NORTHERN UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 140, 13 June 1917, Page 7

NORTHERN UNION.

NEWTON" RANGERS V. CITY ROVERS The match between Xewton and City Rovers on Saturday provided pleasant sport for spectators at Victoria Park, where the ground wjis in good order, and other conditions excellent for the meeting of these thirteen-.. Xewton probably had the bigger number of winning supporters, but the fuct that City might have turned the tables was one which weighed heavily with speculators on the result. True, no finer compliment could be paid to any club than that it is sure to put up a good fight, and the Rovers fully justified the contention, for a score of 15 points to 13 against them indicated somewhat the keenness of the contest. The firet spell ended with honours even, and, on the whole, to the advantage of City. The Rangers quickly drew blood in tiie second half, and the odds were soon against City, who demonstrated they were not to be so easily vanquished. The backs got into stride, and soon had Newton thinking. The latter did the worst thing they could have done by over-working their forwards and spelling the opposing rear division, which dashingly romped the field, and decreased the gap in the scores. The

!red and whites evidently realised their mistake, and acted accordingly. By 'judicious buck play they were able to hold their ground and score, although the game chopped about in a most exciting manner. Hotli combinations played desperately in the closing st-ages, when the gathering shadows of night made for confusion and an element of recklessness. The bell intervened certainly not a minute too soon. The laurels fell to the stronger team, but not on the merit of their play. The winners were, to use a terse expression, very lucky. The brand new ball used for the game spoilt a lot of good play in the early part of the game. It is hoped that the controlling authorities will not -allow this to occur again. A fresh leather should be broken in with two or three games by junior grades before being placed at the disposal of senior players. On Saturday the erratic bouncing and caprices'of the ball caused both disappointment and laughable incidents. Newton backs moved with celerity and good co-operation when they made up their minds to do so. A. Isles was the pivot or operations, and be played sound football. His puce and initiative were always noticeable. Tobin was a willing right-hand man, especially on attack work. The other three-quarter, Potier, played with spirit, and, while exhibiting some inconsistency in his tactics, his play on defence was always pleasing. He was always safe with his fielding and place-kicking. His pot shot on one occasion was a particularly good effort, but it nullified a developing charge by his side. McSweeney was safe at full. Lovett and G. Isles made the

best of every opportunity, but too often j had to come to the rescue of Lang. The j half-back, in truth, was not at all sure I at his post. This was plain when he waß bustled or in a tight corner. The forwards were always busy, with Ben-. nett, Williams and Castles prominent. | They also evinced ability to open out and unite in passing bouto. The City backs seemed to have a penchant for passing crossfields, a sort of going without purpose, except in circumstances such as those in which Clarke twice scored. Then the team was attacking and moving close up. and the erißp passing along the'five-eighths ' to the three-quarters had for its object i a score by the winger. This plan was I carried out with surprisingly effective I results; but, in general, tbe City biu'kn were inclined too much to the practice when not desirable. More straight- i ahead strategy could have been em- | ployed. The Ashers played reliably, I but E. Asher was sometimes caught nap- j ping. I.unn. Davidson and Sutton were the life and soul of a smart rear divi- j sion, Hastedt also giving many flashes of utility. Mitchell is a slashing for-] ward. Sheehau and Barchard also ren- j dered good service. Reed, who donned the jersey for the lirst time since he "played the game" in the trenches, prove! his worth, and is a heady exponent in tbe loose. Rukutai was. as usual, willing enough, but. by his eccentricities, incurred penulties for his Bide. A little restraint would do him no harm. PONSONBY AND GRAFTON. Ponsonby downed Grafton on Saturday to the" tune of .'IT poiaite to 3. The game itself wa.s just what the score mdi- I

'pates. It saya a good deal for Grafton | that they come up again smiling after "being sat upon in this decisive fashion, and they have at least earned the distinction of being generally considered a ,ft.-portin.g team. Ponsonby showed that |tlrey were a solid proposition with a. workable understanding of one another, and it wan to their speed and combination that tlie match owed what little merit it showed. OTAHUHU V. NORTH SHORE. This match was abandoned, the Otahuhu team, with the exception of two Iplayers, failing to put in -an appearance, lit l* understood that tlie Utahuhc team lis going to amalgamate with the I(J raft on Club. | A contributor writes:—The Otahuhu lootball Club has decided to withdraw its senior grade team from the Auckland Kugliy Leagues competition this season, jit v, a great pity that this has had to be. for thare were great possibilities in the team even as it has been. The club, I however, has itself to blame, for it has kept in office on,, or two who have not i had the inteiertK of the game sufficiently jat heart, and whose influence has been , opposed to that of other workers for the flub. The club has also followed the j doubtful principle of running after ord players, who had in most cases outlived their usefulness, and in all casus lost the | necessary keenness. whiLst it left on the line or in the junior grades many promising players. Under the circumstances one cannot wonder that the club has been often short of a team, for young players cannot be expected to lollow up (a team on the chance of the old players I not fancying a game on the day.