SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 139, 13 June 1892, Page 3

SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

The Cup matches were continued ab Epsom on Saturday afternoon, when, despite the threatening weather, nearly 2000 spectators were present. All interest was centred in the game between Ponsonby and Parnell, which, after » fast and interesting game, resulted in Farnell meeting their tirsb defeat, PonBonby winning by 9 points to 2. The game between Grafton and Newton was very evenly contested, and the play was chiefly confined to the forwards throughoat. Grafton won by 14 to 8. The game between Suburbß and North Shore ended somewhat unexpectedly, the captain of the latter team taking hi 3 men oft the ground just after commencing the second spell. Suburbs had then scored 19 points to nil. PONSONBY V. PARNELL. The following were the teams :—PonBonby: Full-back, Stichbury ; threequarters, Masefield, Riley, Roberts ; halves, Hales, Braund, Ramsay; forwards, Airey, Stewart, Green, Flynn, Cruickshank, Scott, Farrell, Tait. Parnell: Back, Hedges ; three-quarters, Kissling. Reid, Ronayne; halves, Elliott, Edmonds, Brodie; forwards, Twiname, Connolly, Wright, Speight, Geard, Green, Clark, Mellis. Mr G. H. Dixon officiated as referee. Ponsonby won the toss, and took advantage of the wind, which was blowing from thewe3t Wright kicked off for Parnell, and Riley returned to the centre. From the throw-in, the maroons started a splendid forward rush, and dribbled the ball across Ponsonby's line, and Elliott secured (the oval, and drew first blood for Parnell. iKissling made a splendid shot at goal, the /ball going outside the post. Parnell, 2; Ponsonby, nil. Braund kicked out, and a series of scrummages took place in, the centre till Ronayne took play into Ponsonjby's quarter by a short spurt. Parnell 'still had the besb of the play, but J Bonayne, mulling a high kick from Masefield, Ponsonby rushed the ball ' i down the field and over the line, but only a -! force resulted. From a kick by one of the Parnell forwards, Riley marked. Roberts took a place ab goal, but it fell short), Parnell forcing. Wright started again, but the ball was called back and a scrum formed in ParnelFs 25. Roberts made a short, dodgy run, bub the maroon forwards worked the ball down again. Masefield did h some off-side " shunting," and Parnell *.i we.„ awarded a free kick. Roberts yf- nnuie a long kick into Parnell'B 25, and V from a scrum near the line Ponsonby ?j rushed it across and Cruickshank Bcored ""Ponsonby's first try. Roberts^ made a feeble attempt at goal. Parnell 2, Ponsonby 2. After the kick-out Roberts and Masefield made short dashes, and Airey intercepting a pass ran over and pub Ponsonby's score ahead of their opponents. , Flynn took the kick, but failed, and the > score stood — Ponsonby 4, Parnell, 2. Play centred for a time, both teams work- | ing hard. Ponsonby rushed the ball down I the field, but Edmunds stopped in fine £'style. Ponsonby started some clever pasI sing, and Braund forced Parnell by a long kick. Parnell now took play into Ponsonby 25, bub Hales returned it to the centre by a 'judicious kick. Reid made a fine run for • the maroons, and Roberts replied for Poneonby, when the first spell ended, Ponsonby having a lead of 2 points. Airey started the second spell by dribling off, bub Wright spoilt his little game, and led a rush, which ended in play being taken to near Ponsonby's territory. , From a pass Braund made a fine, run, and when collared by Hedgesj passed1 to Masefield, who ran righb behind the posts, and Roberts converted. Ponsonby, 9; Parnell, 2. Parnell now made the play open, and by some clever passing carried the ball . down the field. Ponsonby's forwards, however, worked ib back.again. Ronayne made a tun, and was not stopped till he Ponsonby's 25. Cruickshank and Ramsay headed a fine forward rush, but lost what looked like ' a certain score by trying to pick up. Ponsonby still had the best of the play, and Parnell's backs were continually kept on the defensive. Masefield made a short run, bub Reid upseb him. From a fasb rush Parnell were forced. Brodie made a long kick, and following up was on Stichbury before be could geb his kick, and play was in Ponsonby's 25. The Maroons had slightly the besb of the following play. Edmonds marked, and his kick forced Ponsonby. The Colours now gob on a fine piece of passing, and carried , the play into Parnell's 25. Geard, Reid, and Con-. : nolly rushed it back again, the ball going ■ out in Ponsonby's quarters. From the scrum Elliott gob the ball and passed to 1 Kiesling who sent ib on to Ronayne, but he fell just) ehorb of the goal line, and Ponsonby were awarded a free kick. . The colours made a breach of the ~ rules, and a iiorca scrum ensued in front of their goal, bub their ..forwards worked the ball oub of danger, and by a splendid rush dribbled the ball across Parnell's line, where Hedges saved. Wrighb kicked oub, the ball going into touch. Edmonds gave Elliott a neat pass, but he was called back, the ball being thrown on. Through offside play on the part of Flynn, Parnell were awarded a free kick, and following up smartly, the ball went out at the corner flag. From the throw-in Parnell rushed the ball over, bub Ponsonby saved. From the kick oub Ramsay gob well away and passed to Roberts, but Elliott threw him into touch, and Stichbury mulling,, play was centered. The blue and .blacks rushed the ball over Parnell's line, but ib was called back for a throw-on. Parnell relieved their lines by a I free kick, which was awarded them, and time was called, Ponsonby winning by 9 points to 2.