NORTHERN UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 166, 14 July 1919, Page 8

NORTHERN UNION.

A TIGHT STRUGGLE.

MARITIME 3, PONSONBY 3. NEWTON VANQUISHES SHORE. There was not etieh a great crowd as usual at the Northern Union matches that were played on the Doman on Saturday, and this must be attributed to the rather unfortunate weather conditions, because the main match was interesting in that the championship more or less depended upon its result. Ponsonby met Maritime on a very greasy Held over which two teams had fought just before, and the effect of the conditions under which they played was rather to even tip the game than anything else, although of course the absence of any team work rather spoiled the speetaeularity of the match. It was a liardfought, very even game, and neither team left the field as victors, the acorea being three all. H. Avery scored a try for .Maritime and A. C'adman crossed the line for the other team. The second game was rather in the nature, of a curtain-raiser and was played between Newton and North [Shore, under equally wretched conditions. From the commencement of the game Newton held I the game in their own hands and the score steadily mounted right through, ending with Ranger's 22 points ahead of . North Shore, who had a blank sheet. I The Newton backs were easily the better and the side was greatly strengthened by the advent of Dufty, who comes from the Rugby Union, and who rendered the Ranger's brilliant service. The City and Marist match was postponed because a referee did not come. PONSONBY V. MARITIME. There was nothing much going until a pair of Pousonhy forwards moved things on. and A. Cadmati ciune out ahead, with the ball at his feet. Full-hack Kobineon fell on it. but both the ground and the Ltiilt were very greasy, and his attempt whs not quite successful. Cadm.in raced on, and scored the llrst try of the same. it was not goaled. The forwards from the waterfront mr.de the pare pretty solid for the. next five minutes, and they gained enough to put the same on the I'onsonby twentyfive, where they won a-scrum, ami the half I set a back movement going, hut the hull went along the line too slowly, and there was no try. Darld«on and Delauey went within feet of the goal-line. The business didn't take long to run 'back to mid-field. but .Maritime brought it back, and H. Avery slipped past a few of the other forwards, and slid over on the near corner. The hall was too heavy to put. over the bar. so the scores remained equal. Delgrosso missed, and Avery overran the ball. Another man took it on. and Avery stood aside, but when the second man. with a clear field, kicked on. the referee gave a free kick. This mistaken decision stopped a tine chance for a try. The spell ended soon after with the score three all. Ponsonby made things tolerably warm In the open play that followed, but Robinson settled thilt attack, ami from this the same was give and take until Davidson had a chance, but he was tackled before ho could take the ball, and the free put it on the twenty five iv fi-ont of the posts. Hero the came heenme very willing. Bripn made a good run, hut Npnl took nis pass off-side, and after that a piece of brilliant work was carried out tijr Kobinson. ,Tlie tackling work of the Maritime men tvas hard to withstand, and they save the Ponsi.nby men very little opportunity to pot any concerted action going. A long Jttrl; and •'» faulty return put ifonsonhy on the attack, but they oould not hold It up. and again the centre of the struggle went down to the Maritime end. where a rather danserous situation was saved. Within five minutes Ponsonby had the line within easy distance again, and tills time it was only f.ang who saved -»is side. Close to the iioal line Ponsonbv stuck, but Delanoy cot possession, slipped throuch the pack, and trot as far ns the twenty-five before he was stopped. The attackers bronent It back. Out from the five-yard scrum cnmi" IT. Avery. nnd ho rarpd ns far as the half-line, where Delsrosso tackled him. The pack took flip ball on. but two or IhrPp of the Tonsoiibv backs lipid thpm up. The gnme ran backwards and forwards very fast. On The tv.iartpr n frpp. was tnkpn in Land by navidson. and the attempt, nt coal missed tiy ten ynrdfi. The same ended: — Ponsontiy ■"• Maritime » Mr. \V. Murray was referee. NEWTON V. NORTH SHORE. In mud and squally weather thp curtainraiser on the Domain between North Shore Albions and Newton Hangers was commenced on Saturday afternoon. Newton starting the game against the wind. With the weather conditions prevailing it was only to be expected play would suffer, and, with the bail sodden. It was obvious from thp outset that little in the way of handling plnv wan t.o be expuctod. Npwton were r lie'first to press seriously, and they hail distinctly hard luck in mLsslug an apparently certain try engineered by Dufty. but they continued to press, nnd eventually Dufty, who was playing a rigorous open game, broke away from the nick, and passing 1o Ili-s as ho neared the linp. gave thp Npwton skipper his opportunity to go over. Dufty narrowly missed with thp kick. Ncn-ton kick by Dufty. McSweenpy went over near the riijht corner flag. The try was unconverted. Shore retaliated with a strong forward movement, and Borycr was dribbling tor the lino, with the defences scattered", when lie was hefily charged ny Dufty, who savpd the situation by a touch down. Npwton backs were following closely on an upiiPld punt which carried play to thp lino, u-hen RobPrts. thp Shore fullI back, slipped In his endeavour to gather up ; the ball and Tips, who was well up, pounced ou it and scored under thp posts. From sucn ravourablp position Diift.v goaietf. HairtiniP: Npwton 11. North Shore 0. Tho spcond sppU was comuienced in expcrablp conditions, and with driving rain rapidly chansring thp ground into a quagj mire, play became of thp kick and rush order. For a period North Shore put in some vigorous attacking work, but it was iuipossihlp to handle with certainty. After a lot of heavy forward work. lies opened out to Meßweonpy in a run down flip right. vprtcd try. " The last stage of the game degenerated into a mero ■scramble in thp mud. and thorp was no incident worthy of notice until lice, following, up a fly-kick, registered a further try for Xpwton. to which tho goal points were not nildpd. Jnst before Hip whistle Roundpfl Npwton set up fl lively passing bout, and fonilon went over behind the posts for a try, which Duftv converted. Newton 32 North -Shore o Mr. H. Clayton was referee. CITY V. MAKJST OLD BOYS. After waiting forty minutes for Mr. P. Thompson, the appointed referee for the f'ity-Marlst. Old Boys game on No. 2 ground, who did not appear,'and failed to notify the Referee Appointment Committee of his inability to control the game, the teams left the field and abandoned the match. SECOND GRADE. Sunnyside 17, beat North Shore 0. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond v. Post and Telegraph.—Rirninond won by 3 to nil. A try was si-ored by Ilyland, and converted by Henderson City Rovers n (Richardson Cole" and Simons), boat Northcote 0. FOURTH GRADE. City Rovers 0. drew with North Shore ri. Mauukau 34, beat Post and Telegraph 0.

THE PEACE MATCH.

AUCKLAND V. SOLDIERS. Iv connection with tue peare celebrations 1 t>ii rhp Domain nexi Saturday, the League I foot hall garni' will c-nnimiwc uu Xo 1 ground at :!.1"> p.m.. and will he played hetweeu a team representing Auckland and one composed of Returned Soldiers. Th"se teams have already been selected. They are: Retnrneri Soldiers.—Colours. Red. White and Bhie.—Knll-haek. Adlam (Hty); threennarters. Nicholson (Shore), Dufty <Xew-ton), Kate iCity); nve-elghths, I-ang" (Maritime),

Hing (MaristV, half, Neal (Ponsonby); forwards, Ifelander (Shore), Heid (City), Thomas (City), Haddon (City), Carglll (Maritime), H. Avery (Maritime). Auckland.—Colours, Red and Black.— Full-back, Delgrosso c Ponsonby); threequarters. Davidson (Maritime), lies (Newton), McGregor (Ponsonby): ftve-elghfhs, •Mitchell (City), L. Cadman (Ponsonby); half, Keenan (Newton); forwards. Cross ;i'onsonby), Lowry (Ponsonby), Newdick (Newton). Francis (City). Castles (Newton). Wynn (City): emergencies. Paki, ClaMte, Cadman, Ptillen. Players are requested to attend the League's training shed, Baker Street, on Thursday evening.

NEW ZEALAND TOURING TEAM.

TOOWOOMBA DEFEATED. BRISBANE. .Tul.v 13. The New Zealand League team defeated Toowoomba hy 42 points to 12.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)