Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 41, 26 June 1909, Page 10

Out Door Sports

By Harrier.

THE first round of the A.R.U. Senior competition was concluded on Saturday, before a large crowd of spectators. The principal attraction of the day, however, was the game between Ponsonby 11. and Marist Bros. Old Boys, which took place on the No. 2 ground. It is a thousand pities that this game was not played on the No. 1 ground, as from a spectator's standpoint it was far and away a better game to watch, than the City-Graf'ton game. Besides, it would also have meant many more pounds to the A.R.U. funds.

Thej eenidr matchels resulted in City beating Graf ton by 26 points to nil, while Parnell easily downed Newton by 30 points to nil. University and North Shore had an exciting go, the 'Varsity men winning by 16 points to 11. The first found being now concluded, the following table gives the positions of the different clubs : —

At the outset, it looked as if Grafton were going to make a game of it , against City. Indeed, in the first few minutes Graf ton kept up a hard attack and all but scored. The red a«nd blacks, however, gradually asserted themselves, and when the spell ended they had registered 12 points. The second haJf was all in favour of City, although the Graf ton men were putting up a big fight. The City men rang on another 17 points, the final being— City 26, Grafton nil. City had re-arranged their back division since the match against Ponsonby, and the change was beneficial. Baker proved a smarter full-back than Tohin, whilst the latter shaped in good 6tyle at centre-threequarter. Estall was really brilliant at times, but he wants to get over his uncertainty in taking the ball. Skillen, the ex-Goldfields rep., should be a decided acquisition as five-eighths, and he made some clever rune. R. Magee was as sound as ever, and Stewart proved a capable substitute for Young as half. The City pack was again changed on Saturday, and I doubt whether the red and blacks have played with the same forwards on succeeding Saturdays this season. Herring and Maguire were the hookers, and they work well together. Thompson was responsible for some good dribbling work, and Seeling and Mcllhone were well to the fore. It was mainly due to the inexperience of the Grafton backs that several of the City scores were obtained, 'in this respect H. Renwick, the fullback, was a oonspicuous offender. He let Estall in on one occasion through feeble play. Of the three-quarters, A. Renwick was a host in himself, and he did a considerable amount of stopping. His kicking was as good as ever it was. Yatee was somewhat disappointing ,at five-eighths, being evidently "troubled with nervousness. T. Marshall was fairly sound, and was on the look-out for interceptions. "White played a plucky game as half,

Of the forwards, none were going better than " Koss " Eaton, and it was hard luck that he had to retire. Pople played a slashing game, and MeGuire and Deans toiled their hardest.

The Pam ell-Newton game was a one-sided affair. Although Newton scored first, the Parnell men then took charge, and right to the end had all the best of the deal. On the Parnell side, Twiname was racing about in rare style, and Oleave, Hardwick, Armstrong, Davis and Harris \Vere responsible for some prominent play. The Newton team are going from bad to worse, and their display was nothing like senior form. They have some good material in the ranks, and it is to be. hoped that a change for the better will take place in the second round. ■■• . ■

After the conclusion of the first spell, it looked as if the North Shore team would get away with University. But strange to say, in the second half the Shore men appeared to go to sleep, with the consequence that the 'Varsity men rang on 16 points in quick time. Then the Shore men woke up, but it wae too late, the light blues staving them off till time was called. For the 'Varsity team, Robinson gave his best display of the season, and he was Well supported by Wilson, Ponoahga, and the Gray brothers. Amongst the Shore backs, Coleman played a very fine game at fiveeighths, whilst Jackson played nippily as half. The forwards worked spastnodieallv and hard kicking spoiled several chances of scoring.

By far the most interesting game at Alexandra Park on Saturday was that between Ponsonby , 11. and Marist Bros. Old Boys — the two unboaten teams in the first junior competition. After a most exciting go, Ponsonby won by 5 points to 3. Ponsonby owe their win the grand game put up by their forwards — a pack that would not disgrace any senior team. They are fast, and were on the hall all the time. It was rarely that it got out to their backs, and when it did several of them nearly " goosed " the game. Wolfgram had an idea that he could run through his opponents, and repeatedly put his side in danger. The Marist boys made a great fight, and the way they came at the finish raised a wave of enthusiasm. They have a slashing set of backs, and Ponsonby were wise in keeping the ball away from them as much as possible. The forwards were meeting a much heavier pack, and the excellent fight they put up shows that they were not wanting in gameness. By the way, this is the first time that the Old Boys' line has been crossed this season.

The Wellington Rugby Union has agreed to play the match with Auckland on August 28. Allegations of betting on the result of a junior match played at Karori, and unfair decisions on the part part of a line-umpire, were (cays a Wellington writer) recently bought before the Wellington Rugby Union. The referee said he saw money change hands after the game, while an exMayor of Karori asserted that he witnessed the line-umpire take mo-ney when the match was finished. The decisions of both line-umpires were, he said, about the " crookest " he had seen anywhere. The trainer of the Karori team said on one occasion he had remarked to the line-umpire, on account of one of his decisions, "You're making it very hot, aren't you ?" The umpire had replied : " Oh, I'm interested in the result of the game." The referee stated to the committee that he had spoken to the line-umpire in question about betting, and he had admitted he had had a wager, "to have an interest in the game." The committee decided to warn the line-umpire off all grounds under tfre jurisdiction of the TTnion.

E. T. Harper, a retired " All Black," took the field for Christchurch on Saturday, after a long retirement, but obviously he has (remarks a Christchuroh scribe) some other sport to keep him in form, for he lasted splendidly throughout the game, and was the best back for his side. He imported some real old-time dash into his play, and gave one the impression that he might still qualify for high honours on a season's football.

Concerning the result of the CityPonsonby game, the S'dney "Referee" says : "This contest is believed to have practically decided the Auckland premiership for the year. Ponsonby will leave next monjth 'for Sydney to play five matches, during the absence of the New South Wales team at Brisbane. Two of these matches will be againsit combined teams and three probably against clubs. Beyond aJI doubt the match of the tour, if it can be arranged, is Ponsonby v. Newtown. It would, in a sense, decide the club championship of Australasia, since Ponsonby is the champion club of the champion province in New Zealand, and Newtown is the champion club of the champion State of Australia." Two sets of seven brothers, belonging to two families, met at Carmarthen last month to contest the " Championship of the United Kingdom in Family Football." There was also a stake of £100 a side. The teams were the Brothers Williams, of Haverfordwest (total weight, 82st. lib), and the Brothers Randell, of Llanelly (total weight, 75st. 111 b). The youngest player was Albert Randell, and the oldest was W. G. Williams, aged 40 ; but the Kandells were not to be outdone, and they had their forty-year-old brother Tom in waiting as a reserve. The Williams team wore Union Jack colours, and the Randells were in scarlet. The game attracted an enormous gate, at international match prices, and in the first half, which was played under Rugby rules and referred by an ex-in-ternational, play was fast and exciting. At half-time the Brothers Williams led by a try to nil, but after that the play deteriorated, the personal element crept in, and the game nearly ended in a contest for the Championship of the United Kingdom for Family Fisticuffs. The Brothers Williams put on a goal shortly before the end, and so won by 8 points to nil. A challenge to them was immediately thrown out by the Brothers Davies, of Morriston.

Local amateur boxers will take note that entries for the provincial championships of the Northern Boxing Association will close with Mr " Joe " Trudgeon, secretary, at Vic-toria-street, on Saturday evening next, The tourney wiJJ t&ke place

at the Opera House on Saturday afternoon, July 3rd, and promises to be a very successful affair, liesides the championship events, OsMeara and Taylor will deride the 8.7 novice tournament, which was started at the late Traeey-Griffin contest, and several other events will he put on. Altogether local boxing patrons may depend upon witnessing a most interesting afternoon's sport.

Pts. Pts. Ch M.P. W. L. For. Ag'st Pts P.insonby ..8 6 — 167 16 12 City .. ..6 5 1 116 28 10 Grafton .. 6 3 3 34 76 6 Tniversity ..6 3 3 48 84 6 North Shore . . 6 2 4 44 80 4 Parnell .. 6 2 4 92 7 4 Newton.. .. 6 — 6 13 — 9 • •