FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 793, 18 May 1905, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

The second games in the district cup . competition under the auspices of the ( Auckland Rugby Union were played on Satuiday. Tl.e most even mat h in the senior grade was that between Noitn Shore and Grafton. There was a large ' attendance on the North Shore ground to witness this contest, which was veiy keenly fought out. In the first halt North Shore, playing with the wind and with the sun in their opponents eyes, scored seven points, a try and a goal from a mark. The first was secured by R. Wynyard, who got an opening and took it, but Yeolaud s kick at goal failed. Yeoland made amends a little later, putting the ball over the bar from a mark. In the /eco'.d half, with positions reversed, Grafton attacked very strongly, but faulty passing threw away many opportunities of scoring. Shortly befoie the close Kiernan kicked a pena.ty goal, and when the whistle sounded North Shore were left winners by 7 points to o. Jj. * ’ * . * At Alexandra Park City played Parnell, and the latter, although beaten by 15 to nil, made a rather better fight than was expected. City ;ed off with the wind and sun in the:r favour, and kept the ball in their opponents’ territory most of the time. The Parnell defence proved very sound, and with the exception of a penalty goal kicked by Todd, there was no scoiing during the first . half. With the conditions more m their fa our the Parnell players were expected to do better in the second spell, but they failed to show staying power. A Tyler got a try, but failed with, the kick. Then after some give-and-take work Smich got a fire try, but a’though the ball was grounded between ths pos.s, Tyler failed again with the kick. Next from a scrum on the line G. Tyler scrambled over the line, but Todd failed to convert. A few minutes before time, as the result of a passing run, Smith scored again, but once more W. Tyler failed to put the ball over the bar. • » • • Only eleven Suburbs men turned out to play Ponsonby, and the latter had a veritable picnic. They piled up the score at a great rate, Carlaw, Francis, and Riley doing most of it. and although the time for play was considerably curtailed, Ponsonby had 50 to nil on the slate when the whistle sounded. ♦ * ♦ * SECOND FIFTEENS. City beat Parnell by 8 points to 3. North Shore beat Grafton by 22 points to 0. ,/» • X Ponsonby beat Suburbs by 16 points to 8. * During the match between Grafton and North Shore McGregor had one of his ribs broken. * * * * After all the New Zealand team will play a series of matches in Sydney, and it is a thousand pities that this was not arranged in the first place, especially in view of the courteous extended our union by the New South Wales executive in connection with the visit cf the English footballers. It is probable that the dat?s for the matches mav be Julv 8, 12, and 15. ♦ ’ ♦ * The New Zealand team for the Old Country leaves on July 29, ai d will go Home by the twin-screw liner Rirnutaka, one of the finest vessels of. the New Zealand Shipping Company’s line. * * * * The Hairdressers’ Football Club has been formed, and will p.«y in the Wednesday afternoon competitions. Mr. C. Lakey is secretary, and Air. A. Bancroft treasurer. * * * * The chief match under Australian rules on Saturday was between Auckland Imperial and Austral, the latter being strong favourites. The result was a surprise, as after a close game Imperial won by 4 goals 7 behinds (31 points) to 4 goals 4 behinds (28 points). Ss * * * The leading match in the Association game was one between Ponsonby and North Shore, the former winning by 2 goals to 1. & 4t- * * * Describing the match between England and Scotland, the “ Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette” of April 7 says that the International game at Crystal Palace ended in a victory for England, but the partisans of the Southern team are not likely to be stuck-up about it. Scotland was better in front, in the middle, and at the back than their opponents, and they had the best of the struggle, but England scored the solitary goal of the contest, and no amount of explanation can alter the concrete result. It was not a battle of giants anyway, but the defence on both sides was always a bit ahead of

the opposing forwards, and the shooting did precious little credit to either. Bloomer, who in the usual way could be relied upon to score once during the afternoon, and who as a matter of tact did net the ball, gave a poor display. His goal was not allowed by the umpire, whose verdict of offside was undisputed; and Bache, in the last quarter of an hour of the play, scored the goal that gave England the winning bracket. , j “ a 9y e appeared to be mightily elated with his achievement, and his colleagues nearly hugged him for it. The sheer unexpectedness of it staggered players and spectators alike. The whole game had been keenly contested, but the crack forwaias, both Scotch and English, did not play at the top of their form; they failed to take advantage of their opportunities, and they were seldom a match for the defence that was pitted against them. It was a good tussle from the point of view that one side was fighting an uphill game and contriving to hold their own, and they succeeded, not because they were favoured by fortune so much as by the bad luck which attended the efforts or the visitors. It was anybody’s game all through, and it looked as if it would end in a tie. Indeed, it seemed impossible that anything could happen to relieve the tedium'of the proceedings, but it is the unexpected that hannens, and when the crowd of 35,000 persons saw the ball fly between the Scotchmen’s posts they were almost too amazed to cheer.