FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3746, 22 May 1899, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

I ;GBY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

< ATHLETIC v. PONEKE. :'he match between the Athletic and P. -eke teams, played at the Athletic P; k on Saturday, proved much more in cresting than was anticipated, - tne Ik nekes plaved surprisingly well, their forwards showing unexpected vigour. There was no score in the first sp c “i bn'; early in the second. Wallace (the backbone of the Poneke rear division) kicked a fine goal from a free kick. Late in the second spell—so late that the Athletic supporters began to look very melancholy—De Vere (undoubtedly the most brilliant back player in Wellington at present) and Kelly earned the play into the Reds’ territory, and Eagle scored a try, E. Hales kicking a sulendid goal. This was all the scoring, the Athletics thus winning by 5 points to 3. Mr Laughton acted as referee. WELLINGTON v. MELROSE. Wellington and Melrose played a draw. The Yellows scored first, Bird obtaining a try, which Meredith failed to convert. The Melrose team (a shadow of what it was last season) rallied after this, and as the result of good following up, Fraser scored a try, which G. Spencer failed to convert. The match, thus ended in a draw. Mr A. C. Norris was the referee. PETONE v. ORIENTAL. The recreation ground at Petoue was in capital order, on Saturday, and, together with the mild weather, left, nothing to he desired for a football contest. The match Petone v. Oriental was characterised by rather rough play, owing probably to the strength and freshness of the Petone team. As the gpine commenced rather late, it was m/urly dark before the call of time. Burns, one of the* Petone backs, received a kick on the'head during, the last half of the game, and bad to bo carried off. the field. , lie was riot balllv hurt., however, and before the end

of the match had recovered sufficiently to walk home.

The match resulted in a win for Petone by 27 points to nil. The Blacks outclassed the Orientals both in their hack and in their forward division. Had the kicking of Petone been anything but mediocre, the score would have bordered on the forties. The Orientals played a capital game during the earlier part of the match, but they gradually gave way before the superior training of their opponents. The greater part of Petone’s scoring took place in the latter half of the second spell. The. Orientals were within an ace of scoring several times, several shots at the Blacks’ goal being made, but proving abortive. Tries were secured by McGill (2), Hawke, McKenzie, Barlow, McGuirk (converted by Burns) and Ryan. Early in the game Hawke, having secured the ball, made a short, dodgy run, and cleverly potted a goal. This was one of the smartest bits of play exhibited in thh whole match. The members of the Petone team played so energetically that it is difficult to single out any players for particular notice. Hawke and Burns among ihe backs were always to the fore, and Judd, McGuirk and McGill among the forwards did not let the grass grow under their feet. Although the score was so heavy against the Orientals, their play, when at the beginning of the game they were in form, was quite equal to that of the Petone team. Millward, the full-hack, played a steady, careful game, and Barclay and Bush worked hard for their team. Mr Goldie acted as referee. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Poneke beat Melrose by 19 points to nil. Athletic beat Kia Ora by 6' points to nil. . Old Boys defeated St. Patrick s College by 34 points to nil. Petone defeated Oriental by 8 points to 3.

THIRD-CLASS CHAMPION SHIP. Kia Ora forfeited to Melrose. Wellington won by default against Petone. • _ Athletic beat Oriental by 15 to 0. FOURTH CLASSS. Athletic beat Melrose by 22 to 0. Poneke defeated Wellington by 25 to 0. £ In the Public Schools Competition for Messrs Davis and (Hater's banner Clyde Quay defeated Petone by 5 points to 3; Terrace defeated To, Aro by 13 points to nil; Newtown defeated Thorndon by 12 points to nil; Rintoul street defeated Mount Cook by 3 points to ’ nil. This is the first time the Mount Cook team has been defeated during 'the last three years. CANTERBURY MATCHES, PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. The senior football matches yesterday resulted as follows: Christchurch, beat Linwood by 15 points to 13; Merivalo beat Albion by 32 points to nil; Sydenham beat Kaiapoi by's points to nil. ‘ ' FOOTBALL IN OTAGO. DUNEDN, Saturday. After a fine morning, drizzling rain set in just as the football matches started. The grounds became greasy, and the leather difficult to handle. The match Kaikorai v. Union was drawn, each scoring 3,points. The Alhambra beat the Pirates by. 6 points to nil. The Southern defeated the Zingari-Rich-mond by 9 poiilts to nil, and the Dunedin beat the'University by 13 to 3. -, ■ ■ ♦i' , < '\ : ■= • > ' . ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. SENIOR COMPETITION. The Rovers played Petone at Petone on Saturday last, and aft§p a fast and rather exciting game came off victorious by 5 goals to nil. There was no score in the first spell, the Petone players keeping- the ball out of their goal, notwithstanding the efforts of the Rovers, who, put in shot after shot. In the second spell the Rovers were awarded three kenalty kicks, Auld taking two, and, with well-placed shots, beating the goalkeeper. Fernie and Williams (2) also scored goals, both showing great form. The Petone players played up finely against a better team, and deserve great credit for their efforts. The Rovers backs played splendidly. JUNIOR COMPETITION. The match Swifts v. Queen’s Park was played on Saturday .at Miramar, and after a very even game resulted in a draw, each side scoring one goal. Hale scored for the Swifts, and Jamieson for the Queen’s Park. The match Wadestown v. Rovers, player at Miramar, resulted in a win for Wadestown by 3 goals to nil, Earle, Ellis and Sampson doing the scoring. THIRD CLASS. The match Swifts A v. Institute, played at Miramar, ended in the defeat of the latter team by 8 goals to nil. The scorers were Sedgwick (3), Geary (2) and Crespin, Robinson and Blacklock one each. Pearls defeated Swifts B by 10 points to nil. The scorers were Longton (3 goals), Richards and Hathaway (2 goals each), Cloke, Duffy and Crews (1 goal each). Petone defeated Red Cross by 3 goals to 1. FOURTH CLASS. Pearls A defeated Queen’s Park by 3to nil. The scorers were Robinson (2 goals) and Sedgwick (1 goal). Wadestown defeated Red Cross by 3 goals to 1. ' Newtown Gymnasium beat Rovers by 3 to nil. Swifts A beat Swifts B by 16 goals to nil. Beck (6), Duff (4), Emery (3), Clark (2), and Skelley (1) scored for- the winners. The following players will represent the Wednesday Football Association against the Rovers F.C. at Newtown Park on the Queen’s Birthday, kick-off 3 p.m.:—Bell, Gripe-, Pilkineton, Lowe. Wighton, Fulton, Wallace, Wilson, Gibson, Ferkins, Cheshire. Emergencies: Millington, Waller, Bemasconi, Pearce.