FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 44, 28 May 1891, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Last Saturday was an off day for football, Potter’s paddock being taken up with the trotting races, so the Grafton and Ponsonby clubs took teams to Mercury Bay and the Thames. Ponsonby took a strong team to the Thames, where they playedthe Wanderers at the Parawai Gardens.' In the first spell the play was very even, both sides playing well, Roto securing a try for the Wanderers. At the commencement of the second spell Ponsonby made the game fast, and owing to good passing Otway was enabled to secure a try, making the scores even.

During the last half hour both teams played fast and well, neither having any advantage, so the match ended in a draw. In the evening the visitors were entertained at a dinner at the Queen’s Hotel. The Graftons took a team down to Mercury Bay on Friday evening, and played the Bay Club on Saturday. The Auckland team had some good backs, but were very weak in their forwards. At the commencement of the game the Grafton team were kept at their own end during the first quarter of an hour, but the Bay team failed to score. Grafton made a good rush just before the end of the spell, and Elliott by a grand rush secured a try. During the second spell the game was very even until Stephenson secured a second try, and shortly afterwards Elliott scored a third try. Grafton therefore won by three points to nil. The Mercury Bay Club played well, but had hard luck.

Teams from Whitianga and Coromandel also visited the Thames last Saturday. The former played Nelson Club (senior), and were beaten by six points to nil; while the latter were also beaten by the Rovers (junior) by one point to nil.

The Excelsior met the Ellerslie 11. on the latter’s ground last Saturday, and suffered defeat by 5 points to nil. During the first spell the Excelsior had, if anything, the best of the game; but they died away in the second spell, and the Ellerslie boys forced them down time after time, but could only manage to score two tries, neither of which were converted. Hamlin, by a clever screw kick, secured a goal from the field. Clark, Somerfield, and Wilson, were conspicuous for Ellerslie, and Crisp, Mens, and a three-quarter back, played well for Excelsior.