FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4103, 16 July 1900, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

■ There was an attendance of con- , siderably over a tSqusand at the Athletic Park oh Saturday, the occasion being the benefit day given by the Wellington Rugby Union to the Wellington Cricket Association. The ground was like a quagmire, and a good exposition of football was consequently out of the question, but both games played were very closely contested, and there were . some very exciting periods of play. , .' ATHLETIC v. MELROSE. The game between Athletic and Melrose ended in a draw, neither side being able to score. . The first spell was of a very even character for about one-halt of its duration, but for twenty- minutes or so the Athletics maintained a per-sistent-attack on The -Melrose goal-line. The defence- of the rods was very safe, however, ‘and no score could bo made. Tho remainder' of tho spell was characterised by forward. struggles in the sea of mud' varied by occasional dodgy sliding rung by the backs. ..Melrose, had all the best of {he second spei!. Though at odd' times the blues got sway, and made, some. determined efforts to score. At different times each side was very close to scoring. Do Voro and Sicvers got across the Athletic lino witli tne ball between them, but when Sievers touched down, Do Vere had still his hands on tho leather. For Athletic, Pritchard gob away, and ran clean ronntl his opponents, grounding the ball right) behind Melrose goal, but the try was disallowed owing to the action of an Athletic ’■ forward (Glasgow), who deliberately interfered with a. Melrose man who was chasing Pritchard. . The decision was hard for Athletics, out there is no room for doubting that it was perfectly justifiable. At one period of the second spoil 51elrd.se forced Athletic down six times in quick succession. Just on call of lime a determined Athletic effort took the ball over Melrose line, but no score resulted, the dead-ball line proving a. stumbling-block. Mr Katterns refereed. PONEKE v. OLD BOYS. Tills game resulted in a draw also, each side scoring a try. The play was of a Very even description throughout, and tho result of the game was a fair index of the merits of the teams. The Poneko backs showed much-improved l form, Roberts being brilliant at times. Old Boys’ backs worked well together, but the team: is not a wet-weather oiio. Mr Laughton carried the whistle. ‘ PiVI’ONE y. .ORIENTALS. This was a fast and interesting-strug-gle till within a quarter of an hour of time,'when Barber crossed the line.-for Pelonc, thus putting an end to ail doubt as to the result. Notwithstanding The greasy state of tho ball, bothsides frequently indulged in some Tine passing. The game resulted—Pclone, 11 points; Oriental, 3 points. August, McGirk and Chambers played well forward, and Barber, Hawke and Ryan back for the blues. Bush, Burns and Young were the pick of the Oriental backs. Mr Grant controlled the game.

, JUNIOR CUP. Poneke boat Wellington- College by fifteen points to nil, thus ensuring to themselves the junior cup for the current year. Old Boys beat Oriental by six points to three. 1 , , . "MATCHEsIsLSEtVHERE. :: , • PRESS ASSOCIATION. . DUNEDIN, July U.‘ In to-day’s senior football matches Pirates (3) beat Southern (nil), Kaikorai, (15) beat- Zingari (nil), University (14) beat Dunedin (6), Alhambra. (8) boat Union (nil). ' CHRISTCHURCH, July 11. Sydenliam"and Christchurch played off this'afternoon for the senior championship, bub the gamp ended in a draw, each side scoring a try. The game was exciting and keenly contested throughout, - and witnessed by an .exceedingly largo crowd. WAh.ARAPA REPRESENTA-■TIVE-S. ■ Special to tub “Times.” MASTERTON, July 15. The following .seventeen players have been selected to represent, the Wairarapa Rugby Union on tour:—Backs, E. McKenzie, Ross, Brunton, Marsh, W rigley, Petersen, O’Leary; forwards, Armstrong, J. McKenzie, C. Moore, D. Udy, Callistcr, Ahipone, J. Armstrong, A, Gray,V Jackson, Dockery. ; Grey town has six representatives, Carterton six and Mastcrton five. The Rugby Union has agreed 1 to the appointment of Mr A. Campbell as referee in tho match Wellington v. Wairarapa, and also decided to play a' return match at Master^on.

NEW SOUTH WADES v. QUEENSLAND. Pl’-ESS ASSOCIATION. SYDNEY, July 1,». The football match New South Wales v. Queensland resulted .in the visitors being defeated by eleven points to ten. ASSOCIATION. ' THIRD-CLASS. Swifts beat Queen’s Park at Karon by one goal , to nil," Richards doing the scoring, ' The winners had the best or the game/ but goal-getting was impossible on the heavy ground. Young and Clark were the best of the losers’ backs, and Finlaysou and Sutherland of tho forwards. Nafighton did not play up to expectations. Skcllcy and Bethell -were the pick of the” winners’ backs, and Richards and Dunnett of the forwards. Mr W.; Smithynian carried the whistle. Newtown beat Rovers B by two goals to nil. Rovers A beat Pctonc A by two goals to nil. Red Cross beat Pctone B by two goals to one. . - . • .A match was played at Kolburne Park on Saturday afternoon under the auspices"of : the ' Missions to Seamen, when a team from the steamer Mimiro boat one chosen from tho sailing vessels in-port by 8 goals to 1. In the fourth-class competition Pearls beat Wadcstown by four goals to two, thus winning the championship. In the Charity Cup* competition, Diamond first beat- Red Cross by three goals io nil.