Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 911, 13 June 1896, Page 5

Out Door Sports

By * Habkiee.'

COMING EVENTS.

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

FOOTBALL FIXTURES. First and Second Fiftehns,

June 13— Ponsonby v. Suburbs, Parnell v. North Shore, Grafton v. Newton. June 20— Parnell v. Suburbs, Grafton v. North Shore, City v. Newton. Thied Fifteens.

June 13— Parnell v. Grafton, Ponsonby v. Suburbs. June 20— Parnell v. Suburbs, Grafton v. Ponsonby.

Thk predominant feeling in my mind at the conclusion of the Parnell-Newton match on Saturday was one of disappointment. Not on account of the result of the game, because undoubtedly victory rested with what, on the day, was the better team ; but entirely owing to the uninteresting nature of the play, almost throughout. The game, as the paucity of scoring indicates, was very evenly contested, the only score registered being a try secured by Parnell during the last few moments of play. But as an exhibition of football it was aa water unto wine compared with the dashing display in the City-Parnell match on the previous Saturday. The close nature of the play must in great measure be attributed to the tactics adopted by the •winners. The maroon forwards secured possession of the ball in the great majority of packs ; and thus holding, as it were, the key to the position, they elected, perhaps wisely, seeing that their combination behind was affected by tbe absence of Edmonds, to play a safe rather than an aggressive game.

On the other hand, upon the few occasions when Newton were afforded an opportunity to bring their fast backs into use, their attempts to do so were rendered abortive, partly by reason of the bad placing of the men, who were strung out across the field, much too far apart from each other to allow of effective or accurate passing ; and possibly to a greater extent by the weakness of the five-eighths, who invariably received his passes standing, and just as invariably transferred the ball without attempting to make the slightest headway himself.

Hedges, Parnell's full-back, tackled ' like a book ' on Saturday.

Parnell played 7 men in the pack on Saturday, and only two halves instead of three, as usual.

Elliott, at five-eighths, took his passes cleanly, and played throughout with excellent judgment.

Considering that he was new to the position, Ronayne acquitted himself with credit as centre-half for Parnell.

Ike Mills, who had not previously played this season, assisted his old club on Saturday, and played a very fair game on the wing.

Hancock, on the wing, played a dashing game for Parnell, being always on the ball. His tendency to get off-side will, however, yet cost his side dearly, unless checked.

The Parnell pack was greatly strengthened by the inclusion of McLean — an ex- Wellington rep. — and Duncan, whom I believe hails recently from the Thames. Both men played sterling games.

No fault could be found -with the Newton forward division, in so far as hard, solid graft was concerned. Where they suffered, in comparison with their opponents, was in the inability of their front row men to hook the ball.

For a man of his weight, Whitley is an astonishingly good tackier, and rendered yeoman service to his side in this respect on Saturday. Like his comrade Hancock, however, he has a great weakness for getting in front of the ball whilst in the scrum.

Playing for Sussex v. Somerset, Murdoch scored 144- runs.

C. Freeman, Newton's centre threequarter, was not seen to as much advantage as usual.

The brothers Hay and Dan Clayton were the best of Graf ton's backs, all three doing Bplendid work in the matter of ' stopping.

Generally speaking, the play of the City backs was disappointing as compared with their display against Parnell on the previous Saturday.

North Shore were without the services of a number of the • Hill men ' on Saturday, and were, in consequence, not so strong forward as usual.

Gittos and Laird were the most prominent of Grafton's forwards on Saturday. The former in particular displayed brilliant form in the open.

Siddel, as wing three-quarter for Newton, made no mistakes. His defence was always sound, and he occasionally showed up in a strong fending run.

The handsome banner presented by Mrs Alfred Kidd to the City Football Club was displayed for the first time at Potter's on baturday, where it was universally admired.

It was amusing on Saturday to see the manner in which the brothers Murray singled each other out for particular attaction on the line ont, and to note the gusto with which either would dump the other if occasion arose.

Marshall, a recent arrival from Christchuach, played full-back for Grafton on Saturday and created a very favourable impression. He kicked remarkably well throughout, and also proved himself a sure and determined tackier.

The Ponsonby first fifteen journeyed to Devonport, where they had little difficulty in defeating the North Shore team by four tries, obtained respectively by R. Masefield, Purdie, Gallagher and Braund, to a goal potted by W. Wynyard for North Shore.

Of the Newton forwards, none impressed me more favourably than Wilson, a recent promotion from the junior ranks. He is a fine stamp of a player, and with a little more experience will, I think, turn out a first-rater.

Hazeman, a new arrival from (jrisborne, played five-eighths for Newton during the first half of the game, afterwards changing places with C. Freeman on the wing. He was evidently unused to the position of five eighths, and was not a success. His strong point appeared to be tackling.

Webber, Newton's full-back, did all that was asked of him, and did it well. He is a big and accurate kick with the left foot, and a sure tackier. I would advise him to practise kicking with the right foot ; he does use it occasionally as it is, but not with any degree of strength.

Roberts kicked remarkably well on Saturday, but otherwise did not have many opportunities of displaying his ability. Twice during the second term he made an opening by smartly intercepting a pass of his opponents', and on each occasion his great pace enabled him to reach the opposing full-back before being grassed.

I heard a number of on-lookers opine that Jervis had erred in not going for a try upon the occasion (early in the first spell) when he potted unsuccessfully. I am inclined to think, however, that he did the right thing under the circumstances. The opening was a very tempting one, and at the time he had no support near enough to make a try anything like certain.

Jervis, at centre three-quarter for Parnell, put in an immense amount of sound, defensive work. He was, however, hardly so successful as usual in finding the line with his big kicks, and on one occasion, in the second term, made the mistake of attempting to pot when a try would probably have resulted had he played differently.

Local players would do well to note a resolution of the recent Referees' Conference in connection with Rule 11., Section C, which provides a penalty for lying on the ground and not immediately getting up. It is as follows : ' Players must clearly understand that the penalty will be inflicted if they interfere with the ball in any way while the ball is still on the ground.

The trial of strength between City and Grafton, on No. 2 ground, attracted very little attention, but nevertheless an interesting and fairly even game resulted. The feature of the play was decidedly the fine defensive work of the Grafton backs, in consequence of which the red and blacks, although acting on the offensive during the greater part of the game, were only able to register a couple of tries as against a penalty goal kicked by Clayton for the losers.

Oliphant, on the wing, and Charlie Stone and McCluskey, were the pick of City's forwards on Saturday. A. Moncur, who was moved up from wing three-quarter to wing forward, did not seem to shine so well in his new position. I hear that Ponsonby Juniors are anxious to have a go with the Seniors for a dinner, and the thirds wish to play the winners.

Dug Hay, one of Grafton's threequarters, played a steady game, and proved a stumbling block to Absolem on more than one occasion.

S. Moncnr, the three - quarter sprinter of the Grafton team, played really well. His collaring and running were accomplished in fine style.

Tlie English papers, commenting on the Yorkshire match, praise the Australians for their victory, and recognise that the eleven contains great bowline strength. s

Absolura was decidedly off-colour on Saturday. His play waa entirely devoid of the da3h which usually characterises it, and he also fumbled his passes very badly at times.

Grafton, profiting by their exexperience against Parnell, made considerable alteration in the disposition of their back division, which had the effect of strengthening it where most required, viz., in defence.

The bicycle track which it is proposed to lay in the grounds of the Wellington .Exhibition will have an asphalt surface. It will be oval-shaped, six laps to the mile, and the intention is to bank it six feet.

Of a good set of forwards, Cucksey and Bradley particularly distinguished themselves for Grafton. Cucksey had very bad luck once in not scoring, Corles snavelling the ball from him from between his legs.

The well-known yacht, MerryDuchess, is being advertised for sale, by Logan Bros* She is well found in every respect, and anyone desirous of securing a comfortable cruiserwould do well to respect her . } i&i dc fe~~.ife SB flC* .. dOaU ?,

The members of the New Zealand rowing team state that the arrangements in connection with the intercolonial contesta were most imperfect, and the regattas in New Zealand are very much better managed. They also express considerable dissatisfaction at the umpire's ruling in regard to the fool, particularly as at the dinner that official remarked that if he knew at the time, what he learned after the race, his decision might have been different.