Manawatu, and Downes converted. Play for the next fifteen minutes was up and down the field, Wanganui beating Manawatu in the loose. The Wanganui forwards brought the ball from a line out to the goal line, and Jones scored a try, which was converted. Resuming the ball was carried down to the Wanganui twenty-five, and loose play gave McNae an opening to add 3 more to Manawatu’s score. Wanganui was on the defence when Downes, from a free kick, .added 3 for Manawatu. No further sepre resulted—Manawatu 11, Wanganui 8. Both teams were on a par as regards weight. Manawatu was far superior in the line out. The Wanganui backs on several occasions gave a poor exhibition of passing in the first spell, but improved towards the end of the game. _ The Manawatu backs were also defective. In the scrum Wanganui paralysed Manawatu.