FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 311, 9 July 1896, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNIONS CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR. NORTH ISLAND. AUCKLAND. First and Second Fifteens. July 11 —Ponsonby v. Gity, Parnell v. Grafton, Newton v. Suburbs July 18 —Ponsonby v. Newton —Parnell v. City. North Shore v. Suburbs July 25—Ponsonby v. North Shore, Parnell v. Newton, Grafton v. City August I—Ponsonby v. Suburbs, Parnell v. North Shore, Grafton v. Newton August B—Parnell v. Suburbs, Grafton v. North Shore, City v. Newton. WELLINGTON. July 11—Athletic v. Wellington, Athletic Park; Melrose v. Petone, Petone. July 18—Melrose v. Poneke, Athletic Park ; Petone v. Wellington, Petone. OTAGO FOOTBALL TOUR. August 26 —Oamaru August 29—Canterbury September I—Taranaki (at Hawera) September s—Auckland September 9—Hawke’s Bay September 12 —Wellington QUEENSLAND FOOTBALL TOUR. Saturday, August B—Auckland.8 —Auckland. Tuesday, August 11—Taranaki. Thursday, August 13—Wellington. Saturday, August 15 —New Zealand match, at Wellington. Thursday, August 20—Canterbury, at Christchurch Saturday, August 22—Otago match, at Dunedin. Tuesday, August 25—Southland, at Bluff. Continuation of the Championship Fixtures. The weather on Saturday last was none too promising, and this, combined with the fact that the senior contests had little interest so far as the ultimate result of the championship is concerned, militated greatly against the attendance, which was undoubtedly the smallest we have seen at Potter's JPaddock this season. The match on No. 1 Ground —Grafton v. Ponsonby —was quite in keeping with the expectations of the bulk of our Rugby enthusiasts, who evidently thought it not worth the journey. Nor was it. Of course the slippery state of the ground was in a measure responsible for this, but not wholly. Once they found themselves in the van the Grafton forwards commenced to waste; not any individual member, but the pack as a whole, and I should not have been a bit sorry to have seen Ponsonby inflict a whipping on their over-confident opponents. The back division of the winning team worked hard throughout, and to them is due the victory by 8 points to 4. Ponsonby fifteen was somewhat of a scratch lot, including as it did no less than three juniors, a couple of which were thirds. City and Suburbs met on No. 4 Ground, and as the latter included two or three Orakei natives and was by far thestrongest the outside district has put in the field this season, the central fifteen had all their work cut out t<» beat them, no score being made in the first half, while in the second portion of the game there was nothing in it, and things were decidedly interesting, although City managed to do the trick, winning by 6 points to nil. Newton had an easy victory at North Shore, where they lowered the colours of the home team to the tune of 20 points to nil. The particulars are as follows : —

GRAFTON v. PONSONBY. Kallendar kicked off for Grafton from the eastern end Vai. Masefield returned, and A. Moncur sent the oval out near centre. Loose, open play followed, and long kicks were interchanged by the backs of either team, Grafton ultimately being forced. Reg. Masefield returned the kick-off, the ball going out near midfield. From the ensuing scrum the Graftonites carried the ball into the blue and black’s 25. A neat passing run between Fielder, C. Hay, T. Moncur, and Dan Clayton saw the ball in close proximity to Ponsonby’s goal line, and a score seemed imminent, but the whistle was blown, Moncur throwing on. Shortly after this, Grafton took the ball within a foot or two of their opponents” goal line, where Dug Hay fell in attempting to pass to Clayton. The Ponsonby vanguard here got on a strong rush, but C. Hay averted danger by a well-judged kick. Ponsonby eventually worked the black and whites to their 25, where a penalty kick for offside play resulted unsuccessfully. Clayton kicked off and Masefield returned, and play was confined to Grafton’s 25, where faulty play by Stevenson lost a score for his side. A Grafton forward headed a rush and transferred play to midfield.

Lively play followed in Ponsonby’s 25, and a rush by the Grafton forwards placed the line in danger, Stevenson making a faulty kick in his attempt to save. Clayton shortly afterwards made., another opening, but the pass was intercepted, and Ponsonby dribbled down to their opponents’ 26, where A. Moncur, picking up cleanly, ran round a couple of players and kicked out- near half-way. From the throw-in Langsford came away, and after a strong run kicked but at the Grafton 25. Clayton failing to take a long pass from C. Hay, the ball rebounded from his chest, and R. Masefield taking nicely, sent on to Langsford, who after running to just below the dividing line, with a long kick forced Grafton. Braund made one or two very fair openings while they were at this end of the field, but Stevenson, who was apparently nervous, ' usually managed to do the “ wrong thing at the right time,” and no score was obtained. Cucksey and Lusk headed a fine dribble that carried the game to neutral territory, and a passing run, in which C. Hay and Clayton were prominent, saw the latter within a few yards of the line, where he kicked across the line, but Braund, who was handy, averted a score by kicking out of touch. The whistle sounded, in a few minutes, no - score having been registered in the first half. A few minutes after the opening of the second spell, Grafton vrorked the Ponsonbyites well down towards their own line, and a passing run, in which Fielder, C. Hay, Clayton, and T. Moncur all had a hand, saw’ the latter over the coveted line. Clayton took the shot at goal, but failed to add the major points. Grafton 3, Ponsonby 0. Shortly after this, C. Hay had a shot at goal. A loose straggling rush relieved Ponsonby,' and a strong run, initiated by Braund, who sent out to Flynn, looked dangerous, but 7 Masefield failing to take a by no means easy one from the latter player, the oval went out near Grafton’s2s. Lusk, pick- /. ing up from a loose scramble, sent out to Clayton, who got to within a dozen yards of the Ponsonby line, where he transferred to C. Hay, who was pushed out at the corner flag. Ponsonby temporarily relieved their line, but a loose scramble in front of the posts saw Lusk away and Grafton scoring another try. The attempt at goal was successful, the score standing — Grafton 8, Ponsonby 0. Stevenson took a shot a goal from a mark bv Braund, and after a little loose open play the ball went out in Grafton’s 25, and a lot of uninteresting work followed the throw in. Langsford was again instrumental in forcing Grafton, and play remained in this quarter several minutes after the kick off, Monro landing a neat goal from the field—Grafton 8, Ponsonby 4 Ponsonby, continuing the attack, had somewhat the best of the last fifteen minutes’ play, but no further scores were added, the game ending—Grafton 8, Ponsonby 4.

CITY v. SUBURBS. This match was fought out on No. 4 ground, Mr Drum acting as referee. As in the case of the No. 1 ground, the going was heavy, though it did not seem to have suffered as much as the latter. City had the best of the play in the first half, but no score was recorded. In the second portion, however, City, by the aid of Thomas and Sid. Brown, scored a couple of tries, the former being the outcome of a passing run amongst the backs. Creagh took both shots, but was unsuccessful. The losing side made a very 1 tight game of it in this spell, the Sutherland’s, Orakei Paul, and McPike doing yeoman service for the back division, while Scarboro and Binney were ever prominent amongst the vanguard. The City backs all played well, Smith, Absolum, Surman, and Cories particularly so, and S. Brown grafted in fine style - in the forwards. The score, ended —City 6, Suburbs nil. NEWTON v. NORTH SHORE. These teams met on the Devonport ground, which was in a decidedly sloppy condition, the game being consequently confined to the forwards, and not by any means what one would term a clever exposition of the Rugby game. Newton had all the best of it under the circumstances, their weighty and dashing forwards simply smothering their, smaller opponents, who, however, must be credited with good work in the open and some very fair dribbling rushes, and it was only hard luck that prevented a score on more than one occasion. In the-

first half Newton scored two tries, Freeman getting the first by a capital run from half-way right through the Shore team and across the line. Murray failed to add the extra points. Clarke scored the second try from a fine dribbling rush headed by Wilson, M urray and Heffernan. Murray again failed to convert. In the second spell Newton increased their score to 20, Shore failing to score. From a forward rush Clarke again picked up and fell over, Hazeman making a poor shot at goal. Shortly afterwards McKenzie got a mark, and kicking on to Newton’s forwards the ball bounded back, and Freeman dashing up took it and ran in. Siddle had the shot at goal, but without result. From the kick out Wilson returned, and Cardno, mulling his take, Murray was on him, and ran in unmolested. Wilson failed in his attempt at goal. Almost immediately afterwards Newton’s forwards came along again, and Hobson picking up, fell over the line near the corner flag. Murray from near the line kicked a goal, and the score stood —Newton 20, North Shore nil.

The feature of next Saturday’s play will be the match between Parnell and Grafton, and a right royal battle it should prove too, with very little in it. I should not be a bit surprisod to see last year’s champions lower the colours of the maroons, though, if about to place my “ pieces” on my fancy, I should stick to Parnell, which means that though I should express no surprise at a win for Grafton, yet I think Parnell will just about get there. If Suburbs put last Saturday’s team in against Newton, things will be very lively, while in the City v. Ponsonby match the former should gain the day. In another column will be found an announcement that the Auckland and Public Schools’ Association will play a football match against the Coromandel Schools on the Domain Cricket Ground on Saturday next. The game starts at 3 p.m. Earlier in the day there will be a procession of public schools, headed by a band, drill of school boys, and public school races. Afternoon tea will be provided for ladies, and the admission to the ground has been fixed at one shilling, an extra shilling being charged for use of the pavilion. There should be a large gathering should the weather prove fine Suburbs can thank City’s line umpire for losing their chance in what looked a moral try. Several of the spectators can bear witness to this. Ponsonby 11. kept up their average, and defeated City 11. by 3 points (a try secured by Hill) to nil. The game was very interesting, despite the wet ball. This win gives the Ponsonby 11. team the First Junior Cup for the season. Sutherland played a splendid defensive game for Suburbs. He had a lot of work to do, and a heavy, wet ball to play with, but he came out of the ordeal with flying colours. Gallagher and Braithwaite were the pick of the Ponsonby pack, and they were ably assisted by Vic. Langsford. Surman, as usual, was a host in himself for City, but the country boys had him set, and he only managed to break through them once, although he made some grand opening for his backs. Dan Clayton was safe, and kicked and passed in his usual style. He also converted Dug Hay’s try, which ran Grafton’s score up to eight points. Newton scored a fairly easy win against North Shore. The sloppy ground was all in favour of Newton’s heavy forwards, and the dark blues’ light pack could by no means hold their own with them, Newton winning by 20 points. P. Flynn and B. Masefield were the best of the Ponsonby three-quarters. The former player, who was hurt last season and only started again a few Saturdays ago, is fast getting into form. Ponsonby 111., by their win on Saturday, secured the Second Junior Cup, and as the seconds also won their deciding match, giving them the Cup, the district has something to be proud of. The rep. match between Thames and Ohinemuri was decided at Paeroa on Saturday, and resulted in a win for the Thames by 6 points to 3. At Wellington on Saturday, in the championship matches, Athletics beat Petone by 13 points to 3, and Poneke beat Wellington by 4 points to 3. It looks as if Athletics are going to have an easy win for the 1896 Championship Shield.