ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

The Everton Club and its supporters ■ received a bit of a surprise on Saturday last at the hands of the Ponsonby team. Although they were beaten, they were by no means disgraced, for they fought a very good, hard fight. H. Smith, who has left Auckland, will be greatly missed by his club, for as a forward he was well worth his place iv any team, and I have no hesitation in saying that had he been in his place on Saturday last, the score would certainly have been different. Players are still coming along, and Hamp, Rase, and Parker, all of whom have played th« game in the Old Country, will no doubt .strengthen the club. Hamp turned out for the first time on Saturday last, and one could easily see that he is no novice, and with a little more form he will prove a stumbling block to the opposing forwards. Rose is a player of some years, and for some time played for Queen Park, Wellington, New Zealand. Parker, who hails from .Derbyshire, played in the half-line j for Ivanhoe in that district, j Contrary to expectations, the Pon-sonby-Everton match on the Domain on Saturday lait proved very interesting to the spectators, there being very little to choose between the two teams. Ponsonby won by two goals to one, after | j a veiy keenly-fought game, j The player who shone out most prominently on the Ponsonby side was W. i Ritchie at left full back, his kicking and | tackling being superb; indeed, I think he played the best fullback game seen in Auckland this season. F. Ritchie played hia usual safe game. Whaley I (in goal) was, on the whole, very safe, ! one or two shots being stopped very welL The halves played well, Marshall | being the pick, whilst J. Taberncr, at i outside right, was the best of the forI wards. This player centred beautifully,one lof tic goals being scored mainly through I him. Of the Tiverton side, Edmonds, lin goal, played a fine game, as also did both fullbacks. Bradshaw, at half, and Wallett, at centre forward, were the ' best of .thci others". * > | Ponsonby played three new forwards last week, Howie. Molding, and Odeil,' the last-named playing with plenty of dash. I W. Ritchie should be certain of a place iv the reps, this year.