FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 16 June 1900, Page 1118

FOOTBALL.

( ITY V. N EWTON. X isitors to Potter’s Paddock were treated to a very interesting game on Saturday between the above clubs, the finish especially proving wildly exciting. In the first spell Newton had the advantage of a fresh breeze, and on the whole had rather the better of the pla\. but there was not a great deal to choose between the two teams. Curiously enough the game to a very great extent was confined to the forwards. the hacks on either side getting very few opportunities. Seeing that both ( itv aiid Newton possess very fast and dangerous scoring backs, one would ha . ? thought there would have been a preponderance of this style of play, but such was far from being the c:i>e. The general absence of back play has been a conspicuous feature in nearly all the matches this season, and it i> to be hoped that the various chilis will endeavour to improve in thi> respect, as a game confined Io forwards is apt to become very tedion.- i.. spectators. But to return to Sat u: day *s match, towards the end of the first spell Newton managed to in a try. rather a lucky one. I fam s, as the City backs appeared to make no e! r ort to slop Clarke, being apparv..Tly under the impression that f-b.eit had ben a breach of the rules. Many match has bet a lost in this wav. <1 \ to the whittle” is a maxim that players should always bear in mind. In the second spell City awok* to the fact that they were in danger of suffering defeat, ami all through they It. <1 a lot the best of the game. For a 1< ng time they were unsuccessful in i heir efforts to score, faulty pa-sing and Taking being mainly the cau-e of th-ir non-success. On the other baud. Newton deserve great credit for their strong defence, and in thi> respect th--;, -bowed marked improvement on any of their previous games, although th v have always done good work in this department. Still on Saturday they excelled themselves. The greater parr of the second spell had gone, and still Newton led. and their supporters were in high spirits, but about In minutes before time Al »|nm hi kt I tlu ball over the line and a i< ensued between McGee and several of tU N< w ton backs, in which th. fornu r w.i- -ucces-ful. anil scored b< tw<.n rhe po>t<. It looked any odds that a goal would result, but Young’s kick was charged down, anil the score was ’■ all. I hr for th? next ten minutes wa- beyond description. City made frantic efforts to score, anil Newton defend* <1 gallantly, whilst the supporters of both teams went almost mail. Finally, just on time. City r»i du d th ball over the line and scored .in idst wild excitement. Absolum's shot nt goal, though a splendid one, failed, and ( ity was victorious by 6 points to 3. As in exhibition of football as it should be played th? game can hardly b? called a <»icr?SF. but from start to finish it was fast, even, and intensely

exciting. It resolved itself into a match between th»* forward teams, and it was in thi- department that City proved superior. In the second spell especially thi- superiority was very marked, ami had they received a proper support from the backs City’s victory would have been much more pronounced. When all worked so hard it is very difficult to single out any individuals as being especially worthy of mention, but perhaps Wilson and Boneila were the most conspicuous of an even, hardworking lot. Amongst the backs Donovan at full was very safe, but he had not a great deal to do. The three-quarters were not up to th? mark. McGee being the best, whilst Absolum was right off colour. Asher at five-eighths played a splendid game, putting in a tremendous amount of work, both in attack and defence. Young has played much better games, but his defence was sound. For the losers Pillinger at full-back tackled well, but his kicking was below par. Roberts was by far the best of the three-quarters, his taking and kicking being Al. At five-eighths Woods showed marked improvement, his tackling being splendid, whilst his defence generally was the feature of the Newton, back play. The forwards hardly held their own with th? opposing vanguard, and some of them did not seem to Im* doing their fair share of the work. Long was the best, whilst A. Wilson was prominent in the open, but I am rather doubtful about his pack work.

PARNELL V. GRAFTON.

(Grafton 13, Parnell 0.) The game could not by any means be called a good exhibition of football. Grafton were far superior both in front and rear, but Parnell’s defence was very sound and Grafton's passing weak or Grafton's score would have been much larger. The Grafton forwards were a hard working •‘grafting” lot and secured the ball in nearly all the scrums. and the beginning of the passing rush was very pretty, but th? third or fourth man generally held on to the ball too long and nothing was gained. Kiernan at 'naif alone played up to form, lie was as tricky as ever, and got the ball away neatly and quickly besides doing good defensive work. The run which was instrumental in gaining the second try was a brilliant piece of work, one of th»* few straight quick runs one sees now. The other backs did nothing brilliant. The Parnell attack was never very strong, and they were perhaps inclined to take things ca.-lly. Among the forwards who worked to a man. Devitt. Gunson. C uck.-ey. and Macgregor were perhaps the most conspicuous. Parnell were outclassed but played up pluckily and pressed Grafton more than once. Hume at five-eights did an immense amount of work in attack and defence and Adams at centre threequarter was useful with his long kicks. Twiname (threequarter) also showed excel hut deft nee. The forward.- were outclassed by their opponents, but got oft* several good rushes. Cullen on the wing and Jlandi ok were perhaps the most prominent.

SITU RRS v. NORTH SHORE.

This match went to North Shore by default. Suburbs being unable to place a team in the field. RESULTS OF SENIOR MATCHES. The following table shows the positions of th? various senior teams up to last Saturday: —

NOTES FROM WELLINGTON. So far as th? present foot! »il season has gone the display of fcoUmll has I.H vn much superim ' • w bat has been seen for some sc » past. Jn the Poneke-Mel rose n. teh the fact that these two teams wre lead’ng for the championship invested lit • contest with special interest. The Melrose forwards made the play rather warm in the first spell until Poneke roused up and gave their o|>ponents a lively time in defending their quarters. A beautiful j>assing rush by Melrose was spoiled through Carswell failing to take the pass at the critical moment. A series of rushes by each side alternately fol-

lowed, with lively skirmishes among the forwards, lu the second spell, after several failures to seorc. Melrose held their opponents, the forwards making sweeping rushes with good assistance from their backs. "Hie game closed with Melrose 9. Poneke 7. The Melrose team was undoubtedly the better all round combination, the backs playing a safe game in defence and exhibiting attacking powers of a high order. The kicking and taking the ball and the effective passing by the red and blues* rearguard was a treat to witness. The College Boys versus IPetone was a very exciting struggle, the prominent features being spirited forward rushes by both teams and the excellent passing by the old boys’ backs. After some good scoring by both sides Burns had his knee put out and retired for the of the game. After lively play no side was called in the old boys’ twentyfive. and in the dusk the score closed with Old Boys 23. Petone 11. The Athletics beat Wellington by 14 points to nil; Oriental beat St. Patrick's College by 12 to nil; Old Boys defeated Rowing Club by 8 to nil; and Kia Ora beat Melrose by 0 to nil. In the junior championship matches. Association Senior Championship. the Diamonds defeated Petone by 3 goals to nil. In the first half the town team having the advantage of the wind, maintained a vigorous attack on Petone’s goal. From a rally from a corner kick Wilson registered the first score, and after some good play by the Petone forwards. Sen nett scored a second goal. In the second half the Petone forwards made the game lively for the Diamond backs, .lust before the call of time Mowatt secured the third goal for the Diamonds. At Miramar the Rovers beat the Swifts by 5 goals to nil.

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