PONIES DON'T IMPRESS

NZ Truth, Issue 1293, 18 September 1930, Page 15

PONIES DON'T IMPRESS

Rugby League

Delgrosso Fails To Stir Them (From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) niCK ROOPE'S elusive rooster will have *-' its wings finally clipped oh Saturday, when Ponsonby and Richmond Auckland I Leaguers meet m the last of the series. | Ancl the winner's going to take some [ picking! Had the , contest between these two teams been scheduled a month ago, the odds would have been two to one on the Ponies. But the way the western suburb tuned City up last Saturday, the final clash is no presentation of a silver wyandotte to the Ponies. If "Pons" want to win the double they will have to show a whole lot better form than they did against Shore. Richmond got stuck into City from the word "go" on Saturday, and slammed on 13 points to nothing be- . fore the reds knew where they were. They hung on like grim death to .their big lead right to the finish, and the lad on the scoreboard platform never touched the number plates again. City were a badly demoralised team at half-time with three men more or less on the casualty list. They never properly recovered from Richmond's early "shock" tactics. Scotty Prentice ancl his merry men romped home to one of their best wins this season. Ponsonby had a nice, gentle pipe-opener against Devonport. Delgrosso tried to shake his team along to a decent win but most of the Ponies seemed to be afflicted with a species of sleeping sickness, and there were no Phar Laps on the paddock. "Delly" will have to drive his team at a faster clip on Saturday. Ponsonby have good forwards -vyhen they feel like it, but the Jones-Potter-Lennie brigade are the sort that never let up, and the Ponies can't afford to loaf against forwards of their calibre. , Ponsonby ought to have a bit on Richmond when it comes to back play. They have some real flyers m the rearguard, but unless their forwards do their stuff that silver rooster won't be on show m the Ponsonby club-rooms this year.