NORTHERN UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 154, 30 June 1919, Page 8

NORTHERN UNION.

SOMETHING LIKE A CROWD. SEES TWO FAIR GAMES. , j CITY DOWNS WATERSIDERS. J PONSONBY ACCOUNTS FOR NEWTON A POOR GAME ON THE DOMAIN. Without going into estimated figures, about which differing opinions are always 'held, there is little doubt that the attendance at Victoria Park on Saturday to witness the two premier matches of the day under League rules was easily a record for Northern Union club matches here in Auckland, and it has 'been asserted by those who ought to know that the crowd was a record one for the Park nt any time. At any rate all the grounds from which games could by any possibility be seen were swamped with spectators, and the two gamos they saw came right up to their expectations on the point of interest and spectacular play. The City-Maritime game on No. 1 ground wae closest as far a≤ actual scoring results are concerned, but the meeting between Newton and Ponsonby, the second within the fortnight, fought out on the secondary area, was perhaps the faster, although' the men from the

Three Lampa gave their opponents a good drubbing. When the play anions the thirteen representatives of City-and Maritime was finished there were two points the difference, City leading with 17—13, and the game itself that became very fast about the middle of the playing time, showed the red-and-blacke to be the better team later on. The Ponsonby-Xewton business ended up with Ponsonby up to 19, and the others only .'!. This game was a centre of enthusiasm for many barrackors. On the Domain a mere handful of people watched Shore beat Mariat Old Boys to the tune of 13 to 8, in a gam? that was not up to standard. The Shore backs were the strongest department on the field. MARITIME V. CITY. The game drifted down to the Mnritlme coiner, and Mitchell gathered the ball as it came from the scrum, anil sent out quick to Home. The wine man Just fell across the corner. That nave City a threepoint lend, and they pushed the pace and kept the other side penned. The pack in the red, white mid blue garments duly recovered, and the game held about mldlield. Faster and harder, but still open, was the same now. The waterside pack pressed their opponents down to the quarter, anil some more fast work finished on the line, and Lunn pot it and went down, but be menaged to throw In to Avery. The burly forward scaled over, aud Davidson put his side in the lead with a very nice goal. City came straight to it again, and I'aki took possession about 30 yards out, and raced over in a fairly easy position, but the kick failed. A free well over on the twenty-fire gave Postlewaight a goallng opportunity. He took it. too. puttinp City three points up. Mitchell had to be carried off, and soon afterwards Adlnm charged Sutton. and the latter player took tincount, but revived after a while. Down in City territory a free for obstruction was given Maritime, and Davidson poaled. putting them one behind the reils. Mitchell came on again. «ud Hogg, who had retired before with bruised ribs, was replaced by Lunn. The second spell beßan with a point the difference. City became aggressive, anti fumbling along the Maritime quarter-line lost them chances for tries, but h breach of the rules brought a penalty that was taken in hand by Postlewaight. who kicked the poal. The business had scarcely started apnln when Avery had Jumped at the ball, pot it. and scrambled over. Davidson had plenty of power but faulty direction, hehind the kick, but the try had evened up the points to ten all. There were plenty of mistakes mnde in the fast business that now set in. but there was n<oloafing, and the City held an advantake. Soon Postlewalpbt took a lons free shot, jus,t Inside the half. The kick Just crossed the bar. City pressure put blue on the defence for a while, and Tate ma- ,,- a fine rush, but the game degenerated iu"T kicking exchanges. Mitchell set another try-petting chance going when he put it out to Paki, to Clarke, to Tate. and Ilorue knocked on. Out she came again from Mitchell to Paki. to Tate, but his pass to the wing was low and was fumbled. But Reed took up tho running, pushing through the ruck and stumbling over, and again Postlewaight goaled. City was petting the ball from the scrums every time, and was

holding thorn well when the waterslders broke out again, and a struggle set in right on the red gonl line. Lunn got it to Sheehan, and lie to Robinson. The centre raced for the Hue. was touched by Clarke nnd dropr/d the ball, but it bounded from his knee and lie followed it over to tho try A goal left Maritime with a deflcienc-y of two. _The game ended with City victors Mr. A. Ball was referee. XEWTOX V. POKSONBY. Occupying the secondary ground on the \ ictorla I'ark on Sntimlay, the game between Ponaonby United uud Xewton attracted quite a big crowd. Pousonbv were strongly represented. while the selected Xewton side was calculated to give a strong challenge. Xewton set the game going, and Ponsonbv were the flrnt to bite into their task, and worked their way back to the vicinity of the gonl line, where McGregor emerged from a general ruck to open the score with ii try, which the same player converted Newton were afforded an opportunity of making up the leeway early after the resumption, but McGregor, heading a swoop upon the Xewton line, lightly punted down the field, for Norgrove, L*>wry and Chatfleld to follow up hard upon the ball with all obstacles cleared. Chntfield was the one to obtain possession, and he went over for a second try. This time the gonl points 1 were not added. There was a long spell ' of open and even play, until Lovrry slipped over for another unconverted try. For a prolonged period play was roofed in the Newton twentr-flve, and from a scrum near the line Chatfield went over for the third try, and again the goal points went begging. Half-time score: I'onsonby 14, Newton 0. Play was more speculative and vigorous than scientific in the first quarter-hour of the next spell, nnd there was no incident worthy of note until Thomas, the Newton left three-quarter, put in a thrilling gallop along the toucbline. lies was conspicous for a lirllllant break away in the course of a loose rnsh. He punted up the field, and i followed up in time to collar Delgrosso in ; possession. A prolonged tussle on the line I was broken by a halt for a minor injury, nnd from the vantage position they occupied on resuming Newton pressed the attack home, Kiernan worming through with a ; trick corkscrew run. Ponsonby swiftly rei 'taliated. Krien was slow to whip out a pass, and Cadman. leaping to intercept, made for the line witli a clever swerving run, neatly eluding Mansill when near his objective. The game ended: Ponsonbv 19 Newton 3 MARIST BROTHERS OLD BOYS V. NORTH SHORE. Shore were early to score. Helander I going across at the corner, a few niinutos I after the opening. A few minutes later Boyen added another three points to North Shore's tally by a splendid try. Bailey failed with the kick. North Shore continued the pressure, Marist Old Boys being called on to put up a strenuous defence, and in the tussle to ward them off a defender committed a breach, the kick from the free being piloted over between the bars by 'Bailey. Shore held the advantage for quite n long time, but. could, not break through the* defence. Thus it remained until Hlng. intercepting a pass from Boyen. carried on in a sprint until the opposition was too strong, and then centred. Glynn. following I up. scored under the posts. Clarke con- ! verted with a beauty. On resumption I Smith erune on in the ranks of Marist Old Boys. The opening moments were characterised by a fine black forward rush. Rundle putting the finishing touch to it by scoring at the corner. A splendid klefc, which brought forth the applause of the spectators, went well -within. Marist Old Boys livened up at this, and pressing hard

took it at their feet along the line to the corner, where they were held up. A scramble for possession ended in a force. From the kick out Marist Old Boys renewed the attack, and it was kicked across. In a scramble Smith fell on it. Clark failed with the kick, and the scores read:— North Shore 13 Marist Old Boys 8 North Shore were next to attack, ths ball passing in B ood style from a black back to Perritt, to Hundle, but that player's pass was too low for 'Emerall, and it came Into the ruck again. The game continued fast but scrambly. however, the ball travelling quickly up and down the Held. Play finished finally in North Shore territory with the score unaltered. Mr Farrant refereed. SECOND GRADE. I*' , bOa City °- For Otahuhu f£ Hiring" £&«£ FIFTH GRADE. by SIXTH GRADE. Ponsonby 11, beat Mnnusnu nil Tries HUXTLY. HUNTLY V. HOROTIU. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HrXTI.Y. Saturday. The fourth match of the first round* In %&» j** s * NEW ZEAtAND TEAM. DEFEATED BY QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, June 28. The weather was tine for the match between the' New Zealand Rugby League team and the Queensland representative* l< Ihere was a large attendance. The teania i were:— /

New Zealand.—McCarthy, Wilson, David- I son, Mef'lymont. McGregor Ifwersen '■ Stewart, Williams. Parker. Walters Wad- i <Ipll, Tancred, Clarke. Queensland.—Sweeney, Itroadfoot. Thorogood. Maguire. Paten. Bath, Thomson. ' Potter. O'Donnel, Mornn. Richards, I McOrath, Johnson i Queensland won the toss nncl scored a I try. which was converted. In the first couple of minutes, Thp New Zealanders then forced the pace, and Ifwersen scored a try, which was not converted. Thp Queen's- i landers, by fast work, increased their total I rapidly, and at bnlf-tlmo thp scores were: Queensland :;<> New Zealand :i Waddell was injured, bis leg being broken, and Herring took Ills place. The New Zealand score was increased by Ifwersen. who kicked a beautiful penalty goat, j The visitors attacked vigorously. Ifwerseii i scored a try. which he converted. Near the call of time. Ifwerseii scored another try. which was not converted, the game ending: Qiipcnslnnil 20 New Zealand i:i —(A. and N.Z. Cable.