FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 521, 19 July 1900, Page 8

FOOTBALL

LBv

Vigilant.]

THE CUP MATCHES. CONTINUATION’ OF THE SENIOR CUP matches. WINS FOB CITY, SUBURBS, AND GRAFTON. On Saturday last one of the largest attendances yet seen at a cup fixture at Potter’s witnessed the game on No. T ground between City and Grafton. The general opinion was that a great battle would be witnessed, as each team had great confidence in its powers. This expectation was in every way carried out, for the game was made ft willing one from start to finish. City gained a victory over their dougty opponents by 11 points to three, inainly due to the better play of their forwa d division. City commenced hostilities ■With the wind and sun in their favour. From the outset the City forwards gained the mastery both in the pack and in the open. The first attack on Grafton’s territory was kept "up for several minutes, and Abac lum took a shot at goal from' a mark obtained by Asher. The kick failed, and D Hay relieved. Wilson headed an invasion on Grafton’s territory, wihch was spoilt by Donovan’s wild passing. Woolier and Brady got away with the ball at their toes, and got right through City’s defence, when Brady slipped and fell, and the red and blacks closed round, and after a little play in City’s quarters the red and blacks took the ball back into Grafton’s territory. After several unsuccessful attempts on Grafton’s line the red and blacks started a passing run, in which Young, Asher, and Absolum took part. The latter was grassed by D. Hay near the line, and Nicholson bounded after the ball and drew first blood. Young’s kick at goal failed. (City 8, Grafton 0.) Grafton livened up and tried to invade City’s territory, but were forced back by the fine line kicking of Stevens and the strong dribbling rushes of the forwards. About ten minutes from the end of the spell Absolum got possession, and made a dash for the corner flag amidst loud applause. He succeeded in grounding. the ball, and thus obtained City’s second try. dcott took the kick but failed. (City 6, Grafton 0). Grafton from this out to the end of the spell rallied, and on several occasions looked like scoring but in each instance threw .their chances away. On one occasion the ball struck one of the City backs and crossed the line, Stirling, who. went after it, over ran it, and City kicked behind the dead ball line. The sun had died down when the players came out in the second half, and Grafton did not have its help. City again assumed the aggressive from the kick off, and the City vanguard got away a fine rush which they carried past Stewart, the full-back, only to be stopped by Campbell, who outpaced the City men and saved. City renewed their attack from the kick-off, and had the advantage for the greater part of the spell, until H. Smith followed up a smart kick by ’Kiernan, and managed to carry play into City’s 25. Here a scrum took place, and Kiernan, getting the ball out, passed to Smith, who dashed over the line and scored Grafton’s Only try. Cucksey made a good attemptat goal but. failed. (City 6, Grafton 3). Grafton renewed their efforts to score from the kick-off, but were always foiled by City’s defence, in which Young, the City centre half, was very conspicuous. Near the end of the spell City rallied and Sid Brown, breaking away from near the half-way flag with the ball at his toes, headed one of the finest, if not the best, rush of the deacon. He was backed up by Tyler, Bonella and Scott, and as they swept over the line Scott fell on it and scored. Young took the kick, and landed a fine goal just before the bell sounded, and the match ended City 11, Grafton 8. Donovan, at full back for City, played a very safe game. His kicking was all that could be desired. ■ , Stevens, on the left wing three-quarter line for City, play a really good game, and his kicking brought forth rounds of applause. Absolum played a much improved game to the E-evious ones this season. He seems to be at st returning to his old form. Magee did not have a lot to do, so had little chance to distinguish himself. Asher, at five-eights, played a fair game, but did not come up to his earlier season form. Young, at centre half for City, played a real good game, stopping rushes in fine style, and but for constantly lying on the ball his display was a good one. Brown and Stannaway acquitted themselves well, and the former played one of his old games. They were, however, inclined to play rather much off side. The City forwards all worked hard to a man, and their dribbling was some of the finest seen on Potter’s for seasons. Perhaps the pick of the bunch were Tyler, Bonella, and Scott. Stewart, at full back for Grafton, was decidedly weak, his kicking and tackling being one of the worst displays this season. D. Hay was by far and away the best back on the ground on Saturday, and played one of the best games I have ever seen him play. ’ His long line kicks, using either feet, being very good. H. Smith played a fairly good game. Campbell had little to do, but did all his work well.

Taylor, at five-eights, did not play up to his usual form, and played a long way away from ren qualification. Kiernan was hardly as successful as usua’. Certainly his pack did not help him as their opponents did his vis-a-vis. His line kicking was good and marked by sound judgment.

Woolier played a very fair wing game, and kept more on side than on the previous Saturday. Of a beaten pack Stirling, Cucksey and McGregor stood out the most prominently, and individually played really good games. On No. 2 ground at Potter’s Suburbs met and defeated Ponsonby by six points to five. Ponsonby won the toss, and chose to play with the strong sun behind them. Suburbs sent the ball into Ponsonby’s territory from the kick off, and it was kept there for some time until it. was secured by Ponsonby’s backs, who carried it to Suburbs 25, where it was kicked over the Suburbs’ line, and Carlaw, by fast following up, managed to score. Lendrum took the kick and landed a goal. (Ponsonby 5, Suburbs 0) From the kick-off Otway neatly stopped a Ponsonby rush, and sent the ball out of bounds at the half way. From a throw-in a scrum took place Suburbs’ forwards proved superior, and they carried the ball through and compelled Ponsonby to force. From the kick-off the ball was carried by Ponsonby’s backs to close to Suburbs' line, where it was stopped, and the ball was carried out. Suburbs rallied from the throw-in, and carried the ball to Ponsonby’s 25, and they were compelled to forces From the kick-off the bri.ll was kept travelling up and down the field for some time, until Dempsey secured and scored. Johnson’s kick at goal was a failure. (Ponsonby 5, Suburbs 3.) From the kick-off play was of a loose nature until Dempsey again-got possession of the ball and scored. (Suburbs 6, Ponsonby 5.) From the kick-off ' Ponsonby carried play into Suburbs’ territory, and the blacks were compelled to force. In the second spell Ponsonby rallied, and their backs gained possession from a forward rush and carried the ball out near the Suburbs’line. From the throw-in Suburbs

carried play back to Ponsonby’s territory. From this out to the end of the spell play was of a loose nature, and no further score resulted. Sutherland ar d Dempsey played good games for the victors, and Grey, Cawley, and Aueti . were also conspicuous. Galloway, Ru’e, and Lendrum were the pick of Ponsonby’s back team, while Doran was fairly successful at threequarter.

At Devonport on Saturday, Newton met and defeated the Shore team by 11 points to 6, after a very even game. Newton won the toss and chose to defend the western goal. After a lot of loose play, a forward rush, headed by Wilson, Hill and Heath, resulted in the latter scoring Eaton failed to convert. (Newton 3, Shore 0). A lot of loose forward play ensued, and the ball was transferred from one end of the field to the other, until Newton were awarded a free kick for off-side play by Frankham Eaton took the shot at goal, and succeeded in propelling the ball over the cross bar. (Newton 6, North Shore 0). Loose forward play followed until Gerrard gained possession of the ball and carried it to Newton’s 25, he was colkrcd. Frankham carried it on to near the line, but lost possession, and Newton were compelled to force. From this out to the end of the spell, Newton bad the best of a fast forward game, hut no further score resulted. Newton opened hostilities in the second half, and Roberts managed to carry the ball to a yard or so from Shore’s line, where he went out of bounds. Frankham averted a score, and Shore’s vanguard arried play back to mid-field. Harp took a shot

at goal from a free kick, but failed. From a forward rush into Newton’s territory, a scrum took place and Gerrard got the ball and passed to Frankham, who crossed the line and scored. Harp failed to convert. (Newton 6, Shore 3). Fifteen minutes from time, Newton rallied, and from a forward rush, Brash scored. Eaton converted. (Newton 11, Shore 3). Taylor succeeded in scoring for Shore just before the call of time. The shot at goal failed, and the match ended Newton 11, Shore 6.

Heath and Dobbs, on the wings for Newton, played good games, as did Eaton, Wilson, and Hill in the forward division. Of the backs, Woods, Paul and Roberts were the most conspicuous.

’ Irvine, Scott, Taylor, McClusky and Frankham were the most conspicuous of the Shore vanguard. Gerrard played his usual brilliant back game.

The position of the seven clubs competing for the cup are shown by the following table : —

Note.—City and North Shore won from Suburbs by default on June 2nd and 9th respectively.

No junior matches were played on Saturday last, the City v Newton fixture going to the former by default, and the Parnell v Suburbs match was won by Parnell by default.

PUBLIC SCHOOL MATCHES.

A Section. Wellesley street v Onehunga : Resulted in a win for the former by 6 points to 3. Beresford-street v Grafton Road : The former won by 14 points. Newton East v Napier-street: The former won by 31 points to nil. Ponsonby v Nelson-street: Nelson-street won by default. Devonport v Mount Eden : Devonport won by default. B. Section. Wellesley-street v Bayfield : Wellesley-street won by 4 points to nil. Chapel-street v Epsom : Chapel-street won by 3 points to nil. At last week’s meeting of the Rugby Union, it was decided to close the third grade competitions. City A are thus the winners of the championship cup, with a record of eight wins and a draw to their credit. It seems almost a certainty that the City District Football Club will capture the three championships this season, a feat which has not been accomplished since the inauguration of the district scheme of football. City’s juniors have

been prominent in past seasons, and it speaks well for those young players to keep up the reputation of their club. From their ranks the seniors should be able to draw a lot of good recruits when needed.

Heffernan, the ex-Aucklander, is said to be playing a great forward game for Pirates at Wellington this season. Harrison is said to be playing up to his old form this season and may come under the eye of the selector when the representative team cornea to be chosen.

The results of the senior cup matches to date, , indicate without a doubt that Star (north end) and Hawera (south end) will play off for the championship of the province. One match only will be played either at New Plymouth or Hawera. On Thursday, July 12tb, teams representing the north and south divisions, met in the Recreation Grounds, New Plymouth, to play a match, the first of three, to test rep form. The game was very interesting from start to finish, and ended in a win for the north by 6 points (two tries) to 4 points (a goal from a mark). The scoring was all done in the second spell. Bendall and Duffin scored tries for the winners and A. Hunter kicked a goal from a mark for the losers. (Taranaki Correspondent).

In Saturday’s senior matches, at Wellington, Petone beat Oriental by 11 pointe to 3. Athletic and Melrose played a drawn game, there being no score on either side, and Poneke and Old Boys also played a draw, scoring 3 points each. At Christchurch, on Saturday last, Sydenham and Christchurch played off for the senior championship, but the game ended in a. draw, each side scoring a try. The game was exciting, and keenly contested throughout, and was witnessed by an exceedingly large crowd. In Saturday’s senior football matches, played at Dunedin, Pirates (3) beat’ Southern (nil), Kaikorai (15) beat Zingari (nil), University (14) beat Dunedin (6), Alhambra (8) beat Union (nil). •. - ’ '

On Saturday last at Waihi, Waihi met and defeated Ohinemuri by 3 points to nil,

At Thames on Saturday, Probables met Possibles. After a good game, Possibles who played 18 men, won by 6 points 4a 3. True Blue were defeated for the first time this season by Rovers 11, who won by 6 points to nil. True Blue II defeated Carlton by 3 points to nil. Saturday last was somewhat of an off day in matters football, owing to their being no senior fixture. West End succeeded in defeating Pirates 11, after a well contested game on the Recreation Ground, by 5 points (a goal kicked by Willis from a try by Fortune) to 3 (a try scored by Pirie). The play was even throughout, and at times fairly willing, necessitating the referee asserting his authority to the extent of ordering one player named W. Boyd off the-field. Mr Renouf had charge of the whistle. West End No 1 met Ahuriri.ll, who defeated them by 9 points to 3. 'J his is West End’s first defeat this season on the Spit ground. Kia Ora put up a big score against West End No 2, whom they defeated by 28 points to nil. Mr Fulton was the referee. At the meeting of the Rugby Union, held in the evening. W. Boyd was disqualified for the rest of the season. — (Napier Correspondent.)

Select the winners of three races by the exercise of your knowledge of racing and you handle the gold. Just turn to page 24.

Ply’d W. L. D. P’ts For Agn’t City 9 8 1 0 88 33 Newton 9 7 2 0 72 35 Grafton 9 6 3 0 70 30 Poneonby 9 4 5 0 65 53 North Shore 8 3 5 0 39 58 Parnell 8 1 7 0 11 70 Suburbs 8 I 7 0 12 78