FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5009, 6 July 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S RUGBY GAMES. PONEKE DEFEAT .MELROSE. Thero wero about fifteen hundred people at the Athletic Park on Saturday, the attractions being a senior cup match and a Junior representative gUmo sot down to bo played there. The junior game, which was between Alauawatu and "Wellington, resulted in a draw, each side gaining three points. The _ play was fairly even, but never brilliant. The senior championship contest—between I'oneko and Melrose—■ provided an interesting spectacle, though the principal part of the contest was amongst tho forwards. There wore, however, some occasional pieces of- back play that aroused the spectators to enthusiasm. In tho result Ponoko lor the second time this season won from .Melrose, the scores on this occasion being 8 points (two tries, one converted) to 3(a try). Following Mo particulars of tho games:— PONEKE v. -MELROSE. The Ponekcs (red) were hard at work before Melrose were thoroughly warmed up, and at cue time a score by Slattery seemed to be imminent, but a magnificent tackle by G. Spencer saved Melrose. Tho bines cleared their base and advanced by succession of scrummages to Poneke quarters, whoro Jack Spencer secured the ball from a I’oneko man's mis-kick, dodged three opponents and dived past two more, and ended with a cry which tho kick did not improve upon: 3—o. Tho Ponokes in Melrose ground had a long look-on hereafter, and quite In.'Jf-a-dozcn free kicks fell to their lot, but all of these missed tho mark. Thereafter Melrose invaded, Goodwin, Falconer and K. Claridge working especially hard while Moßae and Maun put in sound defence. I’oneko soon changed tho venue, and Stevens, Gray, Slattery and Wallace wore conspicuous in a dan-gerous-looking interchange of passes, but AVallaco failed to gather in a short one from Slattery, and only a scrum resulted. "W. Spencer marked for Ponoko in easy range soon afterwards, bub there was no score result, and half time arrived with tho Melrose still ahead. "When tho leather railed again the Ponokcs were full of spirit, and four Jerseys wore torn from their wearers’ backs as an earnest of tho players’ grimness. On tho Melrose side of tho half-way lino a brainy Poneke man toed the ball gently in tho direction ,of Wallace, the latter dashed up and getting the oval passed it to Gray, who sprinted brilliantly for a good forty yards, distanced all opposition, and scored a'try near tho Melrose, goal posts. Tho try was converted: 5—3. Melrose, spurred on by this reverse, worked hard and well, Calnan, J. Spencer, Dublois and Adams being very prominent in the forwards, while Wvigley and G. Spencer assisted materially with lino kicking. The Poneke pack, however, did very well, and the backs ably seconded them, the end being that the bines were slowly worked backwards and eventually Jammed in their own ground. A kick across the Melrose line at this stage looked likely to cause trouble, but Wvigley, “saved” well. Tiro kickout, however, did not clear tho danger, and Wallace, Gray. Slattery, Wallace again, and finally Mann, were engaged in a fine piece of work that was spoilt at the end by a forward pass. Just after tho resultant serum tho ball was quickly sent by Wallace to Slattery, and that player ran strongly and served for Porioko a second try. Xo r.\; I : B—3. Tire Melrose team after this reverse continued to play hard and well, but there seemed to bo a lack of scoring facility in the team, and a number of chances wore spoilt by reason of this drawback, which really represented the solo difference in the respective merits of tho two fifteens. Poneke, however, had plenty of vim in their play all through, and when the no-side whistle sounded the game was in Melrose twenty-five. There was an obvious roughness about the play at times, and the referee (Mr A. C. Norris) bad occasion to caution certain players. PETONE v. WELLINGTON. At Petone the local team defeated the Wellington Club’s first’ fifteen by 17 points to nil. , JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. WELLINGTON v. MANAWATO.

Taken as an exhibition of football as it ought to bo played, Saturday’s junior representative match was both disappointing and uninteresting—disappointing because the local men showed little or no combination, and uninteresting because they were consequently unable to import anything like passable Kugby into the play. The attempts at back play were nob numerous —perhaps it was as well —so far as the local players -were concerned. The visitors also failed to make full use of their backs when opportunity warranted. On tho other hand, the forwards of both teams playad a hal'd, but somewhat .resultless, game. Tho following were the teams: — Wellington Full-back, McLennan; three-quarters, McKellar. Hay and Elliott; five-eighths, Meyrick; halfback, Brewer; forwards, Sullivan, Griffiths, Mitchell, Barlow, Kitchen, Gilchrist, Turnbull, Smith and Milner. Manawatu —Full-back, Hands; threequarters, George, Stuart and Cole; five-eighth, .Campbell i half-back, Manson ; forwards, Buddick. W hisker, Kiely, Campbell, Karehane, Woodrolfo, Greathead, Bennett and Stubbs. , Wellington kicked off against a slight wind. Play was not forced for a time, ■ the ball being hooted about in an aimless way amongst tho forwards. Brewer secured from a scrum, and kicked well up the field. Hands made a weak return, with tho result that tho local forwards got moving, and assailed their opponents’ territory in a body. Hay picked up tho ball from a loose attack ■ which followed, and passed to Meyrick, the latter in turn sending it on to McKellaf, who was collared by Colo. ■ Wellington continued to. attack the ■ greens’ line, and they were ultimately : compelled to take refuge in a force. ■Give-and-take play of a more or less—mietty less —interesting nature superrened. Tho forwards had most of the vorfc to do, and the visiting vanguard, >[tcncr than not, were beating the lorn! men in the scrum. Manawatu heeled but cleanly from one scram, and Campbell, the country half-back, who was doing about three men’s work, .whipped the ball out to Stuart. The ■ latter set put at top, with George closely following. Ho passed to the latter before reaching McKellar. leaving his, comrade to db the rest. McLennan foolishly attempted to collar his opponent- by the shoulders, was pushed off without an effort and George scored, amidst a good deal of applause, after a long run. Stubbs -«i ,'d with tho kick. 3—o, Shortly ."fft'r the kick-out, the greens were aif irded a free kick, and Stubbs tried p shot- unsuccessfully. Tho home team showed more dash from this on, and the visitors were obliged , to. force a

second time. The onslaught was re-no-wed immediately. The blacks worked down the lino by inches, and Sullivan managed to scramble through after some tough work. No goal. 3—3. Stubbs, on -Manawatn’s right wing, made off with the ball at his too from Urn loose a little later, but threw away a good chance to score by endeavouring to pick up when he had established a good lead. On changing ends some alterations were made in the homo team. Meyrick, who had been playing without confidence so far, was transferred to the loft wing in the three-quarter lino; Elliott was placed in tho centre and Hay took the position vacated by Meyrick. X'lay for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour lacked colour. Manawatu were penalised for an infringement, and Gilchrist made 'a good attempt at goal with the kick. Nob long , afterwards ho was entrusted with another shot, and Just missed three points by inches. Elliott negotiated a passing rush from a scrummage, but the ball after leaving Hay’s hands was mulled by Meyrick. George, the native three-quarter, was the next man to come prominently hue view. Ho dodged down the lino with the ball under his arm, and was only jirevcntcd from scoring by being pushed out of bounds. Brower eventually relieved the pressure with a good kick, and McKellar was mainly responsible for transferring play to the other end of tho field. From this to tho call of time no alteration in the scores was effected, the game thus ending in a draw. Wellington, 3 points; Manawatu, 3 points. The forwards of both teams worked hard- Campbell was unquestionably the pick of the visiting backs, and ho was well supported by Stuart, George and Colo, tho latter getting in some very serviceable kicks. Brewer and McKollar showed up most prominently for Wellington, while Hav and Elliott also did good work. Meyrick "was disappointing, and McLennan at fullback displayed worse form than ho has in any club matches during tho season.

MATCHES ELSEWHERE. PKESS ASSOCIATION.. CHRISTCHURCH, July 5. Albion boat Mcrivale 19 to 15; Sydenham beat Christchurch, o to nil; Linwood beat Old Beys, 13 to 8. With four matches to "go, Albion leads for tho championship with 9 points, Sydenham and Linwood aro next with 7} each. DUNEDIN July 4. Alhambra (7) boat, Southern (nil); University (9) beat Pirates (7); Zingari (3) beat Union (nil). In the Kaikorai v. Dunedin match, Porteous was ordered off tho field for rough play in tho first spell by Mr Alexander, tho referee. The Kaikorai team then withdrew from the field. Neither sido had scored. WANGANUI, July b. The representative match Manawatu v. Wanganui, played yesterday afternoon, resulted in a win for Manawatu by 4 points to" 3. Manawatu was much superior in the first spell , but in the second spell tho "Wanganui players had martera much their own way. They had hard luck several times in not scoring. AUCKLAND, July 4. City beat Ponsonby by 14 to nil; Grafton beat Parnell, 1(5 to nil: North Shore beat Newton, 11 to 3,

ASSOCIATION SENIOR GAMES. Tho Association games were played under excellent conditions, at Newtown Park and Miramar on Saturday. St. John’s defeated Hovers by two- goals to nil, and had considerably the better of the game. Swifts won their match against Petono by five goals to two. The game between Queen’s Park and Diamonds was an exceedingly fast and even contest. Diamonds proved victorious by three goals to two. ST. JOHN’S v. ROVERS. This match was stubbornly contested at Miramar. St. John's played against tho wind in the first spell, and torcod the pace at a great rate. Off-sido play however, was the moans .of them being disallowed two goals which they scored. Godber and Paton showed up well on the defence, and repeatedly chocked tho combined attacks of the' opposing forwards. The Hover vanguard wont very near scoring on several occasions. Irons, who played a fine game in goal, fisted out several fast shots in great siyle. The first half ended withhut any score. Upon the resumption of play, St. John’s had much tho better of the game, and confined play to their opponents’ quarters the greater part .of tho time. O’Shea, although a young player, showed up prominently at inside right. He manipulated the ball well, and,; in conjunction with Eraser, effected several fine resiles. Wilson, tho Rovers’ centre forward, on one occasion, broke through St. John’s defence, and looked like scoring. Irons, however, ran' out of goal and cleared at a critical moment. Brodio and . the Mount Bros, played well together. Their efforts on one ooasion resulted in W. Mouat scoring. Williams and Mnirch on tho left wing for Rovers showed np well at intervals. Thoir rushes were usually nullified by G. Williams. Nagle and Amies before they became dangerous. As the result of a combined piece .of play by tho St. John’s forwards, tho ball was worked to Rovers’ goal, where Smellio and Dixon obtained and scored. Tho last-named pliiyer sent in a fast thot, which Machin was ufiable to reach. Sound defensive play on tho part of McNair and McWhanneT followed, and eventually the Revel's’ citadel was in Jeopardy, " and 1 remained so until tho call "of time. Tho scores were—St. John’s, 2;. Rovers, J). Mr Alf. Williams was tho referee. 1 DIAMONDS v. QUEEN’S PARK. Diamonds won by three goals to two, but a draw would have more correctly represented tho merits of the teams. Tho match, without being a' good one, was remarkably fast, especially in the second half, tho hall travelling from goal to goal in a very rapid way. From tho start Queen’s Park assumed tho lead, and within about twenty minutes had scored two goals, tho second being a penalty, as tho result of Swain’s handling. For the rest of tho first half, tho Diamonds woro on top, and managed to equalise. One of their goals was a penalty for back-charging by A. Clark. In tho second spell ■ the play was very oven, first one side and then, the other having the advantage. Dully was successful in notching the winning point for Diamonds after a good dribble. Another penalty kick was awarded to tho Parks in this half, but was well stopped by Fitzgerald. For the winners Fitzgerald. Roberts and Taylor (backs) and Duffy (forward) 'did host, whilst for Queen’s Park Gordon fin goal), tho two Clarks (back) and Haining and Fei'kins (forward) sbono most prominently., SWIFTS v. PETONE. Swifts mot a weak team from Petono and defeated them by five goals- to +w<>i. -Hie .gatmtiaa team ivas .tso-.

short, took on two Junior substitutes. Tbo game was uocea for luird kicking, and was devoid of any combination. After slow play in midfield, Swifts attacked, and from a scramble in front of goal Muir drew first blood. Swifts, 1; Petone, 0. Uninteresting play round Petone goal followed until Phillips, who was playing a scientific game, got possession, and scored with a good shot. Swifts, 2: I’ctono, 0. Petone now defended for some considerable time, and innumerable eliances wore thrown away by the rods, Muir and Smith being tho chief offenders. At last Muir scord from a scramble in I’otono’s twen--!ivo and piloted the leather safely through with a long shot. Swifts, .3; Petone, 0. Swifts continued to press, and I’hillips notched No. X. ' With tho breezo at their back in tho second spell, Petone became very lively, but good, defensive work on the part of Churchward, Elson and White kept them out until half-way through tho spell, when Barry, who played one of the best forward games on tho ground scored first blood for Petone. Later on from a nice combined rush Packard scored with a long shot placed in the corner of the goal. Petone, 2; Swifts, 4. Tho reds now livened up and kept Petone busy defending for the rest of tho spell. Muir missed two easy chances of scoring, and Duff a possible one. Smith scored Swifts’ fifth goal with a fine cross-shot which bit tire post and went through. Time was called with tbo score: Swifts, 5; Petone, 2. For Petone the Renal Brothers, Gilchrist, Barry' and Humphries played best and for Swifts, Anker, Phillips, Churchward and White. Mr J. Wilson had charge of tho game. JUNIORS. The Y.M.C.A. scored against Rovers, who played two men short. The Y.M.C.A. seemed to take things easy. Both halves and full backs often attempted to score. Rovers’ mainstay was J. P.ve Smith, who played a splendid game. Waugh and Steadman were also prominent. W. Smith scored the first goal Y.M.C.A. have ever notched, and Hodge scored two more. Ho should have scored twenty. Immediately after tho start of the second spell, Rovers scored through tbo AEM.C.A. full back’s poor play. S. McLean, in goal, for Y.M.C.A. had little to do ami only touched the bail onco in tho second spell. Their full backs played badly but tho halves did a lot of blocking which pvas usefu|l. It was evident that the whole team did not exert themselves at all. Smith played well for them in" tho first spell. The game ended—Y.M.C.A., 3; Rovers, 1. St. John’s beat Queen’s Park by two goals to one. Had tho winning team shot mere accurately tho score would have been larger. Vaughan and McLean scored for St. John’s and Sutherland for Queen’s, Park. The match between Pearls and Diamonds was played at Miramar, and resulted in a draw, the scores being two all. Davonpoft scored for Pearls and Moffat for Diamonds. ■ THIRD CLASS. Pearls defeated St., John’s by four goals to nil at Miramar on Saturday. In connection with tho matches played at the Athletic Park on Saturday—tbo advertisement published by tbo Wolingtou Rugby Union stated (aa usual) that ladies would be admitted free. It turned out that a charge of one shilling for ladies was made at the’ turnstiles. The experiment of charging double the ordinary admission fee for men (because an uninteresting Junior match was 1 being played) was in itself the cause of some resentment, but tho breach of faith in regard to tho other charge caused both inconvenience and annoyance. ■