FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXII, 31 May 1902, Page 1076

FOOTBALL.

PONSONBY V. CITY. There was a poor attendance at Potter’s on Saturday. City met Ponaonby in front of the stand, and. contrary to general opinion, could only make a draw of the game. The game was a very uninteresting one to watch, and breaches of the rules were frequent. Asher scored in the first spell for City, and Francis kicked a soal from a free kick for Ponsonby. t the latter part of the game the. blue and blacks were having all the best of \t, the City forwards going all to pieces. Asher put in a lot of work, and Magee was prominent at times. iYoung was not up to his usual form, and instead of passing out made the mistake, of trying to bullock through .the opposing forwards. He was Closely watched by the Ponsonby yving forwards. Nicholson, in the forwards, grafted hard from start to finish, but several of his comrades seemed out of form. Cunningham had several shots at goal, but did not succeed. For Ponsonby Stephenson and Doran, on the wing (the latter was Inclined to play a bit off-side), Dunning and Francis all played well. Poulson, behind the pack, has the makings of a good half-back. S. Riley and Upton did the bulk of the work in the back department. » SUBURBS V. NORTH SHORE. Suburbs put a strong team in the field, and had the best of the game throughout, especially in the back division, and came out on top by 6 points (2 tries) to nil. Dempsey, who took Sutherland’s place at full, tackled and kicked well. Stuckey showed improved form on his preyious Saturday's play, and seemed inclined to part with the ball a little bit sooner. Absolnm and A. Gray scored the tries. North Shore forwards went off with a bit of a spurt, but did not last long - , and with a poor half-back the backs d>d not have much chance of showing what they yvere worth. ’ NEWTON V. PARNELL. Parnell made a real good fight against a much heavier team, and were by no means disgraced by being beaten by 12 points (4 tries) to 5 (a goal from a try). Mackerall, Kbath and Long’ for Newton, and Handcock, for Parnell, were the best of the forwards, while in the backs Twiname and McCarthy (FSlnell). and Pillenger (Newton), did a lot of good work. SECOND FIFTEENS. City (5) beat Ponsonby (nil). Newton (8) beat Parnell (0). SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. - W ELLINGTON. Saturday. In to-day's senior football matches Melrose (23) beat Old Boys (12); Poneke (24> beat Potone (nil); Welington (12) beat Athletics (7). For Wellington Mclntyre acored two tries and Meredith converted one. Jacobs potted a goal. For Athletics E. Hales kicked a goal from a mark and W. Hhles scored a try. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. In the senior football matches to-day Christchurch beat Merlvate by 11 points to 9; Albion beat Sydenham by 12 points to 4; Linwood beat Old Boys by 20 points to 8. DUNEDIN, Saturday. In the senior football competitions today Kaikoral (8 points) beat University (nil); Alhambra (17) beat Pirates (nil); Southern (9) beat Union (nil); Dunedin and Zln<arl played a drawn game, scoring three points each. • THAMES FOOTBALL. Fine, weather prevailed for Saturday's matches, and there was a fair attendance. The chief Interest was In the senior contest. Rovers v. Thames. Rovers created some surprise by having the best of the game throughout, and winning by 20 points to nil. McCollum and McLean scored In the first spell, McLean converting both tries. In the second spell. Baker, Klngham, McCallum, and Laing scored, and McLean and Klngham converted tries. The first Junior match. Rovers 11. v. Native Rose IT., resulted In u draw, no score betnc made on either side.

In the second Junior match. Rovers 111. met Native Rose HI., and this match also ended In a draw. Dobson scored a try for Rovers and Graham a try for Native Rose. PAEROA FOOTBALL. The first round of cup matches under the Paeroa Rugby Union was continued on Saturday, when East and Suburbs tried conclusions. The game, which was most Interesting from a spectator's point of view, was won by East by 9 points to 3. For the winners W. Soreneon, ,H. Sorensen and Bromwich scored tries, and for Suburbs Goo’f-man succeeded In scoring, but none of the attempts at goal were successful. The first match under the recentlyformed Ohlnemurl Public Schoole' Union took place on Saturday at Paeroa. when the Waihi and Paeroa Schools met. The game was a most Interesting one, some scientific football being shown by both sides. Walhl were the first to score, Campbell securing a neat try, which was not converted. The Paeroa boys stuck to their opponents, however, and in the second spell Hubbard, a three-quarter, made a magnificent run and scored, making the points even. No further score was-registered. Mr W. Moore refereed in both matches, and gave every satisfaction. WAIHI FOOTBALL. The first local club matches were played on 'Saturday afternoon, on the Walhl Rdbreatlon Reserve, between City, last year's champions, and West. The former won the toss. The first spell consisted of open play. The West forwards had the best of the game, and the City backs were unable to get an opening, and no score resulted in this spell. In the second spell the blacks rallied considerably. especially their back contingent McKay, a Cttv three-quarter, who had been playing a consistent game throughout. score a try near the corner not long before time was called, leaving the scores City 3 West nil. Landy, Flett and Phillips made most of their opportunities and Blshman. Fra-er, O’Neill and Dare showed up well in the forwards. Robinson was the pick of th? West backs, and the forwards were all good. There was too much tendency to rough play In the pack of both teams. Mr Hill refereed The Martha brass band played several selections during the afternoon. The Junior match, West v. City, was also played on Saturday afternoon on the Walhl Recreation Reserve, resulting In n drawn game, neither side scoring. I'. Murphy received Injuries to the head ana had to leave the ground.