FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XXI, 21 May 1904, Page 20

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS, tinned at Alexandra Park on Saturday afternoon, the principal match being that between City and Newton. This, after a keenly contested game, ended in a draw, neither side being able to score. Ponsonby ran over Parnell to the tune of 27 to nil, aud Grafton had an easy victory over Suburbs by 16 points to nil. Following are details of the games:— NEWTON V. CITY. A close hard fought forward game had its only just conclusion, neither side having evinced such superiority as would entitle it to a win. There were few incidents that were really exciting, and none which could bo classed as brilliant, but the keenness of the struggle kept up the interest of the spectatois all through. The players took the game very much in earnest, and there was not a shirker on the ground. There was a good deal of roughness at times, especially on the line out and in the scrums. Both sides kept the game as close as possible, and neither made half the use of their backs that one would have expected from two of the strongest teams in the competition. Though called upon to do practically all the w’ork right through, the forwards lasted well, aud were as hard at it in the last ten minutes as in the first. A slight shower which fell just before play was started, and made the ball somewhat greasy, but not too much so for a team of capable backs to have distinguished themselves. The forwards, as stated, did a great deal of work, but that work was not altogether of a satisfactory character. The play was not made open enough, and no where was there any pretence at dribbling, that most important portion of forward science. For Newton, Lewis, Long and Trevaithen were most prominent at following up. while Conquer did some good work. For City, Tyler and Nicholson were prominent. Freeman, at half for Newton, put in some good work, kicking quickly and finding the line well. Young was hardly up to his usual form, and in the second spell

he was remarkahly well watched by W. Heath, who played I he beet whig game on the gvonnd. Phillips <Ud some eplenrWd Melting, but once or twice he fulled to held the hall well. Asher play«l with a good deal of dash, but was well shepherded, and did not get many chances. Stephens was not up to form at full back in the first half, but played welt throughout the second spell. Mr Blakey was in charge of the game, and made a very efficient referee. A DECISIVE WIN FOR PONSONBY. Ponsonby scored In the first few minutes of the game, aud continued to have the better of their opponents right through till the cull of time, when the score was: Ponsonby 27, Parnell nil. Tries were scored by Carlaw, Polson, Carder, Renwick (2). and Riley, Francis converted three of the tries. It was the superiority of the Ponsonby backs that won the match. Their forwards, too, were superior to I'arueil, who, for all tlxat, kept them in check very well. This was I'ousonby's first appearance, and. if the prophecies concerning them arc to be fulfilled, they must show better form lu their front attack. The backs are more than average, and will require a lot of watching. Carlaw, Renwick, Polson, and Taylor were cn about a par on Saturday's play. The Parnell backs, with the exception of Twiname, were not up to senior form. Gallagher stood out prominently in the Ponsonby forwards, and in the other pack Hodgson and Whitaker played well. GRAFTON V. SVBPP.BS. Tries were secured by Marshall, MacCormick, McKenzie, and Morley, two being converted by McKenzie. The game requires little er no comment, the display of football being very mediocre. The Suburbs players, who were without the services of Stuckey, were nearly all young and Inexperienced. Absolum, who was absent on the opening day, played a sterling game, and but for him Grafton’s score would probably have been larger. McKenzie was the most prominent of the Giafton men. his line kicking being exceptionally good. FIRST JUNIORS. Newton beat City, 3 points to nil. Ponsonby beat Parnell, 8 points t 0 nil. Suburbs beat Grafton, 11 to nil. SECOND JUNIORS. Ponsonby beat Parnell, 15 to nib Newton beat City, 8 to 6. North Shore beat Suburbs by three points to nil. SCHOOt MATCHES. “A” GRADE.” Marist Brothers beat Napier-street, 27 to nil. Richmond-road and Nelson-street

drew, 3 pirimtyeaeh. I’uiiHonb.y and <rew, 3 poiifts Meh. * Mount Eden beat Newton East, 7 to nil. Wellestey-srtreet heart BerMf ordstreet, 6 to nil. “ B ” GRADE. Remuera beat Marist Brothers by default, Ellerslie beat Epsom, 6 to nil. Newmarket beat Chapel-street, 6 to 3. Mount Roskill beat XVellesley-atreet, 0 to 3. SOUTHERN MATCHES. WELLINGTON, Saturday. In the football matches to-day Pet one (16) beat Melrose (nil); Oiiental (33) beat Athletic (nil); Poueke (17) beat Old Boys (nil). DUNEDIN, Saturday. The weather was fine for football to-day, and some surprises resulted. Dunedin beat Alhambra by 6 points to nil; Zingarl beat Southern l>y 3 to nil; Kaikorai beat Union bv 3 to nil; University beat Pirates by 8 to nil. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The weather was fine for the football matches on Saturday afternoon, but the grounds at Lancaster Park were soft and in some places rather slippery. The attendance was the largest of the season, but the standard of play was very little better than on the previous Saturdays, all three games being disappointing. Albion continued on their unbeaten way, defeating Merivale by 10 points to nil. Sydenham had an easy victory over Old Boys, the score reading 23 to nil; and Linwood beat Christchurch by 0 points to 3. The championship points stand as follows: Albion 5, Sydenham 4, Linwood 3, Merivale 2, Christchurch 1, Canterbury College 0, Old Boys 0. Sydenham and Albion have each played five matches, and the others only four each. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL On Saturday. in pleasant weather and with the grounds in excellent condition, the first matches in the cup competitions were played. Those contested on the Domain were four in number, in addition to one which went by default. The cups in the different grades last year were wou as follows:—First grade (cup and shield): Y.M.C.A.. Second giade (cup): St. John’s College. Third grade (cup and medals): Grafton. The Y.M.C.A. team expired during the recess, but re appeared under the name of ••Corinthians,” and it is in this new role that the Y.M.C.A. boys will be seen playing this season. Judging from the form shown by the senior team on the Domain on Saturday the club has lost none of its vigour by its sudden death and resurrection. There is an interesting little story connected with the change of name, and as it injures nobody, there will probably be no breach of confidence in repeating it. It Is alleged that when the Y.M.C.A. team won the cup last year, it was noticed that the acceptance of the shield which accompanied it would involve the advertising of the giver’s merchandise, which was good Scotch whisky. This was scarcely in keeping with some of the principles underlying the work of the institution in Wellesleystreet, and considerable difficulty was experienced in persuading the members of the team to take this view of the case when a handsome shield was at stake. There was, of course, no serious ill-feeling engendered, the objectors being regarded with every respect for having the courage of their honest convictions. But the one solution of the dilemma was obvious. The club disbanded, and immediately reformed as the Corinthians, under which name they became free to hold the shield without stultifying the institution whose name they formerly bore. The personnel of the teams appears to remain unchanged.

The senior match between the Corinthians aud the Thistle team provided a remarkably fine match, and if the quality •of the play can be taken as a criterion of what is to follow in senior grade football for the coming season, there must inevitably be a big “lift-up” in store for the Association game. The Corinthians shaped as though they had been training all the summer. They have probably practised more than any other team, and must command our admiration for their enthusiasm. The Thistle men, who looked well in their blue jerseys, were a good lot of men individually, hardy Scotchmen, fast, tricky, and plucky, but there was a lack of mutual confidence among the forwards, which lost them man}’ chances. This waut of cohesion, however, is nearly always prevalent during the early matches of the season, and will doubtless be removed as the weeks roll on. They played with only ten men. The Corinthians won the match by five goals to one. Tabernacle defeated North Shore by two goals to nil. In second grade football the Corinthian second team won through default of the Thistle second team, and they played merely a scratch game. There was therefore only one second grade match on the Domain, aud this was wou by the W.Y.M.I. team from the Ivanhoes by two to one. It wns an eager match, and was much patronised by the barrickers.

Bonsouby defeated North Shore B by 8 goals to 1; W.Y.M.I. B drew with Tabernacle; and St. John’s defeated North Shore A’ by 4 goals to nil. In third grade matches the Collnthians ■ucctunbed to the W.Y.M.I. with u reverse of 1 to none; and the Taberuaele and Grafton Urms effected a draw of uo goals.