FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 97, 2 June 1892, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

[by

POSTER.]

Seniors. Another perfect day for players and spectators alike, and a large attendance at Potters, the pavilion being well filled. Enthusiasts were rewarded by witnessing a good and exciting game between Parnell and City.

Mr. J Arneil officiated as referee, and Messrs. O’Hare and Chapman as line umpires. Parnell began with only 14 men, and in a very few minutes lost Jervis, who wrenched his foot badly and had to retire. Just before the end of the first spell Kissling joined his mates, and proved invaluable during the rest of the match. For City, Stone kicked off at 3.20, and after a scrum near City 25, Jervis started a fine dribble and City were forced. After Whyte had nearly scored from a long throw in by Elliott, a fine City rush took the ball to centre, and Cole with a run invaded Parnell’s 25. Cole marked and Stone made a good attempt from the place. Jervis retired at this point. After the kick out fast and good play on both sides, with varying success, continued. Whyte, Elliott, Twiname, Golding, Mercer, and O’Connor shining especially, but a good deal off-side play being indulged in. From a passing run, in which O’Connor and Mercer were the principal actors, Pilkington got in, and Stone just missed placing a goal at a fair angle. City 2, Parnell o, at 4.36. Wright kicked out for Parnell, and some good open work about mid-field in which Downes, Maynard, Twiname, Whyte, O’Connor, and Ronayne were conspicuous. City got on a good rush, and Mercer taking a pass cleverly, dashed off and got in. Stone at a moderate angle placed a neat goal. City Parnell o, at p.m. City went off with a great rush and a scrum resulted on Parnell’s side of centre, followed by exchanges between Pilkington and Hedges. In spite of a mark by Edwards, City still pressed, until Pilkington kicked hard, and Parnell were forced. Rushes and counter rushes followed the kick out, and Parnell were again forced by a dashing onslaught, headed by Cole. Edmondes relieved the pressure by a smart run and good kick, but the fight was still waging on Parnell’s side of centre, O’Connor distinguishing himself by a fine dribble. A City rush took the ball into Parnell’s 25, where a scrum took place, which Parnell carried, and with a splendid rush, in which Edmondes, Twiname, Elliott, and Whyte shone, got up to City’s goal line, where Pilkington mulling, enabled Green to score Parnell’s first try. Twiname just missed an easy place, and the score was City 7> Parnell 2, at 3-55 P* m : Put on their mettle by this reverse, City worked hard and kept Parnell on the defence for some time, nearly scoring on two occasions, Ronayne with a neat kick averting the danger. During this period Whyte, "Wiley, Edmondes, Maynard, Elliott, Twiname, O’Connor, Mercer (the latter with one especially fine run) showed up splendidly. Kissling now joined the fray,, and five minutes later on some exchanges and a free kick to City the spell ended at 5 minutes past 4. SECOND SPELL.

Wright kicked off for Parnell at 4.12, and Parnell quickly rushed the ball into City’s 25, when the goal was in danger, until Cole relieved with a good run. .Some fine passing between Geard, Speight, Elliott, and Kissling resulted in Twiname getting in. Kissling did not improve City 7, Parnell 4, at i. 20 p.m. After a scrum City were forced from Kissling’s kick. A big City rush was well stopped by Kissling, and scrums in Parnell s 25 followed, Golding having a pot which was not far off scoring. Edmondes made a good run to mid-field, but Taylor responded with a good kick. Scrums and fast open play followed until Meilis headed a rush into City’s territory, and a protracted battle raged there, attack being brilliant and defence sturdy, until a City rush relieved. Whyte, Kissling, Cole and Blewdin showed good play, and the game was in mid-field City got away with some good passing, but Geaid collared well. Elliott presently with a fine dribble gave Mitchell an opportunity, which he cleverly seized scoring right between the posts. Kissling placed an excellent goal and Parnell became top-dogs with 9 points to 7, 4-43 P* m * After the kick Parnell came with another great rush, and Twiname looked like scoring. A tremendous struggle followed to the end of the spell, Whyte, Twiname, Edmondes, Ronayne, Golding, Blewden, Geard, Kissling, O’Connor, Cole and Pilkington all playing brilliantly, but no further score resulted, and Parnell won a splendid match under a handicap which greatly enhances the performance. Newton v. Suburbs.

This match was played on No. 2 Ground, and resulted in an easy win for Newton by 19 to 2. The game was practically a forward one, and demonstrated the immense advantage of combined play, for while individually the teams were evenly matched, Suburbs showed perhaps the worst combinationever witnessed at Potter’s. Amongst the forwards Dacre played a splendid game. The half-backs were all that could be desired, Sherrif, in particular, shining far and away before any one on the ground, but the poor efforts of their forwards gave them no chance to pass or get away, and they had to be content to stop rushes, which were very fierce and constant. Hales, at three-quarter, played well. Of course Suburbs were much weakened by the absence of their crack threequarter Peace, as well as Herrold, Murphy, Wilson and Andrews, but no excuse can be framed for their listlessness and want of combination. The Newton forwards played a splendid dashing game, and threw away no chances. Their backs were not scoring ones, but showed splendid defence, and kicked well. Rhodes bowled them all over once -when he scored, but only once. The two Murrays (especially the younger one, who is a coming man), Mills, Donald and Alex. Wilson, were very conspicuous ; hut where all played so well it is haicj

to individualise. The game was a very pleasant one all through, both sidesplaying a good-tempered and gentlemanly game. For Newton, in the first spell, P. Murray and Mills scored a try each, and F. Murray converted both. For Suburbs Rhodes scored the only try, the spell ending with Newton io, Suburbs 2. In the second spell SiddeU scored two tries, and Donald one, Murray converting the last. Ponsonby v. North Shore. North Shore made a gallant struggle • against their formidable opponents, but were overmatched, and defeated by 15 to 2. Masefield (2), Airey, Roberts, Green and Hayles secured tries for Ponsonby, but Flynn succeeded in converting one. Tanfield scored for the Shore, but King did not improve. Gratton, King, and Tanfield played a gallant game for the losers. Juniors.

Ponsonby v. Shore.—Ponsonby ran up 40 points. McCarthy (3), Conway (2), Cooke (2), Kattems, Miller, Masefield, Griffin, and McKeown one each. Tattersall placed two goals from tries, and one from a mark, Masefield and Robertson played one each. North Shore did not score.

City v. Parnell.—City won by nine points, Parnell failing to score. Tapper, McLeod, and Farquhar scored a try each, and Carr converted one of them. Newton v. Suburbs.—The first named won by default Third Fifteens. Newton v. Suburbs.—Newton won by 7 to nothing. Knight and Davies scored tries, and Jeffery placed one goal. Grafton v. Parnell.—A good match, which Grafton iust won by five points to four.