SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 698, 23 July 1903, Page 10

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

FOOTBAL

(By

“Scrutator.”)

The following are the fixtures for the New Zealand Representative Team : — July 26— Against New South Wales. July 29— Against a City Team, kugust 1 to B—Against Queensland Re preeetftatives. August 12—Against Combined Northern Districts of New South Wales. August 15—Against Whole of Australia, at Sydney. NEW SOUTH WALES V. NEW ZEALAND. The Sydney Cricket Ground was crowd- £] on Saturday, it being estimated that iheir were thirty thousand people present o watch the match between the New Zeaand representatives and those of the } Om(m on wealth State. The GovernorGeneral and also the Governor of New Jouth Wales were among the spectators. I>e teams were made up as follows :— New South Wales.—Full-back, Maund ; hree-quarters, White, Johnson, Carew, alter; halves, Antezark, Manning (capjun) ; forwards, Joyce, Judd, Hirschlerg, Wright, Moir, ■ Burden, Barton, KDonnell. (Colours, Light Blue.) New Zealand.—Full-back, Wallace ; threeuarters, Aslher, R. McGregor, D. Mciregor; five-eighths, Wood, Duncan (cap•ln) ; half-baak, Kiernan ; wing forward, Lrm strong ; forwards, Tyler, Gallagher, fanning, Cooke, Long, McMinn, and liven. (Colours, Black and Silver Fem.) Much has been written about the great mprovemertt in Rugby football in New Jouth Walee, but it must be confessed here was no particular evidence of it in this match, the New Zealand team having JI the best of the game. Especially was his seen in the first spell, but during the attcr half the victors commenced to tire. New South Wales kicked off, and Asher, |jy a fine punt, sent play into the Walee 15. New Zealand then assumed the aggresdv«, and a fine bit of passing between SZieznan, Duncan, R. McGregor, and Wood nded in the latter handing the ball back to McGregor, who passed it on to Asher, Enabling the speedy City three-quarter to tut up the first score within five minutes f the start. Wallace was entrusted with he kick at goal, but his effort to convert ras futile : New Zealand n • New South tales, o. After some fairly even give-and-take rork, the ball was taken to the New Jouth Wales 25, where Kiernan got poseesion and passed along to R. McGregor, rho dashed over the line. Wallace was gain entrusted with the shot at goal, but Hied, though he made a fine kick, the all striking the outside of the post : New fealand, 6 ; New South Wales, 0. Another score seemed imminent, but flute just pulled Asher down on the very ne. A five yards’ scrum was formed, and HOther forward rush by Burden!, but fanning, the New South Wales skipper, ot off-side, and New Zealand was award--1 a penalty kick, Wallace landing a goal: few Zealand, 9 ; New South Wales, nilThe Blacks kept up a idnstant attack, ew South Wales being penned for a long imp in their 25. No further score rented at half-time. In the second half the Light Blues layed up much better, and for the first ime New Zealand was on the defensive, ut full back Wallace proved very sure, 'ulter had a shot at goal from close arige, but failed, and the Blacks forced, 'rom a mark secured by R. McGregor, tall ace failed to increase the score, 'hen Kiernan got the ball in the New fealand 25, and passed to R. McGregor, rtio eluded Whije and transferred to isher, who was tackled by Maund just in iir.e. Nothing daunted, the New Zeainders returned to the attack, and imlediately Wood made an opening from Zhich he passed to McGregor, and the ifter scored. Wallace kicked from im ,wk(ward position, but failed to convert : lew Zealand, 12 ; New South Wales, o.

■UlXfflbi-i i* The latter team then livened up, a kick by Johnson oply just missing the bar, while later on, Manning might have scored but over-ran the ball. Soon after the whistle sounded, leaving New Zealand the winners. Mr T. Pauling acted as referee. From the cable accounts there seems to have been some little feeling shown during the match, and Cooke, one of the New Zealand forwards, was ordered l off the field by the referee. CITY V. PARNELL. From the kick off City had the best of the game. After dribbling* down the field they sent the leather out to their backs, who, with a short passing run, sent the leather out well inside Parnell’s 25. For. some time they fought hard to cross the line, but Parnell’s tackling was too good. A few minutes later Parnell was penalised, and Scott had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Again City got the ball out to their backs, and again the Parnell i tes smothered their attempts to score. A free kick from Parnell then relieved, and play hovered about mid-field until Young got away and dribbled the ball into touch near the corner. Smith, the Parnell threequarter, then intercepted a pass from Young, and dashing up the field he punted into touch at the half-way flag. Stevens then marked and punted out. From the throw-in W. Tyler got possession and dashed over the line, scoring City’s first try. Tyler took the kick himself, but fail-

ed to register a goal (City 3, Parnell o.) Soon after Geo. Smith marked, and^-hnd. a drop-kick at goal, the ball hitting the post rebounded into play, where L. Shera picked up, and "dashing up the field he punted out half-way. The Red and Blacks then smothered an attempt at goal' by Foster. The Maroons were penalised, and George relieved by finding the line at half-way. Soon after Foster punted out, and the bell rang, terminating the first spell. Shortly after the kick-off Parnell was penalised, and George punted out well inside their opponents’ 25. A passing run by Magee, Smith, George, and Gladding ended in the latter scoring. Scott again had an unsuccessful shot at goal. (City 6, Parnell 0.) For some minutes play hovered about the centre of the field. A loose rush by the City forwards then carried the leather over the line, where Tyler fell on it, scoring his second try for City Tyler failed to convert. (City 9, Parnell o.) No further points were added to the score, the game ending in favour of City by 9 points to nil. NORTH SHORE V. GRAFTON. There was a capital attendance at Devonport, on Saturday, to watch the meeting of these two teams, and the onlookers were rewarded by seeing a willing game from start to finish. Although Grafton won by 11 points to 3, the game was of an even nature throughout, the winners being compelled to force

on several occasions; Their play was rather spoilt by the amount of off-side indulged in, and there must have been quite a dozen penalty kicks given against them in the first half. The first try came to Grafton as the outcome of some loose scrimmages near their opponents’ 25, and Rodd managed to get over near the corner flag, but no goal resulted. For some time the Shore men were penned in their 25, having to repeatedly force. This was caused through them kicking out too far, and invariably to McKenzie, who was easily ‘able to return the ball out close to the goal line. Eventually the Shore men realised the folly of continuing their dangerous tactics, and the pressure was soon relieved, even play resulting to halftime.

On resuming, the Green and Whites set up a strong attack, and came within an ace of scoring. Grafton replied promptly, and bringing the ball right along, Kelly scored a try, but once again Huddlestone failed with his kick. Presently a rush by Grafton carried the leather close to their opponents’ line, and Stead snapping it up got across, McKenzie kidking a fine goal. The Shore men made matters very lively at the close, Warbrick securing a try, which was unconverted. Mr Kattems acted as referee.

Manaia defeated Coromandel on Saturday, by 11 points to 6, after a close game all through.

PONSONBY v. SUBURBS. A very close an,d well-contested game was played by these fwo teams at Alexandra Park on Saturday. Durng the first spell, Suburbs had rather the better of the game, a good run by Absolum giving them a try wh ch Plugge failed to convert. In the second , half Ponsonby played up much better, six points being put on, the first three as the result of a fine penafty goal by Francis, and the other score from a try by Lendrum, this winning them the match. Taken all round, it was a fast and interesting display of football, in which neither side showed any real superiority to the other. Mr Blakey was referee. SECOND FIFTEENS. City beat Parnell by 18 points to nil. Ponsonby won from Suburbs by default. North Shore won from Grafton by default. THIRD FIFTEENS. City A won from Parrtell A by default. City B won from Grafton by default. Suburbs won from Parnell B by default. The famous Kaikorai fifteen has been disqualified for the rest -of the season for leaving the ground in their match against Dunedin. The incident has caused some excitement in' the Southern city.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ MATCHES. St. John’s I. beat Grammar. School 1., by 8 points to 4, and are leading for the schools’ championship. King’s College I. beat Prince Albert College I. by 14 points to nil. Grammar School 11. beat St. John’s 11. by 20 points to nil. King’s College 11. beat Prince Albert College 11. by 3 points to nil.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ MATCHES.

Remuera heat Bayfield by 12 points to.

Onehuinga beat Ponsonby by 8 points to nil. Mount Eden beat Napier-street by 6 points to nil. Wellesley-street B beat Ellerslie by 12 points to nil. Wellesley-street A and Newmarket won. their matche&i by default. SOUTHERN MATCHES. In Christchurch the grounds were ilk good order and the weather fine for Satday’s football. Albion (12 points) beat Old Boys (nil) ; Linwood (13 points) beat Merivale (nil) ; Christchurch (35 points) beat Canterbury College (8 points). Albion leads for the championship with lOpoints, Sydenham and Linwood being next with B£. Merivale have won the junior flag. In the senior football matches at Dunedin, Alhambra and Zingari-Richmond played a drawn game (3 points each) ; Pirates (6) beat Kaikorai (3) ; Southern i,5) beat Dunedin (3) ; University (12) peat Union (6).

Wairarapa was beaten by Wellington on. Saturday by 8 point® to

A very large number of people witnessed the match between Paeroa and Karangahake on Saturday. The match proved wonderfully even, and ended in a victory for Paeroa by 3 points to nil.

Thames beat Waihi on Saturday, by 11 points to nil. A. Houghton, C. McLean,, and Autridge were responsible for the trio, the second one being converted by Newland.

New South Wales defeated Queensland by 11 points to 6 in a game played in wet weather. In the return match, the Light Blues were again successful, winning by 11 points to 8. From this it would appear that the football strength of the two States is nearly eqkial, for, as the two matches were played in Sydney, Queensland is hardly likely to have been able to put its very i best team possible into the field.

The Union liner Moeraki, which conveyed the football representatives of this colony to Sydney, made a good trip across, soon running out of the gale which was blowing at the start. The team landed in splendid condition,, and wete met on the wharf by the executive of the N.S.W. Rugby Union and a very large concourse of footballers, who gave the visitors a very hearty reception.

The Auckland district Cup matches were continued on Saturday last, at Alexandr a Park. Owing to the matches being rather uninteresting, there was a very poor attendance of spectators. City met Parnell on No. 1 ground, with Mr Forsyth acting as referee.

There was some talk at the beginning of the season of the decadence of Rugby football in Australia. So far from thia being the case that never in the history of Rugby in Sydney has such a large crowd witnessed club football as was the case on Saturday week at the University Oval. The attendance was generally estimated as being 18,000, and it was certainly no less than that number. Long before 2 p.m. thousands had secured admission, and as many more were waiting outside to secure an opportunity of passing through the turnstiles. But the patience of the crowd at last became worn, out, and as a result, the two large gates on each side of the ground Were burst open. When it is remembered that it wafe only a club match, it can readily be understood that “ Rugger ”. is not yet o» the wane in the Commonwealth,