FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 407, 12 May 1898, Page 15

FOOTBALL

i [By

Vigilant.]

OPENING OF THE SEASON-

Cup matches commenced last Saturday. A drizzling rain, which kept up during the whole afternoon, interfered somewhat with the play; yet, despite the greasy ball and adverse circumstances, the play was interesting for a first effort.

That the Winter game has a strong hold on the Auckland public is amply evidenced in the fact that though the meteoroligical conditions were anything but favorable, over 2,000 onlookers attended at Potter’s Paddock to witness the opening fixtures of season 1898. Parnell and City met on No. 1 ground in front of the grandstand, and last year’s runners-up proved victors to the tune of J 1 points, they scoring 14 points as against the 3 recorded by the opposing side. This was a great surprise to many, who anticipated the downfall of the maroons, and not without some reason, as the City Club have a great set of backs this year, and by no means a bad lot of forwards. The winners, however, must be credited with the best condition, which told its tale as the game wore on, added to which City had all the bad luck,. and should certainly have scored on two or three occasions.

Though defeated, City struck me as likely to show themselves one of the most dangerous teams in the cup matches this season, and given fine weather I should not fear to pit them against any other district in the competition, so strong are they in the back division.

The “daddy” of the winning side was undoubtedly the ex-Wellington player,. Laws, at three-quartor. He played a brilliant game right through, kicked well, tacked in good style, and handled the greasy ball as no other man on the ground did.

The remainder of the backs showed nothing that calls for special mention, and appeared on the whole a moderate lot, though it is early in the day to sit in judgment on them. The old Christchurch player, Thomson, was .tried at fullback, and appeared fairly safe in the position, though he frequently erred in kicking the oval down the field when the use of the touch-line would have gained more ground.

Whitley, on the wing, was very smart in his work, while in the forwards Murray, Handcock, Sampson, and Gordon (who should have had his cap last year) all stood out prominently, though it may be said that there was not a man in this division but did his share of good honest toil. City have unearthed a good back in Donovan, •and taking a line on his initial appearance • 1 should certainly say that he will win his spurs, ere long if he continues as at present. He was cool throughout and safe as that oft-quoted institution, the Bank of England. George Smith made every use of his pace, and is going to be as brilliant as ever, though I should say on Saturday’s play that he is suffering from an attack of what is known in vulgar parlance as “swelled head,” i.e., a weakness for No. .1. I think he might have passed to his confreres to advantage, and on one occasion in particular I think a try would have resulted had he handed

the ball along to his mates. Another thing that I did not appreciate was his decided inclination to call into question the decision of the referee. It won’t do, George ; you must get rid of the idea that “ Smithy ” is the only man on the field, and as Paddy said, “ the sooner, the quicker.” The speedy Surman, who skippered the black and reds, gave a very good account of himself individually, but did not exercise particularly smnd judgment in-the-handling of his team. Sid die is still the Siddle of yore, his defensive play on Saturday being remarkably good, while “ Cocky ” Cories made few ei-rors behind the paek, and looked after his backs. Another man who favourably impressed onlookers was Moros, a recent addition. He is sound all round and tackles particularly well. When the rough edges have worn off, City will find him one of the useful sort.

Ponsonby, last year’s cracks, met Suburbs on No. 2 ground, and found the outside district a decidedly harder nut to crack than they had anticipated, though they ultimately prevailed by 6 points to 4—2 tries to a goal from the field —they did not find it all beer and skittles, and the game and stubborn manner in which the “hay seeders” contested every inch of the grounds, showed that, with their best side in the field and an opportunity for collective practice, they would make matters decidedly interesting for any of the other sides engaged. They certainly have the material, but as it appears hopeless to expect to see them get together during the week in such a scattered district in order to bring about better combination, they cannot be expected to do much. “ Mase ” (otherwise R. Masefield) played fullback for Ponsonby, and although, as everyone knows it is a pity he is not a little faster, there are a few more safe men to be picked up for the position. His great point, to my idea, is the fact that you can’t bustle him. Harrison, the well-known ex-Wairoa threequarters, who gained his “ rep ” cap for the province last year had all his warpaint on, and waded in like a tradesman, a remark that might also safely be applied to Galloway and S. Riley, the latter a promoted junior, who is well worth a place in any senior team—a lad full of promise. The forwards all did sound work, and while there is no occasion to individualise, among the old members a word of encouragement may be meted out to Wilson and Barker, both new men, who were always in the thick of the fight—scrum, open, and line,.the first mentioned in particular, giving me a most favorable impression. The only weakness, and perhaps a somewhat excusable one for a first day was the tendency to kick too hard in the forward rushes.

Sutherland, Suburbs’ full-back, filled the bill most creditably, and brought his side out of more than one awkward corner.

McPike, who will be remembered as having played for Suburbs a couple of years back, and Absolute were the best of the remaining backs, and both upheld their reputation. The firstmentioned is very dangerous with his feet when anywhere handy to the opposing goal, as Ponsonby learnt to their sorrow in the first spell when he put a very neat one over the cross-bar. The front division all worked with a will, and Charley Speight with two wills. If only Jack Gillet and “ Rab ” McKenzie had been there they would have made matters particularly interesting, while Davey Gage, at five-eights, would have proved a tower of strength to the back division.

Newton defeated Grafton by 9 points (three points) to nil, but the victory was not attained without hard work, and when Grafton get their two or three maimed men back, Smith and Renwick in particular, they will be considerably strengthened. ■&'

Tommy Roberts, of hurdle fame, was the hero of the match, his two tries being the outcome of sterling play, while there was an entire absence throughout of that “funk” of which he has been so frequently accused. Heath shaped in promising style at full-back, and Woods has evidently quality in him. C. Freeman did well.

The pack are a pretty powerful lot, and with a little more work together should do their district credit.

Walker at full-back for Grafton was only moderate, and at times got a bit mixed. I am, not, however, going to condemn the man on first sight. Hardingham shows promise, and hes lots of pace to recommend him.

D. Hay was undoubtedly the pick of the backs. Tne Bradys (2), Hedley, and Cucksey were always prominent in the forwards. The match of next Saturday will be that between Parnell and Ponsonby. Both districts are confident of victory, and although, peahaps, I say it as should not, I hear a little wager of £5O hangs in the balance.

D. Gage was to have applied to the management commil tee of the Auckland Rugby Union last night (Wednesday) for permission to play for Suburbs, and will, no doubt, be seen out for that district next Saturday. The Wellington Rugby Union has agreed to meet the representatives of the Wairarapa Rugby Union on August 20th, provided that the visits of the Southern Unions do not clash with the arrangements. Despite the unfavorable weather the Auckland Rugby Union gate of last Saturday was over £5O. Jack Gillet and Rab McKenzie did not roll up for Suburbs on Saturday, but will probably give the district the benefit of their services in future matches. ■ / - . The Auckland Football Association inaugurate the season next Saturday, when a series of matches in both grades of the socker game will be played at the Domain Cricket Ground and the North Shore Domain. ' ' It is just possible that after all “Tabby” Wynyard will be persuaded' to take up the cudgels on behalf of the North Shore senior fifteens.

With the several English players of note:thit have been added to the Association Clubs here during the past four or five months, .this game, will be considerably stronger than before. The recently formed Auckland Rugby League, with which some ten or a dozen' outside olubs have affiliated, open their season on Saturday next, a series of inter-club matches haring been arranged. •(

1 hear that the new stand the Rugby Union are talking of putting up at Potter’s Paddock would not be protected with a roof. If this is so, I am afraid they would not get a great many on it during the bleak wet winter months.

Phelan does not appear to have arrived in town yet, but a supporter of the Ponsonby District Club informs me that he will be here in the course of a few days. The well-known “rep” forward, Sack Swindley, is at the Thames.

There is an idea of tending a New Zealand football team to England in 1899, the tour to be carried out under the auspices of the New Zea- ~ land Union (writes a correspondent in Wellington to a Sydney paper). The difficulty to be faced is, that the Union rules as to professionalism® debar players from receiving, more payment than is required for actual expenses, so that, in effect, if such a team were formed, it would have- to be composed of members of the leisured classes, from which, as you know, we do not get the best footballers. According to the present state of things, therefore, it is improbable that a team, if one should be selected, would adequately represent New Zealand’s full strength in the winter game.