THE FOOTBALL WORLD.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1004, 3 June 1909, Page 12

THE FOOTBALL WORLD.

Saturday proved an ideal day for football, and over 2000 people journeyed out to Alexandra Park to witness the district championship matches, the chief attraction being the game between City and University on No. 1 ground. It was thought mat the students would put up a big fight against the Cityites, but though they played a very creditable game throughout, there was only one team in it, the red and blacks having the advantage from start to finish. The match was about the most attractive played so far this season in the senior competition, both sides opening up play, with the result that work was of a fast order, the backs getting plenty of chances to

show their capabilities. City plainly demonstrated that not only have they got a solid forward team, but possess a useful set of backs, who are able to make the best of the opportunities that come their way. In Saturday’s match the red and blacks’ rear division were responsible for some fine passing runs, and lacked nothing in the way of combination. The City forwards

played their usual hard game, a feature of their exhibition being the manner in which they opened the game up. The University backs are undoubtedly a clever division, and behind a heavier and more experienced pack they would be very dangerous. One can always rely upon witnessing some heady play in a match in which the ’Varsity team is participating, and tneir display on Saturday was no exception to the rule. The University forwards are not anything out of the ordinary, but they grafted hard on Saturday, and therefore desire a word of praise. The Parnell-Ponsonby match was, of course, a foregone conclusion, but it was anticipated the maroons would make a better showing than they did. They did not play nearly so well as on the previous Saturday, when they met the City team, their defence being very weak, the blue and blacks simply romping over them. As Parnell have now played their three toughest matches of the round, they may be

expected to place a few wins to their credit in the remaining games. Ponsonby gave a good' account of themselves, their backs working with clocklike precision, and they should go through the season without a defeat. The Newton-Grafton match afforded the spectators a good deal of excitement, honours being very easy in this game, although play was not of an interesting character. The play of both teams calls for considerable improvement, as Saturday’s match cannot be calculated to encourage the football-going public to take much interest in the game, as what they want to see is a fast and open exhibition, not a forward scramble.

CITY (25) v. UNIVERSITY (8). The students won the toss, and elected to defend the western goal, and had the advantage of the sun at their backs and a slight breeze. S. Magee set the ball rolling for City, and the red and blacks commenced attacking hotly, but the students, making the best of a free kick, compelled the Cityites to force. The City back division engineered several likely looking passing runs, and finally Young, securing possession, passed smartly to R. Magee, who, evading the ’Varsity backs with a tricky run, registered City’s first try. Taking the kick himself, he made a fruitless attempt at goal. City 3, University 0. The red and black forwards rallied, and kept the blues hard pressed, the clever work of the ’Varsity backs keeping their line clear for some time, until Thompson, obtaining possession of the leather in the loose, broke across and scored City’s second try. R. Magee was again unsuccessful with the shot at goal. City 6, University 0. Shortly after the kick-out Wilkes gave the ’Varsity barrackers cause for excitement, the blue winger intercepting a pass and sprinting hard for City’s line. On reaching the full-back, however, Wilkes made the mistake of clinging to the ball, instead of passing to Robinson, who had followed up and was in an easy position to score, thus losing a golden opportunity for his side; the City fullback accounting for the University man. In the play that followed in City’s territory the red and blacks were penalised, University being given a shot at goal, Wilson succeeding in

piloting the ball over the cross-bar. City 6, University 3. Some fast, open play followed, in which City held the advantage over the blues, who were kept busy defending. Finally, from a scrum, S. Magee secured the leather and darted over the students’ line and registered the red and blacks’ third try. He took the kick at goal himself, which proved unsuccessful. City 9, University 3. Later on a clever passing run, in which Young, Magee, and Stewart handled the ball in turn, resulted in the last-named player scoring. S. Magee made a fruitless attempt at goal. City 12, University 3. No further score was obtained by either side during the first spell. A period of uninteresting play followed the kick-off for the second half, the Cityites keeping the leather in the University territory, Estall finally getting over and scoring from a nice passing run by the red and blacks’ rear division. R. Magee proved successful with the kick. City 17, University 3. Determined efforts to score on the part of the students all resulted in failure, it being found impossible to break through the red and blacks’ line of defence. Hard graft by the City forwards was responsible for play being shifted into the blue territory, where from a passing run Estall notched his second try. S. Magee made a successful attempt at goal. City 22, University 3. The City forwards were wearing the blues down, and a scramble resulted in McLean getting over ’Varsity’s line. S. Magee failed with the kick. City 25, University 3. The remainder of the game was played in semi-darkness, and a high punt by Wilkes was badly missed by Tobin, and the University men, following up smartly, scored a

try amid great excitement, Bailey getting over alongside the posts. Wilson’s attempt at goal proved successful. City 25, University 8. Mr. A. Campbell had control of the game.

Of the City forwards, Herring, Williams, and Thompson were responsible for some hard graft, while Sheehan, who made his first appearance as a senior, played a useful game. R. Magee was the mainstay of the City backs, while Hanley, Stewart, and Young acquitted themselves with credit.

Wilkes, the ’Varsity winger, was of great service to his side, initiating several likely looking attacking tactics, but at times his display was only of a moderate character. Wilson was the pick of the blues’ back division, and gave a good all-round exhibition. Robinson and Gray (at half-back) distinguished themselves, the former’s kicking proving very useful to the students.

PONSONBY (33) v. PARNELL (3). This match was played on No. 2 ground, and attracted little interest, the Ponsonby combination proving far superior to the maroons. From the start Ponsonby opened the game up, giving their backs plenty of work. Their first score was obtained within five minutes of the kick-off, Nicholson getting over the maroons’ line from a loose scramble. O’Leary took the shot at goal, but failed. Ponsonby 3, Parnell, 0. While the Parnell back division were responsible for much fumbling of the ball, on the other hand the blue and black backs made but few mistakes in this respect. A neat run by Murray saw the Parnellites in diffi-

culty, the Ponsonby centre transferring to O’Leary, who took the pass cleanly and dashed in and scored the blue and blacks’ second try. O’Leary made another unsuccessful shot at goal. Ponsonby 6, Parnell 0. The Ponsonby forwards were outclassing the light maroon combination, and Gillett,

sending the ball into the Parnellites’ territory, the full-back failed to take it, whereupon Gillett, who had followed up quickly, secured the leather and passed to Warner, who ran in and scored an easy try. O’Leary again failed with the kick at goal. Ponsonby 9, Parnell 0. Good play by the blue and black rear division saw Parnell in trouble on several occasions, the maroons being hard pressed in their own territory. Finally, from a throw-

in O’Leary secured possession, and with a feinting run managed to baffle the maroons and score a try between the posts. He took the kick himself, and this time proved successful. Ponsonby 14, Parnell 0. Webb was the next try-getter for the blue and blacks, the Ponsonby half-back working his way over the Parnellites’ line from some loose play. Cunningham was entrusted with the kick at goal, and succeeded in sending the leather over

the crossbar. Ponsonby 19, Parnell 0. Shortly after the commencement of the second half Parnell were awarded a free kick, and Hardwick succeeded in kicking a good goal. Ponsonby 19, Parnell 3. The Ponsonby men were now asserting their superiority in all departments of the game, and a pretty passing bout, in which the ball travelled from Webb to Bater to Morse and on to O’Leary resulted in the lastnamed scoring. O’Leary failed with the kick. Ponsonby 22, Parnell 3. The same player notched another try a few moments later from a forward rush started by Francis and Nicholson. He took the kick himself, and was successful. Ponsonby 27, Parnell 3. Webb was the next Ponsonby man to score, thus registering his second try. Nicholson failed with the shot at goal. Ponsonby 30, Parnell 3. McGregor got over for the blue and blacks a few minutes later, bringing the score up to~Ponsonbjc33,JParnell 3, which saw the game ended. Mr.~TL "McGregor refereed the match.

This game needs little comment, and it would be of little use to take the players individually, as the blue and blacks had a decidedly easy task in front of them, while the Parnell men played much below their form.

GRAFTON (9) v. NEWTON (6). This match was played on No. 3 ground, and proved of a very even character throughout. Grafton won the toss and played uphill, having the wind in their favour. The black and whites had the Newtonites sorely pressed in their own 25 nearly all the first spell, but were only able to secure one try. McDonald snapped the ball up in the loose, and, transferring to Renwick, the latter took the pass in good style and sent it on to Beale, who got over and drew first blood for Grafton. Eaton had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Grafton 3, Newton 0A couple of minutes after the resumption of play the black and whites scored their second try, Carr getting across with the ball. Eaton failed with the shot at goal. Grafton 6, Newton 0. The Newtonites then pulled themselves together, with the result that khorn scored from a scrum in Grafton’s 25. Farrant’s attempt at goal ’•roved fruitless. Grafton 6, Newton 3. Continuing their attacking tactics, Newton were immediately over the black and whites’ line again, Schraft scoring from a passing run. Farrant was again unsuccessful with the shot at goal. Grafton 6, Newton 6. Play now got fairly willing, and the issue + he game was very doubtful until Eaton succeeded in kicking a penalty "oal for the Graftonites. Grafton 9, Newton 6. For the remainder of the game and black and whites were placed on the defence, but the Newtonites were unable to get across. Mr. A. "'bolson was referee.

For the winners, McGuire was most prominent of the forwards, while Eaton showed that he has lost none of his dash. Renwick showed glimpses of his old form in the backs, while Beale also played well in the rear division, and is a big acquisition to the black and whites.

Of the Newton forwards none play-

ed better than Linkhorn on the wing, who showed up well at all periods of the game. With the exception of Farrant, the backs had not a great deal to do, and were only given a chance of attacking on rare occasions. JUNIOR MATCHES. SECOND GRADE. Newton 11. defeated Parnell 11. by 13 points to 12. Ponsonby 11. beat City 11. bv 2' points to 5. Marist Bros, had an easy win over University 11. by 17 points to nil. North Shore IL defeated Grafton 11. by 9 points to nil. THIRD GRADE. Ponsonby 111. had a runaway victory over North Shore 111. A by 51 points to nil. Manukau beat City 111. by 20 points to nil.

FOURTH GRADE. City IV. defeated Clarence by 17 points to 3. Chelsea beat Parnell IV. by 11 points to 3. Grafton IV. had a win over Ponsonby IV. by 15 points to nil. St. Patrick s and Newton IV. played a drawn game, each side scoring 3 points. COUNTRY MATCHES. In the senior matches under the Hamilton Rugby Union, City defeated Suburbs by 11 points to 3. The junior match between City and Suburbs resulted in a win for the former by 18' points to 3.

At the Thames, the senior match between the Suburbs and County teams resulted in a win for the former by 9 points to 6. In the junior grade, a combined City and Suburbs team defeated the County B fifteen by 8 points to 6.

At Paeroa the senior match between Suburbs and East resulted in a win for the former by 8 points to nil. In the junior grade, Paeroa defeated Suburbs by 6 points to 5. At Waihi, in the senior competition Suburbs beat City by 14 points to nil. The junior match between West and Suburbs resulted in a victory for the former fifteen by 5 points to nil.

In the cup matches under the Rotorua Rugby Union, Waikite defeated Kahukura by 6 points to nil (Hare and Hunt being the try-getters), while City won the match from Whakarewarewa by default. In the junior grade competition City defeated Whakarewarewa by 16 points to nil. THE GAME IN THE SOUTH. The senior football matches at Napier resulted as follows: —Kia Oro (6) Napier (6), a draw; Old Boys (11) beat Pakipaki (3); Rovers (6) Athletic (6), a draw: Pirates forfeited to Ahuriri.

The Palmerston North senior footbal results were: —Palmerston North (8) beat Old Boys (nil); Feilding (9) beat Kaiatoa (nil). The following were the results of the senior cup matches in Wellington: —Poneke (10) beat St. James’ (6); Orientals (15) beat Petone (3); Ath-