FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 527, 7 June 1909, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

) „ ( SATURDAY'S RUGBY MATCHES.

STERN STRUCCLE AT ATHLETIC PARK. ' .< PONEKE STILL AHEAD. For stubbornness, grit, and bulldog "hangon;" no game has been played by cijty or suburban clubs this season equal to that which Athletic put up on Saturday at Athletic Park against Poneke. It was very much as'lf the Spirit cf Old Rugby had sat up for an afternoon on its bier and stretched itself and looked about it. Tho surprising thiug was that owing to one causs and onqther each ..team included a proportion of junior players, and they seemed to peifotm quite as" well, as tho seniors.' Among tho forwards (especially Athletio's) there could scarcely nave been any "passengers," and the scrumming and tackling on both sides wercof the best. 'As sometimes happens in a match , where both sides have done their utmost, tho ' side whioh Montually gives lyay collapses altogether. Something of that kind 1 happened to ( Athletic,'but for a largo part of tho game prior ta th-vt they rather looked liko winning, Among individual efforts, tho two tries put on by Ryan stood out in a class by themselves. Ho is certainly a very formidable wing three-quarter. , Considering tho heavy rain which fell prior to 7 a.m. on Saturday, the'ground uas in very fair order. Still, if any of the combatants, had not been in good training the "going" was soft onough to have * found him out

, POSITION OF THE TEAMS. 1 § 1 S s s s3 3g S £ Q ft ftg'-oa Po-neke 7 7 0 - 146 15 U Oriental ... 7 5 2 —-*- 108 33 10Petono 7 5 2 - 181 54 10 llelroso ... ... 7 4 3 — 53 63 8 Athlotio ... 6 i 2 - C 6 « 8 St. Jarafes ... 7" i 3 — 60 41 8 Vic Collom ... 7 1 5 1 16 121 3 S6uthbrn ... 7' 1 5, 1 24 142 3 Wellington ... 7 1 6 - 35 64 2 Old Boys ... 6 1 5 - 33 79 2 PONEKE (17); V. ATHLETIC («). Eighteen minutes to time, and Poneke two points behind! It had been a)great struggle as far as it had gone, but the belt part had still to come. The Genuis of Rugby, when he devised his fine game wherewith to amuse citizens oh Saturday afternoons, oidained quite a, lot of things to make the business as complex as possible—weight, speed, dash, sondition, intelligence, skill and "fine points." Like cards in a game, all these had been played, and the result had been a contest which left tho tinsel of the Oriental-Petone encounter far in the sha.de, TMt had boon a procession, but this was indeed a match, and hundreds of swift moves, designed to end in scores, had ended in the mud. One had seen the tackle strenuous, the tackle high, tho tacklo tiCmohdous, the tackle low, , tho tackle beautiful, and tho tacklo urnner-1 ciful. The game had had its highly dramatic ] mbments also. ,It had hardly begun when I Mitehinsofl changed defence into atvtack~ near his own Irne, and Ryan, going like a steam engine, scored after » a 70 yards' rnn. s—o, Tho cheers which hailed it'were hardly still when Kivell shot over a goal for the Blues. Then a great Blue blizzard had swept 'all ovor the Rods, Organ getting a try beside the posts and "Ranji" Wilson losing another right between thorn,- This perhaps cost Athletio the match, but at the time, it was not noticed much And now jt was eighteen minutes to time, and the steamy combatants were still hard at it, s6ffle of tho forwards woro noaring the "blown" • stage, two were bleeding, and 4000 people, by this time thoroughly steeped in the excitement of it a 1 wore cheering hard And still there was one card to be played —"tho last ounce"—and, as with tho knave in the pack, when gamblors n6ar the stag/ when the stakes Change hands, tho quouuon .was: "Who's got it?" The long tido of Fotieke's battle was certainly,running heavi- , ]y ;now, 'but whether it nas merely dashing itself to death 'on tbo k stcrn, blue, Athletic coast, /was,another question altogether, it was a puz/sle,to which the course of events gave no clue, for still it was "anybody's game." But tho denouement was closa up now; at fifteen minutes to time cheers as cended* thaf might have boon heard at Island Bay; hats and, sticks ascended too-7-Mitchinson had tabled the winning circmn. stance. ' Not a very big one to be surejust a goal from the held—but, like tho little 'wound, that spilt Mercutio's life, "it was'enough; 'twould served' The tough Blue hands which had gripped and capsized the Ponoko backs all day, now relaxed, and presently. the familiar Red attack was sweeping the field in characteristic Poneko fashion. The ball presently cams to Mitchi, ins'on, and tLon on to Ryap, and tho fast Poneke wing, repenting bis pawling performance of tho hrst spoil, seemed'to leave tho field' standing, and, using jus he.id in shaping s couise, finished up a dQ yards' run with a try that brought (ho grandstand to its feet rllitehinson converted. 18—6. A couple pf minutes remained, and Athletics' cup was now nearly full of trouble, but not quite. By somewhat picturesque, but totally unreliable, persons, it has lately been laid down that tho hard-working forwards should not have their hearts broken by the wild artillery of the pottmg back, and that the, chronio potter should bo marooned on the touch-line , Well,,'like everything else, it depends on who the operator is. Nqtbing domorahses a team more surely than a coal dropped over its cross-bar from tho field, and Alitehinson dispatched one as a sort of parting gift to poor Athletio. Anyone who can let the ball fall perpendicularly to the ground is justified in potting, but even/that little art needs much practice. Tho Poneke centre, however, 'seemed to understand all about it. And so a very fine game olosod with the scores— ' fe-t" 17 points. Athl ßt"> 6 points Mr. Card, as refeiee/ was the 'right man in the righi place. Taking the game "by and large,' the Athletio forwards had some reason to be satisfied with themselves, while 1 oncke backs showed corresponding merjt in fotohing p lcar at tile finish after such an exhausting battle. It was, indeed, a game whore "tbo last ounco" told,

MELROSE (6) V. VICTORIA'COLLEQE (3), Upon the play Mclroso did not deserve to sborp » win occr Victoria College, but the ma ton was interesting fpr'all that. In the nrst- spell Melrose had tHo fldvautago of the i2f? B .L ??\ aniJ 5001 } aftor * uo st3r t Mar. shall, the »*«>« right-wine, following up fask took the ball on the fly and dashed for the lino.-He oluded a couple of opponents, a M',£"'. PK.or at, the corner ;?rith tyvo oihers. clipgmg.ta Mm.yi'herj began a strenuous cpn. ■: the- respective pacts. .For sornq ■™4^VyiP.^i»:CbllßßeV.weraVh'6)i)'hiM ; '"ln ,: Jtdm' midway;-they'suit : se.qUe»tly i ;made-sev6rar,;desporate,:but fruit--?s*w^ 4 p r %,Fpijndf:tlien hesded'a ep]en; W3;;V Wtpna. r C«llcgo loosp rush, * wi f o}j .carried piar. to.-:the; Melrose .twenty.five/i'and whw ; mtyW*-. funded,' the fatter ; nte on the de-.»??*»»•■';-pevoororflancepent: of"tKo':accent) ???!J V.?»Y. 'both 'vpaoks/extended; ;the :';sbcno ;being:;on;tholMelroseI'sido of :.»fe ,runvby ]: pe,la;i^ r o; ? aught;,thi>:eyp,'McirOso «sayed A a. formidable lopso- rush'" which, • howby Phillips,:. w*o '■'■. warf .then iijaymg at; full-back for Viotoria Colloge, '^i??i#?i???*^! lTr^y-;--minqteiVlJelrosd'";wCTa- '«« M"■■ :«6lenmvo,, and.. O'Leary had W un:^»!™.!',loH''»*:goal, -one;narrowly rms- ■■■^*/; ■ right up ~t0,4 Victoria; College's twenty/five,'" where .useful dribbling, which ; T scoring. From now 1 sn;Victoria5 n ;Victoria College/ who; began' to utilise their -, upper; plvWf! se r«r a i opponents, but he omitted .to; ; pftS3,;m agwn : :just';before.he was -ffirown into : 4ouch,-r ■>»' scrum near ■■tAMrMwTose;line;; tho Victoria fiolhge half/ A^eo/^r«} , ;withit)ut';a9sis ; tano«< Ay the •fti:?- : MeIM»K'--\'/,;V^ ;V' : ;;V^iet«|aCollege ';>>./^U>» r *3; , pojnti/:\.v '$~l f. K;Manrijng jr&i the ; jefereei"'• ; :/*,';'',

[ ;'■•■.•., OLD BOYS (5) V. ORIENTAL (0). - Hew; ate'the "mighty fallen! Oriental, rurine'rs-up for the: championship, suffered defeat-at Miramar at the hands of Old Boys, the weakest team on paper 'in the competition.-Their great back • division seemed to bo'helpless without, Roberts and Mtttheson, <who were resting. Old Boys made it a forward game, and proved—on tho day, (at any rate—that they had a better pack\than Oriental Playing with the advantage of':the wind |in the first spell,; Old Boys wscamo. aggressive *■ forthwith. UponOnental working play to Old Boys' twentyfive, Vorooe had a shot at goal, but'did not make sufficient allowance for the wind. From outsjdo tho .Oriental twenty-five Marchant, a. later,, gathered up the hall, and,. after traversing some yards, passed to Avery, who :bronght off a fine try. Marchant kicked a splendid goal. Throughout the remainder of the-spell, Old Boys were in the :'■ ascendant. .' -Upon v ends' having been changed, Oriental made a fierce forward onslaught. '.Again and again they, invaded-the territory/: <£: Old Boys, who were, at. one stage,..compolleclv to force twico within a brief :-pcriod.. Acting,upon the advice.-of' their supporters,- Oriental finally endeavourcd/Jto get' through by opening .up .the 'play, hut Avery- rallied; his men with good effect. ■iM'Leod.-.who was playing'at.half, for Oriental, made several fine dashes on his own; but his division never'got on the move properly.-'• During the last ten minutes, play was exceedingly fast and strenuous, and the excitement, was intense; but, try; as . they would, Oriental could.not make' up the leeway,.and the. game concluded—. '.

■ ;; v;.old Boys ..." : :./.: ;..'■. ;.,. 5 '~,]. OritntalV; ;...; ; : K - y ',••• ■'- ■ -■.-'.?..-.'■.' •'.-.- Mr. i'ordyce : controlled the match., .'•'•.-.■. V ST. JAMES (8) V; WELLINOTOH (3). -Tho' St:'■•'-.• James-Wellington', inatoh was played. Within (sight and-sound of the "madding crowd"—on No; 2 ground, Athletic' Park—but- it was'only a fragmentary per- | centage of that gate-paying assemblage who lent lung aid! to stimulate the contestants on tho .'.'lower levels." 'The few qlub attaches who; dotted tho'.outlines.'of this area,-how-ever; were sometimes rewarded with a twinkle of solid-play which wholly-absorbed an:atien-' tion ; whioh ,was,' at .times, given to wandering to the'' scene, of. tho'adjacent "staj" -fixture. • Weflington, Tvho-- have':,in matches suffered; from' lack, of condition, were, When lined out against St. ; James, found 'on. inspection .'to -be afflicted with a:' fresh/weakness— five,of theusiial members of the team were absent:: :St. .James, on.-the .. other' hand; played ■. their' scheduled: team.. - Under the circumstances, -a .win .'for. St.;' James -was not surprising, but their path .to victory was not rose-strewn.-' /,v 7 '■r- i v"' : -\'\'J':'; '_: Wellington.had to. contend;'with'\the wind* l in the first.'spsll; and: St. James,: by judicious kioking aiidvlin'e-OUt.;work,..were.early oil the'attack;'and ,: wore.: forced: Aided : by' some penalty.' kicks, St.- James still ,swarmod : round Wellington's goal, dashes by Roberts and; Baumgart testing the; Yellows' : taokling, /: ; Ujidismayed. • by ; ' these assaults, Wellington .Cheerfully-'hoped, and strove >for. better:: things, : .and their ioptiraigin •' was not' Without; foundation',., for:■ JPKcllar, ;from .'■ alincHout.'' .'dribbled ■': .through:' the ."'Opposition:: for. quite: thirty yards:' Then'*- from? the bonnce/.he gathered up the" ball, and, after it had flashed a bit among the, hacks,' Carr Succeeded',in; dpehing' the score for Welling--' ;.ton by a_ good :try. .Wellington 3 points! St. Ja.mes.nil,::c-: '■_--,- • .::.:'■... u--: : -,.-v- . ;:,'

-_\Early:in'the second-half, a'dodgy run by ■•natters-'look gloomy for Welling-' ten. but Sheridan'saved'.with a timely kick: Although struggling against that' formidable sixteenth "unit'V-a strong wind—St. James were soon; m scoring .range, again, arid,,'from a 'long line-out, the,ball went to H. Roberts, . wo'cut;- intnioely and 'touched dowri.'-'f- Wei-Imgton:3-points,, St; James 3., Wellington gavo:a "flash in-.the.pan":display after this rcveTsoj.but tbeir team:was' obviously, tiring WW, pas; for a t time fought outin-tho centre, POi.ihpot^James vanguardeventually.forced ,it into /Wellmeton's: twenty-five, where, from -a line-out;;,H.' Roberts', again l flashed across forSt:. James., Crewes- added. Athe: extra' : a:. James;B,:.':-Wellington '3. The Vollows showed a bolder front to the end of,' ,%e game, and nlayecl up ; really' but the wnistle, sounded without furthor score, the game ending— .-.-'.:. .-. ■-. "'' •

St Jnmea 3 po mt3 Wollmgton 3 pomts I Mr. J. Francis was referee. t PETONE (26) V. SOUTHERN (8), Real football hardly looked in during tho progress of this gamo, whioh nas plajed at letope. The Petono team, recently disorganised, eaipo on minus two more sturdv belpors.xand Southern played their accustomed mediocre rolo, Spcototors nere therefore denied anything that would tend to create enthusiasm, and the sparsely-peopled outline was dumb. Petone ran right over their (opponents, putting up a score of 26 ■■"i? !i f 0 ™ 10 " 1 crossed the Petone line with tho ball only once, in th<*. last few mmntes, when J. Campbell jumped over from a lino-out. Iha other three points wore obtainoa,earlyintho gamo by "tes." Campbell, who kicked a piotty goaf from a mark. J. Rjan was acting-skipper for the Blues, Uardham havihg been kicked last Saturday. Nankivillo was also absont from tho forwards, having injured a hand at practico, and Arrowsmith and MTarlane filled the vacancies. Tho former of those two juniors played a satisfactory game, scoring the first try, and M'Farlane goaled three times. W. Ryan was again m his place, and plajed worthily; his efforts in a rush gave Arrowsmith tho ball to take over m the first five minutes. The second try originated with J. Ryan Corson and M'Konzie were the media used, tbo latter touching down in tho soutjh corner. Scoring was brisk at tho commencement of the second spell, Joo Ryan getting over oneo and his brother, Jim, twice • in about ten minutes. Corson alio touched down in a good position. Tho final score for Petone was obtained by M'Kcnzie, under the cross-bar. Before the whistle blow, several inoro opportunities came along, but Corson kicked too hard, and tho Reds saved by forcing.. Mr. J. Weybourne was tho roforec.

JUNIOR MATCHES. Old Boys, playing two men short, wero defeated by Wellington by 2? to 9, Towards the end of tho game Old Boys brightened up considerably, and reduced their opponents' margin of victory, Wellington tries were scored by Power.(2), Durip (?), Jtonayne and Riley. W, Irons and Power each' converted one try. Froybarg by two tries and a penalty goal made up the losers' score. Oriental, who hadionly cloven men, drew with Southorn, each, sido scoring 6 points. Davis scored both of the Southern tries, and .M'Kiriloy and Paul shared the honours for Oriental, i ' Melrose defeated St. James by 6 points to nil, \ ■ Selwyn beat Athletic by Bto 3. M'Donald and Flaok scored trios for' the winners, tho former also converting one. ■ Tho match betwoon ,St. Patrick's College Old Boys and Potono, which was to jiavo been played on Newtown Park was postponed owing to the state of tho ground. , ■ ' £ia Ora 43, defeated Ponoke njl. FOURTH CLASS. 1 Victoria College draw with Selwyn, 3 points each being the scores. Oriental defeated Wellington by 3 points to ml. Epnni heat Pqneko by 6 points"' to 3 points, For tho winncra, GJonnie and John, son scored trios, and for Poneke, Halswell scored, St. .Tames scorod 15 points in Athlotic's nil; Trios wero scored by Brown (3), and Berry (2). ,

&t./John's dofeatedKarori by 23 points to. ml.' Tries were, scored; by Saxon (3)' Bradley, Crawford, Redgrave, and Murray;. Pram-converted orio.try...-; "...'■ ,'.,-.' /./, FIFTH CLASS; ■'. : A.- ' v-, /Petone defeated ;Solwyn by 12 points to 3 points, '■:•:?• 1;•-.■■.':. J .■■■,•'■ ' . ; '';:^ : -'-" ■'..■ •■;, ■'■..;. : >;;. ; v\;;-/.r THIRP CLASS, ■■':' l /■/.. .Victoria'CpllpgeVplaycd.a- very hard.gam? to defeat Kia Ora, the former'winning by g.-points t6 '6., The gaino'was played at Meltings Siding.' ■', -j, '■-.:■ : Epuhi .had.'a runaway victory over TOlipgton, winning by 20' points to nil. The guse was played oa Hutt No, 8 grouud,

; Petone had a very easy win over Oriental, winning by 31 points, .to nil. Peteuo No. the ground on which tho match was played. ( St. John. v. Poneke match resulted in a wn for tho former by 25 points to 3. ocorers .for tho winners were: Dunn (2), Dusko, Lovell, Bortenshaw, Nicholson, and JMliffe. Dyctt converted two tries. The game was played at Miramar Park, on No. 2 ground.

Upper Hutt 6, drew with St. James. ,: MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES., (BI TELEGEirn—srECIAt COEBESrONDEtrf'.) ... „ -~-. Palmerston, Juno 5. A» Rugby games were postponed hero to-day, causing much dissatisfaction among players, as only a couple of hours of rain fell; in the morning, the afternoon being gh-ripusly fine. This is the second Saturday within a month on which, for unknown reasons, the :' union officials have made a hopeless muddle of affairs. Not to bo deprived of a game, tho Palmerston and Old Boys'- teams got in some splendid practico, besides thereby entertaining' as many spectators as usually attend Cup fixture.

■'■'■_' J ■ ' '; Masterton, June 6. Red Star senior defeated Gladstone ;on Saturday by 11 points to nil. ■ .(BY- TEIIfiBifB—fEESS ASSOCUTIOM.) •'! _, : . ~ V Auckland, Juno 5. . The _;Auckland Rugby Union's district championship matches were played in showery weather to-day, and before a limited attendance. In the senior grade matches, PonsOnby beat University by 32 points ■ to. 3; Parnell beat Grafton by 11 points to . 3; North Shore'beat Newton by 24 -points to m 1... ■■ ... '---' : •-. :---..... ■.; Chrlstohurch, June 5. In continuation of the Canterbury-Rugby Union's country week programme, a match was , played at Lancaster Park .this afternoon* between teams representing town and country. The ground was in capital Order, and there was a very fair attendance. The country players put up.a-very good.fight, but they found the pace and combinatiori of tho town backs,too much for them, and, in the end, were beaten by 24 points to .5.

Dunodln, June 5. Senior Rugby matches were played this afternoon in fine weather, though tho grounds Vero soft afteT yesterday's rain. Results*—Port Chalmers (12), beat Pirates (nil); Zingari-Riehmond (3) beat Southern (nil); Alhambra'(9) beat Kaikorai (8); Dunedin (8) .boat Union (6); University (19) beat Taien (nil). j

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. ;

- SENIOR LEAGUE-.-PIRST DIVISION. ■ - The unsatisfactory state of the'weather 'on. Saturday .morning brought forth tho all-too-frequently-recurring. edict from "the powers that are" that the oity resorves would not: be open for play'in the afternoon. : When the matches had all been changed to Miramar, -the day broke; gloriously fino, and grumbling was the order of the afternoon.; Perfect football was out 'of'the question at Miramar on account-of the,-gale, of wind, but players madeOthe best, of- the untoward (circumstances and at least one team—Dia-monds--showed what can be done with 00mbina,tionj:even in,a gale of wjnd. The result, of: tho ; day's ' play: leaves •■ Diamonds and Y.M.C.A.'stUI a tie for first place, but Swifts havo dropped' down the' scale one point. '.■: ,

v.'' OF THETEAMSr v ■■'■' The positions "of the various teams ,in the competition.are:— ; \; : ; ;' • v..', ■ • .-.-.v . .-;. ........ tji-;'■■;■ ,-}- ■•' g : i,^- '■' •;' ' .. « . . .'..'. 5 c£ ' " ' ■ " ! ■ . !>>. a ... ii-'.g.g fl '■■■ "■'" ''■■'■' '■ "■ '■ £ >■ ■ o xao .'■•.'-."••.■ .-|.'■'■■'■■-■■'' -"" ft ■tf hl-Roft giamon^.; : ;-- ...••.■.■:.,■.■;■.;■■...■ ,6;'.:-:s' -l--.'."6 'io :T.M.C.A..:,/...: : - ; „.-.- ; '.;...a. 4/ 0 2: •10 .Swifts: ... < ... .... .;.: 6 4 1, 1 ' 9 Rovers....'- .... ..."..;,„ 6 2 2 2 6 St. John's'■■:>■.'-;•...:;.■ ..'.''o 3 3;i 0 . G ■Wanderers: '..., ... ..„ 7'.. 2. 5 ■ 0 . Petbne..'.: ...!........' 6 2 i 0 4 Thi5t1e:...'; : :.i,;.,,....... 5 ■>.:-' 1 •■:■. 3 1 3 Ramblers:.:- .... •,-.-«. ■•: .., 6. 1 ; 5. 0~,. 2 : . DIAMONDS JOHN'S (1). The confederacy was . several points in advance of ; thd young St. John's team, and, despite the. gale of j wind and the fact tnat the playing area was several sizes. 'taojsraall, the .winners gave.a first-class exposition. A nimble forward line was consistently fed by a staunch,-heady set'of backs,- who seemedto have a definite object in practically, every movement -they made. The fine rushes of the Diamond forwards, more(especially in: the secondhalf, were,com-pensation-even for an hour and three-quarters on the bleak, unprotected Miramafjlats.' St, John's h,ad the advantage' of the wind in the first term,: and .it was expected that'they would' keep /Diamonds' defending..Naturally theydid.do most of the attacking, but Dia-' : monds:, were'too'solid, in'dofenco for th'em ' and frequently the "AU|Blacks" carried the war into the enemy's camp by neat combined work. On:one occasion -St./ John's sent in three warm shots in succession, but the wind :spoded alike tho, shots and some 'good play which v succeeded them. Dick bad bard fuck on-one. oooasion, a high shot.whioh. would have .given -tho Diamonds goalkeeper no chance .striking the orossbar. and rebounding. Agaiu.'Moore sentin a. corner kick whicn was carried,-through, the goal by tbe'wind, but no score was allowed as a second player , did - not: touch the .> leather in its 'passage. The first score fell to Diamonds, and was the ontcome_ of a pretty dash up the' right wing bT , N -. iwowe,: who centred beautifully, and f,?^} 6 ? \Hathaway to rush the! ball past the' fat-, John's goalkeeper. , The same procedure exactly .was followed almost, immediately by Ijowe,: but. this - time. the. centre was net 'as true, and; Hathaway!s shot missed. A clever piece :: ef work by : Reddy was : the -. forerunner of: the next goal for I Diamond?. ..After Roddy had left the ball in goatmouth Thprley breasted it through: In the. second half when it might have? been espected that,:§t.' John's would fall' away they played a fine defensive game, aid made a number of hold: bids for scores, but failed right in goal-moutb on each ■ occasion. Up to half-way through, the spell, looked as though there would be little or no -scorinc, but Diamond forwards then (Came to light and put in some really clever work. The third goal for the 1 ''All Blacks" was registered by Hathaway, who took'advantage of a' beautifully-placed corner kick by Barnett, and > F 1 , 8 ,-re$ e ■ bal1; tKrough. . The fourth goal fell to Thorloy; after he and N. Lowe had taken play to within-nine feet of the posts. After rallying from the cold feelink Of four goals to' nil? Ferguson broke away, from, half-way, and set St. John's attack'ne._thP outcome of tho assault being a goal by fcahpheld from a: pass by. Moore. More no-side ; Bounded,: however, Diamonds put' 1 another goal-, through as the result of'good y work by the.Low.o duo- and Reddy. 'The actual scoring was done by Hathaway, who was cver.on:the alort,in the goal-mouth. P. Roberts, Taylor, and Burnett wero the pick of the winners', backs and the'Lowe Bros were in groat form in tho forward .ranks,., Martin played.,an' excellent goal for St.-John's. The goals scored against him were' dose-range rushes, which could not he stepped. Ferguson and ScbofieJd wore .the best of the forwards. Mr i.W.Auld was referee.

SWIFTS (2) V, ROVERS (2). Even honours fell to Swifts and Roverß in their;league contest (it Miramar on Saturday, each sido scoring two goals/ after a game which -could scarcely be described.-'ns' affording an exhibition of good football. The conspiouous feature - of ' the ploy generally was.ia lack, of judgment on both sides, in manoeuvring the ball to suit the eccentricities, of -tlio,. stiff 'nor'-wester which howled through the Miramar va)lcy. ■ On tho-Sffiffer Rovers''ground the wind struck the field "oil the quarter," .to 'borrow'; a , nautical phraso atid the natural tendency of the wind carried . straight' kicks .':fmm'. tho windward team from tho right to tho left, at an angle The opposing side had to reckon, or should have' reckoned, that unless the ball were 'properly controlled, play 'would bo all -"to joMvard'!. of tho - field. "'• In the first spell, Swifts played with tho wind, and operations wore-mostly confined to the leeward'side of the field. The Rovers did not better in the second .spell If .anything;, Swifts' played hotter--football,- their forward lino being well "disciplined,'-as. was, ovirlenccd, by their piny hr several concerted rushes down the field' lutt Wood tfu druwtt by U,' feeott, ioi

Swifts, and very shortly after, Marshall, Outside right, slipped the hall from among the legs of a crowd Sbout Swifts' goal, and tipped it towards tho posts. To the surprise of everybody, tho leather rolled easily through—why, or how, nobody knows. It was well on towards the end of tho second spell before Rovors, now playing with-the wind, drew blood, with a shot from Duncan. Up till then matters looked very rosy for Swifts, who, confident of victory, slackened up a Jittlo, play in th 6 initial stages of tho .final spell being of a very desultory character. Rovers' first goal warmed up mittora considerably, and when their second goal was put on (Burnett scoring), play, became, positively keen and fast, Swifts straining overy nerve to tip the balance before the' whistle.' blew. But Rovers played a hard game, and the contest ended in a draw, two all. Mr. Waters refereed.

Y.M.C.A. NO. 2 (6) V. RAMBLERS (2). With the wind in their favour and superiority inplaying strength, Y.M.C.A., during the_ first spell, piled up. such odds against their opponents, tho Ramblers, at Miramar on Saturday, that the latter team, with four men short, were unablo to balance matters when the second spell gave them tho advantage of "the- wind, which blow with' tho force of a gale across the playing ground. The. game throughout was not what could be described as very good football, the passing being .poor, while'the ball was far too'frequently skied. Ramblers, during the opening spell, were very hard pressed, and played strictly on the defensive, so much so that comer kicks were frequent. From three of these, goals were scored. With four goals against them 'for tho_close of the first spell, Ramblers, playing -with great vigour, managed to reduce the odds by half, May and Edwards scoring. Y.M.C.A. retaliated by adding a fifth goal to tho score before the call Of time, Kingswell sending in-a hot shot at olose range. The other scorers for Y.M.C.A. were Norman (2), Phillips (1), and Timporley (1). Mr. Davidson carried the whistle. ' '. ; :.,..

PETONE (4) V. WANDERERS (1). r' Petone tasted the sweets of victory for the second time on Saturday, when they lowered tho colours of. Wanderers, a team'which, at the beginning of the season, bade, fair to be one of the" best in the competition. At the end of the first spell, althbugh Wanderers had done a good deal of attacking, they had failed to register any score, whilst • Petone had scored twico, once- by the agency of Reynolds, who sent in a nigh'lobbjora shot, and the second Richmond, who Beaded a well-placed: corner -kick .through. In the secon'd spell, three .goals 'were scored—two by,:Petone, and one by 'Wanderers. The third score for Petone was secured by Robertson from a centre'by Ball. Ash was responsible for the Wanderers' goal, and Ball placed the final score of the match on record. The. winners had the best of the play all through! several.changes in the;positions of the players improving the combination a great doal. Mr, H. Mayer was referee.. SENIOR SECOND DIVISION. ."' ' Diamonds defeated Porirua B by 7,50 nil. ',: Porirua A defeated Marist Old Boys by 4 to 2. Hill scored both goals for the losers. ; Rovers and Montal Hospital played a draw, each side scoring'one goal. The Rovers' goal resulted from a rebound off one of their own rilayors.' Walker scored for the Hospital. ' Letter Carriers (3) defeated Wanderers (1). Miller .(2) and Robertson scored for-the winners and Holt 1 for the- losers.

: At Seatoun' Park, St. John disposed of Thistle by T goals to 1. For St' P. Smith,; Warner (2), Thompson; and Stratton scored, whilst one came off a Thistle player, and another from a scramble in front of goal., For Thistle, Gill soored. Mr. Bernard, was referee'. ■' . l ' •'■■'. .' ; The Y.M.C.A. v..Swift matoh in a; win for' tjho" former, by default. • ' , '.';';.',; JUNIOR FIRST DIVISION. ' Y.M.CM.'A defeated St: David's;by 4to 1. Wilkins (2), M'Kay and Hughes scored, for the winners, and Robinson for the losers.' - t ' Wadestown (6) defeated Diamonds (nil). ; Y.M.C.A. .(B) Vv. Brooklyn fixture"; was postpbnpd, no ground being available. ;

JUNIOR BEOOND DIVISION. Marist Old Boys A had a ruuawayvictory! over Brooklyn by 10 to ,2. Large and Shadbolt scored for Brooklyn. '■■■ .-'• ■ Potono 6, defeated Marist Brothers B nil. The scorers were: Martin (3 goals), Savage, Whitley, and Wilson (1. goal each). ;.. . ■>.. junior jhird division. ' .Marist.-Brothers B defeated Swifts' by 5' goals.to,nil.' . Ross,, MarsKaH, Carniody, ; and Sullivan scored for the winners. ;'. J ' Brooklyn B (4) v. Ramblers' (2). L.'Arm. strong (2), D. Dovey (1), and K. Reeves (1) scored for Brooklyn. ' '. Brooklyn defeated Peton© by 2 goals to 1. The . scorers, were: -Baldwin and' Smith (Brooklyn), and Redmond (Petone). ■ Y.M,O;A. i; defeated St. David's 1.