FOOTBALL IN AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 575, 2 August 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL IN AUSTRALIA.

PONSONBY'S FIEST..WIN. (By TelegraDh.-Preaa Aesooiation.-Oopyrlgbt.) (Eeo. August 1, 5.5 p.m.) Sydnay, July ?.]. The Ponsonby (Auckland) football team today defeated, the Metropolitan team by .13 points toll.' Eight thousand.were present.. Tho visitors, having arrived only a few hours previously, after a rough passage, were not in the . best' trim to tackle a strong Metropolitan' combination, but wasted no time in finding iheir legs. "Within a few minutes'of the start, Murray got going, passing to Bates, to Savouryi and ■ the -lastnamed seouied a try, . which O'Leary converted. Then, in quick succession, the Metropolitan men. were twice penalised, and from the .second penalty O'Leary landed a oOal. ..." - ■■■■'■.••.

Metropolitan then got going, attacking strongly, and scored an unconverted try. Even play followed, ending in tho visitors being : penalised, and Row kicked a fine.goal. Just beforo the spoil ended, Ponsonby, by dashing play, carried the war into the enemy's torntory, where Morse ran in and O'Leary converted. At half time tho Bcorcs were Ponsonby ... ~, .-,, „, 13 Metropolitan. ... . 6 EarJj in the second half, M'Cabo got a try for the local men, Booth adding the extra points From this out 'hero was a great battle, the Metropolitans attarking 6trongly, and the visitor , ; putting up a great defence Neither side succeeded in increasing the score.

Ponsonby showed very strong forward play and superior'combination, but for 'some , time at first the backs were a bit slow. •

MAORIS DEFEAT AUSTRALIA. AND THE REFEREE HAS TO PAY FOR IT. (Roc. August 1, 5.5 p.m.) - Sydney, July 31; Tho Maoris defeated Australia •to-day by 16 points to 14. Tho attendance numbered 30,000. '

• The play» was most ■ willing, • and at times very rough. The Australians, adapting themselves more to.: the' visitors', tactics, were'able to hold their own better, than in previous matphe'si and, at the end of the first half, were leading by 9to 8. ■■'•' ; Play in.the second spell was exciting. The visitors' added three'points, and the Aus-r itraliajis ■' answered" by- raising their • score'. to 34. Fierce play followed, the Maoris .succeeding, in putting on a winning goal shortly'before no-time souuded. ■ ' ■ ■ The , most, prominent of; the Maoris were .Asher, Papakufa, Pakhefes, Kopana,/ and WiheeraJ. ;. - ' . ... . ■ > ■ One. of the decisions of the referee against the Australians led to a .hostile demonstration. At tie close of tho game a hooting crowd of several thousands surrounded the referee,. and the police . had difficulty in rescuing him. His clothes were, torn, and ho sustained a nasty wound above the eye'.-

QUEENSLAND BEATEN BY NEW SOUTH ■,;... v;;.-...,; /wales/ ■ ..-.; ";..-.. ;•.: - ' ~: . ;: :(Reo. August 1, 5.5 p.m.) ;- . 1 • "/ ■'•■: - 'Brisbane,, July, 31.. J Rugby Union , 'match; 'Now ' South Walo's.'.v.. Queensland) .the former -won by, 8 points/to; S: ; * ; ..,.''; -v' :',„ •■ '•. •■ ■'