FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 852, 5 July 1906, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

The championship matches as far as the seniors are concerned came to a close on Saturday The weather was very showery and the ground sodden, while the attendances, both at Alexandra Park and Devonport, were not large. At the former ground Ponsonby played Newton, defeating them by the substantial margin of 18 points to 6. Soon after the start Ponsonby led off with a try by Wilson, which Francis converted. Immediately afterwards Wolfgramm made a good run for Ponsonby, and got over, but Marshall’s kick at goal failed. After a period of even play the Newton forwards rushed the leather over the Ponsonby line, Redwood being credited with a try, which Marshall failed to convert. In the second half Ponsonby set up a strong attack, but nothing came of it, and for a time play was very even. As time drew on the Newton men seemed to tire, and Ponsonby rapidly assumed the upper hand. A good passing run was ended by Carlaw getting over, but the kick at goal failed. Then from a line-out Wright got a chance, which he promptly took, but again the kick failed. Next Blakey kicked a fine goal from the field, while just on time Fricker scored a try, which was not converted, Ponsonby thus winning as above stated.

As was generally expected, City had a very easy win over Parnell, putting up the big score of 38 points to nil. There was little to interest in so unequal a game, Parnell never being once dangerous. For City tries were scored by Bonella, V. Little, Herring, Tyler (2), Seeling, Woods (2), Nicholson, and Smith, but only four of these were converted. * * * * On a previous occasion this season when North Shore met Grafton, the latter were routed to the extent of 41 to nil. On Saturday, however, the black-and-white fifteen had been strengthened, while North Shore were hardly so strong, the result being a very even game, the Shore men winning by 9 points to 6. At the outset Grafton attacked strongly, getting first score, a penalty goal by Eaton. Shore retaliated with a fast passing run by Smith and Mays, the latter getting over, but Yeoland s kick failed. From this out Grafton were very aggressive, and came within an ace of scoring without being able to do so. On resuming, Dean put up a try for Grafton, but Eaton’s kick just failed. Shore then woke up, and it must be admitted the play got a bit rough, there being more than one casualty. A good passing run by the Wynyards, Smith and Jackson enabled the latter to score, but Miller’s kick failed. A few minutes later Smith got a try on the corner. Grafton made repeated efforts to equalise the score, but failed, the game resulting as above. The fault in the game was that it was made too “willing,” the result being that there were far too many accidents, the most serious of which was Marshall’s broken collarbone. * * * * City 11. and Parnell 11. played a draw, each side scoring a try. * * * * North Shore 11. and Newton 11. each won their matches against Grafton and Ponsonby by default. * * * * North Shore 111. and IV. did not turn up against Grafton, the latter club’s teams winning by default. City *lll. beat Parnell III* by 11 points to nil. ' • * * * * St. John’s College beat Prince Albert College by 20 points to nil. A ■ feature of the winners’ play was that every try. scored was converted. ■ ’ " * * * Waipa defeated Cambridge at Te Awamutu on Saturday by 17 points to .nil. Hamilton, beat Waikato rather easily by 16 points to nothing. • * * * * The senior competition has now closed, and the appended table shows the positions of the teams at the conclusion . of the senior championship:—

Tiie-Gity District Football team left for Sydney on Monday by the Victoria, a large number of supporters being down on the wharf to give them

a hearty sendoff. The players selected for the trip were as follows:— Backs, Nicholson, Wood, Gladding, Little, W. G. Smith, R. Magee, and Young; forwards, Mcllhone, W. Tyler, B. Little, G*. Tyler, G. Nicholson, J. Maguire, F. Herring, C. Seeling, H. Plant, M. Fraser, P. Magee, J. Harris. Mr. J. Endean accompanied the team in the capacity of hon. manager. As I have stated before, the first match will be played on Saturday next against Newtown. On Wednesday the University fifteen will be tackled, while the concluding match will be against the leading team in the premiership competition. The doings of the Red and Blacks will be noted with keen interest by all lovers of the game over here. They are a fine combination, and may be relied upon to give a good account of themselves.

The district cup matches, as far as the seniors are concerned, have now ended, City being left victorious. Next Saturday will be given up to a practice match.

In connection with the Wednesday half-holiday matches, the position of the clubs up to last week was as follows: —Butchers: Matches played 4, won 4. Bakers: Matches played 3, won 2, lost 1. Grocers and Milkmen: Matches played 4, won 1, lost 2, drawn 1. Post, Telegraph, and Railway: Matches played 4, won 1, lost 2, drawn 1. Drapers Combined Team: Matches played 3, won 0, lost 3. * * * * At Wellington on Saturday the senior matches played resulted as follows: —Oriental (11) beat Athletic (8); Old Boys (11) beat Victoria College (5); Petone (34) beat Southern (nil). «** * . The senior matches at Dunedin on Saturday resulted as follows: —University (13) beat Port Chalmers (10); Alhambra (6) beat Dunedin (3); Kaikorai (12) beat Southern (6); Zingari (16) beat Pirates (nil). The grounds were in too bad a state on Saturday at Christchurch, the result being that all matches had to be postponed. ♦ * * * The annual match between the North and South Islands will take place this year at Christchurch. * * * * Playing under Association rules Tabernacle beat Thistle at Kingsland on Saturday by 4 goals to nil. * * * * North Shore played Corinthians at Devonport, getting the verdict by 2 goals to nil. * * * * Ponsonby played a draw against W.Y.M.I. B team. The A team of the latter club beat North Shore by 2 goals to 1. * * ♦ * City defeated Olympic at Kingsland by 3 goals to 1. * * * * The chief match under Australian rules was that between Imperial and Austral. Owing to the sodden state of the ground, play was not of a particularly high order, the game going in favour of Imperial by 66 points to 30. • « « • There will be no lack of representative matches this season in Auckland. Visits are promised from Southland, Canterbury, Wellington, Taranaki, and possibly Wanganui. Our team will have to be very sound to win through without a reverse!

P. w. L. D. Points. For. Agst. City 8 8 0 0 187 14 JSTorth Shore 8 5 3 0 88 55 Ponsonby 8 5 3 '0 89 79 Grafton .. . 8 3 5 0 25 101 Newton . • 8 2 6 0 45 77 Parnell 8 1 7 0 11 118 ; •-7 r ' r*r ' ■ • : < *• ■ # *