FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 465, 22 June 1899, Page 7

FOOTBALL

[By

Vigilant.]

CUP FIXTURES.

June 24—City v. Parnell, Suburbs v. Grafton, North Shore v. Ponsonby, Newton bye.

• Splendid football weather prevailed on Saturday, consequently there was a fine muster of spectators at Potter’s Paddock to witness the games in the last series but one of the first round. On the ground before the stand the City and Grafton teams tried conclusions, Ponsonby met Suburbs on No. 2 ground, and Newton battled with Parnell on No. 3 ground. The GraftonCity game was a capital one from the spectators’ point of view, though the result must have been somewhat disappointing to either team. In the first spell Grafton had somewhat the best of the play, and though they were only able to score one try, with ordinary luck they would have put on a couple more. The Grafton backs put in some very pretty runs, aed were within an ace of scoring shortly after the kick off. The ball travelled from Dug Hay to Smith, then to Renwick, who in turn passed to Campbell, but the latter failed to take the :pass cleanly, and a big opportunity was lost. Not long afterwards the Grafton men kicked the ball over the City line, and a race between Smith, Campbell, and Donovan resulted in the latter forcing the ball in the nick of time. Even play ensued "for a period, and then a long pass out by McGregor helped-the three-quarters to carry the ball close to the goal, and H. Smith beating Asher for the ball just got across and scored first blood. Smith took the kick himself but failed to put the ball over the bar. Roused by this reverse the City men put renewed vigour into their game, and attacking very strongly kept the ball in their opponents territory for some little time. Gradually the Graftonites worked back again, and from about half way a splendid run, in which 0. and D. Hay, Smith, and Campbell all joined, took the oval close to the City line. Had Campbell taken Smith’s pass accurately a certain try was in store, for he had a clear run in, Smith monopolising Donovan’s attention. Again the City vanguard rushed up the field, and D. Hay being a bit slow in kicking, the opposing forwards spoilt his effort and got on a loose passing rush that ended in a score. It was the result of a good dash, but all the same the player who commenced the run was distinctly off-side. Donovan did not improve upon the try, and half time came with the score 3 all. At the beginning of the second half Grafton swarmed down on City’s ground, but only for a short time, as the red and black men with a determined rally took the ball into the Grafton twenty-five and kept it there for some time. Despite all the efforts of Young and the other City backs the* Grafton defence was too sound, and though Asher and Smith tried their level best to score from opportunities afforded their efforts were always frustrated. Grafton might have scored yet another time if McGregor had not kicked the ball too hard when close to City’s line. He had no one in front of him, and if he had let the ball cross the line he must ha<e scored. He kicked again, however, and George Smith coming with a rattle sent the ball out u of play. -Towards the end Giafton pressed City very hard, but no score resulted, and the game ended in a draw 3 points each. The Newton-Parnell match was not nearly such a one-sided affair as the records of the teams promised it would be/: The game was a very even one all through, and was only decided in the last few minutes by a pretty dropped goal by Roberts. In the first spell, Newton scored one try. In the second half Parnell made the game very willing, and had as much of the play as their lucky opponents. Murray kicked a penalty goal from within Newton’s 25, and though he had several other attempts, he was only successful once The forwards on both sides worked very hard, and the rear divisions were in good form. Newton has a lead now in the competition. The Ponsonby and Suburbs match furnished yet another very even contest, the game resulting in a draw, with 3 points registered to each side. If anything, Ponsonby had slightly the better of the game, but throughout, the pl y was of a very level character. The forwards worked with a will, and the backs got on some very smart runs, but the defence on both sides was very sure, in fact, it was superior to the attack. Riley was in the field again, but did not play all the time. Lendrum showed a lot of pace, and Rule and Rylance also displayed good form. For Suburbs Alexander and Absolum were the pick of the backs, and forward the whole lot worked well.

Canterbury’s backs this season will probably include Burrell, full; N. Orr, Balch, Menzies, and S. Orchard, three-quarters ; and A. Forbes, five-eighths. Balch has only played once, but his services will be enquired after when the trial games come round. Canterbury has no halfback this year unless some man turns up later on. In the forward department the red and blacks will be stronger than they have been for many years past. Burrell, the Merivale full back, promises to develope into a first-rater. His present form is quite as good as that shown by Sid Orchard in his best days. Some twenty thousand people were present at football match between the N.S.W. and English teams at Sydney on Saturday. The ground was in a shocking state and a scientific display of football was out of the question. However, the game was one well worth watching despite the Englishmen’s lack of condition. The visitors showed good passing, and in dribbling and line out work also exhibited excellent tactics. In

the first spell Martelli kicked a goal from a mark, and the teams crossed over with the Englishmen leading by 4 to nil. In the second half N.S.W. kept the visitors pretty well on the defensive, and ultimately a pass from Gardiner to Ward enabled theex-New Zealander to score a try. The place kick was not successful. Towards the close a passing rush by the visitors was almost successful, but want of condition told its tale, and Ayre-Smith, who was the last to handle the ball, was collared just on the line. The game thus ended in a win for England by 4 to 3. At Farndon Park on Saturday afternoon the Clive I. met and defeated Pirates I. by 10 points to nil. Tries were obtained by W. O’Connell and Caldwell, both being converted by the latter. Mr Wilson refereed. O’Connell brothers, Bissell, and Caldwell played well for the winners, while Strickland, Brophy, Tankard, and Bear were prominent for the defeated side. On No. 2 ground the Caledonian v. Pirates 11. match resulted in a draw after a hard fight, there being no score on either side. For the Caledonians fortune, McCarthy, Walworth, P. King, Falvery, and Russell did well, while Cowan, Cunningham, Cody, Mullany, and Hackett did a lot of hard work for the Pirates. Mr Hallamore had charge of the whistle. At Hastings Tomoana beat Port Ahuriri by 3 points to nil. At the Spit in the Kiaora 111. v. Napier 111. match, the former won by a try, 3 points, to nil. Mr Mitchell acted as referee. On the same ground at 3.15 pm. the Caledonian 111. beat the West Ends by 9 points to 7. Mr Renouf refereed. At Woodville on Saturday, the match Wanganui College and Te Aute College was won by the former by 6 points to nil. In the junior match Te Aute 11. scored 11 points to Wanganui’s 3 points. The usual weekly meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union was held in the Criterion Hotel, Mr H. K. Wilson presiding. It was decided to replay the match Napier I. and Clive 1., on account of wrong decision, on the part of the referee which might have altered the state of the game. A transfer was granted to Wells and Coghlan from Clive to the Port Ahuriri Club. The referee in the Cale-donian-Pirate 11. match on Saturday reported J. Brophy and Montecino for rough behaviour. It was decided to suspend both players for the season' It was resolved to play the Waipawa Union rep. team at Farndon Park on the let July. Messrs Malcolm, Wrightson, and Peacock were added to the ground committee. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Ellingham for the use of the Stortford Lodge ground to the Union this season. —Napier correspondent. Thames beat Rovers on Saturday by 3 to nil. On Saturday the Waitekauri men .Were defeated by the Paeroa fifteen by 6 to nil. The Cambridge team met Hamilton on the latter’s ground on Saturday and won by 6 to ' nil. The Wellington Rugby Union senior matches on Saturday resulted in Oriental beating Poneke by 8 to nil, Petone whipping Wellington by 11 to 6, and Melrose and Athletics playing a drawn game, neither side scoring. At Christchurch on Saturday Kaiapoi defeated Merivale by 8 to 7, after a very exciting contest; Christchurch won from Albion by 14 to 8, and Linwood gained a decisive victory over Sydenham by 17 to nil. In the Dunedin Senior Flag games on Saturday, Dunedin beat Union by 3 to xiil, Southern defeated University by 8 to nil, Kaikorai and Alhambra played a drawn game 3 points each, and Zingari and Pirates also played a drawn game neither side scoring. The Englishmen footballers played the first match of the tour at Goulburn against the Southern Central Union. After keeping the local men on the defensive, tho Englishmen won by 11 points to 3. In the second game between New South Wales and Queensland tho former won by 16 points to 3. Two of Canterbury’s crack backs of a year ago have again donmd the jersey, and played in the match, Christchuoh v. Merivale, on June 10. Ji orman Orr, who lives at Ashburton, 50 miles from Christchurch, played wing three-quarter for Christchurch, and A. Forbes was behind the pack in the Merivale team. Both players were in great form, and will no doubt be in the rep team this year.