FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue II, 14 July 1900, Page 62

FOOTBALL.

The principal attraction at Epsom on Saturday was the I’onsonhy-Graf-ton match, ami notwithstanding that the afternoon, so far as the weather was concerned, was very unpleasant for spectators, a very fair number turned out. It was generally anticipated that a good game woidd result, and so it turned out, but, contrary to expectation, Ponsonby succeeded in pulling off the match by 8 points to 6. The other senior matches played at Potter’s were: City v. Parnell, and Newton v. Suburbs, and both were viewed in the light of “walks-over” for the first-mentioned teams. Such hardly proved to be the case, as though both Parnell and Suburbs suffered defeat each team made a hard and stubborn fight of it. ® ® ® PONSONBY V. GBAFTON. The former team, winning the toss, naturally elected to take advantage of the strong easterly wind that was blowing down the ground. For the first, few minutes after the start of play Grafton was kept on the defensive, and all their efforts were required to prevent a score. A force relieved the pressure for a time, and shortly afterwards some good line kicking carried the ball to Ponsonby’s 25. Here from a mark Kiernan punted high in front of the blue and blacks’ goal, and only the failure of the Grafton men to take the ball on the full prevented a score. Throughout the remainder of the spell Ponsonby had all the best of things, and only on one or two occasions did the ball reach their territory. Grafton defended very strongly, however, and looked like preventing a score, but about ten minutes before time Ponsonby rushed the ball over the line, and Galloway, outpacing the opposing backs, scored a try, which Upton converted. A few minutes later Ponsonsonby again looked dangerous, but a force was the only result. Grafton were very confident that with the wind in their favour they could more than wipe out Ponsonby’s lead. They received a rude shock, however, as within a few minutes of the opening of ihe spell Upton landed a beautiful goal from a penalty kick. This reverse seemed to put the Grafton players on their mettle, and they initiated a very strong- attack on their opponents’ lines. Taylor actually crossed the line, but apparently did not know it, as he failed to ground the ball, and the opportunity was lost. Shortly afterwards 1). Hay made an unsuccessful shot at goal, and the defending back failing to take the ball McGregor snapped it up and scored. The kick at goal, though not a difficult one. failed. Kiernan making a very poor attempt. Within a few minutes Grafton again scored. Sterling obtaining possession of the ball from a scrum close to the line and dashing over. Kiernan had another attempt at goal, but failed, the ball'striking the centre of the cross bar. There was still about a quarter of an hour to go, and Grafton's supporters were very confident, but Ponsonby defended desperately, and defied Grafton’s efforts to again break through. Upon one occasion a free kick in a very favourable position was awarded to Grafton, and it looked any odds that a goal would result, but Kiernan elect-

ed to haw a drop instead of a place kick, and the bail went wide, and with it went Grafton's last chanee of victory. ’taken right through, the game was a very close and exciting one, although the display of football was not of a very brilliant description. The teams were very evenly matched, and were they to meet again I fancy that, notwithstanding their defeat, Grafton would be the favourite pick. Upton played a much better game at full-back for the winners than he has previously done this season, and his place-kicking won the match for his side. Lendnim and Carlaw did good work both in attack and defence at threequarter, the latter being endowed with a lot of pace. Playing at five-eighths, little Galloway gave another fine exhibition, and it is wonderful what an amount of work he gets through in the course of a game. A. Braund (“Isaacs”) appeared to he almost his old self again, and certainly his head-work had a lot to do with Ponsonby’s success. Amongst the forwards Gallagher and Doran were the shining lights, but the Ponsonby vanguard played well to a man. The absence of H. Smith rather disorganised Grafton’s four three-quar-ter back play, and Davidson, who took his place, appeared quite unused to this style of game. D. Hay was about the pick of the three-quarters, his defensive work being especially good. C. Hay hardly played as well as usual, and several good chances were lost owing to his passing forward. Taylor, at five-eighths, played a fairly good game, but he was not up to his form of previous matches. Kiernan played a great game at half, but he showed very bad judgment in not taking advantage of several shots at goal from marks and free kicks. With the wind that was blowing on Saturday any ordinary place-kick ought to have succeeded in landing one or more goals. The forwards hardly displayed as much combination as usual, and there, was generally a bit of a scramble in the scrum’s. Sterling and McGregor were very prominent, and both were rewarded by scoring a try. Mr Gitton was referee, and although thoroughly impartial, was hardly as successful as he might have been. However, this was his first appearance in a first-class match, and he will probably improve. ® ® ® CITY v. PARNELL. (City 9. Parnell 3.) City met Parnell on the No. 2 ground, Mr P. Mackie being referee. From the kick-off City worked the ball close to tlie maroons line,- where play remained for some time. From open play in the 25, Absolum crossed the line, but the score was nullified by a throw-in. From the ensuing scrum Parnell were forced, and another force followed a free kick. A scrambling rush from the quarter flag ended in Bonella scoring a try. Absolum’s kick at goal was a failure. City 3, Parnell nil. Thence to the remainder of the spell. Parnell were on the defensive. Shortly after the opening of the second speU. Parnell were penalised tn front of their goal, and young made a successful kick. City 6. Parnell nil. Play then went back to mid-field, where Cullen picked up and passed to Harrison. who beat two of the City men and scored for ParnelL Cullen made a poor shot at goal- City 6, Parnell 3. City then worked the ball close to the linet

and Parnell were forced a couple of times. The red and blacks continued to press, a.*d from a loose rush Tyler scored another try. Young's kick was not successful. City 9, Parnell 3. The play remained in Parnell’s 25 until the bell sounded, but no further score was added. NOTES. The game was, perhaps, the most uninteresting, from a spectator’s point or view, that has been played this year. The strong wind interfered with the passing runs, but whenever a run was initiated by the City team, one of the members managed to spoil it by a throw-on. Parnell put up a good fight against so strong a team as City, and defended their goal with great determination. Among the City forwards, Tyler, Bonella, and McMillan were conspicuous. Stevens, the full back, was the only man in the rear division to show real form, and had little to do. Hume was, as usual, the mainstay of the maroins, while the Sheras and Adams also put in some good work. Handcock and Strong were the best of the forwards. © © © NEWTON V. SUBURBS. (Newton, 11; Suburbs, 3.) This match was played on No. 3 Ground* and resulted in a win for Newton by 11 points (three tries, one of which was converted) to 3 (a goal from a penalty kick). The game was a very poor exhibition of football, being mainly confined to the forwards. The first spell began with Newton kicking up hill and the red and whites attacked from the start. Suburbs, however, cleared their line, and were within an ace of scoring. A good deal of neutral uninteresting play then took place. Good play by Gray and Cooper put Newton on the defensive, but the red and whites cleared their line and forced the blacks. Immediately afterwards Brash ran in and scored for Newton, Eaton failing with the kick. (Newton 3; Suburbs 0.) Suburbs rallied at this, and just before the call of time Newton were penalised and C. Austin landed a splendid goal from a place kick, the spell ending with the scores three all. . , . In the second spell, with the wind and the slope of the ground in their favour, Newton had the best of it, though Suburbs played up gamely. Newton playea more to their backs, and two tries were scored as the result of passing runs, one by Roberts and one by Hill, Eaton converting the second one. Suburbs made great efforts to score, and at the close of the spell forced Newton twice, but the red and whites’ defence was too good, and the game ended Newton II points; Suburbs 3. NOTES. From a spectator’s point of view the game was monotonous and uninteresting. The wind was bitterly cold down in the hollow, and the few spectators that watched the match looked supremely miserable. In the first spell the game was very even, nothing more than a forward scramble, in which the backs had little share. In the second spell Newton played more to their backs, but their display throughout the game was not at all nrst class- All the backs played fairly, considering their opportunities, though Brash was inclined to be selfish inPassing. The forwards were not at all superior to their opponents, and did not shine at all brilliantly. The Suburbs backs ■were nearly all weak in their kicking, especially Woods at full. Cooper, a young player, who made his appearance at three quarter, showed considerable promise, and Gray, at half, played, an excellent game. Up till Saturday Grafton shared with City the pride of place in the contest for the championship, but their defeat at the hands of Ponsonby puts them second on the list, level with Newton, leaving City on top. Should City succeed in defeating Grafton next Saturday they will have practically won the cup. The following table shows the relative positions of the competing

Note.—City and North Shore won from Suburbs by default on June 2 and 9 respectively.

PAEBOA FOOTBALL. The monthly meeting of the Ohlnemurt Rugby Union was held at Waikino on Monday. It was decided to play Thames at Paeroa on the 21st, also Walhi next Saturday at Walhi. Arrangements were made for both matches. The combined team to play the Thames will be chosen next Saturday after the Walhi match. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Auckland Rugby Union asking them to play Ohlnemurt combined at Paeroa on 4th August. A Karangahake player, for abusing the referee last Saturday, was dlsqualltied from playing for five years, and from admission to the football ground for two years. A spectator at Waikino, for using Insulting language to the referee, was debarred admission to the football grounds for eighteen months. <•>©(« WELLINGTON MATCHES. The matches played on Saturday resulted ns follows:—Rugby matches, senior championship: Poneke ▼. Oriental, Oriental 5, Poneke 5; Wellington v. Petone, Wellington 13, Petone 3: College Roys v. Melrose. Melrose 14, Old Boys 5. The following ehampionship points have been scored by the senior teams iti the fixtures to date:—Melrose 16, Athletic 11, Petone 7, Old Boys 7, Oriental 6. Wellington 6, Poneke 5. Melrose, Petone, Oriental, and Wellington have three matches yet to play. Athletic four, and Poneke and Old Boys five each. In the Association senior matches the Diamonds won the championship by scoring six goals against one goal scored by the Swifts. The Rovers beat Petone by two goals to nil. The competition for the championship has now concluded, leaving the points as follows:—Diamonds 15, Rovers 14, Petone 4, Swifts 3.

W. L. For. Agst. City M. 8 7 1 77 30 Rrnfton 8 6 67 1» 8 6 2 61 Ponsonby 8 4 4 60 47 North Shore 7 3 4 33 47 8 1 7 11 70 Suburbs 7 0 7 6 73