ELLERSLIE’S SURPRISE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 341, 30 April 1928, Page 6

ELLERSLIE’S SURPRISE

PONSONBY GOES UNDER The sensational game of the day at ‘ ariaw Park on Saturday was the defeat of the Ponsonby pack by the littlefancied Ellersie team. With a final score of 15 to 8, Ellerslie made a remarkable entry into senior grade football, and its efforts, give promise of better tilings to come. Right from the start, Ellerslie set a merry pace, and Ponies were inclined to let things slide, thinking, no doubt, as others did, that Ellerslie was easy. Ellerslie came to light with some surprisingly good football, and had the Ponies beaten long before time. The striking feature of the game was the deadly and accurate tackling of the Ellerslie men. The nippy Ponsonby forwards could not break through, and even when they did they bit the dirt falling to some excellent leg Collaring. The fans were treated to some great football in the second spell, when Ellerslie were tearing through the ronies’ defences, and giving them the time of their lives trying to stop solid

rushes. The win was a most popular one, and the crowd was not slow to show its appreciation of a hard-fought and well-won game. Peckham, for Ponsonby, kicked the first goal of the season, and incidentally played a good game. Ussher was outstanding, being in everything, and acquitting himself like an old champion. Hutt and Payne, first forwards, were showing fine form, and were an undoubted asset to the Ponies. Stevens was well to the front, too, and got most of the balls from the scrums. Playing half for Ellerslie, G. Crewther, who came up from the sixth grade, gave an excellent account of himself. Allen, Page, and Davies were the pick of the forwards, especially the latter, who played remarkably good football. Shand was in form, and converted the three tries with well-placed kicks. Littlewood showed up well, but tailed off in the second spell. When Ponsonby found it had been too kind to Ellerslie, it certainly did try to make amends, but the effort was too late.