WELLINGTON FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10756, 30 April 1913, Page 3

WELLINGTON FOOTBALL.

[From: Orit Corrkspoxd>:nt.}

Much comment was caused over the increased charge for admission 10 tlio Athletic Park last Saturday afternoon. Thoso members of tho Management Committee to whom I have had a chat expressed themselves perfectly satisfied with tho thousand spectators who were present. This means probably that there will be no alteration just jet, but I certainly think that tho Rugby Union would be well advised to revert to tho sixpenny chargo for admission for a fow Saturdays at least. When the standard of play improves, the shilling charge may bo reverted to, but the paramount consideration at this stage is to get a goodly number int-o the habit of going to the Athletic Park every Saturday afternoon, and the shilling charge will not operate in that direction. Of the four teams playing at the Athletic Park last Saturday tho one that pleased most was Melrose. All tho play ere from the front rank to fullback, played untiringly from start to finish, and were triers all the time. J. Twoiney, an old Melrose player, back from a sojourn at Blenheim, captains the side. It. Marshall is half-back, and Capper (last year's Southern) fullback. Flack, Walker (an Oriental Junior last year), Timon (from the Exchange Club) and J. Marshall were the other backs. The pack is composed of W r . Sullivan, Lamb, A. Gilchrist, •D. Sullivan, Oakes, Barber (formerly of Poneke and Oriental), Johnston (a promoted Junior), with W. Gilchrist on the wing. The Athletic team is almost the same as last sea-son, when they won the championship - - Full-back, M'Vay ; three-quarters, Madden, L, M'Donald and S. Wilson; five-eighths, Evensen and Robinson (a third-class Athletic E layer last year and fifth-class the year efore); half, E. Roberts; wing-for-ward, J. Cunninghame; forwards, Fenneesey and Price (an Athletic Junior two years ago who has been in Sydney in the meantime), A. "Wilson, Levick, Bell, It. Paton and Orsbom. Hie Oriental team has something unique this season, viz., a one-armed man in E. Perry as captain. Despite his disablement his form is good, and he had the satisfaction of scoring the first try in championship matches this season in the first three minutes of play. The fifteen led by Perry last Saturday wero as follow .-—Full-back, H. M'Girr (an Oriental Junior last year and the well-known cricketer); three-quarters, Hale, Houlihan (another brother of the pair that played for Southern last year from South Canterbury), and Dingle (the ex-Can-terbury player who was iu the Poneke team last year); eve-eighths, Owles (an Oriental Junior) and Kinvig; half, Carrad (who played substitute a couple of times for Fred. Roberts last year); forwards, Bunckenburg (wing), Best (a South Island country representative last year), Perry, Moffitt (a Wellington representative from the St James Club), Mullanev (a promoted Junior), King, Shearer and Eberliardt.

Frank Mitchinson came down from the King Country last week, but so far the" ex-New Zealand representative centre three-quarter' has not signified his intention of turning out. The Poneke team could do with his services, however, for the back division is on the young and light side. The side is composed as follows:.—Pullback, Sim (a son of the Bob Sim who played suc-h a great game for Wellington against the 1888 English team); three-quarters, Algar (who has_ come right up from the Fifth Grade in one season), Morris and J. Elliot; fiveeighths, Tilyard (captain, from TVanfanui, after a season's play there) and 'isher (who has come from Taihape with a big reputation); half, Russell (an ex-Petone and ex-Southern Junior): wing forward, Gardner; forwards, H. Elliot, Jacobsen (late of Old Boys). Keener (a burly young gentleman from Southern), Brewer, Keys (the latter a promoted Junior) and Gunn.

St James are a weak team in comparison with most of the other sides in the Senior competition, and with their former glory. The back team is a composite one, a Jew, _ an Irishman and four Maoris being in the division. Fisll-baok, Asher; quarters, Young, Israel and M'lnerney; five-eighths, Poananga and Heketa; half. Utiku ; forwards. Hills, Bethelson (from Nelson). Johnson (a last year Southern player), Donaldson, Mumis (from Palmerston North). Miller (Melrose last year) ar.d Brown, with Frank Wright on the wing. The "Wellington forward team is a big and heavy one, and is constituted as under:—Francis (a one-time Oriental player), Irons, M'Knv (from Nelson College), Brown (who has played county football in England, but is recently from Christchurch), Perry (nn ex-Otago player). Weir and Coker, with Miller on the wing. Lambert is full-back, Durie. Grace and Can-three-quarters, Elliffe (St John's Club) and Henderson five-eighths, with Lance Bridge at half. The Victoria College team has caused a lot of talk during the week, owing to its meritorious draw with Pet-one last Saturday. The side is a,s follows:—P. Gray, full-back: En ting (an ex-St John's player), Bennett (from Palmerston North), and Goodbehere (who promised to make a big name for himself on the running track, owing to his defeat of Duffy and the other champions). three-quarters: P. J. Ryan. D.. Beard (who played forward in * the "Wellington C'ollege_ team), five-eighths: Stainton, ball. The forwards are a hefty lot. probably the heaviest in the competition, the lock tiy>r>i;ig the beam at lost lib. They are—Walker (from Otago Fniversity), Paulsen. Bennett (Canterbury College), T. Beard (lock). Fawcett- (St John's). Shaw (an ex-Waikato player) and Brosnan.

The Petono back players are the best in the competition, and when they get fully into their stride will make things lively. ' Nunn is half, with and J. Ryan five-eighths, and Boyd, E. Ryan and Roger Datisey three-quar-ters. and Parker full-back. Pamsden is laid up with nn injury to_ his knee, which keeps bim out of service for the time being. The forwards_ miss Ready s weight, and will want a hit of bi'.ndlinq; alone; if ihey are going to do any good. From the r.V>ove it will lie seen that them is very little new blood otroring i:i Wellington football this season, nor would it appear that- the Northern League game has gained any Rugby players. The names are all familiar, and present npnoarnnces point to tlu competition lining an interesting one.