OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 36, 25 May 1907, Page 10

OUT DOOR SPORTS

By Harrier.

THE meeting between the Ponsonby and City senior teams was the star football attraction of last Saturday. The attendance was very large, and although the weather was on the bleak side, it was an ideal day for football. After a very exciting game, City came out winners by 5 points to nil. The other two senior games resulted in Parnell beating Grafton by 18 points to 3, and North Shore downing Newton by 6 points to nil.

City played with the wind in their favour in the first spell, and 1 the game was made willing from the < kick-off. It was chiefly confined to i the forwards , line work and rushes i behif* the predominating; features, j Neither side was inclined to let the i ball out to the backs, and although ; the situation became exciting at. times, the play was of an uninterest- < ing nature. The spell ended without any score. The second half saw very little al- * teration in the nlay, except that City began to throw the ban about more amongst their backs. It was not until well on in the spell that City obtained their score. Flynn failed to take a kick by one of the City backs, and W. Tyler, coming on smartly, dribbled the ball "past Blakey, and dived across the line with it. S. Magee put on the major points. This spurred Ponsonb^ on, and they became very aggressive, making the game much more onen. City, however, were sound in their defence, and although Ponsonby looked dangerous several times, they were unable to break through. The game was hotly-contested from start to finish, chiefly among the forwards. I doubt whether it would be possible to get two more evenly-matched sets of scrummagers than those of Saturday. Neither side could claim an advantage, for although City won by five points, a draw would have been a fair result of the City's try was the outcome of a smart piece of play on the part of W. Tyler, but it came about through the bad play of Flynn. These two teams are a long way ahead of the other senior teams, and their meeting in the second round will be eagerly looked forward to. Coming to the City players, S. Magee was none too reliable as full back, and once or twice made things look black for City. Smith stood out head and shoulders above the other backs. Time and again in the first spell he pulled City out of the mire b^ his well-judged line kicks. He had a hard time of it all through, but he never once failed. What attacking: work he got in was accomplished in his best style. Little made several smart runs, but Gladding' s play was of a wooden nature. R. Magee had a pretty rough passage, but he never once quitted in the defensive work, and his kicking was the next best after Smith's. Ladner was at his best in the second half. In the first he was mainly employed in stopping rushes, but his nippy line kicks served his side well in the latter part of the game. As to the forwards, there appeared to be tdo much " willingness " at times. Both sides offended. Several of them were too intent ut>on playing the man instead of the ball.

Seeling was a notable offender in this respect. During the first part of the game he was constantly engaged in tussling with Hall and others. It was not football, and spoiled his play. A warning from the referee brought about an improvement. There was a considerable amount of line play, in which honours were about even, but in hooking the City men came off best. G. Tyler placed a hard game, but was inclined to overdo it at times. In the or>en work "Williams ula^ed a fine and started several useful passing rushes. W. Tyler has rarely played a better game on the wing. His try was smartly executed, and several times he worked off clever points from line play. Blakey, the Ponsonby full, made few mistakes, if any at all, but his kicking lacked power. The three-quarters played a safe game. Wilson was very dashy all through, and Murray, like Smith, stood out for some very serviceable line kicking. Dillamore had little to do, but his fielding was safe. The weak spot in the Ponsonby backs was Flynn. He was too slow in getting going, and his habit of trying to Deat too many men spoiled what looked like a Bcore for Ponsonbv in the first spell. A nippy fiveeighth for Ponsonby would have made a wonderful difference, on Sat- ' urday. Bater played a consistent game, his tackling being deauiy, and Cox proved sturdy enough for the City rushes. His screw linekicking and marking were smartly done, and were generally a big help to his side. The Ponsonby forwards were a dashing set, and it was noticeable i —o whenever the team were hotlpressed, they relieved grandly, and swept with the ball well out of danger. Cunningham saw the hard game right out to the finish and Francis and Nicholson were right at toD. Hall played another solid game, and McDonald and Dunning never stopped till the bell rang. Gillett handled his team like the general he is, besides taking part in the bulk of the work. He was well marked on Saturday, but he proved a hard customer to beat. He fielded the ball in great style and those long boosts of his gained an enormous amount of ground. This game was remarkable for the small number of scrums, particularly in the first spell. In the first halthour there were only two scrums formed. Mr A. Campbell had charge of the whistle, and performed his duties in best style. Several of the forwards were inclined to get a bit '' too strong," but a warning made them more careful. *• .*o *. i . > i , } J I b - i .

The Grafton-Parnell game calls for little comment. For some time it was doubtful whether Grafton would get a team, but eventually a number of juniors filled up the vacancies. Several of them played well, but were no match for Parnell. Of the Gralon forwards, McCormick was out "on his own," and was well backed up by Comes. Amongst the Jt'arnell backs, Hogan proved by his play that he was being wasted^ in the first juniors, and his two tries were cleverly secured. Twitiame was patchy, and Todd was taking matters rather easily. The forwards played well, doing good work in the open. Armstrong found the play to his liking, and had a hand in most or the play. Kinder was another who was very prominent. ••» — —

North Shore and Newton had a fairly even go. It was not until the secontl spell that Shore managed to get ahead of their opponents. Newton were without the services of H. Howe, and the accident to Freeman somewhat disorganised the backs. "Woolfgram is playing a steadier game than is his wont, and among tne forwards Trevarthen ii keeping up to his best form.

Of the Shore backs, D. Miller again played a very safe game, and 0. Miller and Woodward were responsible for some useful work. The forwards were as willing as usual, and played well as a body.

At the moment of writing I hear that there is some trouble Detween the executive of the Public Schools' Football Association and the Auckland Rugby Union, and that unless the breach is healed the schoolboys' matches will be suspended. Out of the eight Auckland " All Blacks" who toured G =>at Britain, seven took part in the <■ ty-Ponson-bv match on Saturday. he eiehth, "Dave" Gallaher, was looking out for material for his coming selections.

The amateur wrestling chanvoionshin contests at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday evening drew a very fair audience, and the bouts were some of the best seen here. The go between Leslie and Dunne lasted over half -an-h our, and was declared a draw. It will be finished on Friday evening. The management was first-class, and the club is deserving of more liberal patronage, the snort being clean from start to finish.