FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVX, Issue 3130, 17 May 1897, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY MATCHES,

laENIOB CHAMPIONSHIP. The Poueke and Athletic senior teams played their heat for the Senior Championship on No. 1 ground on the Athletic Parle 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 rash in which Kelly, Young and Pender wore prominent ended in Young scoring. Roberta tooK the kick, but the ball went wide of the posts. The Athletic forwards put in some good work, but the Ponckos brought the ball hack 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 Raker 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 aftorwar-la roused the crowd to enthusiasm over a splendid forward passing rush, Kelly White, Young 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 well together, kept the Athletic backs very busy. Both teams were playing much bettor 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 got under way when the Poneke backs swooped down and carried the ball to the Blues’ corner. Fierce lighting ensued, and ultimately the Athletics changed the scene of play. The Ponekes returned to the attack, and the forwards took tin ball from half-way to the Blues’ 25 yards line, when Roberts got it and went right up to the goal-lino, where 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 wore 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. Hales 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 Poueko captain, was injured just before this and had to retire for a while. The Ponekes bad by far «the best of the game, and played with more dash and combination than the losers. The game throughout was not a brilliant exhibition of football, being mostly confined t® 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 Ponoke 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, Harfce and Bush also did well. Mr G. Faohe 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 thoir superiors in many respects. For the first ton minutes honours were even, the Wellington men carrying the scrums, and the Melrose having the best of 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. Horne, for the Wellingtons, made an unsuccessful pot at goal. A litde 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 serum on the line resulted in the Reds having to force. The Newtown team then stirred themselves, and Hardoastle, 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 end 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 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 the Melrose quarter. Wild passing • was this time the fault, when the Yellows were becoming dangerous. A fruitless pot at goal relieved the Melroaq.. A glimpse of the Melrose form of last year was then given the spectators. Calnan, Adams, Hardoastle, Mason and Warwick by fine passing took the ball to within a few yards of the Wellingtons’ lino. 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 Melrose men were evidently in better condition than their opponents, and a fine rush* by them resulted in Wellington having to force. The Rods 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, Shy 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 Horn© among the backs. Tho 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 tho end of the match that they showed anything like their old form. Certainly the team has a number of now 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, Hardoastle 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. JUNIOR SHIELD. The Oriental inflicted a decisive defeat on the St. Patrick’s College team, the scores being 13 points to nil. Melrose defeated Wellington by 7 points to nil. Athletic defeated Petone to the tune of 6 points to nil. THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. Petono scored three points against Melrose, who failed to score. The Oriental-Athletic heat was won by the latter. The scores wore—Athletic, 6 points ; Oriental, 3, Tho Selwyn v. Wellington game was played on No. 4 ground, Petone, and after a “ dingdong ” go from start to finish, resulted in a win for the Selwyns by 6 points (two tries) to nil. McAlpine 4 scored both tries. For the winners McAlpine and Daniels were the best, while for the losers Innes, Menzies and Gill did tho moat of the work, Mr Lewis acted as referee.

Special to the New Zealand Times. Dunedin, May 15. The Dunedin v. Ziugari-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-Rioh-mond, and Caradus gained a try, which ■ McDonald converted. The final score was 'University 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 lino, 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 Caversham, 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 Grafton by 9 points to 7. Christchurch, May 15. Christchurch defeated Sydenham by 12 points to 3. The Linwood-Merivale match ended in a draw, neither side scoring. Mastebton, May 15. The Masterton Unions defeated Carterton by 12 points to 5. ASSOCIATION MATCHES. SENIOR CUP. The Swifts and Queen’s Park teams met for the first time this season in a championship match at Newtown Park. The possession of the Izard Challenge Cup depended on the result of the game, which was won by the Swifts by 2 goals to love after a hard fight. From the start it was evident that both teams meant business, and the boll travelled rapidly from end to end. The Swifts’ forwards took a little time to settle down to combined play. The game started with a lot of kick and run play, in which O’Connor and the brothers Macdonald were conspicuous for the Swifts, and Ferkins and Swain for the Park. Gibson, the Swifts’ right outside flier, put in good work, but the Park backs held their own, and Ferkins, on the Park left, gave the Swifts* defence an anxious time. At half-time no points hadbeen notched, bat on changing ends the Swifts at once pressed, and, after good combined play by the forwards, Allan Henderson drew first blood, beating Lawrence, who had up to then kept his goal intact in excellent style. The Park seemed somewhat demoralised at this reverse, and, McKinnon and Plenderleifch putting in some fine passing and centring, the play was for a long time in the Park twenty-five. Towards the close of the game the Park made determined efforts to score, and two free kicks were well taken by Shields and passed through the Swift sticks, but aa the ball had sot been again played, tbe

referee gave do goal in each case. The Park claimed that the second kick was headed through by Hill, but the referee, Mr Buchanan, held that the ball was across the lino before Hill played it. After exciting rushes, in which Henderson and Macdonald, for the Swifts, and shields and Barclay, for the Park, were prominent, Henderson added a second goal shortly before time. The Swifts’ backs kept the Park away for the rest of the game, and no other score was recorded. Smith, the Swifts* crack goalkeeper, was in excellent form, and more than once spoiled good chances of the Park forwards. It is rumoured that the referee intends to bring before the proper authority the conduct of some Queen’s Park players, who appeared inclined to dispute his rulings.

When the Thorndon and Thistle teams entered the field at Petone on Saturday it was seen at once that the Thistles had mustered strongly, for though they were without the services of Haggcr and Thomas, they had equally good substitutes. The Thornden boys, however, were weakened by the absence of Sampson and Roulaton ; nevertheless their defeat, though by only one goal, came somewhat as a surprise. The Tborndons started with the wind behind then, and they tried hard to force matters, but were unable to score owing to the fine licking of the Hailwood Bros. A fine rush by the Thistle forwards brought the ball up oho field, and eventually Ferguson scored. Thorndoua again pressed, but the spell ended without further score. Upon resuming, the Thorndons endeavoured to equalise matters, and played much better than in the first spell. Lack of combination amongst the forwards, however, proved fatal, and their efforts were unsuccessful. It was expected that the Thistles would increase their score, but they could not do so, although the Thorndon ’ goal-keeper just managed to put over the bar several hot shots from 0. Hailwood, playing centre forward, who baa lost rone of his old dash, and played with his club for the first time this season. When the blow finally the score stood—Thistle, 1 goal; Thorndon, 0. The losers appeared to be sadly out of form, but the boat of them were Hawthorne, Lowe, Stewart, Godber and Sinnitt, while Brocklehurst* Skinner, Wells, Perkins and Cowden were moat prominent in the Thistle team. Mr McArthur carried out the duties of referee. JUNIOR CUP.

It was expected that the newly-formed Wadestown Club would make matters very lively for the Queen’s Park, but last year’s winners of tho Cup proved '’superior in every respect, the score at tho call of time being— Queen’s Park, 5 goals ; Wadeatowu, 0. The scorers for the winners were, Merson (2), Simm, Clark and Morrison, one each. Mr Daaent officiated as referee. The match between the Swifts and Thorndons at Karori resulted in a win for the Swifts by 3 goals to 1, the game having boon interesting and well-contested. Thompson (2) and Naughton scored for the winners, and Buck for the losers. Mr Forsyth was the referee, THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. The only match in this competition was played on tho Railway ground between the Diamonds and Red Cross, the latter team proving the winners, by 4 goals to 1. C. Gamble, Johns, Gibbs and Roulaton aoored for the Red Cross, and O’Connor for tho Diamonds. \ pourth-oLasslcompetition. The Pearls defeated the Swifts by 2 goals (obtained by Nicholls and J. Duffy) to 1, secured by Millington. The Queen’s Park-Red Cross match resulted in a draw, each side scoring one goal. Norton is credited with tho Queen’s Park score, and Casey put tho ball through for the Red Cross. The Excelsiors proved too good for the Albiora by 5 goals (secured by Cottle, 3 ; MeTavish and Robertson, 1 each) to nil. MISCELLANEOUS. The Diamonds defeated a weak team of the Rovers in a scratch match by 2 goals (secured by J. and D. Collins) to 1 (scored by Cearle). WELLINGTON v., HAWKE’S BAY. The Selection Committee (Messrs G. Faohe, T. E. Ellison and A. Campbell) has chosen the following team to represent Wellington against Hawke’s Bay at Napier on the Queen’s Birthday j Full-back—Slater. Three-quarters—Roberts, Laws . and W. McKenzie. Five-eighths—’•Mason and Bennett, Half—Pudney (captain). Forwards Young, Calnan, Pauling, J. Kelly, Hardcastlo, Adams, MoAnally and King. The following Wellington players have been nominated for the New Zealand team; —Pauling, McKenzie, Laws, Roberts, Calnan, Hardoastle and Young.