PONSONBY V. PARNELL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 111, 12 May 1902, Page 3

PONSONBY V. PARNELL.

(Ponsonby 7 points. Parnell nil.) These old rivals met on No. 2 ground, before a fair number of spectators, the game being under the control of Mr Surman. Ponsonby played facing north. For some 10 minutes after the kick-off play was of an uninteresting nature in neutral territory, until a neat passing run, initiated among the Parnell backs, ended In T. Mitchell nearly getting in at the corner. Tlie ball was scrambled over the line, and Francis forced. This woke Ponsonby up. and they soon, retaliated. Polson started a passing run that looked dangerous, but Carlaw was collared in th« maroons' territory. Keeping the pressure up. Ponsonby kept their opponents in their 25 for some time, their efforts to sco"e being nullified by their unskilful passing and by the good defence of the maroons. Eventually, after two scrums had been formed dangerously close to the maroons' line, T. Mitchell gave relief with a timely kick. Good play by Innes and Fookes took the ball to within a few yards of Ponsonby's line, but the latter were not to be penned, and tlieir forwards worked play back to centre. Here one of the best pieces of combination ot the afternoon ended in Carlaw being thrown out in Parnell's territory. Parnell were forced a moment later, ana soon after the whistle went with no score recorded. .. In the first few minutes of the seconu spell Parnell were forced. Play was then confined to neutral ground for some time, till McColl looked dangerous with a good run, but the Ponsonby man came to earth when a score looked possible. A few minutes later, with play in neutral territory, Upton marked In front of the posts, and taking the kick from within a couple of yards of half-way landed a beautiful goal. Ponsonby, 4; Parnell, 0. Ponsonby were now having the best of the play, and Francis very nearly landed a goal from a penalty kick. Keeping the pressure un, Ponsonby kept their opponents busy for some minutes. At length two smart bits of play by McCarthy took play to Ponsonby's quarters for the first time during the spell. Matheson, however, relieved, and play was soon down in the maroons' territory again. Here a bit of combined play on the part of McColl. Porteous. and Richardson ended in the lastnamed getting over near the corner. Francis failed with the kick. Ponsonby, 7 points; Parnell, 0. Not long afterwards time was called with no addition to the score. Ponsonby, 7; Parnell. 0.

NOTES ON THE PLAY.

Ponsonby had undoubtedly the best of thf- game and were the better team, though Parnell stuck-to their guns gamely and played hard right up to the blowing of the whistie. There was no very striking play shown, and the game was mostly a forward one, but the form shown, especially by the backs, was very fair for an opening match. The kicking on both sides was particularly good, the backs finding the line time after time with long kicks. Ponsonby showed the better combination mainly because they got the ball more often from the scrum, but they did not make the most of their opportunities,there being too much hanging on to the ball. Of the Ponsonby backs. Matheson had little to do at full. t>ut ;rot tbroush the game creditably. The three-quarters, Carlaw. S. Riley, and Upton, were all sound, and there was very little to choose between thero. Their kicking was quite a feature of the game. Upton once or twice showed dodging powers of no mean order. McColl at five-eighths was fair, and distinguished himself by maldng a good run; and Poison, behind'the scrum, got the ball out neatly to his backs on several occasions. Of the forwards, no one was particularly conspicuous. Doran, on the wing, played his usual hard game. The forward play on both sides was, however, mediocre. Francis deserves special mention for the splendid goal he landed from nearly half-way.

Behind a forward team that, was nearly always beaten in the scrum, the Parnell backs had little chance of showing their attacking powers. Their defence was, however, excellent, and time, after time their sure tackling prevented a Ponsonby score. Twiname as usual played a useful game at five-eighths, and the two Mitchells kicked well, nearly always finding the line. Fookes had not much to do, and one could not form a definite opinion as to his ability. McCarthy, who made his debut as a scrum half, showed very promising form. Frequently he relieved his side with timely line punts, and altogether he seemed to know a good deal about the business of his position. The forwards gave one the impression of being young and inexperienced. The veteran Handcock was once more to be seen battling for his old club.