NORTHERN UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 166, 14 July 1914, Page 8

NORTHERN UNION.

SATURDAY'S BIG BATTLE. FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. While no unbiassed spectator desired to see City lieaten on Saturday in view of the stubborn and tenacious reply they gave to North Shore's challenge, there can be no gainsaying the fact that Ponsonby's win was providential for the senior championship. Haii the honours fallen to North Shore without a final proof of their title, there would have been a positive anticlimax to the series of stirring and determined tussles which have marked the rivalry between last year's leaders. Ponsonby. and City this season. City are now out of tlie running, and a win on Saturday would not have affected their position. Led by veteran "Opai" As-her, who.-c unconquerable spirit has throughout given heart to the team, they have fought well and hard to be in at the death, but. on continuous form, they have been outplayed in the competition. Forward they have beeu none too strong, -while one or two weak links in the chain behind the scrum have al>o militated against the effectiveness of tlie rear divisions in attack am' defence. So City's chances are spent. But they have consolation in tlie knowledge that the great tight put up against Ponsonby has demonstrated to the followers of the code that, whichever team emerges triumphant, the City representatives were hard upon the heels oi the champions. A defeat or a draw by Ponsonbv would have ended their chances of the championship. Now. however, they wilt have the satisfaction of throwing down thp gauntlet to North Shore, who share the premier position iv the League table, and finally testing their respective merits. So far tlie advantage lies with the bearers of the blue and black. Once they have defeated North Shore by n narrow- majority, and once shared the points. Vet he who declared in favour ol' tlic superiority of Ponsonby at this juncture would have a. difficult task in persuading concurrence in tbe opinion. If Ponsonby have held any advantage, in the opinion of -this deponent it has only lain in the swiftness and versatility of their attack. In weight and strength the North Shore forwards appeifl to mc as being the better pack, particularly when playing iv the loose. Against this, Ponsonby ate remarkably <piick and clean in the scrum; in the rear divisions the North Shore defence is deadly, but in aggressive tactics I'onsonhv have shown greater initiative, combination and speed. But in ail these comparisons the advantage is very slight, and Saturday's game on the Victoria Park may entirely upset mathematical calculations. On points of attack and defence there can be little doubt that a worthy exposition of the Northern Union code will be afforded by Saturday's game, while the fact that the match is to be preceded by a goal-kicking competition between the visiting I-Jijrlishmen and Auckland will lend additional attractiveness to the ma tc-li. A U'DIOROI'S GAME. Tt was not particularly »portiiipr of the live iS-ewtou absentees who failed to turn tip at tlie Domain on Saturday. They might 'have considered the feelhrgß of tlie Shore men who brought over a full team, and naturally expected something like a game. Possibly lihe five had some good reason, but if they had they do not appear to have taken the trouble to inform anyone of it. As might have been expected the match itself was (highly amusing, and not the entertaining feature of the display was the enthusiastic manner in which one of the spectators "peeled off." and in .borrowed boots of al leant three sizes beyond his measure, .proved a tower of strength for the red and whites, llhe score put up by the North Shorcitos —forty-three to two —U probably a record for club football in Auckland. MeOLYMONT'S DAY OFT. Those who witnessed tlie match between City and Ponsonby on Saturday -were treated to an exhilarating exhibition of football. City seemed to have completely recovered from the set-hack in form they experienced two or three week.s ago. In the first half they were outclassed behind the scrum, lmt their backs worked Very effectively together. Rogers' play particularly was both workmanlike and spicy, and several of his individual efforts were carried out with a skill and -dash that, won him a unanimous tribute from the crowd. A hard-working «ut-k iv tin- loose, tlie City forwards wore, however, generally out - witted in tlie scroti, and live times out of six the ball cnnie out lo Webb, who quickly got his backs on the move. Ponsonby were well worth their live pointis' lead at hall-time, but in the second half, when City had notched off two it was touch and go to the death. City played a totally different game alter they bad tasted Wood, and, save for .intermittent niohes by Ponsonby, practically monopolised t'.ie ajrgrcscivc work. Comment on the, mate.li cannot conclude without reference, to the wonderfully versatile game played by Medymont for Pormonby, who was tho life {and soul of his side. A thoroughly

bard worker, a really good sprinter, despite hie big show of action, and an opportunist of rare judgment, be engineered some pretty openings for bis colleagues, in addition to making frequent brilliant individual burets. Although he has always put in useful •work, McOymont has not throughout the season consistently shown the firstclass form ihe displayed on Saturday. Otherwise one would have no hesitation in designating hint one of the cleverest backs seen in Auckland Lengue football this season. The lvcaguo is to lie congratulated on going to the trouble and expense of ropinir in the pitch, and this undoubtedly hud the effect of keeping the spectators under control. Had the nnfenecd dead ball lines been kept clear by stewards or the police, the .steps taken to prevent encroachment by the crowd would have been nil that could be desired.