FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue I, 4 July 1903, Page 18

FOOTBALL.

AVCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. WINS FOB cm, NORTH SHORE. AND PONSONBT. The second round of the Rugby Vnion championship matches was commenced on Saturday, when the match between Newton and City attracted a -arce crowd at Alexandra Park. Those who expected a close and interesting game were disappointed, for although the teams played a stubbornly contested draw when they met in the first round, City had an easy win on Saturday by 22 points to 4. Newton's form was distinctly disappointing. On Ao. 2 grcnnd Suburbs suffered defeat at toe hands of North Shore by 5 points to 3. Ponscnhy defeated Parnell somewhat easily by 12 points to nil. COUNTRY FOOTBALL. THAMES. The senior match on Saturday was between Thames and Rovers. In the first quarter of an hour Rovers carried the ball over the line, and, a Thames back missing It, Hayward scored. Dufty failed to convert. A little later Keating started a passing rush, which ended in J. Hocghton scoring. Dufty kicked a gosh Johnston potted a goal from the field, and R. MeI.e.ff scored a try, which Dnfty did not convert. In the second speU Hayward scored for Rovers, and Dufty converted. Rovers thus winning by 20 points to nil. In the first junior match Rovers n. defeated Native Rose by five points to nil. Sullivan scored a try. which Newland converted. In the second junior match Menzies scored a try for True Blue, and Smith converted it. Pearson scored for Rovers HI., the try being converted by Gribble. liter ia the game Rovers HL disputed the referee's decision, and left the ground. True Blue claiming toe match. PAEROA. The senior football match on Saturday afternoon was an "A" and "B” practice match in -view of the representative match next Saturday with toe Piako Union. There was little good play, and only 12 men on each side could be mustered. The junior contest East v. West resulted for the third time this season in a draw, neither side scoring. The game wu a very good one, being sternly contested right tbrongh. gOrTTFERN MATCHES. WELLINGTON FOOTBALL. There was perfect weather for Saturday afternoon’s games, and the grounds were ia fairly good order. The meeting of Perone and Melrose drew a big crowd to the Athletic Park. The suburban team won, after a keenly contested struggle, in which some excellent phases of forward plav were shown, by 12 to 6- Five minntes after the start of toe game toe Pe-

tone forwards rushed the ball acroes the Metros* line, and Sellwood touched down. 1b the next spell Barber potted a beautifal goal for Petone, which put Me Irene on its nettle, and the townsmen crossed their opponents' line twice in succession, J. Spencer and Osborne being try genera. Weil on towards the end of the spell i’eteae came with a great rush, and Sellwood again scored. M. Ryan added the goal points. The game ended: Petone 12, Melrose 6.

Wellington and Athletics did not give an Interesting exposition of Rugby. The former won by 11 to 6. Allen scored two tries for Wellington and Mclntyre one, Brodie converting in one instance. For Athletics Hales kicked a splendid penalty goal, and Redgrave notched a try. A fast, open game was sevu between Old Boys and Oriental. There was no s»-ore In the hist spell, in the next half Oriental backs finished up»u nice passing rush by Anderson scoring. Cleland scored for Old Boys.

CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL.

The weather was fine for Saturday’s football, but the grounds were very beany. The going was slippery, but the ball was dry, and in two of the games ax lea? there was plenty of good football. The Sydenham-Linwood match was the chief centre of attraction, and after a very even and exciting game Linwood won by three points. Christehuxeh beat Merivale by 11 points to 5. The Albion-Canterbury College match resulted in an easy win for the former by 2a points to niL Each team engaged in the competition has now played nine matenes. and the championship points are:—Albion, S;

Sydenham, Linwood, t>s; Christchurch. 6: Merivale, 3j: Old Boys, 3; Canterbury College, 2; Lyttelton, >. The Lyttelton team have withdrawn from the competition

DUNEDIN FOOTBALL.

In the senior football on Saturday Alhambra aud Kaikorai played a diawa game (three points each}; Dunedin, three points, beat University, nil; Southern, 1* points, beat Zingsfl nil; Union, three Sints, beat Pirates, niL Alhambra, with points, still leads for the championship, Southern being second, with 12 points.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM.

A SYDNEY OPINION. FORWARD COMBINATION.” “DOUBTFUL BACK DIVISION.” The Sydney “Daily Telegraph” of June 22 eontains* an exhaustive criticism of the New Zealand team by “Arawa,” wao is evidently fanQHar with New Zealand football- After using the “headings” quoted aveve, “Aravi” says of the team: “The estimator of the strength of this team finds himseif swayed by entirely different feelings. Beginning with the backs, he is inclined to be extremely doubtful as to their alb round efficiency, on missing the starry qualities of past ccmbiuatiotLs; but there is a complete transformation when the forward divaioD, which is composed of a splendid set of men. who, physicady, should surpass any of the previous forward combinations sent io Australia, comes to be reviewed. ’ Of the backs he says: “It may be that, terr* 7B g such a fine set of forwards tn front •f them, they will bring about tae unexpected. At ail events, there will not be the same coiifidenee in them as was shown, and justifiably so, as results proved, in regard to the teams of ISS4. I*4*3. and IR'“. What Is missing in this combination >s the tested, tried, ftM true players of the stairp of Gage, Jervis, Bayiy, Smith. Armit, Roberts, and Allen, only to mention the last two teams. There is not that striking individualiiy about the contingent behind the scrum that has characterised previous teams, acd in the moment of need pulled tneui through. This somewhat pessimistic view ci the position in regard to the backs ’s, of course, the result of a comparison with other New Zealand back combinations. \s the selectors here are not too hopeful as to the strength of their own three-quarters, and as the Queensland champion, tpragg, has unfortunately been put out of p ay, the conditions are about equalised. It a:l, however, points to a decadence of individual brill Laney amonjst the men behind the pack. . . Wanted a full-back? The most searching inquiry has failed to produce aay response, and the team is actually coming without a player who is used to that position. One of the three-quarters will have io do duty in that responsible position—another unmistakable sign of weakness. Strangely, since the days of Braddcn. New Zealand has never sent a really good full-back to Australia (D'Arcy, who played so well -n 1593, was chosen as a three-quarter.j” However. “Arawa" has something mere cheerful to say:—“New Zealanders on this side of the Tasman will, however, note with extreme cheerfulness that there are one or two really good men in the war division; rwift and enterprising gentlemen who will want most attentive watching. Kiernan is •ne of the finest half-backs ever sent to Autrafix. He is both sure and brilliant. He will aet the machinery sf the backs going In most approved style, and a few seconds later he will be taking the text pass from his three-quarters. If .he team took its standard of excellence from the play of the brilliant little Aucklander the best of New Zealand combinations world be equalled. Asher, the only man in tne team with any native blood In him. is a mixture of briULance and unreliability. If he begins well, iook out, but he Is quite likely to make a bad mistake. That he is dangerous ia shown by the fact that recently he scored «tx tries in one match. Another scorer Is D. McGregor, from Canterbury, who last

season accomplished the feat rf scoring in every representative match ue played In. But Lis defence will not excite any wild enthusiasm, and this applies to ethers. Wallace is a neat and trim player, who will possibly be in the centre, and, 'f he is la the humour, Australians will see rme quick, sure, and pretty kicking. R. McGregor belongs io the style of player wqo is cXard as sound. Wood at time* reveals brLlianee, and he can pace it splendidly, stalker is a nuggety stamp of player from Dunedin, who is a sprint runner, but he will not replace Otago s wing representative in cae last team Armit. ' For ti.e forwards “Arawa” has high praise. “A fine team of forwards is coming, and the expert opinion is that it is a Letter combination than that seat across in LsuT, and it is no doubt here that the real strength of the team will be found. In kUIs connection it is pleasing to see that the Wairarapa. where some of the finest material for forwards cau be found —hard, keen, untiring met. w_o wiil cheerfully see Jbe hardest of games through—has been done justice to, which has not always L«eeu the case; and in Armstrong, McMinn. and Udy a tiemeadously powerful trinity has been cxsen. Each

man is over 14 stone: in McMinn and Udy two really good, honest forwards will be seen. Armstrong is a wing pla.- t. but of a

ing player, who, with his scfuti forwards beating down the opposition, will be very destructive to the opposing oack division.'