MARIST SHOULD HAVE BEATEN PONSONBY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 703, 1 July 1929, Page 6

MARIST SHOULD HAVE BEATEN PONSONBY

RILEY SAVED GAME A glimpse of what Ponsonby is like without Delgrosso was given at Carlaw Park on Saturday. The Tykes should have won. Ponsonby was lucky to get away with an equalising try right at the deathknock. On its day Marist can make them all step lively. Remember the draw against Devonport? Only Simon’s goal-kicking saved Shore that day. On Saturday it was Riley’s superb cleverness when Marist had begun to ease up a little. It was a game of lost opportunities. Marist threw away points by wretched goal-kicking. ITad it made the best use of its chances it would have been level with the Ponies at half-time. For Ponsonby, too, Elutt threw away one perfectly good try, and possibly another by off-side play. HUTT'S LAST GAME It was the big fellow’s last day with his old team. He led the side on to the field in Delgrosso’s absence. Then he won the toss, with a strong breeze blowing—an auspicious start. Ponsonby used that wind advantage to good effect in the first quarter of an hour. Tykes were fighting hard on defence. They were losing the ball in the scrum. It looked all up with them Then the green forwards started to come into their own. They began to gain the upper hand in the scrums and tight play. They smothered the fast Ponsonby backs, and let their own insides have the ball.

The game went on like that right to the finish. Territorially, Marist had a clear advantage over Ponsonby, but the scores do not always work out like that. At the finish, it was a draw. SOLID MEN Moisley, Johnson and Duane were a solid trio in the Marist pack. Jock Graham made his re-appearance after being laid up with a broken bone in the foot. He went well, and good following up brought him a try. Jim O’Brien ambled round at times in a most casual manner, but he did some effective work, and kicked well. He is still a fine forward. Brisbane was the star of the Marist backs. Ho ran. strongly and did some tremendous defensive work. He is getting back to his old form. The wings, Batchelor and McDonald, ran strongly and well. Brady was good at centre. Hassan and Gregory did not seem quite to understand each other’s play, and at times the passing near the scru and at times the passing near the rcrum that, both were solid and reliable. N. Campbell, at fullback, waited too often for the bounce, and generally failed to show alertness in getting to the ball. He gave a try away to McIntyre through this. Apart from that he played a solid game, and made one or two remarkable saves from the feet of charging forwards. PONSONBY STARS Except for two costly mistakes, Lou Hutt played a fine game for Ponsonby. His tackling was very strong; Skelton was always a danger point to the opposition, and Fagan did especially well in the tight, using his feet to advantage. Gardiner also played well. Moore, Riley and Mclntyre were the king-pins of the backs. Moore was first class at fullback. He should run up and try and set his backs going more than he does, though. Riley was like a flash of lightning once or twice at centre. He was always dangerous. Like their opponents, Mclntyre, Thompson and Riley were not a very happy family with Delgrosso away. The passing was none too sound. McIntyre played one of his best games to date at half. He is getting back to his old form. The scoring register was as follows: Marist (tries by Johnson and Graham, two goals by Gregory), 10 points; Ponsonby (tries by Mclntyre and Riley, two goals by D. Gardiner) 10 points.