FOOTBALL.— GRAFTON V. PONSONBY.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2927, 1 September 1879, Page 2

FOOTBALL. — GRAFTON V. PONSONBY.

This, the fourth match between the above clubs, was played in the Domain ground on Saturday. The first match was won by Ponsonby, the second by Graf ton, the third was a draw, and Ponsonby settled the question of supremacy by winning the fourth with the large score of nineteen points, the highest score this season. Ponsonby'a captain (T. Macky) won the toss and elected to kick up hill, so Grafton kicked off, and for the. first live minutes rather more than held their own ; but Pcnsonby warmed to their work, and Martin, by a splendid run, took the ball into his opponents' "25." Here he was ' collared, but passed the leather, and almost immediately getting hold of it again, ran in and got a touchdown. Arneil was entrusted with the try, but owing to the angle failed to get a goal. Grafton brought the ball out again, but scarcely was it in play when the Blue and Black again drove it up towards the goal line,audUunnett carried it on till he was collared, when Forder got hold of it and ran in, but was given offside, so the touch was disallowed. On the ball being hacked off, Grafton drove it through the scrimmage and Martin again nailed it, and was round and iv before Grafton could toucli him. Again the try was a failure, and time was called soon after. Score, 4—o. With the hill and wind now in their favour, Ponsonby entirely overpowered their opponents, and Bravewater got a third touch down. Without following the incidents of the match further suilice i', to say that Martin got two more tries, Whiteside one, and Coleman one, seven in all, and strange to say no goal was kicked from any of them, though Arneil, Webster, A. Hanna, aud Cook each tried their foot at it. A goal was however obtained from an excellent flying drop by Webster, Ponsonby thus winuing the match by nineteen points to nil. The ground was hard aud dry, so greatly in favour of Pousouby, as they play an open running game. Where all played such a thoroughly lionestgameitseems a pity to individualise, but yet it wouldbeunfairto pass over the splendid play of Martin without comment. His running is not only fast, but well-judged -and clever, and he picks the ball up when going at full speed in a manner which ia truly surprising. He received three hearty clieers at the conclusion of the game, which he well deserved. T. Macky, Cooke, Arneil, Webster, and Braund were also well to the fore, the former bringing the ball out of the scrimmages very cleverly, and gaining a lot of grouud by his clean dribbling. Epiha and Bravewater were very useful in the scrimmages ; while for Grafton, Mears, Broadhurst, Orchard, and Graves played well, and Ryan was good in his kicking when he had a" chance. This concludes the Clubs' matches, and probably-the season, as New Zealagd has beaten the World twice, so there is no need to play the third matchj which is the last on the printed cards.