ALL THE WAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 111, 1 August 1927, Page 10

ALL THE WAY

Ponsionby Makes Spectacular “Come Back” in League Rugby

PREMIERSHIP BATTLE WAXES HOTTER

THE biggest surprise of the League Rugby season in Auckland this year was witnessed by 8,000 fans at Carlaw Park on Saturday when Ponsonby downed Marist to the tune of 13 points to nil. It was a clear-cut victory in every department of the game, and after the first few minutes, Marist never looked like winning. A closely-contested game between Newton and City on No. 2 area was finally clinched by the red and whites putting on a last-minute try which enabled them to run out winners by 14 points to 8. At Victoria Park, Richmond had little difficulty in adding a further two points to its tally on the premiership ladder at the expense of Athletic.

CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE

INTEREST INTENSIFIED Judging by the close and exciting buttle that is being waged for League premiership honours, the final stages of the competition should furnish some record gates at Carlaw Park. ■ firs four teams on the premiership ladder are running practically neck and neck, a margin of only two points separating the quartette. Although beaten by Ponsonby on Saturday. Marist preserves its position at the head of the competition l,v virtue of the fact that it has played , no more game than the next three teams. Ponsonby and Newton, with an identical record, are level, one point behind Marist, and then comes Devonport another point away. The details are* as follows:

HOME IN A CANTER PONSONBY’S SURPRISE Whacked fore and aft from bell to bell, Marist sorely disappointed its supporters at Carlaw Park on Saturday. The Greens were palpably out of form, and the result was one of the biggest defeats the competition leaders have sustained for a long time. Right at the start, it looked as if Knott, Marist’s erstwhile Soccer player, was going to open the scoring, but Usher, by clever interception, suddenly transferred play back to mid-field. After that, it was Ponsonby all the For all that, it was not till close on half-time that the lads at the scoreboard were called upon. Time and again, Ponsonby got position in the Marist twenty-five, only to see. something go wrong at the critical moment. It was excusable under the circumstances —the ball was as slippery as half-melted butter, and the ground ill patches like a porridge pot. A FAMILY AFFAIR Quite early, it became evident that it was going to be a Peckham day out. In the forwards. Brother Joe was go-

ing great guns, while Tim and Ken behind the pack kept the family reputation well to the fore. Twice in succession T i m went within an ace of opening the scoring, but each time at the critical moment he had the mortification of seeing the slippery ball slither out of

the hands of a support into tlie mud. Usher it was who gained most credit for Ponsonby’s first try. Starting one of those dangerous sectional passing movements on the left flank in the Marist twenty-five, he got the ball back from Gardiner, and sent it on to liiley, who showed the opposition a clean pair of heels for a try which llelgrosso was unable to convert. That left Ponsonby three up at half-time. GARDINER TO THE FORE Ponsonby’s score was increased to 13 in the middle of the second session, when Peckham did a joyous airplane dive over the Marist line from a scrum. Gardiner staggered the fans by driving the ball straight and true between the posts from near the touchline. A few minutes later, Moore invited the burly Maori star to do it again for the benefit of the sceptics, and the big fellow accepted the challenge with alacrity, raising salvoes of applause from the appreciative bankers by again skilfully guiding an acute-angled kick over the cross-bar. In the closing stages, with the players s arccly recognisable in the mud and slush, Ponsonby staged the prettiest effort of the day, the two rearguard Beckhams. Riley. Gardiner and Delgrosso i.iking part in a glorious movement, which ended in the Ponsonby skipper crossing the goal-line, only to be brought back for a forward pass. Surveying the game as a whole, the points that stand out were Ponsonby’s adaptability to the conditions ruling ~n the day, and Marists’ fatal mistake of forwards trying to pick up a wet and greasy ball, instead of using their feet to steer it through the ruck. Verily, dribbling seemed a lost art on Saturday. BACKS WIN GAME For all that, it was the Ponsonby hacks who won the game. Marist carried too much weight in the forwards lo permit of any liberties being taken in front, and the Blue pack played the i ight game in sacrificing its own interests for that of tlie rearguard.’ Tim Peckham was always in the picture, and Usher displayed considerable dasli and resource on the wing. Grey did

well at fullback, and Riley frequently showed out in fast dashes. Gardiner, who generally finds a heavy ground his biggest stumbling block, was in better form than for some time past. Gregory, at fullback for Marist, got through a heavy afternoon’s work in his best style, while Kir wan was Marists’ sheet anchor on defe*'*'-?. But

for him the score might have been a good deal bigger. Brisbane, hurt at work during the week, was scarcely recognisable as tlie same brilliant player of previous matches, and in any case, he seldom got much chance to do anything, Ponsonby’s command of the ball giving the Marist backs few opportunities on attack. In the forwards, Keenan and Moisley were equal to any other two on the ground. REFEREEING O.K. Mr. Mincham had a most difficult game to control, and in the first spell had to call the teams together for a korero in mid-field. Several times, fists flew in the close stuff, and at times the game became very willing between the rival forwards, but when all is said and done, the match was well controlled. There were a lot of stoppages, on most occasions the game being held up while some unfortunate player extracted a few pounds of soil from his eyes and ears. A bucket of water on each touchline would have been a boon to the players. Apart from that aspect of the matter, however, and with due regard for the sufferings of the players, these stoppages were becoming rather wearisome on Saturday. In future, it would be a good plan, to have cases of mud-extraction and the like performed by the ever-willing Zam-Buk men on the sideline. A HARD TUSSLE NEWTON BEATS CITY Needless to mention when the Newton senior League team defeated City on No. 2 ground, Carlaw Park, on Saturday afternoon by B—s, the players romped round in the usual slushy mud and on this account snappy back play, good combination and speedly solo attempts on either side did by no means prove a feature of the match. Newton almost entirely dominated the game throughout and it was not a huge surprise for the fans when the bell sounded for time to see the suburbanites troop off the field victors of the tussle. However in the latter stages of the game City retaliated with aggressive vigour, which resulted in Pascoe securing from the ruck and barging his way through to score, but Newton capped this effort off right on time, when Mclntyre floated across the line from a passing bout as time sounded. •‘Giggy” Wetherill was the first light to shine on the City 'side. Soon after the initial kick he secured in midfield and with a baulk and a few of his usual jazz steps, led his team to the attack. But Hales, an exShore junior, relieved the position for Newton by an unexpected intercept which resulted in play moving to the other end of the field. THE FIRST SCORE The first score of the game came from a scrum in midfield. Newton got control and Mclntyre did not hesitate in sending his backs away. Hales, McLeod and Mormon all handled in the first deadly passing bout of the day. Hargreaves received from Mormon and ran through to score without trouble. Shortly after this, Little securing from the ruck, made a sensational run down the line and with a heady crosskick put the ball to the feet of Somers, who toed over the line and scored. City were to have a turn now and Wade, who played with great dash throughout, but lacked finish, put City on the attack by a good line kick. From a scrum near the line when Newton were well penned up they fortunately secured, but started to pass round instead of punting, with the result that Wetherill, the City team’s bag of tricks, running up hard, intercepted and scrambled over the line. In the second half Hall dribbled through the loose and scored, but from then on the game at times became very scrappy, although tries by Pascoe and Mclntyre helped to liven things up. Leydon, who is quite a young player, has yet to gain more experience to hold his position in a senior team. City played him at full-back early in the season, but last Saturday he played centre, where lie was seen to be handling the ball quite a lot. If lie had the grit and would run and not kick, he would have made matters look very bright on two occasions for his team on Saturday. ATHLETIC V RICHMOND FULL BACKS STAR These two teams met on Victoria Park before a large crowd of spectators. The ground was in good condition when the game started, but half way through the first spell a heavy shower made the ground and ball wet and greasy. The first half of the game was very evenly contested and at half time the snore stood at 6—3 in favour of Richmond. A try each by Bass and Hanlon for Richmond and one by Timmins for Athletic. Hanlon’s try was a particularly lucky one, as the ball, when kicked by

a Richmond forward, hit the post and the ball favoured Hanlon to touch down. THE SECOND HALF The second spell was half way through before Richmond started to show their superiority and scored three tries in quick succession, Swift (2) and Lavis being the scorers. All three tries were converted by Taylor. For the winners, Taylor at fullback played a fine game, being very sound and also being in good kicking form. Bass, who usually plays breakaway forward, was played at centre and got through a lot of hard work, but was inclined to hang on a bit too long. Swift, on the wing, went very well and scored a couple of good tries. E. McGregor made his appearance on the other wing after being out of the game for some time and showed that he has not forgotten the game. He scored the first try of the match. Hanlon, at five-eighth, was perhaps the best back on the ground, being in all the attacking movements. He is also sound on defence. Prentice, his partner, did not appear to be doing as well as usual. Lavis, at half, fed his backs well. Of the forwards Carroll, Lixon and Stewart were the best, but the latter can consider himself very lucky that he was not caught by the referee several times. He is inclined to throw his hands about a good deal. For the losers, Longville at full played a fine game, his tackling and line finding being features of the game. Timmins, who has not been seen out for some time, showed glimpses of his old form and when in form is a very handy man. Christmas, at centre, was doing well until he had to retire. J. McGregor, who replaced him, was all right as long as his condition lasted and is a very handy man in a team. Angelo and Stevenson, at five-eighths, both played their usual good game. Lucas, at half, is a fine young player, but is inclined to go too far on his own and should remember that he has ot.her backs with him. Of the forwards, Avery, Bryer and Courtney were the best, the latter being unlucky to get his ankle broken and had to be taken to hospital. Mr. Rogers, as referee, was fairly satisfactory, but missed a lot on both sides, especially a number of instances of rough play. THIRD OPEN FINAL WIN FOR NEW LYNN Keen and exciting play marked the final of the League Rugby third open grade at New Lynn Park on Saturday. The contesting teams were Athletic and New Lynn. Had the former won, a further play-off in the competition would have been necessary, but by making a draw of it, New Lynn wins the third open premiership. The game finished three all, Gibson scoring an unconverted try for New Lynn, and Bissett repeating the performance for Athletic. The latter’s try was a brilliant effort. Mr. W. E. Simpson controlled the game. CODE IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES WINS TEST By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright BRISBANE, Sunday. In the fourth Rugby League test match yesterday New South "Wales defeated Queensland by 15 points to 11.— A. and N.Z.

Ch.Pts. p. W. I.. D. Fr. Ag. Pts. Al ,,-ist . .. 10 7 3 — 140 94 14 l-onsonbv .... 9 6 2 1 128 87 13 r :: III ± US HS 11 .. 1» 4 6 1 424 103 . Athletic . . . . 9 — 9 — 72 241 0