NORTHERN UNION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 105, 3 May 1920, Page 7

NORTHERN UNION FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF THE SEASON. TOXSCKNBY 21, MARIST 14. NEWTOX BEATS GRAFTO>\ CITY'S BIG WIN. The Northern Union football season has ' opened at last, an<l the si* senior teams , who turned out to foot the leather on; three different parks made a good showing, j [ all things considered. One or two of the I, teams, especially those that have been reconstructed during the summer were natural!}- somewhat lacking in combination. Marlst Old Boys. In particular, are to be I congratulated upon Hielr showing against I l'ousonby, the big 'league team of past their supporters expected," and bright ' things may be anticipated from the wearers . of the green. ■ These two teams were starred as the . ■best League game, and the match was put ' on as one of the attractions of the athletic carnival on the Domain In aid of the ■ Olympic funds on Saturday afternoon. Mnriet made the first sli itwo tries;, out ' the tirst spell, played on che ground l>efore ! the stand, ended slightly In favour oi ' I Ponsonby. Four points was the difference ! between the teams two minutes Ijefore ' I time, Uut Just at the end I'ohsonby went ; across, and the final left Marlst on the small end of a 21—14 tally. ' On Victoria I-ark, Newton and Grafton points In it.' That match flnished afteeu i points iv favour of Newton, the two most predominant features of the play I>iMng the ! speed of the scoring and the general interest of the tussle. The other senior came drew a fnir crowd to tbe North Shore Domain. Here City managed to overwhelm Devonport United | 'to the tune of 32 [mints to 10. The home | j trflm opened lmd.y, but after the refresher i I they made a better light of It. . 1 i PONSOXBY BEATS MARIST BROTHERS. j I'onsonby ami Jfairlst Old Boys met ror this gume. ;.Marl-t started the game ■ I away Into the corner nith a fast passing I bout tnat began among the forwards and I weut "n through the backs. When things looked desperate for the defenders Illiijt intercepted and ran up to the haif line. : Many minutes went In loose work, where I the advantage rested mostly with Ponsonby. i A couple of forwards, following fast. ! carried on the leather. When Delgrosso 1 misled It there was a scramble and then ■the ball shot out to Ku.stace. who scored. Tldte missed. Marlst Old Hoys 3, Ponj sonby o. There was nothing much doing J during tiip next ffiv minutes. <'ross hud j another place nt gn.il from the field, and i was this time successful, making the score— j Marlst Old Boys 3, Ponsonby 2. Illng aii.l ! Kustace immediately led a fast run into ; blue ground. LoverWge ran In behind I the defending forwards. ]Ils pass was handled. but missed, but Shechan gathered it up before It grounded and scored the cry. Marlst Old Hoys 6. Pon- I j sonby 2. The Ponsonby forwards were I of It. Cross had another shot from a I free, and then another a hit nearer. This one he put over. Marlst Old Boys fi. l'onsonby 4. Interest languished for a long time, and Ponsonby workell their wayforward until they blocked Krv and In "a lull in the resu:tant scramble Walsh executed one of his divine darfhes and scored a try that ( ross failed to goal. Ponsonby 7, Marlst Oil Roye 6. Ponsonby gualed. Tbe score al LlMiut "v"as-JW sonly 12. Marist Old Boys 0. flood close work went on for n while, and then Ne.tl, pressing for an advantage, passed to Henderson, to Cross, back to Henderson ami Cross godled the try. Ponsonby 15 Marist Old Bojs 6. A Marist forward raided a scoring chance, but the attack wjs maintained and Eustace made a pretty run through and round, scoring In a very good position, but Stormont missed. Tonsouby 15. Marlst Old Boys 3. They held their attack for a while, and then the game broke loose, and a dribbling rush put Kry into trouble. He got his kick In, but it fell too short, and Henderson took It. and was almost over when Sheehan grabbed him but McGregor wns handy, and scored" Crosg missed. Ponsonby IS, Marist Old /??" 9 ; , Marlst ""shed to the attack, and Ghent kicked a free. Ponsonbv 18 Marist Old Boy, 11. Then Poneonby for a time and after a scrum Hln- intercepted and ran for his life. Eustace was with him. and he panned, then received the return, and raced over. It was n very good try. and no goal resulted. Ponsonhv 18, Marlst Old Boys U. Stral-htawnv Martut made the running, and there wa"s a long close struggle in the corner I'onsonby forced their way down till Marist were defending in the corner Here again p h n at V a | trUKS 'f was renewed, till a I onsonby forward slung the ball high. MeClyniont seized it. and swung It out to McGregor, who ripped across on the corner. Toe kick was missed, and the bell rang to the scoring tune-— Ponsonbv 21 Marlst Old Boys 14 Mr. J Eddowes refereed. NBWTOX V. GRAFTOX. When Grafton Athletic and Xewton Rangers lined up on the main fleM In front of the stand there whs a mere sprinkling of spectators. The infusion of new blood Into both clubs made the merits of the teams a matter of much speculation. Wind ami sun faced Grafton -n-hen Bennett set the game going, and early In the game a well timed round of passing led to the opening score ny Newton. Adams crossing the line, for Duftv to notch the goal points. Ornfton essayed Immediate retaliation. and ■ when rvufty missed his catch there was a The situation was saved, and as Newton swung to the attack aen In Clnke opene<l out I ; to Delaney. who transferred to Soracrs. for I the forward to score n nicely try ! 1 that gave Ihifty no trouble with the -oiil ; ; kick. Btill got clear away on the Oraftrm i Ttirlit. but lie *was outpaced In tie men for I ■ the line, and had to cross-kick. Frnlts of j 1 when Anderson crossed from a ruck on the j . line, nnd Ifwersen converted. A few ' ' minutes sufficed to see Xewton reclaim ' their ten polnt-s lead. Somers makinc a fine solo burst. In which he staved off nil . his chnllemrerß and got home for a try. which Duftr improved upon. i A BRILLIANT TRY. This stage of the pnme wns prpirnnnt fri'h ' inrWlent. IfArersen crownp-d a beautifully- ; exrviited pie<*e of work by crossing for <Jrn fton's convprte*! try. ' Prom the rp-openinz Grafton played with Rplrit. follovrlnir one or two open- ' Incs made by Ifwersen. nut flnallv a powerful burst by tie Newton forwards. bended by Soroers. resulted In that plavor crossing for His third try. Dtirtv broucht his poal-klcklng score un to elsrht. An • onenlnir In the play cave Mcßlnlev (CJnifton) tile ball. He passed to Owen, who headed dowr. mldfleld. followed l).v i who was. however, unable to overtake him before the bull was placed between the Sbortlv after Ivll. passing to A. James, enabled the latter to score in the ! comer, nnd Duftv conTerted. A. Jataes i i verted by Dufty. ere the whistle sounded. J with 'Xe-wton winning handsomely by 30;----polnts against 15. i CITY V. I>EIVOXrOIIT UXITKD. ] |] RED AXD BLACKS ROMP HOMiE. j 1 IX A 32-10 POIXT TALLY. t i iTtty met the new combination. Devonport ! rnlted nt the Shore, and In n fast, open ' game emerged on the hii end of a .'S2-10 point tally. The red and blacks played re- ' miirkably well for so early in the season. ' their basics. In particular, throwing the ball I about with ireat accuracy it was evident ■ from rbe outset that they were going to J make thlncs lively, and before -the "epello" | arrived hud run on 21 points to their I opponents' 2. The second half, however, . wns much more even, the home forwards ; putting in a lot of good work, adding eight points to their opponents' 11. There was i ' very fair gathering of spectators present. 1 who were convinced thai City will go a • long -way towards -winning the champion- ; ship, and tliiTt the homf teajn, *wlth prac- ■ tice, should do much better.