FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 468, 13 July 1899, Page 7

FOOTBALL

[By

Vigilant.]

THE CUP MATCHES.

I had looked upon Grafton as the unlucky team of those taking part in the senior championship, but since Saturday, J have changed that opinion, for the luck was theirs on Saturday with a vengance. Fortune fairly piled her favors on the men in blue and white, and that alone can be Ponsonby’s consolation for a defeat that was undeserved. The Poneonby forwards had mneh tbe best of the scrum work, and they hooked the ball in far superior fashion to their opponents. The blue and black rear division were in front of the Grafton backs in passing runs, and they tackled every bit as safely as the other side, yet luck was against them and they lost the game. Mr Ohlson refereed. As a rule, he is very quick to notice any point of the game, but on Saturday Ponsonby lost a good deal through the referee’s failure to notice just what did take place. Grafton scored one try. more than they ought legitimately to have been allowed. The goal kicking of H. Smith was a feature, of the game. He had three shots and each one was successful, though it should, be said, that tbe tries were obtained in easy position for place kicking. In the first half, when Grafton had the aid of the wind, the Ponsonby men had very nearly as much of the game as their opponents, and in the second spell, the Grafton men were fighting in their own ground nearly the whole of the time. Certainly the best team on the day did not win the match. North Shore had an easy victory over Parnell at the Shore, beating the maroons by 17 to 5. “ Tabby” Wynyard played for the first time this season, and showed that he had lost none of his old dash in running and dodging the opposing backs. The North Shore forwards fairly ran over their opponents, while the combination of the Shore backs was far superior to that of the Parnell rear rank. For nearly the whole of the game the Shore pressed their opponents, though now and then a rally on the part of the maroons rushed the ball in Shore territory. It did not stay there long however, and in the result, the Parnell line was crossed five times, but in one case only was the try improved upon. The Shore backs should have increased the number of tries if the r passing had been more accurate, for they had many excellent opportunities which they failed to take advantage of. Though the score in the Newton-Suburbs match left the former substantial winners, the points (16 to 5) do not fairly indicate the character of the game. Forward, Suburbs had all the best of it with the Newton vanguard. Gillett and Waterman were playing for the blacks, and their presence had a most valuable effect upon the other front-rankers. Newton’s back men, however,. were far too good for the Suburbs rearguard, and to them is due the victory gained by the red and whites. Roberts was in very good form indeed, and his play was a great improvement on the form shown against City on the previous Saturday. Pillenger, Hobson, and Freeman were also in fine fettle, while Heath (at full-back) was equal to most emergencies.- The Suburbs back men played a very good game against their stronger and more experienced opponents, Absolum especially shewing fin e defen< e, while Sutherland, Alexander, and Cummings exhibited useful qualities. Riley played a good game at five-eighths for Ponsonby on Saturday. He made many openings for his three-quarters, and if his passing had been as accurate as usual, his side would have scored more than once.

Upton, Rule and Lendrum are a good lot of three-quarters. Some of their passing runs on Saturday were very pretty and deserving of better luck. Smith was in capital form on Saturday. His place kicking was excellent, and on several occasions he got his side out of difficulties. Renwick showed greatly improved form on his display against city. He was far and away the best back on the Grafton side. Innes, the Grafton wing, was very conspicuous on Saturday. MacGregor and Mathieson were also prominent. Galloway at half for Ponsonby, was a host in himself on Saturday. Webber, the Ponsonby full-back, played a very good game on Saturday. The Ponsonby forwards worked hard to a man. They heeled out in fine style, giving Galloway all the assistance possible. Suburbs more than held their own in the first spell, and the scores were five all; but condition told, and Newton rattled up a decent score in the second half of the game. Jack Gillett was one of the best forwards on the ground on Saturday, and was the mainstay of the Suburbs’ pack. Those high punts of Jack’s are of great assistance when Suburbs’ line is in dangor. A plucky, although risky, incident was noticed at Ellerslie Saturday. Suburbs 11. could hardly rake up a team to play City 11., and as a last resource Parker, who had his arm in a sling, the result of a broken collar-bone, was pressed into playing full-back, and so well did he defend his line with only one arm free, that it wanted five minutes to time before City scored the only try that won them the game. (Suburbs) showed on Saturday that he is in the front rank as a defensive full-back. Time after time, in the second spell, he cleared his lines in a most remarkable manner. “ Tab ” Wynyard, after a long spell of inactivity, gave the Shore boys his assistance last Saturday, and proved by his good all-round play, and by the splendid openings he made, that he has forgotten more than some of our more modern players will ever learn. Whilst watching the schoolboys playing last Saturday four goals were kicked from as many tries obtained in the different matches, and most of them from difficult angles. Look out, seniors 1 Absolum played his usual consistent game, his running and kicking being of great use to his side. That gcal of his from the boundary line was a beauty Tommy Roberts was fairly good at times, and his speed enabled him to run clean round the Suburbs backs and score his first try. The big match next Saturday, North Shore v. Newton, at Potter’s, given a fine day, should draw a record crowd as far as this season is concerned.

The English footballers are getting into scoring mood. In the match against Bundaberg, played on July 5, the visitors ran up the big score of 34 points, their opponents only obtaining four. Mclntyre and Alf. Bayly are said to be in wonderfully good form this year. . The latter is almost certain to play for Taranaki this year, and and it is expected that Mclntyre will also be one of the chosen representative players. The Wellington Rugby Union has suspended the Pe.one player, D. -McGill, for life. McGill used insulting language to tbe referee in the match on Saturday. McGill has played for the province on one or two occasions, and was one of the rep. players chosen for this season. The senior matches at Wellington on Saturday brought the Rugby Union Championship to a conclusion. Petone beat Oriental by 10 points to nil, Melrose defeated Wellington by 15 to 5, and the Poneke team forfeited to Athletics. The result of the contest is that the Petone Club wins the championship, their score being 18 points. The club played nine matches, and won them all. The other clubs finished in the following order : — Melrose 14 points, Athletics 11 Wellington 7, Oriental 3, and Paneke 1.

At Dunenin the ground was in a very bad state for football when the Cup matches were resumed on Saturday. The games, however, were full of interest, and resulted thus : — University beat Kaikorai by 8 to 5, Alhambra defea'ed Southern by 6 to 5, Dunedin scored over Zingari by 7 to nil, and Pirates beat Union by 12 to 11. All the matches were closely contested, and the University surprised the onlookers by defeating ihe highly fancied Kaikorai Club. Mr W‘ G. Garrard, secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union, has returned to Christ chnrch from Sydney, where he acted as referee in the match England v. Australia. Mr Garrard has expressed the opinion that the Englishmen cannot teach New Zealanders much in the way of playing football. A. E. Cooke, one of New Zealand’s rep. players, donned the jersey in the match. Merivale v. Linwood, at Christchuch on July 1. Linwood won by three points to bil. Wellington will play Canterbury on August 5. From all ascounts, Canterbury will be able to put a very strong into the field this year. North Island teams should remember this when they line out on Lancaster Park. On Saturday the Campbell and Ehrenfried Co.’s footballers played against Mennie and Dey’s at Ellerslie. The beer firm’s team won by 11 points to 3. Stephenson, Tuohey, and Mahoney scored tries, one of which Tuohey converted, and D. Jones kicked a penalty goal for “ biscuits.” The brewer’s team grafted well to a man, but Todd, Stephenson, Tuohey, Mahoney, McCoy and Greenhough shone out conspicuously. Jones, Rowe, Mennie, and Warne played good games for the lollie-makers. The first spell was pretty even, but “ Beer” had things all their own way in the second half, keeping in their opponent’s 25 all the time. Mr E. O’Hare gave every satisfaction as referee. A good number of spectators watched the game, including some of the principals of the two firms. On Saturday afternoon, at Farndon Park, the Napier team met and defeated the Clive seniors by 14 points to 8. The game was well contested throughout and cheated a great deal of excitement amongst the spectators. For the winners, Wood especially played most conspicuously, as did McVay, Barclay, Fraser, Wi Hape, Baker, Palmer and Merritt, For the losers, Bissell, Miller, R. Caldwell and O’Connell brothers were prominent. On No. 3 ground, the West End 3rd v. Napier 3rd, was won by the former by 6 points to 3, after an exciting go. For the West End, Snoswell and Joll scoring, Spiller getting over for Napier. Mr Hallimore was referee. At Hastings on Saturday, the trial match for the junior reps, was played, and proved very satisfactory, the B team winning by 11 points to 8. For the B's, Nicholson, Bransdon and Munroe scored tries, one of which was converted. Falvey, for the B’s, got over the line, it being converted by B. Frankland, the same player also kicking a goal from a mark. The usual monthly meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Union was held on Saturday night in the Criterion Hotel, Mr H. C. Wilson, presiding A trial match, probable representatives v. eighteen juniors, was fixed for next Saturday, as well as the Caledonians v. Napier 2nd, and Kiaora v. West End. Consideration of the proposal, that a junior representative team should travel to Wairarapa this season, was held over till the next meeting. Mr T. Eoulston was elected to the junior selection committee. —Napier correspondent. On Saturday, the English footballers defeated Rockhampton by 16 points to 3. On Saturday the Linwood and Christchurch Clubs played their match to decide the question of champion Rugby Union team for 1899. After a sphndid game Linwood won by 3 points to nil. Linwood has now won the championship for five years in succession.