FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue IV, 27 July 1901, Page 159

FOOTBALL.

Wretched weather again on Satui'day, but nevertheless about 2000 spectators braved the eteneata, attracted by the Gratton-Newton match. ' When the surroundings are taken into consideration it must be admitted that there was some more than fair football exhibited in the GraftonNewton game. Although the firstnamed only won by the small margin of 3 points to nil they were undoubtedly the better team, and should, I think, have put up * larger score. The majority of the Grafton backs handled the greasy ball remarkably well, but one or two of them at times made mistakes. Newton went in almost wholly for the forward game, using their backs for defensive purposes only. In the earlier stages of the game their vanguard quite held its own, but the Grafton men lasted it out better.

Marshall, the ex-junior, playing full for the winners, did much better than on the previous Saturday, but there is still ample room for improvement. He was inelined to indulge in speculations at times, and for another thing, when he got hold of the ball

he endeavoured to get rid of it as soon ’as possible, without glancing round to see if any of his opponents were in the neighbourhood. Thomson continues to show improvement, and undoubtedly made the run of the day, and on one occasion had hard luck in not scoring, for after crossing the line he knocked the ball forward. Should Thomson continue to improve as at present he will not be out of the running when the rep. team comes to be chosen.

As usual McKenzie played a really good game, and one has come to look

for sueh from him, so much so that it would be quite a shdck to the onlookers should he play a* inferior one. Not only ms he dangerous in attack, but he invariably proves a stumbling-block to the opposition attack.

Campbell had an off day, and the speedy Graftou three-quarter has not given sueh a poor exhibition before thia season. At times he seemed totally unable to pick up or hold the ball.

“Dug” Hay played a game of the solid order, and was always there when required. He crossed the line upon one occasion, and in my opinion scored an undoubted try, but for some reason or other Mr Campbell disallowed it. Now that “Dug” is playing regularly his claims for inclusion in the rep. team cannot be lightly passed over, and so far I have seen nobody I should prefer at five-eighths. Taylor’s game was rather patchy; at times he showed splendid form, and at others he appeared all at sea. Kiernan played a clever, heady game at half, and is at present showing distinctly better form than in the earlier matches. He follows up his pass well, and on Saturday scored by so doing, as he was in position to take a return pass from Taylor.

There are several men in Auckland who have played consistently good games this season, and R. McGregor, the Grafton forward, is one of them. Saturday was no exception to the rule, as “Rod” was in great form, and played about the best forward game on the ground.

Gunson was another to do really good work, and he is a most useful forward; not only is he a genuine grafter, but he follows up well and tackles like a back.

C. Brady and Cuebaey were atao cam •pSevMroe in the Graßoa vaagwarA, bat 1 shcruM Bet Mke to aasert that the latter did hie fair share ef the graft. On the wiag J. Brady was greatly in evidence, and proved a tteora in the sides of the Newton backs. While on the subject ef wing piayvn, I hope Mr Murray, the aeleecar, will consider the advisability of playing without them in the NJCW. matiii. Should he do so I am ceetaia it will improve the game from a spectator’s point of view. Brash, Newton’s full-back, is shaping in excellent and improving style, and successfully got through a lot of work on Saturday. He had very little chance of stopping Kiernan's try, and cannot be blamed for the score, though if he had dived at Taylor be might have spoilt the pass. It is generally a mistake to try and stop several men. Make certain of the man with the ball, and down him promptly, and the chances are that you disarrange the passing. The Newtoa three-quarters pretty well confined their efforts to defensive •work, and in this respect were very effective. Woods was the most prominent, and he has few superiors in Auckland at defending. He was at times, however, very weak in handling the ball, and was lucky to get out of trouble on more than one occasion. Robinson, Heath and the two Rowes were all seen to advantage, and the smallness of Grafton’s score was mainly due to their effective stopping. When one has to select the best forward in Newton’s ranks it is always extremely difficult to separate A. and H. Wilson. On Saturday both played remarkably well, and quite up to rep. form. Of the other Newton forwards Sandall and McKnight did their full share of the work.

The Suburbs and Parnell match attracted but little attention, and it cannot be said that it proved a very interesting game. The all blacks proved decidedly the stronger team, although they only won by six points to nil. There was little or no brilliant play, but. of course, the ground and the ball were all against scientific football.

ia the iMmrmusfi aknanoe af tomtarL»*4 Bwnpi.j agate yteyed feM beak, and aayiitlad ktaanatf naaMy wail. Our old friend Abeoluin was te tea fore at three quarter. gaiaiag tooth tea tries aeored toy Ms team. “Hugtate** displayed a Be* of date aaxi appeased to toe lew hampered by the ■ - r »*iei eoaditiea* than meet of the ether baeks in this match. la Cowan Suburbs pews er ,s a safe and improving three-quarter, but Jtybum did not shape any too writ ou Saturday. The diminutive Grey plated hie usual plucky game at half, and although not toy any aoeans brilliant, be is a very useful man for his team. The Suburbs pack is now shaping much better than at the beginning of the season. They can buntty be termed scientific, bat tUMloubtediy they are grafters. Johnston and t Inert both played exceedingly useful games on Saturday, the first named especially so; whilst Cow lev end Stephen were also to the fore in pack work. In the l*ameil ranks one man stands out head and shoulders alx»ve the other members of the team, anil that is the veteran “Bob” Handrock. Saturday after Saturday he has played splendid games, remarkably so when one considers the ecant measure of support he receives, end at times he appears to be almost playing the whole of his opponents and doing the duties of both forward and back. The Purnell backs gave jwomiee earlier iu the season of considerable promise, but it has not been realised, and there is not a mnn in their ranks at present who would gain a place in some of the other teams.

Very few anticipated that I’onsoulry would prove equal to lowering the colours of North Shore in the mud and on their own ground, but they succeeded in doing so, and the victory, if a trifle lucky, cannot be said to be undeserved. The game was fast, fif anj- form of mud larking can l*e termed fast) and at times very exciting, and Ponsonby can ascribe their victory to good place kicking, a department in which the Auckland clubs are at present woefully weak. It is hard

to ÜBdersta.nd why it should be so, as it only requires practice, and a sure place kicker is an invaluable man for bis team. Amongst the Ponsonby backs t’pton and Stephenson appeared most at home in the heavy going, and to their efforts Ponsonby's try was mainly due. Their defensive work also was of the soundest description, and they .constantly nullified Shore’s efforts to score. Francis was the hero of the match, as besides playing a great forward game his place kicking won the game for Ponsonby. I should not be surprised to see this player tried for rep. honours. Shore having lost Buddle, their fulll>ack, who is at present in Wellington, have found a worthy substitute in Ilobb. who plays a good, safe game. Peter Gerrard made his reappearance in the Shore ranks on Saturday and proved that during his absence in -the South his play has not at all deteriorated. Corner, though on the small side, is a brilliant player, being strong both in attack and defence. Fraukham was very conspicuous for his play on Saturday and gained both tries scored by North Shore. He is a player of the dashing order and very dangerous near his opponents’ line. The Shore vanguard, although they had all the better of the game in the second spell, hardly displayed so much dash as usual, otherwise the result might have been different. THE POSITION OF THE TEAMS By their defeat of Newton on Saturday Grafton have made their position for the ehampionship honours practically secure. The following table shows the position of the teams: —

Points.

Fid. Won. Lost. Dr'n. For. Ag Grafton .. 9 9 0 0 88 Citv 8 6 1 1 157 14 Newton .. .. 8 4 8 1 4»3 82 Suburbs . .. 8 4 4 0 2u 58 N. Shore. .. b 3 6 0 39 Potisonby . V 3 6 0 29 91 Parnell ... 9 0 0 0 8