NORTHERN UNION GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 167, 15 July 1911, Page 16

NORTHERN UNION GAME.

The Newton team sprang a good surprise on City during the second spell of the match on Victoria Park on Saturday, and ran up 10 points (two tries, a field goal, and a converted try) within about 15 minutes. City had had all the best of the game as for as scoring goes, and when Newton livened up looked like winning with a 30-point margin. Two tries within three minutes of one another for the losing side showed that they still had a good deal up their sleeve, and the closing stages of the game were of a fast and interesting nature, Newton getting the •best of it in the forward rushes. Unfortunately both sides inclined to roughness, and the public, of whom a great number were present, did their best to add to the feeling by crowding all over the field and using their lung power to the best advantage! It is about time the spectators who attend the matches at Victoria Park did a little to assist the game, which they witness for nothing, instead of delaying play and annoying the players by crowding across the line. At one stage in Saturday's match the 10-yards line was completely wiped out by the crowd, and when the' ball went out, instead of serums being on the 10-yard line, they were carried to about 15 yards inside the field.

Ferhnps the most prominent man on the fi-Ul 0:1 Saturday was Child*. City's full-lack. This playor. in addition to tackling, taking, and kicking well, has made a line art of the following-tip business, and as a result of this on one occasion he was able to regain the ball from his own kick, and after putting in a fast run was enabled to score. On numerous other occasion? he put his side on in such a fast manner that a number of runs were inaugurated. Chiids is about the best full-back in the league competitions now.

Sullivan was one of the hardest workers for City forwards, and plays a good game with his feet. His "ri.nbbling rushes were successful on most occasions, but this player is not at home in pickins the ball up.

Robinson nnd Ashcr played a combined game, and fed one another with the ball in a way that was responsible for a deal of ground being gained. Ashev has given up his hurdling to a great degree, but bo still makes himself a hard man to tackle. In regard to his hurdling tactics, he came one big spill on Saturday as a reeult of these. In jumping over a player, his feet were caught, and

he came down heavily on his shoulder. It might just as easy have been his head, as he jumped high, and then possibly a •broken neck would have been the result; that is sure to 'be the lot of too venturesome players of this order.

Hunt put in a lot of work on the line for City. He is a valuable acquisition to a team -when he gets the ball and a straight run in, but is rather on the light side for an attacking team. Avery and Denize put in some solid , graft in the forward division line for City. _ Avery is a player of experience, and is a strong tackier, while Denize eagerly forces on scoring opportunities when the ball Is near the opponents' line.

City could do with a bit of improvement in their serum. There is an inclination on the side to screw too much, wth the result than on more occasions than enough the scrum is broken up before the ball gets a chance. City will be up against a big thing next Saturday, and will need to watch every department of their game if they are to bring off a win, and thus place themselves on a level with the leading team in the competition.

Newton played a far better game on Saturday than any yet played by them this season, and their increased form should make an alteration in the order at present maintained in connection with the championship competition. In their forward division, especially, they are strong, while the backs showed by frequent passing dashes that they are able to play with combination.

The skipper of the side, Bennett, is one of the strongest forward players in the league, and his determined "dashes, while gaining ground for his side, add energy to the despairing hopes of players about to cave in. Bennett evidently is a firm believer in the maxim, "While there's life there's hope," and never showed it more than on Saturday. Newton had only scored two points, a penalty goal, to City's 20, uj> to within twenty minutes of the whistle. The game ended: Newton 12, City 22. Bennett led his team in a dashing manner to the assault on the City line, and kept flagging spirits up to the last. His goal-kicking was particularly bu< in this respect he is a man who shows best with difficult kicks. Cross and Mackrell assisted their captain in the forward division, where, without a doubt, Newton's strength liesIn addition to being a fast runner, Cross can find the line with great precision. One fault the division has, however, is in kicking too hard in the dribbling rushes. Of course, it is a hard thing to remember, when hot on the attack, but forgetfulness cost Newton a sure try on occasion. The back division of the Xewton team lack combination. In one or two instances they showed that they could work like a machine, for the men pass the leather well, but on most occasions individual, and not combined, play was the order of the day. In the back division Linkhorn wa3 one of the most prominent of Saturday's! players for the Newton team. He is a fast sprinter and a fair tackier, and gets over a good deal of g'ound when required. The Ponsonby and Eden teams went out to Avondale on Saturday to give the Avondale people an opportunity of watching the game. Although the teams occupy the extremes in regard to position on the championship list, a fairly interesting exposition of the game was'put up. Eden were without the services of throe players, but they stuck well to the game, and were only defeated by 24 points to nil.

What promises to be the. best match so far this season will be played on Saturday, when Ponsonby meet City at the North Shore. Ponsonby occupies the premier position for the championship, not having sustained defeat, while City come next, two points behind, having been defeated by Ponsonby on the last occasion the teams met on Victoria Park. It is difficult to predict a result in this match, but City, with their full strength, have improved vastly since the occasion on which they last met Ponsonby. A good attendance should witness the match.

The Wigan Club, for which the oxAucklanders, Todd, Seeling, Williams, and Renwick play, has had a most successful season, and is now in a very sound position. The total income foi the season is £9,G59 6/, 'the receipts from the first team matches being £6,110 7/2, £1.231 2/ has been received from patrons and members, and £337 10/ has been earned from transfers.

On the expenditure side the senior team has cost the club £1,684 17/; £889 14/8 has been paid for new players.

The profit on the season's working is £859 18/n, and the assets of the club over the liabilities now etVd at £3,626 4/i). Two thousand pounds is invested in Wigan Corporation stock. The ex-Canterbury representative, W. J. Mitchell, is now playing with the N.Z. team in Australia under .Northern Union rules. Mitchell journeyed to Sydney on his own initiative, and us several of the N.Z. backs were feeling the effects of the hard grounds, the managers were glad to avail themselves of his services, and immediately signed him on.

The ex-Aucklander Trevarthen has signed on again for the Huddersfield (Eng.) Northern Union Club next season.