FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4408, 15 July 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RUGBY MATCHES. The default orMelrosc to Wellington on Saturday robbed tile championship com. petition of the. spice of doubt winch always enhances interest in such games, but there was, nevertheless, a big public attendance at the Park, r lwo very lair games were piayed. Vtellingccn won from Oriental by the big score of ‘27 to 3, but it must bo conceded that the latter team played a hard game throughout, and made the yellows play up all the time. I’oneke put up a very fair game against Athletic, and eventually won by 10 points to 5. Kelly was in fine form at live-eighth, his try being a bright piece of work. There was a largo number of junior players taking part in the park matches, and almost all of them pub in nice work. There is a promising outlook for future football in the city, judged by the standard of its present juniors. At Pctone the local team went down before the Old Hoys, who thus (at what will probably ho the last cup game of tho season) turned its long list of defeats to a final victory. lo triumphe! PON EKE v. ATHLETIC. Athletic was the first team to invade, and Midlane, Kelly and Woybourno made a dash, but tho toucliliiie upset the latter s calculations.. After a fairly long biUo attack tho Ponekes broke through and Wallace nearly scored, Kelly clever, ly saving. Alternate attacks followed. Johnston made a fast run along the lino for Athletic, bub Midlano, after taking the pass, was held. The reds came on again, and from a loose scrum Brunsden boat Hales across tho lino and scored a try. 3—o. Tho reds continued to press, but eventually McTiguo came through and ran to half-way—a fine performance. Slattery, Roberts and Davis made a good run. Hales collaring the latter and then following with a line kick. Work in front of red goal next followed; tho reds came again to Athletic twpnty-fivos ; a counter movement reached Poneke base onco more, where, after a long attack, Conder sent a neat pass to Kolly, and tho latter bustled two players, “hurdled” a third, and then touched down for Athletic, the major points being added. 5—3. The second spoil opened with blue invasion, concerted work by Midlano and Johnston just missing a score. At last Davis by lino kicks removed the scene of play half-way, from whence, by a lot of lino work and scrums, Poneke got to Athletic goal and notched a second try—Brunsden again scoring. A goal was kicked. B—s. McAnally, Mann, Roberts, Wallace and Slattery handled tho ball in succession in the order named, but Slattery when over tho lino failed to touch down the ball with his hand. Tho play which thus resulted was a pretty piece of work. The attack was men resumed, Roberts being nearly over once. At last Quee dashed over and scored during a spell of open pipv. if— s. The blues came down to Poneko ground from the kick out, hut tlm rods soon returned, and the übiquitous Mann scored a try which was converted. 16—5. The blues, though beaten, wer© not done for. They came hard down for Ponejte goal in a rush headed by Wells and Coady, hut a clever save by Slater amended matters. Although tho Athletics kept on the offensive they were unable to score, and the whistle blew with the score Poneke 16. Athletic 5. Mr Norris acted as referee.

WELLINGTON v. ORIENTAL. By its win on Saturday tho Wellington team put the result of the Senior Championship beyond doubt. The team as a whole has trained consistently, and to this fact victory is due. Meredith, the hard-working Wellington skipper, was carried shoulder-high by members of the team at the termination of the game, and the popularity of the win was evinced bv th e cheering of the- spectators a:> the team filed oif the ground. After a deal of give-and-take play Burr put Wellington on the offensive by a clever, dodgy run. Mason responded with similar play to the Wellington full, and for a time the yellows (Wellington) had hard work preventing a score. At last, however, a splendid,yellow rush, with Kemher, Manson' and Walsh in the lead, carried the play to the Oriental lino, where a score was lost through McLauchlan knocking on. Mulling on the part of the Oriental backs again enabled Wellington to attack. WoodiiJollowcd up fast, and after making ,, sevferal vain attempts to pick up tho ball, he secured it and scored a try. Oriental came on gamely, and through the exertions of their backs were again attack, ing. Wellington cleared their line with a forward rush, and Manson picking up the leather galloped like a racehorse for the lino and scored. Shortly after Meredith marked in the Oriental twenty, five, from which Wood placed a good goal. Roberts made a fin© opening for Oriental. but had no backing. A passing rush by tho Wellington backs fueled by Row potting a goal. The spe-I ended with 14 points to the credit of Wellington, Oriental nil: In the second half Wellington again had all the best of tho play. Oriental, although playing a hard game, failed to take advantage of the openings offered. Manson dashed over the lino and touched down with an Oriental player hanging on to him; but tho referee ordered a scrum five yards out. The Orientals cleared their line, and for offrsido play by McLauchlan wer P awarded a free kick, from which Glceson potted a fine goal. This was the only “look in" Oriental had. A Wellington passing rush between Meredith, Row and Mclntyre enabled the last-named to score. Wood added the extra points. Manson. scored between the posts after a scrambling rush, Wood a fra in kicking the goal. The last score took place by Burr touching down after a passing rush. Play ended in. Wellington territory with the scores Wellington 27, Oriental 3. Mr Beck was referee. OLD BOYS v. PETONE. Old Boys managed to secure a win on Saturday against Pctone by 7 points to 5. tans'making their first victory this season. From a force-down L. McKenzie kicked off. anti M. Ryan, securing tho ball, had a pot shot at goal, which proved unsuccessful. The ball was now carried to the centre of the field, but Cairns, P. Ryan and Braid indulged in a fin© piece of passing play, resulting in P. Rvau touching down under tho posts. M. Ryan succeeded in adding tho major points. Old Boys kicked off from half-way, and E. Page, Watkins and J. McKenzie following up well, made things rathej uncomfortable for Petone, Brice eventually relieving his side bv a kick well down the field. Buddie failing t 0 take the ball cleanly, the Petone forwards swooped down on mm, and Chambers, August and Parrant carTied the hall over the line, where they lost it. From this until the end of the spell Petone pressed very hard, and time after time looked like scoring, only

being prevented by the good defensive play of Buddie, Watkins and Hansen. The spell ended Pctone 5, Old Boys 0. Pctone had had all the advantage, and it was naturally thought they would increase the score in their second essay, but such Is the glorious uncertainty of the game that tho reverse happened. Tho lirilliant forward play of Watkins (who stands out prominently the best forward among the Old Boys), Dodd and Gilmer, with the assistance of Page and Buddie of the backs, fairly out-classed Pctone in all points of the game. The Old Bovs scored their first try by a fine forward rush, in which Watkins, Dodd and Gilmer were conspicuous for good play; Gilmer ultimately picking the ball up and passing to Stout, who crossed the line near tho corner flag with the ball. E. Page failed to enchance the score. From the kick-off Old Boys again attacked and nearly scored on several occasions, but were frustrated by good defensive play on the part of Braid and P. Ryan. From a very tignt corner Brice relieved his side somewhat by kicking well up in the air. and following up tried to smother Buddie and stop him from marking the hall, hut the little man (Buddie) leaped in the air and marked, from which Page placed an excellent goal. Old Boys 7. Potone 5. The game ended shortly after this. Old Boys being victorious. Mr J. Grant was referee. THE REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. WELLINGTON v. WAIRARAPA. Die Select ion Committee of the Wei. lington Rughv Union (Messrs J. Pudney, A. Campbell and J. Murray) has picked tho following team to represent the city in the match against Wairarapa on Saturday next, to h e played on the Athletic Park, Wellington: Wrigley Burr Wallace Slattery Wood Meredith H. Kelly Mansou Wylie, Dodd Gallagher . Coady O’Brien McAnally, Adams. The team (of which H. Kelly is captain) is one that should worthily rep re, sent the city. Wrigley, notwithstanding his game against Nelson as fullback, is still on his trial in that position. In the threcquarter line two out of the three are new men. Jacobs, who has left Wellington, is supplanted by Slattery, whose recent performances have proved him to bo a dangerous man on attack. Mclntyre drops cub to make roo n for Burr—a change that will assuredly strengthen the team. Wallace (in th 0 centre) will doubtless give a good account of himself, and with the choice of Meredith and Wood as half and five-eighths respectively, few will b e found to cavil, although it must bo conceded that Kelly’s recent games for his olub at the five-eighths position have been masterly expositions of tjie real game. Kelly retains his position on the left wing, hut Gallagher has gone into the pack to make room for his club-mate Manson, who has literally played himself into tho position, with a third clubmate (Kember) as close runner-up. Wylie and Dodd should make a good pair of front-rankers; but in'the next trio thcr e is a weak spot where captious critics may insert the name of the man who “ ought to have been one of the first picked.” McAnally and Adams complete the team, the former because he had to be picked and the latter because he is there. On tho whole, the committee is to be complimented on its work.

The members of the representative team to play against Wairarapa are reminded by advertisement that the Athletic gymnasium will be open for train, ing purposes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings this week.

NEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND, PRESS ASSOCIATION. (Received July 13, 8.27 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 13. New South Wales beat Queensland by 17 points to 10. WAIRARAPA REPRESENTATIVES. Special to the “Times.” MASTBRTON, July 13. In the football match to-day Greytown defeated Carterton by one try to nil. Greytown thus wins- the banner. Tho Wairarapa representative team is as follows : —Full back, E. McKenzie; three-quarters, Diamond, Faulkner, Sawrt; five-eighths, McMaster; half, McGuire; wing forwards, McKenzie, L. Armstrong; forwards, D. Udy, Moore, Workman, Rieseh, Jury, T. Armstrong, D. Udy, L. Armstrong and J.. McKenzie have been nominated for tho New Zealand team. Special to the “Times." WANGANUI, July 14. On Saturday morning the Management Committee of th e Rugby Union met and accepted the apology demand- • ed from and sent by the Pirates first fifteen for leaving the field in last Saturday’s match. In yesterday’s senior matches the Pirates defeated the College by 8 to nil, and Kaierau defeated Waverley by 6 to nil. In the Junior Cup matches Waitotara beat Old Boys by 3 to nil. press association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 13. Owing to the inclement weather today’s football matches were postponed. ASSOCIATION MATCHES. The meeting of the senior teams of the old clubs, Swifts arid Rovers, at Miramar, on Saturday, resulted in the best match of the season. The Rovers were playing Simm (lata centre forward of the Queen’s Park team) in that position, Pye-Smith having " retired in his favour. The Swifts were playing Duff, a member of their junior team, and he fully justified his promotion. At the start the game was decidedly fact, and the Rovers wer e soon near the Swifts’ goal Keys, however,. proved safe between the posts. Moore, Williams and Paton, supported by Clark, were playing a good game for tho Rovers, but Howie, the brilliant full-baok, was a little off'KJolour. Godber, at half, played an. excellent game. As a result of the strong attack of the Rovers. Keys, the Swifts’ goal-keeper, had to save several times, and for the best part of the spell the ball was in the vicinity of the Swifts’ goal posts. In fact, during the first spell. Russell, the Rover goalkeeper, only had to save twice. From the start of tho second spell the Swifts began to warm up, and the Rovers, apparently tiring, things were reversed Hales soon got away with the hall, and passed to Johnson, who scored, completely beating the goal-keeper. Nearing the clos© of the spell the Rovers got into . their opponents' territory, but no score resulted. The Swifts therefore won by one goal to nil. _ The game throughout was characterised by the friendly spirit of the opposing teams. Considerable interest was aroused by the meeting of the two Swifts junior teams on Saturday, as it was known that whichever team won would win the junior championship. A keen struggle , ensued between the teams, the B finally

inning by thrc e goals to one. The A’s kicked off, and almost immediately scored first blood, Salmon giving away an easy goal. Encouraged by this success tiie A’s kept up a strong attack, the B’s goalkeeper having to punch away on several occasions. The B’s forwards were well watched by Churchward, Staples and Skelle.y, the left half playing a fine game. The B’s were awarded a penalty, which Cioake converted into a score, one goal each. Both teams played up hard after this, Mayer, Ellis, Staples, Skelley and Dawson for th c A’s, and Crespin, Cioake, Isaacs and West for th e B’s being prominent. Ellis headed through his own goal just before half-time, giving the B’s a lead of one goal. In the secontj spell the A forwards lost several chances of scoring, Jack being conspicuous in this way. Crespin and Cioake, on thc B’s left wing, at last got several chances, Cioake hit. ting the bar, and then Crespin added a third goal. The full-backs on both sides were very weak. The A’s had many corners awarded to them, which, however, they failed to make use of, and the game ended as above. The half back line of the A’s. Skelley and Church, ward in particular, played splendidly, and had their forwards only had the combination of the B’s their side would have been able to win. The B’s halves worked hard, and helped their forwards well. Salmon, in goal, got on some good saves. Mr H. Lee carried the whistle. The Swifts B hav e yet a match to play, which, however, will not affect their position. Queen’s Park and Pearls played a drawn game at Miramar, each team scoring two goals. Haining scored for Queen’s Park and. Young for Pearls. Pearls played with great dash and combination throughout, and their efforts to score were only nullified by the sound defence of th e Park backs, Symons and Yuill showing up well. For the Pearls all played well, especially Young and Gillespie in the forwards, -and Duffy (who payed the best gam© cu the ground), Pearoe and Martin in the backs.

A sharply-contested match under the auspices of the Missions to Seamen was played at Kelburn 0 Park between the City Rifles and the seamen in port. Th e game resulted in a drawj each side gaining three goals.