FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2211, 21 May 1894, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

,SENIOB~*SIIIELD. PETONE V. ATHLETIC. This match was pl/tynd at the Show Oromid on Saturday, and resulted in a. win tor the suburban team by 8 points to three. The conditions wuro favourable in every way. but the attendance was very email. The >'lllllo wae a fairly interesting one, especially in the second spell. Good work was done union gat the forwards on both aides, but there wan very little passing. The play was very even all through. The I’otoiio team was the first to score, McKenzie crossing the line with several Athletics clinging to him after the manner of barnacles. Topeno failed in the kick at "oal. Seen after the Athletics were allowed a free kick a few yards in front of the Petone goal, but Hunter failed to send the ball over the bar. The town team had slightly the host of the play for the remainder of the spoil, and Amott was only prevented from scoring by the sure tackling of Pollock, who had repeatedly distinguished himself during the spell. The play was extremely lively, and at times very fast, in the second half. Wynyard, McKenzie and Pi ingle were frequently prominent for the Petone team, and Hudson occasionally made a good dash, whilst Swindloy, Mall and Hunter showed up on the other side. Once McKenzie made an irresistible rush, beating down all opposition, but bo was successfully grassed before lie could get over the lino. From some loose jilay a little later on Woods got possession of the ball, and passed to McKenzie, who easily dodgod Arnott and scored behind the posts with the greatest of ease. Tripe, wlio tmd been injured a few minutes before, made no attempt to stop him. McKenzio converted his try. The play now became faster and more furious, and after Wynyard had made a fine run, Hagger made a desperate charge for the line, but Tripe brought him down. The Athletic forwards showed excellent form at this stage, proving themselves quite a match opponents. Symons, by a neat piece of play, carried the play up the field, and Swindloy getting possession of the leather made a fine run to within a few yards of the lino, and then passed the ball to Hales, who scored at the corner. Hales failed in the kick at goal. Just before time was called the Athletics with a good rush took tbo play within a few yards of the Petuno lino, and Fairley and Glasgow made desperate efforts to get over, the latter being'collnrod almost on the lino. The tussle was going on within a few yards of the Pc tone line when the game ended. The Petone forwards did not play so well as they did on the previous Saturday, and their back play was weak. The absence of liaumber no doubt made a vast difference to them. Of tiro forwards, McKenzie, Pringle, Shaw and Hagger wore the best. Wynyard showed something like his old form, and there was an improvement in Hudson’s play. Pollock, however, was the host of tho backs, repeatedly getting his side out of difficulties.

Tho Athletics surprised even their friends, tho forwards in particular doing excel lent work. Swindlcy (who is undoubtedly ono of tho best forwards in the city), McKee, Hyland and Fairley wero tlio best of them. Of tho backs. Hunter at three-quarter was tho most serviceable. He stopped rushes and tackled splendidly. Mclntosh also played very well, as did Hales, although tho latter’s tackling was weak. Hall kicked and collared well, and Symons was smart at half-back. ’Xho halves wero frequently spoiled by Glasgow. Mr Facho made an olliciont referee, and Messrs King (Ketone) and Fraser (Athletic) were the lino umpires. WELLINGTON V. MELROSE.

This match did not attract a very largo number of spectators. At the onset tho game promised to bo of a close character, but at tho finish tho Wellington team had all tho best of it, for when points came to bo counted they had 40 to their credit as against their opponents’ 8. After the kick off the oval was kept in tho middle of tho field until Strange got a mark, which K. Duncan failed to convert. The play now assumed a fast and merry - phase, the Melroso making it particularly lively A mark of Hurko’a was placed groundwards for J. Jfurko, who failed to send the ball over tho bar. Melroso held their own in the loose until A. ’ Duncan passed to Bishoj), who scored first blood for Weir liugton. K. Duncan succeeded iu'wfti; fho score fi points, ' Melroso got the hall fight down to within two feet of tho Wellington lino, whoro a lino out resulted in thoir advantage being nullified, and the Yellows regained thoir ground, Thompson eventually getting over the Melrose line. Duncan proved too sure at the kick, and 10 points wero registered. Up to now, passing was not a prominent feature of tho contest, but Wellington went in for it, and it served them well. Morton had a pot shot at goal, but Melrose’s score still remained at love, for tho oval went a triflo wide. They wero playing up well and commenced to tumble to the Wellington game of getting the ball away from the scrums. B. Burke got a try after a fast dodgy run, and it was successfully converted by Campbell. Wellington, 10 points; Melrose, half as many. Tho first spell shortly afterwards ended. In tho second spell Wellington, after the first seven minutes, had it all their own way. The game was not open enough for tho Melroso, who would have had more chance if it was. Then, Wellington’s passing was good, and the backs ran well, and seemed to he hard to stop. There were a wreat many scrums, though, through forward passing. Johnson scored two pretty tries, ns did Strange' and (Wd A. Duncan, all of which iyere converted by K. Dupton, whose lacking throughout tho clay Avas really good. This brought tho Wellington score up to 40' points. The only tine the Melroso 1 scored in this spell was when' they got on' their ' opponents’ line, vhero there'were a few scrums, the result of which was (hat Soffe got over, but the try wa's not converted. They consequently suffered defeat by 33 points. Mr Wynyard acted as fpforee.

JUNIOR'SHIELD. Xu the Wellington-Athletic' round the former won by 11'points to 4, For the winners Stewart obtained two tries, one of which was converted by Flower, who ftlsQ placed a goal from a'poffalty Ificfe. : %oqi» for the Athletics cleverly potted a goal from nearly half way down the field. Mr J, Gamble acted as referee. ... . Tho Selwyn v. Poneke match resulted in a win for the Solwyns by 3 points, fq nil, McCallnrn obtained a try, which was nqt converted. Mr B. Diddle wasth Q referee. The Rugby beat the Oriental team by 18 points to 3. Longton got two tries, one of which was converted by MdMaster and the other by McKinley, and Maxwell also, obtained a try. Pago got a try for the Tho Melrose second defeated tf)o St, Patrick’s College team OB Saturday by 81 points to nil, The gaipo was veiy taepo in tho first spell, tho Molxpsp foam scoring 20 points, but in tho second half it wap more oven, and they only scored 5 points, Thp scoring was dono by Condor, who potted two goals, and T. Hoar. Lingftrd. Jgokson, C Campbell and Gell, who .obtained tries, C Campbell converted Hoar’s try, and ifuddy thoso of Goll, Jackson and Campbell. The winners all played well, their passing at times being very good. Kerley. Ward (2), Mahoney, Love and Holland worked hard for tho College. Mr F. Selling was tho referee. ■ ;

THIRD-CLASS CUP. Tho Poneko v. Selwyn heat was won hy tho latter by default, and the Petone v. Wellington heat went to the latter for a similar reason. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL, , Tho match Eovers v. Queen’s Park was played at Karori on Saturday afternoon, the latter winning by three goals to love. The Eovera won tho toss, and started to play downhill. Richardson returned the kick off, and matters were lively for a. bit round Queen’s Park goal, but LaueUnn fisted out, and Wightop took-the bait well up the field, amf some' pretty passing hy Hill ami Glover was noticeable. . Then Lauchlan sent in a shot, but tho ball struck the bar, and Richardson relieved splendidly. Leslie and McKinnon, playing well together, dribbled wolf sup the field, and a corner was given against Queen’s Park. Soon after Graham cleverly stopped a-forward rush, Muir relieving,-in his fora.' Then after. sonjp-.giye-amßtakb;play- Hill rhot a good 'goals for the ’ CJUeen’s Pp,’rk." The Eoverst attacked strongly, bht oying to bad'shooting wbte uhhbß) tft cgid |be spell ’ closed'' withqsT .tofßejf ’ ;'ad-. dition. On Resuming, Mwpf scut well down ' the ' field', and Richardson fdpled bad l ? ploso to, his goal, and was penalised, hut Mnir shot wide. The Royers were now playing a splendid uphill game, and occasionally had the host of it. hut the forwards lacked combination, Richardson and Hopsianv saved repeatedly, bnt Hailwood was not to bo denied, and he put on goal No. 2. Wighton following ,■ suit soon after, just before time. Muir, Martin, Shields, Glover, Hailwood andJHill for tho 'Waiicrs, Rorgusson, Abbott, Fraser and Leslie-, for the losers, were the best. Mr Levers gave sptisfoction T<? The°raatch Swifts v. United, played »t t),cj Hobson street ground, was very evenly contested, the game ending in « draw, United kicked off up hill, and, rushing matters, the Swifts had to concede a comer, from which there was no result. Tho Reds soon pulled themselves together, tho hack play in particular being very r/ood. Towards the end of tho spell an unfortunate accident occurred. Bell, of the United, having his leg broken. It was decided to go on with tho game. Darby retiring so as to make the aides equal. Ir the second spell the Reds wero a good deal on the defensive, but owing ehiefly-to _tht grand defence of- Jack?; Earle and: Hander son,-the Blues. Were unable to score, ant the game ended in a draw. The Umtac ' forwards nil played well, Xsherwood, Wool pott. Gamble and Bell being the pick oJ

the backs. Tho best of tho Beds were Jacks, Earle, Henderson, Thompson, Bagnail and Heighten. This was tho Swifts’ first match, and they are naturally very elated at the result. Mr B. C. Harper gave satisfaction as referee. Tho Thomdons defeated the Uniteds for the Junior Gup on Saturday by 3 goals to 1. Tho play was very uninteresting in the first spell, but in the second the Uniteds livened up and kept tho Thorndons on the defensive, for whom Godbrill played splendidly at full back. For the winners Lowe (2 goals) and Wells (1) scored, as did Ferkins on the other side. Ferguson, Lowe, Wells, Godbrill, Smith, Gavin and Gay for tho Thorndons, and Perkins, Matthews. Kerr, Skinner, ilouchen, Coulston and Woolcott for the United played best.

Tho decision of tho Now Zealand Union to allow tho Christchurch-Pirate (Hunedin) Clubs’ match has given great satisfaction in Christchurch. On Saturday Mr 11. McCardell, tho Canterbury delegate to the Now Zealand Union, received tho following telegram from tho secretary of the Southern Union :—“ Hearty thanks from Canterbury footballers, and Christchurch Club in particular." Members of the representative team who visited Nelson last season are requested by advertisement elsewhere to meet at No. 7 room. Exchange Buildings, to-night, at 8 o'clock, concerning the charges made by the Nelson Union.

A gentleman living in Wellington writes informing us that he will present a silver medal to each of the winners of the Wellington Public Schools Football Cup this season. He makes one condition, however —a very good one —that if any member of the winning team has during the season been ordered off tho field for fighting or using bad language the medals will be handed over to the next team.