LACROSSE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 154, 1 July 1901, Page 3

LACROSSE

WINS FOR PONSONBY A, GRAFTON

AND SUBURBS.

The weather curly on Saturday afternoon looked anything but promising

for a successful afternoon of la crosse. Luckily, however, the rain kept off until after play was concluded. There was a fair attendance of the public. Some, splendid play took place during the afternoon, :uid those who came to look on were well rewarded. With the exception of the. Ponsonby A-Pamell contest, all the others were exceedingly close. The issue of the Grafton-North Shore match was in doubt until time was sounded, the former team just managing to get ahead. The Shore team was the best that has yet represented the club this season, and the members gave an exhibition of some of the fine play which characterised the dub's career throughout last season, the only notable absentee from their ranks "being W. Wynyard. The Grey Lynn players strove hard for a win which they would have well deserved, but had' to suffer defeat at Lhe hands of a better team—Suburbs. The management deserves praise for the prompt manner in which the matches were started.

PONSONBY A V. PARNELL. (Ponsoiiby A, 10 goals; Parnell,

1 goal.)

Peacock and Hicks, the two centres, started play. The former picked up and passed to Shortt, who carried the rubber well into the maroons' territory. A couple of attempts to score were driven off by Goldsbro', and a ihrow by Ward had Ponsonby defending for a little while. Then McCoythrew well down the ground and Lundon secured and drew first blood. The I'arueLl men put their best efforts forth to check the opposing attack, but did not succeed. Lundon got two more goals and Anderson one, before the bell was sounded for the second quarter. Graham, Fairbum and Dennison all had shots at the blue and blacks' goal, but were repulsed. Peacock catered for his attack with great judgment, and when the spell was announced Ponsonby's score was increased to 7 goals (Lundon 1, W. Mason 1, and Anderson 1).

Immediately after resuming Ponsonby, with the wind favouring, kept up a hot attack, and Latta and Anderson each notched goals. Parnellites at this juncture put more system into their play, and Graham, McKnight and Golclsbro' inaugurated a passing run and were successful in evading the opposite defence, the last-named securing a goal. Before time was called j Lundon shot Ponsonby's tenth and last goal. Mr R. McVeagh was referee. NOTES. After Ponsonby scored a couple of goals the Parnell men lost their judgment. Their chief defect was not marking their individual opponents more closely, and wandering too far from their positions. Some of the attackers one minute would be up at their opponents' goal and next minute, when the ball was thrown down the other end of the field they would follow it. As several of the players are new to the game the skipper is a great deal to blame for not asserting his position a<nd instructing his men to keep their places. The blue and blacks' attackers did not meet with much opposition, and they made the most of tiheir chances. Their passing work was the best done this season, Peacock, Anderson amd Lundon being in particularly good form. Robinson (goal) was troubled more than usual, and acquitted himself very well. Of the Parnell team, Graham, Ward and Cunliffe were easily the best, while Lennox, Hicks and Goldsbro' were often conspicuous for clever and hard work.