Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 910, 6 June 1896, Page 5

Out Door Sports

By 'Harrier.'

COMING- EVENTS,

July 13— Stanbury v. Harding, Championship of the World and £500 a-side; Thames Championship Course.

FOOTBALL FIXTUKES. First and Second Fifteens

June 6— Ponsonbv v. North Shore, Parnell v. Newton, Grafton v. Lity. June 13— Ponsonby v. Suburbs, Parnell v. North Shore, Grafton v. Newion.

Third Fifteens,

June 6 — Parnell v. Ponsonby, Grafton v. Suburbs. June 13— Parnell v. Grafton, Ponsonby v. Suburbs.

It is many a long day since I have seen a club-match fought out with such keen determination on both sides as was the case in the Parnell-City contest on Satur" day last. As an exhibition of football, too' the game was far in advance of any previous display this eeason, and the nature of the scoring was sueh — first one side and then the other leading — as to keep the interest of the spectators at •' white heat ' right up to the last moment of time. The feature of the game, was, undoubtedly, the splendid work of the City back division, and particularly of that brilliant trio — Surman, Smith and Absolum. And yet, at the same time, it would manifestly be unfair to overlook the valuable nature of the assistance rendered by the red and black vanguard, to whom, in the first instance, the honours of victory are in a great measure due. Neither would it be just to assume that the game was in any respect a one sided affair. Such was far from being the case. The Parnellites contested every inch of ground with a determination in no wise inferior to that of their opponents. Indeed, but for the unfortunate mishap which befell Edmonds in the early part of the game, by reason of which Parnell were handicapped at the very key-stone, both of their attack and defence, the ultimate result might well, and, I think, would have been much closer than the 17 points to 10 registered.

The match Ponsonby v. Newton was played on the No. 2 ground and resulted in a victory for the last named by 16 points to f). During the first spell the play, although of a scrambling nature, was pretty even ; the scores at half-time being Ponsonby 5, Newton S. In the second term, however, Newton pulled themselves together, and superior condition and combination telling its inevitable tale, the game finally ended as above.

The most prominent of Parnell's forwards were Murray, Nicholson, Handcock, and Gordon.

Mr Parker had charge of the whistle in the Parnell-City match, and as usual gave great satisfaction.

Jervis got through an immanse amount of work for Parnell in a manner quite in keeping with his big reputation.

Edmonds had the bad luck to strain his knee early in the game on Saturday, and was consequently unable to show his true form.

No less than three of Parnell's players sustained injuries on Saturday. Edmonds sprained his knee, Evit his ankle, and Tait his shoulder.

Wliitley was not nearly so prominent upon the wing as usual, the reason being that he was opposed to Oliphant, who completely out-generalled and outplayed him.

McLean, who lias been working in Wellington for some eighteen months past, and who represented that province against Auckland last season, returned home on Monday, and will, I understand, play for City in future matches.

Surman was a distinct success at iive-eightha. Hia passes were almost invariably clean and well-timed, and his tackling was also very sound. Moreover, his great pace enabled him time and again to smother Elliot before the latter had time to get under weight.

Harry Cooke secured Ponsonby's try last Saturday.

Newton's score was made up of triea by Roberts (2), Freeman, and Hayemen, and a potted goal by Webber.

Walter Rhodes is expected back in Auckland very shortly, and will probably take up his residence in the City district.

In Thomas, City possesses a very fair full-back. He is not a strong kick, but his returns were generally well directed, and his defence throughout was sound.

City's first three tries were all the result of clever, concerted passing between Corles, Surman, Smith, and Absolum, the last-named being in each case the one to score.

North Shore scored their first win of the season on Saturday, when they defeated Suburbs by a goal kicked by Walker from a try obtained by Wynyard, to a goal potted by McPike.

With the exception of Jervis, Parnell's three-quarters were only so so. Tait certainly secured a clever try in the first few minutes of the game, but otherwise did nothing striking.

If, as appears likely, neither Evitt, Edmonds nor Tait are able to play for Parnell next Saturday, the meeting of Newton and that Club will be robbed of a deal of its interest.

Creagh, who played wing threequarter for City, although unable to ' foot ' it with his fleeter comrades, nevertheless played a sound, sterling game, his kicking and tackling being particularly serviceable

Corle's success at centre-half was in great measure due to the manner in which he was shielded from attack by Oliphant. Hardly once during the whole game did the opposing wings get round upon him.

Elliott lost one certain try for Parnell by failing to pass to Tait. Still, as he was within a foot of the line at the time and was tackled from behind, he can hardly be blamed for not having eyes in the back of his head.

' Teddy ' Wilson, the captain of Ponsonby 11., who is temporarily incapacitated from playing owing to a strained knee, scored altogether 10 tries and kicked three goals in the three matches in which he took part. This is a record which will take some beating.

I was sorry to notice in the ParnellCity match several cases of unnecessary rough play. I refer to instances where a player was charged over after haying parted with the ball. This kind of thing is both dangerous and unfair, and should be put down with a strong hand.

The Ponsonby team on Saturday included several players who had virtually given up the game, but who, sooner than see their district unrepresented because of the action of two or three weak-hearted players, once more donned the jersey. And ' more power to their elbows ' say I.

The manager of the Australian cricketing team has arranged that on their way through America on their return to the colonies three matches shall be played in Philadelphia, one in New York and one in San Francisco. The team leave for New York on September Sth, and leave San Francisco for Auckland on October 15th by the mail steamer Mariposa.

If I were asked to choose the best forward on the ground on Saturday, I would unhesitatingly name Charley Stone, with Bid. Brown a close second. Both players were continuously prominent in the open and in line work, which in Stone's case was all the more creditable, because he was playing in the front row of City's scrum, and doing yeoman service there, too.

The Ponsonby Club are to be congratulated upon the firm stand they have taken in connection with the players who absented themselves upon the occasion of the match with City a fortnight ago. Men who haven't sufficient back-bone to stick to their team in the face of a reverse or two have no right to be playing football, and the action of the Ponsonby committee in deciding to do without their services, at whatever cost, will have the warm approval of every true lover of the game.

The management committee of the N.Z. Rugby "Union has arranged the following itinerary for the Queensland football team. They leave Sydney on Monday, August 3rd, by the Alameda, reach' Auckland on the Friday, and play there the next day ; leave on the Monday and play Taranaki on Tuesday, the 11th ; arrive at Wellington on the 12th, play next day, and on Saturday, the 15th, play the New Zealand match here. They will play Canterbury on the 20th, Dunedin on the 22nd, Southland on the 25th, and leave the Bluff the same day. The Committe decided that she date and place for the North and South Island match should be contingent on the travelling arrangements of the different Unions.

Webber, Newton's full back, repeated his feat of the previous Saturday, of potting a goal from nearly half-way.

During the past season the value of cash prizes given in Victoria alone for cycle races amounted to about £6000.

Zimmerman is editing the cycling column in the New York Sunday World. It is stated that the American will race again in Australia next season.

As centre three-quarter for City, Smith was an unqualified success. He is a fast, tricky runner, a good kick, and his passing was invariably accurate and welltimed.

Gr. Crossland, the English longdistance runner, and J. Mullen, the Irish champion runner, decided a return match at four miles, on April 7, at Cliftonville, Belfast, before a large crowd. The track was very heavy from rain, and a desperate race all the way resulted in a victory for the Englishman by ten yards. Time — 19min. 28 3-sth sec, which now constitutes the amateur record for the distance.

The rival crack sprinters, Bradley and Downer, met in the sprint races at the Sonth London Harriers' Sports on April 11. In the 100 yds Handicap Bradley -won his heat in 10 3-sth sec, and ran a dead heat for first place in the final with A. Grant (SJyds start) in 10 1 sth sec. In the run off Grant won by four feet in 10 l-sth sec. Downer failed to get placed in the final. In the 75yds Scratch Race each won his heat, Bradley in 8 ""2 sth sec, and Downer in 8 4-sth sec. The final was a great race between the two cracks, Bradley securing the verdict by a foot in BBec.

It is strange that in awarding credit for accurate place-kicking no mention is ever made of the ' placer,' and yet, no matter how good a kicker a man may be, he cannot possibly kick straight unless the ball is placed accurately. Take Murray's kicking on Saturday, for instance. He kicked two splendid goals fiom extremely difficult angles, and missed an easy chance right in front of the goal. In the first two cases the ball was placed by Elliott, who is a past-master at the game, but in the third Taylor officiated, and allowed the ball to cant slightly after it was put down.