Door Sports

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1178, 27 July 1901, Page 11

Door Sports

By 'Harrier.'

Auckland Rugb* Union Fixtures. July 27. Seniors —Grafton v. Ponßonby ; Newton v. Suburbs ; North Shore v. Gity. Juniors.— Grafton v. Ponsonby; Newton v. Suburbs ; North Shore v. Oity.

Last Saturday's matohes at Alexandra Park attraoted a very fair number of spectators, considering the very unfavourable weather. The previous Satarday was bad enough, but I tbink the ground on Saturday was even in a worse conditio a, as rain had fallen during the whole of the week, and the ground did hot have a chance to dry. The result of the matches did not alter the places for the Cup, Grafton still being well in the lead. Grafton notched another victory to their credit by defeating Newton. The latter met prafton in the firßt round on a wet ground, and gave them a good shaking, and many were of opinion tbat Newton would turn the tables this time. . But undoubtedly the better team won, and had the weather been fine, I tbink Grafton would have had an easy win. Under the conditions on Satarday, good football was out of the question, although the Grafton backs handled the ball very creditably. The Newton forwards were up to the mark, -bnt their backs were very weak, and could not get going in the wind. Parnell had another loss, Buburbs beating them by six points to nil. Tbe maroons, although at the bottom of the lißt, still stiok to it gamely, aDd Suburbs did not have matters all tbeir own way. The defeat of North Shore at the hands of Ponsonby oame as a mild surprise. The grout, d at the Shore was in a terrible state, and the game was a bit of a mud scramble Ponsonby played with great da9h, but it was Franois' place- kicking that put them in the lead. After all, City's appeal to the New Zealand Rugby Union re tbe Grafton protest has been dismissed Tbe Management Committee of the head body decided : — ' That this oase does not come under the jurisdiction of the Appeal Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, whose duties apply purely to disputes arising out of the Interpretations of the game, vide by-law 12 of the New Eealand Rugby Onion.' This should Bettle the matter, bo let ub hope we have heard the last of It.

J. Brady, on the wing, was right up to concert pitch, and put in plenty of work. I have nothing fresh abont the Parnell forwards, as Handcock was easily the beßt. Brasoh, the Newton full, waß none too sure in taking the ball, but yet he saved his side often. Clarke, on the wing for Newton' E roved his worth, although he baa the abit of getting in some questionable play. The sohool matoh between Onehunga and Wellesley-street was a oloae go on Saturday, and resulted in a draw, whioh leaves both teams level. Absolnm was in sooring hnmoar, and showed bis old pace. There are several otber fast men in the Suburbs' backs, but they don't know when to use their paoe. Wellington lose a good man in the threetqoarter Burr, he having been shifted to Taranaki. This is tha seoond serious loss Wellington has suffered this season, Jacobs being the first. The Grafton forwards held their own, bat tt was not until the seoond spell that they showed their superiority. Their screwing always came off, bat their oombined rashers were hardly as good as Newton's. To sort ont the best forward is a bit of a task, bat McGregor deserves mention for his aU-rouno play. Caoksey, Neville and Shand were a very willing trio.

Marshall, the Grafton fall, surprised me somewhat with his good play. His kicking is his weak point. After the sohool match on Satarday the barracking between the partisans of tbe sohool grew rather warm, and in three oases blows were exchanged. Parnell had a lot of recruits in their ranks, and held up their end wonderfully well. Twiname is the most consistent baok ln the team, and he caused the Buburbs' baoks a lot of trouble. The Newton baok team has deteriorated. They are on the light side, and were not at home in the mud. Heath, behind the paok, was more to the fore in his play than hia ohums, bot some of their kicking was very ore di table. Mr Campbell, the referee in the Newton-Grafton match, seemed to me to err in not allowing Hay bis try on Sator- »•!• , Be tog in a position to Bee, be undoubtedly grounded the ball before it Blifpol away From him.

McKenzie showed some of bis running powers, and hia big stride soon gets over the ground. As a defensive player, he stands oot the hub of the province. Campbell, oo the other wing, was not quite fit, but did very well considering his bad leg. Thompson is improving by leaps and bounds. He seemed to simply revel in the mod, and his brilliant run through the Newton backs deserved better reward. As 1 remarked last week, he will set Mr Murray thinking, and a few games like Saturday would decide what ia going to be done with him The idea of playing D. Hay in no particular position is a good one, and he is a very dangerous man to give any liberties to. His rnn in the seoond spell was a brilliant pieoe of work, and I fail to see why tbe referee did not award him a try. Kiernan handled the wet ball surprisingly well. His punting was always well timed. I do not tbink tbat tbe Newton pack were in aB good form as the first round's matohes. Certainly, their open rashes were good, and their line work was a bit superior to Grafton, bat they were completely beaten in the last half of tbe seoood spell. The two Wilson's (A. and H ) were easily firßt, and amongst tbe others McKnight and Long wore the best. Wellington won their second rep. match this season by defeating Wairarapa on Saturday by 14 points to 8 Wallaoe had a great day out, and methinks that New Zealand rep. honours are hot far from this player. By the way, Dave Wilson, the ex-Newtonite, was pioked as emergency for the Wellington team, and will in all probability get in the team that travels to the South Island. With such a splendid lotjof players in onr midst, U was only right that Auckland should have a say in the' selection of the coming New Zealand team, and in ohoosing Mr Fred Murray as one of the three selectors, a very wise ohoioe bas been made. Not only Ib he conversant with Northern football, bnt he also knows football from one end of the colony to the other. The other two selectors are Messrs Fache (Wellington) and Hutchison (Otago) The team is to be pioked abont August 17th. The intention of George Smith not to play In inter-provincial matches this year will greatly weaken onr team. He Intends to go in for striot training for bla matoh with Roseiograve in November, bnt perhaps be aili be persuaded to don the jersey against New South Wales. I also hear a rumour that neither A. nor H. Wilson will travel down to WeUington ■hould they be pioked.

Doran was in great fettle at the Shore, and jost managed to again miss a score. Taylor made some fine openings on Saturday, and be worked Keenan's try very nioely. Corner's form will bave to .be reokoned with when the rep. trial matched are being picked. Gerrard made bis re-appearance in the Shore ranks, and although not at his best waa a great help to his team. Tbe Shore wingers, Frankham and Wynyard, were always on the ball, and the former's try was a great piece of work. Stephenson and Upton were tbe best of the Ponsonby backs, and the former seemed to bave a great time in the mud. The Shore forwards were hardly at their best, aDd had no life in them. ' Scrapping ' Beamed to predominate a lot during the game. Tbe referee in the Ponsonby • Shore match was bardly fit enough to control the game, although North Shore were much in the wrong disputing one of Francis' kicks. I would remind all footballers that the Newton F.C 's concert takes plaoe next Friday night. The ob j eot of the entertainment ia a praiseworthy one, and tbere should be a bumper attendance. The place-kicking of Francis, of the Ponsonby team, has been of a brilliant order these last two Saturdays. With a wet, heavy bail, he haß converted fonr out of five attempts, and all of them difficult angles. He is a forward who will have to be reckoned with when the rep. selection takes plaoe. . Shonld the senior oup matches be played right out, only one Saturday will be available before the Thames fixture for a trial match— August 17th, and this will be the date Mr Murray, our selector, will be in Wellington to help to pick the New Zealand team The firßt matoh of the New South Welshmen is also on August 17tb, against Wellington. A correspondent writes me suggesting that we could pick a team from the Auckland province that would hold its own with the rest of New Zealand. It ia a big order, but with auch players to pick from as R. MoOrrgor, McKenzie, Asher, Bmith, Harrison, Absolum, Kiernan, Oerrard, and Hay in the backs, and innumerable good forwards, we would make a splendid showiag.

Grafton have praoticaily won the Senior Oop They have to meet Ponsonby Suburbs and City, unless the matches are curtailed, and the /only opposition of any importance Ib Oity, and thia match will be another hard struggle. Grafton's record so far is a brilliant one, and the positions bow stand : —

Peter JacksoD, the renowned pugilist, died at Roma (Queensland), on Saturday, July 13. h. He had been ailing for some time, and died a victim to consnmntion. *

Lay on Mac Duff I Who hasn't read Bow bold Macbeth waa slain ? Bot now he's been so long sinoe dead, Why rake him ap again 1 Then let him rest ; he ? s ont of date, We'll torn to something newer, If you've a odd, be not too late, Take Woods' Great Peppermint Oue.

Points. _ ... P- W. L. D. For.Amt. Grafton ..9900 88 3 £"* 8 6 11 157 14 Newton ... 8 4 3 1 46 89 Srtrarbs ...8440 90 58 North Shore 9 3 6 0 39 67 Ponsonby ..9360 89 91 Parnell ...9090 8 199