NORTHERN UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 136, 9 June 1919, Page 8

NORTHERN UNION.

PONSONBY 'UNITED WINS COMFORTABLY, NINE POINTS MARGIN OVER MARITIME. GRAFTON'S DEFAULT. Victoria Park was the hub of Northern Union interest on Saturday, Ponsonby United meeting Maritime on the main ground before some .3,000 spectators. Neither team previously had been beaten, but the game was not so keen as was anticipated. Maritime had a spell of attacking at the outset, but afterwards, thanks mainly to the cleaner work of their forwards in the serum, and the confident and quicker movements of their backs, Ponsonby asserted a marked superiority, and were on the offensive for most of the game. Half-time saw them substantially ahead, and although Maritime scored twice in the second half as a counterblast to the further successes of their opponents, the issue was never in doubt, and the winners had fully earned their margin of 15 points against 0. i Grafton. who should have met Newton on Victoria Park, defaulted owing to inability to raise a team. On the North Shore ground the local team met Marist Brothers, and the game ended in a win for bhore by 9 points to nil. MARITIME V. POXSONBY. With neither teiim having suffered defeat this season much interest was attached to the meeting of Maritime and Ponsonby United on Victoria Park on Saturday, ami a good crowd lined the ropes when Maritime set the ball going; against wind uud sun. Failure to take the ball cleanly led to play settling down in Ponsoiiliy's twentyflve. Ponsonhy forwards came away temporarily to relieve pressure, but Suttun was instrumental in again creating an acute situation for the royal blue and blacks. By an upfield punt Pousonb.v turned the tables and Bovaird, being tackled in possession by McGregor, play, was transferred to Marltime's quarters, whore a breach euaibled the last-named player to open the score with a penalty goa: Ponsonby 2, Maritime 0. Scarcely had the frame sot underway again when Ponsonby resinned the offensive, and a mis-handle by the Maritime full-back enabled MiKiregor to slip over from a. scramble near the line. The same player added the goal points, making the score: Ponsonliy 7, Maritime 0. Play had been pretty leaden-footed up to this juncture, but with the Maritime backs handling better, and receiving a better share of opportunities from the scrum, the pulse of the game beat a little faster, and both sides infused vigour, into the attack, and more determination into the tackling. The Ponsonby forwards came away with a rush. O'Brien crossed on the extreme rigjit. emerging from a ruck of players, and Norgrovv converted from a difficult angle: Pousonby 12, Maritime 0. An interchange of kinking made the reopening tame, but I.nng. Ueecham and Suttou. speeding down the left wing, put Ponsonby on the defensive, and although the passing movement brought no direct result, the harvest was only deferred, A. Sutton, the forward, crossing from a tussle on the line. Davidson, who took the kick, found the too difficult: Ponsonby V\ Marltime 3. Ponsonby were quick to respond, and Cadman was conspicuous in a movement, which carried play to the Maritime line, where the attack was held up. When Maritime got relief in a kick. Delgrosso. the Ponsonby back, was noted for a clever fielding under difficult circumstances, hug Immediately after McGregor and Xorgro»e were the last to handle In a beautifully manipulated movement against Pousonby backs, which was only stopped lw a wild throw. The incident was the prelude to a determined spell of attacking by the blue nnd blacks near the right, corner flag, but the defence was equal to the tax placed upon it, and respite came with a mishap to one of the player?. Pousonby were agnin indnlglng in aggressive tactics wheii(Bovaird hanging on the ball n little too long, was heavily tackled and winded, and, lsed for coming out of the scrum. Xorgrove made a good attempt at goal. Ten minutes before the close. Davidson got his first opportunity of the afternoon, and travelling along the wing at Hzjitnlng speed, to follow np his kick, he '.'2 only frustrated by Pooley getting In e>nt ami kicking over hi/.' own Hue. jFronrthls incident Maritime rallied for a desperate attack, and Suttou 1«J a rush, which carried the ball over for •Beeebnin to score. The try was unconverted: Ponsonl> v 12, Maritime 0. The light was failing when Ponsonby, from the klekont. carried play to the other end. and a passing movement started by Brien resulted In Cadman crossing in the corner for an unconverted try: Ponsonby IT,. Maritime 0. A game, which had little to commend it from the spectators' viewpoint, and the issue of which had never been, la doubt after the ■first quarter of an. hour, ended with no further outstanding, incident, -with the ecore:—

Ponsonbv jjj Maritime 6 Mr. W. Wynyard was referee. NORTH SHORE V. MARIST. The game went lairly even during the first half. Nelson scoring a try. which -was not converted, before the whistle blew for half-time. During the second half tries were scored by Emirali and Griffin, but neither was converted. Oood games were Played <by Hing, Keenan and Harris for Murist. Marist left the field early as a protest against the ruling of the referee and Shore -won by 9 to nil '