FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 3, 21 July 1909, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. Ponsonby the Champions. DEFEAT CITY BY 24 TO 5. notwithstanding the drizzly dainP weather, there was an attendance of about 6000 at Alexandra Park on Saturday, iWhen the two leading teanhs for the a.R.U. senior championship, Ponsonby and City, met for the second time this season. The num of £B2 was taken at tbe gates. The tyime was a decidedly interesting one, and tilthough Ponsonby won by the large margin of 24 points to 5, this hardly represents the meritg of the teams. City put up a great fight, their forwards playing with great dash, and fully held up their end with the Blue-and-blacks; but the latter's backs weie much the better, and it was lo their efforts that the western suburb owe their big victory. City’s backs, with the Exception of R. Magee, who played brilliantly, were not up to first-class form. University defeated Grafton by 8 points to 3; while Parnell triumphed over Newton t»y 14 points to nil, all registered In the first spell, when the Newton team gave it CPRESULTS AT A GLANCE. Ponsonby 24, City 5. Univeisity 8, Grafton 3. Varnell 14, Newton 0. The following table shows the position >f the teams:—

SECOND GRADE. 1 The leading teams in the second grade competition met on Saturday, Ponsonby defeating Newton by 3 to nil, and winning the second grade championship. THIRD GRADE. Marist Bros, defeated Parnell by 23 to 0. Marlst Bros. B won by default from Parnell. Ponsonby defeated Newton after a very elose game by 5 to 3. FOURTH GRADE. Clarence and Parnell played a drawn game, each side scoring three points. Grafton won by default from Newton. PUBLIC SCHOOL MATCHES. Newmarket played a drawn game with Mt. Albert, each side scoring six points. Normal (21) beat Richmond-road (0). IJlerslie (tt) beat Epsom (0). Napier-street (10) boat Newton West (0). Nelson street (3) beat Bayfield (0). Ouebuuga beat rvewlon East by six to nil. Hamilton. In tbe senior match Suburbs forfeited to Ma L

In the junior competitions, No. 1 Juniors defeated Suburbs by 3 to nil. In the public schools’ competitions HamliEast defeated Ngaruawahia, at Ngaruawahia, by 6 to 3; Eureka defeated Cambridge by 14 to nil. Lower Waikato. In the Lower Waikato Union a practice match only was played. Hawke's Bay. Napier football on Saturday resulted: —- ■l’akipaki, 11, Kia Ora, 3; Ahuriri, 17, Athletic, 0; Rovers, 8, Old Boys, 3. Dunedin. Alhambra, 8 points, beat Dunedin, nil. There was no score in the first spell. In the second half Alhambra, playing with the wind smothered their opponents. Brookes scored a try, which was converted by Marston, who also kicked a penalty goal. Twenty minutes after resuming Williams, an Alhambra front-rank forward, was ordered off for striking a Dunedin player. Zingari tftnd Southern played a draw. Zingari scored a try against a penalty goal by Southern. Pirates (20) beat ’Varsity (6), after a poor game, University only putting a scratch team in the field. Kalkorai and Union drew, with no score; and Taieri (11) beat Port (8), after a forward game.

The Wairarapa Competition. The contests for the senior championship of the Wairarapa Rugby Union this season have been very exciting and full of surprises. Four out of the live teams lire still in the running, and it is difficult still to pick the ultimate winner. Carterion are leading by one point from Red Star and Grey town, Lower Valley are still well In the running, being but two points behind Carterton. The Carterton team are weaker this year than last, and have been further weakened through Henderson, their half, breaking a leg on Saturday last, against Lower Valley. It looks as if the junior championship will be won again this year by the Star Juniors, who have not been beaten so far this season. A match is to be played this season at Carterton between the Rotorua and Wairarapa rep. teams. This will be the first contest between these unions. Wairarapa will meet Foxton at Masterton, and Wellington at Carterton. Wairarapa’s rep. team will be weak this year; their two star backs of former years are no longer with them. J. O’Leary, ever a dashing and brilliant player, is now in Auckland, while Edgar Wrigley, the burly wing,. and two years ago probably the most dangerous ecoring man in New Zealand, Is playing at Home with the Huddersfield Northern Union Club. The absence of these two players has left a gap in the Wairarapa team which will not be filled for many years, judging by the class of players at present in the Wairarapa. Christcluircli. Merivale (5) beat Linwood (4); Christchurch drew with Old Boys, each scoring 8 points; Albion (10) beat College (3). Merivale now’ leads Sydenham by half-a-polnt for the championship. Each has still four matches to play. Manawatu v. Foxton. The first representative match of the season was played on the show ground on Saturday, when Manawatu met, and decisively beat, a team representing Foxton Sub-union. The ground was in fair order, but cut up slightly towards the finish of the game. Practically the whole of both spells was played in Foxton territory, and the scores nt the finish were: Manawatu 51, Foxton 8. Manawatu’s score would have been greatly augmented, but for the frequent penalties owing to the players’ carelessness. Thirteen tries were scored by Roon, Brough and McMinn (two each), Ryan, Ward, Martis, and Ongley (one each), four being converted, while Ford potted a goal. ASSOCIATION. The cup matches under the auspices of the Auckland Football Association were commenced on Saturday, two of the games being played at Eden Paik, w’here I’onsonby met Tabernacle 111., and Caledonian was matched with Tabernacle 11. FIRST DIVISION. In 'the first division Ponsonby beat Tabernacle HL by 5 to nil; Caledonian beat Tabernacle 11. by 5 to 2; and Y.M.C.A. drew with W.Y.M.1., two goals each. TAKE IN2nd, 3rd and 4 th Divisions .. SECOND DIVISION. Carlton v. United.—Carlton defeated United by 5 goals to 2. THIRD DIVISION. Y’-M.C.A. v. Mount Albert.—Y.M.C.A. won by 6 goals to 2. For the winners J. Dance played a brilliant game, scoring five goals, R. Grice registering the other. Y.M.C.A. played with seven men. St. Peter's v. Guild.—This match resulted in a win for St. Peter’s by 2 goals to 1, Moulding and Isles scoring for the winners. North Shore v. St. David’s.—North Shore won from St. David's by default. FOURTH DIVISION. North Shore v. Gordon.—North Shore won by 10 goals to 2. Carlton ▼. W.Y.M.T.—Carlton defeated W.Y M.I. by 4 goals to 1. Burton (3), and Needham scored for Carlton, and U. Ready for W.Y.M.L

o c s « £S O ft •8 ►* • cn a e B £ £ Cm (2 $ I’onsonby .... 9 0 — 252 21 18 XJlty ... . 9 7 2 176 CO 14 University .... . .. . 8 4 4 59 95 8 Parnell .... 9 4 y 122 KM 8 Orafton . .. . 9 4 5 65 100 8 (North Shore .... .... 8 2 0 44 152 4 (Newton .... 9 0 V 12 174 0