FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9285, 4 May 1891, Page 4

FOOTBALL

THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Athletic v. Melrose. —This match was played ou Saturday at Newtown, and resulted in a win for the Athletics by 10 points to 1. There was not a very large attendance of spectators, and very little interest was taken in the play. Fraser, captain of the Athletic, was unable to play through illness, and Hill filled his place. About ten minutes after starting Baker potted a goal for the Blues. This was the only score in the first spell, which was mostly in favour of the Athletics. In the second spell the Blues had a good deal the best of it, and three tries were scored. Smith gained two, and Galloway one, Hyland converting two of them. Just before the game erded the Melrose forwards made a good rush, and Eyre scored a try, but Campbell failed to improve on it. As an exhibition of football the game was the poorest seen on the Park for some time, and there was scarcely any good play on either side. There was nothing what* ever in the play to arouse the of the spectators, and after the fast and exciting match of the previous Saturday it was “ stale, flat, and unprofitable.” The winners played almost entirely without combination, and their play altogether was disappointing. The Melrose men did not play nearly as well as they did against the Poneke. The forwards did fairly well, but several of them were playing " a lone hand.” The backs were very weak, Hoar and Bell both play well, but they are too light, and, generally speaking, the back division is not up to seniorfonn. Amongst the winners’ forwards, Johnson, Howard, Hyland, and Campbell were the most conspicuous. The latter does not seem to be such a reliable place kick as he used to be. Smith played a good game at half, and his first try was very smartly obtained. Galloway and Baker were the best of the others. Galloway, who played with Ms accustomed dash, had the mUfoitune to dislocate his shoulder in the second spell, Hr Ewart, medical superintendent of the Hospital, was on the ground, and he quickly e§t the injured limb, Tho accident was not in any way attributable to rough play, but to the hard condition of the ground, Galloway will probably not be able to play again for some time. Eyre, Ryan, Campbell, and Johnson were the best of the Melrose forwards. Hoar, Bell, and Kidding were the best of the backs. Messrs Dumbell and Brown umpired, and Mr A. D. Thomson acted as referee. Wellington v, I'etcne.—The fust surprise in the football world of this season came oIF on Saturday, when the Petone Club inflicted a defeat on the redoubtable Wellingtons by six points to three. The public expecting a good contest rolled up in large numbevt and were not disappointed. Harley and Fisher were absent from the Wellingtons, Mowatt and Murray filling the vacancies. The Petone team lost the services of Dri-coll, whose place was filled by Maher. Hume won the toss, Wynyard kicking off. The play foi the first half of the spell was very fast, neither fifteen having any decided advantage. The Welling* ton forwards, who played with more combination than their opponents, had the Petone goal in danger, but A. Boss, who was playing a brilliant game at half-back, relieved the pressure by a jddicious punt, the ball going into touch at the half-way post. From the throw in, Woods, taking the ball in capital style, after a short run, passed to Hagger, the latter player eluding Erskine, who went too high tor his man, and scored an easy try under the post amidst a scene of considerable excitement. P. Jackson had no difficulty in sending the leather over the bar. Half time was called shortly afterwards. Oockroft started the second spell, the visiting team playing all they knew to reach the coveted line, bub their efforts were always neutralised by Jackson, the Petone full-back, who showed a large amount of coolness for so young a player. The Wellingtons tried several shots at goal from marks and penalty kicks, but Oockroft and Collins were not successful in their attempts. The Petone forwards, who were playing with a lot of dash, removed the scene of operations well up the field. Speedy, from a throw in, made the run of the day, and after eluding the Wellington backs, transferred the oval to Pringle, who ran in and scored an easy try. Jackson was again successful in placing a goal. The Wellingtons after this reverse made repeated attempts to cross the line, and by some fane passing amongst the Yellow backs Collins ran to within a few yards or the Petone line, where he was thrown into touch by Jacksor. For infringing the rules the town club were allowed several shots at goal, the Petones fording down on each occasion. Speed marked one of the kick-outs, and although a considerable distance from the Petone goal posts, he had no difficulty in kicking a goal. No side was called shortly afterwards, leaving the Petones victors as stated above. The suburban fifteen all showed to advantage, but P. Jackson, Parrant, A. Boss, and Wynyard (backs), and Hasrger, Pringle, Speedy, and Woods (forwards) are deserving of special mention, Collins was far and .away the pick of the losers’ backs, his running and kicking being excellent, Morrah seemed out of place at three-quarter back, for hardly once through the game did he take the ball clean. Speed, although not playing up to first-class form, deserves every credit for his brilliant kick at goal, which resulted in the only score the Wellingtons obtained. Ross and G. Elliott were out of the running tho whole afternoon. Of the forwards, F. Pownail as usual was particularly brilliant on the touch-line, and he was well backed up by Oockroft, Forsyth, and Hume, Messrs Wilford and Ronaldson umpired, and Mr C. Richardson acted as referee. As the Wellington players were leaving Petone, their opponents assembled in strong force, and gave them a hearty send-off, the visiting team acknowledging the compliment. junior cup. The Navala defeated the Melrose at the Hutt on Saturday, 3 points to nil, Gell placing a goal from a mark. The pick of the winners were Gell, France, Griffiths, and Bell (back), and Parsons, Bulford, Balcombe, and McLaren (forwards). Of the Melrose, Taylor and Warwick (backs), and McCarthy, Johnson, and Love were the most prominent. Tho Orientals scored a win over the Athletic second at Island Bay on Saturday by 9 points to 3. Drummond (2), Tattle, and Varnham scored tries, one of which Woon converted. The same player also potted a goal. Symons touched down for the Athletics, which Cooper converted. For the winners Woon, Hood, Gormley, and Read (backs), and Drummond, Varnh&m, Tattle, and Palmer (forwards) worked hard. The pick of the Athletics were Cooper, Symons, and Bishop (backs), and Moore, Hickson, ard Smith (forwards).

The Wellington’s defeated the Pioneers at Island Bay on Saturday by 9 points to nil, Stuart (2), McDowell, Duncan, and Tally scored tiies for the winners, two of which were converted by Duncan. For the Wellingtons McDowell, Durcan, Stuart, and Tully (hacks*), and Kelling, Galbraith, Herd, and Nicholls (forwards), played splendidly ; Burke, Martin, Murray, and Hall (hack--), and Soffe, Duncan, Waters, and White (forwards), were the pick of the Pioneers. Marchant, of the Wellingtons had to retire early in the game, from an injury to his knee. The Pirates ran over the Petone Second at Newtown Park, on Saturday, defeating them by 11 points to nil. Yates (3),* Pudney, Purcell, Johnson, Lawton, and Leslie, touched down for the Pirates, the attempts at goal proving unsuccessful. Pudney also placed a goal from a mark. Stinson, Pudney, and Nicholson (backs), and Yates, Johnson, and Lawton (forwards), where the most prominent of the Pirates ; while Welch and Jackson (backs),and McArthur and F. Johnston (forwards), played well for Petone. THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. The Selwyn Second defeated the Oriental Second at the Hobson street paddock, on Saturday by 10 points to 3. Usmar (2), Allen (2), Marchant, and Stanley, scored tries for the Selwyns, two of whichC. Marchant converted. Seager touched down for the Orientals, which Driscoll converted. The Pioneer second defeated the Poneke second at Karori on Saturday by 7 points to nil. Halpin scored two tries for the winners, one of which Davis converted, and the same player also placed a goal from a mark. The losers only played with 11 men. The Wellington College defeated the Pirate second by 8 points to 3 on their ground on Saturday. Dutbie and Duncan touched down for the College, McGoven i otted a goal from half-way, and the same player placed a goal from a mark. The Athletic-Petone game resulted in a win by default for the latter club, owing to the town team not turning up. THE CAMPBELL TROPHY. The Carlton defeated the Sydenham by five points to four at the Railway Reserve on Saturday. Linley, Hedges, and Watty scored tries for the winners, Hedges converting one of the tries. For the losers W. Sweney touched down twice, Jones placing a goal from one of the tries. S. Sweney, Hedges, and Nichols (backs) and Waters, Linley and Duff (forwards) showed up prominently for the Carltons. For the Sydenhama Jones, W. Swiney and Jackson (backs), r.nd Green, Laughton and Pratt (forwards) played well. EVANS’BALL. The Rugby's won their match with the Carlton second by default. A match, however, was played at the Railway Reserve with the Sydenham second, which resulted in a win for the Rugbys by eight points to nil. Staples touched down twice for the Rugbys, and placed a goal from a mark. T. Tripe also potted a goal. The Rugby second defeated the Rugbys by three points to nil at the same locality on Saturday for the above ball. Sampson touched down for the Rugbys, which SkelJy converted

The following fixtures have been drawn for the Third-class Championship for Saturday next, 9th May ; —Melrose v. Wellington, on Melrose ground; Selwyn v. Athletic, on Selwyn ground ; Petone v. Pioneer, on Epuni ground; Oriental v. Pirate, on Karori ground ; Poneke a bye. The Wellington Club are endeavouring to send a team to Christchurch on the Queen’s Birthday, to play their annual match with the Christchurch Club.