Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 44, 17 July 1909, Page 10

Out Door Sports

By Harriee

A.R.U. FIXTURES

July 31 — Auckland v. Maniapoto, at Auckland. August 7 — Auckland v. Thames, at Thames. , August 14 — Poverty Bay v. Auckland, at Auckland. August 21 — Thames v. Auckland, nt Auckland. August 21 — Auckland v. Rotorua, at Rotorua. August 28 — Auckland v. Northern Wairoa, at Auckland. August 28— Wellington v. Aucklan .l, at Wellington. August 31 — Wanganui v. Auckland, at Wanganui. September 2 — Taranaki v. Auckland, at Taranaki. September 11 — Taranaki v. Auckland, at Auckland (suggested).

THE idea of the A.R.U. Management Committee in allotting last Saturday's match be-

tween King's College and Grammar School to tlie No. 1 ground was a happy one, and the large attendance certified to the approval of the public. The senior fixture between Parnell and City was played on the No. 2 ground. Ponsonby was to have met Newton on the No. 3 ground, but the red and whites failed to put in a team, and Ponsonby won by default. City beat Parnell by 23 points to 8, whilst Grafton got the better of North Shore by 11 to nil.

This was the second meeting of the season between King's College and Grammar School. In the first match King's won by 3 points to nil, and on Saturday the" Grammar School boys came out on top by 3 points to nil. The game was fast and exciting all through, and the football of a high character. Grammar School had a little advantage in weight, and it was a rush by their forwards that enabled them to score. In the second halt the King's boys came at it in great style, and several times all but scored, but the Grammar School defence was too sound. For the Grammar School, Day, the full-back, played a great defensive game. His tackling was plucky and clever, and he was ouite the hero ot his team at the finish. Of the forwards, all played well. Sutherland doing especially energetic work. The King's boys played in grand form. Dickson in the backs was especially conspicuous, whilst Walker and Hardwick did their full share. The pack went at their work in a willing manner, and not a waster could be sorted out. » • City and Parnell seniors had a fairly exciting match, and the maroons did not let City have it all their own way. . R Magee was the mainspring ot the City baoks, and several of the tries were the result of his smart work. Estall, Stewart, Tobm and Seeling were also prominent at intervals. The Parnell men never once gave up hope, and the backs handled the ball smartly. The forwards also let their opponents know that they were not to be forgotten. • • ™ On a sloppy ground the display between North Shore and Grafton was not high-class. It was amusing to ccc the capers cut by some of the players, but Grafton had undoubtedly the better team.

The Ponsonby senior team will leave for Sydney on Monday, 26th July. The next meeting between King's College and Grammar School haa been fixed for Saturady, July 31st. Peter Ward, representative player of New South Wales, and of Southland, and many other parts of New Zealand, is this season helping to push the Rugby game along in Melbourne. Next Saturday, the principal attraction in the Senior Cup contest will be the game between City and Ponsonby. The A.R.U. in fixing the date for this match have had regard to the near departure of the Ponsonby team for Sydney. The Ponsonby senior team has asked permission from the A.R.U. to niay the Poneke senior team at Auckland, the proceeds to go as a benefit for George Gillet. The A.R.U. has sent the application oix to the New Zealand Rugby Union, and the answer is awaited with interest. Speaking of this request, " Touchline," of the Wellington "Free Lanoe," draws attention to the last Ponsonby-Poneke match : — "Many years ago — in 1888, to be exact — the Poneke team visited Auckland and nlaved a match against the old Ponsonhv fifteen. A great deal of interest was taken in tbe fixture, as both teams at that time claimed to bo tbe champion club combination of tbe colon v. The match was drawn, Harry Stephenson scorjmr a try for Pons-nnbv. a-nd TTnrrv Mclntyre one for Poneke. Although the present Ponflonhv team bas nothing in 'Amnion wi+h the 1888 one, a match between tho two would arouse a lot of interest in other tw'-^s bes'des AVellirt<rton and Auckland."

Mr T. Aitken, at one time chairman of the Thames R.U., but now a resident of Ponsonby. has been chosen as manager of the Ponsonbv senior team's visit to Australia, and Mr E. Whaley, secretary of the club, will travel as assistant manager. Tbe following is the programme of tlie blue and blacks in Sydney : Saturday July 31 v. Metropolis ; Monday' Aueust 2. v. South Sydney ; W^ln-esdav. Aueust 4, v. Glebe ; Saturday, Aueust 7. v. Metropolis ; Wednesday. August 11, v. Newtown. The Wellington Rn^bv Union is ('remarks " Toucbline," in the Wellington "Free Lance") having a good time financially this season. The attendances so far have been easily a record for cup matches, the e»to« averaging as much as £100 a Saturday T would like this paragraph soeciallv to be read by ex-treasurers of the Rugby Union Jack Paeni and Andrew Stevens, who are now resident in Auckland. They will agree with me that nublic support of the Rucrbv game in Wellington at oreft «nt is Tr>»eh better than in their days of office.