Door Sports

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1070, 1 July 1899, Page 11

Door Sports

B* ' Habbieb.'

The scoring in Saturday's senior matches was by far the heaviest this season, the three winning teams aggregating 54 points as against 3 points by the losers. Grey, Suburbs' scrum-naif, per formed creditably all round. Jack Gillett was again an absentee from Suburbs' ranks on Saturday, as was also Waterman. ' Galloway's tackling was accomplished in workmanlike manner. He played a really good game throughout. Freeman's great pace enabled him to score a couple of tries, but otherwise his work waa only of mediocre quality. Tom Clarkin has had some disagreement with the Waihi Rugby Union, and is now playing for Paeroa. The injury to Pauling's leg received in New South Wales- Queensland match will prevent him playing football for some time. Paul, as usual, was the most consistent of the Shore three-quarters, his dodgy runs and accurate line-kicking being of great service. Stephenson and Marshall, on the wing for their respective sides at North Shore, were not always playing the game. A caution would have been well deserved. In Neighbour, Scott, and McClusky Shore possess a trio of forwards which would be hard to beat. All heavy, fast, and consistent workers from the jump. A feature of Grafton's scrum work on Saturday was clean heeling out. Evidently C. Brady and Cucksey in front were much too good for the pair opposed to them. Grafton possess a much stronger forward division than was the case last year, bat, for some unexplained reason, the backs as a body appear to have lost a good deal of the combination which then characterised their play. Gwynn Nicholls, centre three-quar-ter, is evidently the bright particular star of the Englishmen's back division. He is described as being an exceptionally brilliant player both in attack and defence, an excellent kick, and a dead-sore tackier. The brothers D. and C. Hay, at half and five-eighths respectively, played well together. JBoth went in largely for short punting and following up, and frequently with considerable success. It is, however, possible to overdo any particular style of play — variety is what is needed.. Renwick made numerous fine openings on Saturday, and kicked and tackled well. He would, however, do well to remember that he is only one of fifteen players, and cannot personally -expect to play the whole of the opposing team himself. For example, when he scored he only just managed to. scramble over the line, whereas a paßs to Freeman would have enabled the latter to score without opposition.

A weak spot, in Ponsonby's play on Saturday was the lack of consistent following up by the forwards. .. Sampson, it transpires, only made a short stay in Sydney. He has now taken np his residence in Brisbane. Rule and Gallagher were perhaps the pick of Ponaonby's pack, whilst Doran, on- the wing, was conspicuous for fast following up. The most amusing incident in the North Shore match was Charley Marshall, with an air of injured innocence, appealing for off-side. City and Grafton both appear to be very hard np for place kicks. Each scored six tries on Saturday, but only converted one. Pitt played his usual dashing game on the wing, and also as usual did not forget to score. He is, however, very apt to get off-side. | Webber, at full-back for Ponsonby, played far and away his best game this season. Time and again his fine kicking got his team oat of a tight place. Cardno, Shore's full-back, is fast recovering his form of two years back He is probably the biggest kick we possess, is" cool as the proverbial encumber, and has a fine turn of speed. S. Eiley, at centre three-quarter for Ponsonby, Bhowed to considerable advantage, his running, kicking, tackling, and passing being alike cleverly'accomplished. The English three-quarters appear to depend largely upon their kicking powers, and rarely inangurate a passing attack unless well within their opponents' territory. The cordial flask was frequently called into requisition at the Shore on Saturday, and seemed to have a quicker effect than the masß&ge treatment in : dulged in at Potter's. One would hardly have recognised Wylde-Brown as the full back who played so soundly for Grafton in the City match. On Saturday he tumbled a good deal, and generally his* display savoured of indecision. Absoluni somewhat disappointed me on Saturday, particularly in the early portion of the day. In the Becond half he did much better work, but appeared throughout to take little interest in the game. He is, moreover, very much out of condition.

Play in the City-Psrnell match was much too one-sided to be interesting. . The first-earned held a decided advantage tight through, and eventually won by 24 points to nil. O'Sullivan, Aaher, Stevenson, McGee, and Smith (2) secured tries, one of which was converted by Donovan, and Smith also potted a goal.

The Englishmen, says the Sydney Referee, would very much like to return to England via New Zealand. One strong reason for this is that they are not partial to the Bed Sea. As most of them have to get back to England at an early date, their playing in New Zealand is a remote possibility.

Suburbs found themselves in the unfortunate position of being unable to place their fall strength in the field. This notwithstanding, they contrived in their match with Graf ton to make a very even fight daring the whole of the first spell and the earlier portion of the second . At halftime the score was 6 to 3 in favour of Graf ton, and this also was the position after about twenty minutes' play in the closing, term. From this oat, however, condition began to tell, and, the all-blacks collapsing, Graf ton romped home winners by 20 points to 3. Suburbs', solitary soore was a penalty, goal kicked by Absolum, whilst for Graf ton Freeman secured two tries and Kenwick, McGregor, Mathiesoa and Stewart one each, 0. Hay converting one.

Sutherland played a sound game on Saturday, his long punts opt of bounds being of immense service to his Bide. Stewart, who took H. Smith's place aB wing three-quarter for Grafton, displayed very promising form, and is likely to turn out more than uaeful. Matbieson, Sterling and McGregorwere the most frequently prominent of Grafton's forwards. The whole of the front division showed good form, however.. Hardcastle has been suspended for six.weekß by the New South Walea Rugby Union for refusing to abide by the decision of the referee in a recent club match.

Suburbs' forwards proved themselves a hard working lot, and, considering their want of combination, accomplished wonders bo long as their condition lasted. H. Dacre and .Monroe were the pick.

So far, the English football team now playing in N S.W. has not performed up to expectations. Sydney papers to haiid contain accounts of their firat three matches, and from these it would appear that the E nglieh forwards, although a big, powerful lot, have in each instance failed to stay the game right out.

Much the best of Saturday's matches was that at Devonport between Ponsonby and North Shore, whioh resulted in a win for the last-named by two goals from tries to nil. From first to last it was a fast and exciting game, Shore's, .victory being, in the main, due to their great superiority in the matter of weight and condition," which enabled them at the iinißh to wear their opponents down. It was not until well on in the second spell that the all-bines scored their first try, and the second was obtained just on the call of time.