FIRST SERIES OF CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 130, 3 June 1901, Page 2

FIRST SERIES OF CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.

WINS FOP. SUBURBS, NORTH SHORE

AND GRAFTON

Tho first series of matches for the inter-club La Crosse championship were played al the Domain Cricket Ground last Saturday afternoon under rather nasty weather conditions. There was a drizzling rain all the afternoon, and this, with what fain fell in the forenoon, made the playing ground heavy and slippery, which was anything but conducive to good La Crosse. However, with one exception, namely, that the matches were late irr starting, everything went off without the slightest hitch, and some good and exciting La Crosse was witnessed. Afternoon tea was provided in the pavilion.

The Parnell-Suburbs game was gjven pride of position, and was keenly fought from the start. Parnell had the best of it to the first half, and looked like winning, but the Suburbans settled down to "graft" properly in the second spell, eventually winning by the narrow margin of one goal. Grafton played up to expectations by somewhat easily defeating Grey Lynn. The latter team is composed of chiefly new plaj^rs at the game, and they deserve great praise for the sturdy manner in which they stuck to their task against a team of Grafton's calibre.

It was only to be expected that North Shore would defeat (the Ponsonby B team, which is composed, with two exceptions, of this season's recruits. The issue was in doubt ricrht up to the last quarter, w-hen condition told its tale, •and the Shore men at once asserted their superiority. With a little more combination the Ponsonby B's will do much better.