FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue I, 5 July 1902, Page 20

FOOTBALL.

CITY v. PONSONBY. These teams met for- the second time this season on Saturday, and the match was looked forward to with a good deal of interest, owing to the fact that they drew on the first occasion. City made no mistake this time, and after one of the uninteresting games of the season won by 16 points to 3. It was a forward game from start to finish —scrum succeeding scrum—and one ii^ which City forwards kept up their reputation, keeping their opponents continually on the defence. There was little to choose between the two back divisions, Young, McGee and W. Tyler showing up for City, while Sid Riley, McCall, and the full-back did most of the work for the other. The latter was a bit fluky at starting, but stopped some rushes in good style at the finish. City forwards all played well, bar a tendency to lie on the ball in the scrums, but a couple of free kicks on Saturday soon stopped that. Francis and Dunning- played well for Ponsonby. Donovan, McGee, Scott, and Asher scored tries. Young and W. Tyler converted a tryeach. NEWTON v. GRAFTON. This match was played on No. 3 ground, and play was fast right, through, the ball being first at one end, and then back to the other. A good number of the spectators left the stand to watch this game, and a good deal of barracking was indulged in. The game ended in a sensational win for Newton by 7 points to 6, Rowe kicking a goal from the field for Newton right on call of time. Cowan scored the other points for Newton. Kiernan kicked a penaltygoal, and McKenzie scored a try for the losers. NORTH SHORE V. PARNELL. This match ended in an easy victory for North Shore by 14 points to nil. McClusky, Irvine, Smith and Harp scored tries, and Yewland converted, one into a goal. SECOND FIFTEENS. Grafton beat City by 6 points to 0. THAMES FOOTBALL. Is.he1 s .he Thames-Walhi football match was played on Saturday on me local recreation reserve. Hughes and Mathias having met with accidents were unable play for Waihi. Garvey captained Waihi • maroon) and Laing captained Thames (blue and black). Mr Burman (Auckland) refereed. Mr McGregor, the Thames selector, was present, with a view to selecting a combined team to play against Auckland. So far Waihi had never succeeded in lowering Thames’ colours. Last season's match ended in a draw at Thames, and the previous year at Waihi Thames beat the maroons by 17 to 6. so that this match was looked forward to with great Interest by both sides. Waihi have lost the services this season of such first-class players as Cunningham and McColl, now playing in Auckland, and Graham. Thames won the toss, having a strong wind in their favour. The kick-off brought the oval in dangerous proxiudty to the blues’ goal, where the maroons obtained a free kick. Laudy made a good attempt at goal, but failed. Neutral play followed. An open rush by the maroons brought hostilities back into Thames’ 25, where the blues again rallied, central play being the result. The maroons. however, answered gamely, and a combined open rush took the ball right up to the Thames goal line, where ill efforts failed to relieve it. Brown (Waihi) got the oval over the line and scored first blood. I.andy added the major points with a good kick. Waihi, a; Thames, nil. After some neutral play, the blues made a determined effort to make good the ground lost, and Klngham obtained a mark In a dangerous position opposite Walhi’s goal, but no goal was klckad. Shortly afterwards Morgan marked 'or Thames, but the attempt to score again failed. The blues kept up active hosil itles In Walhi’s 23. Laing on one occasion nearly scoring, but was grassed by Currie. the full back. The maroons at this point forced the game to their opponent’ territory, where the maroon back division took possession of the oval. Garvey, picking up. passed to JHett. who sent along to Phillips. The latter smartly transferred to McKay, or. the wing, and he, being clear, made a short dash to

the corner, registering another try for Waihi. Landy failed to add the major points. Waihi. 8; Thames, nil. This passing run by the Waihi backs was certainly the best bit of football during the whole match. The whistle sounded halt time shortly afterwards. The second speil was noted for good play, the Thames working hard co score. Uut they were certainly outclassed ‘n most departments. Waihi had all the best of the game during the latter end ot the spell. No further score resulted, though Waihi nearly added to the score on several occasions. So far as the Waihi men went, it would be difficult to pick out a. weak one in the entire fifteen. The back division vzere "n splendid form,. Flett. Landy. Garvey. Phillips, and McKay showitig exceptionally brilliant pay. Currie, at full? was safe in kicking and tackling, and Fraser was undoubtedly the best wing on the field, though Leslie did excellent work. Laing stood out far ahead of the other Thames men. McLean and Klngli.vm. however, showed first-class form for Thames. The forwards worked well, proving more able than their opponents in hooking out from the serum. Houghton took full advantage of this ami fed bis backs well.