NORTHERN UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 141, 14 June 1920, Page 7

NORTHERN UNION.

MARITIME AGAIN VICTORIOUS. DEFEATS PONSONBY TN HARD FORWARD PLAY. MARIST CATCHES CITY NAPPING. AND EASILY BEATS THEM. GRAFTOX DEFAULTS. Possibly Ihe largest crowl that has ever witnessed any club football match here In Auckland during the last ten or twelve years assembled on Saturday afternoon on the Domain to watch ■Maritime, tbe unbeaten, defeat Pousonby, the champions for several years, by a margin of eleven points to eight. The attendance was estimated at nine thousand, and gale receipts prove it to be approximately accurate. The waterside workers' band played during the intervals. As for the game, it was a hard struggle ail Ibe time, but spectacular only in patches. A good turf, soft but not sticky, and a dry ball, ajid glorious weather conditions, gave ample reason for the multitudes to anticipate a fast, open, and spectacular game. ■ Uiit among the backs of both sides there i was nuicli fumbling, though the fact and hard forward work lmiilp the same really Interesting. On the second plnyins area somewhat or n surprise was sprung by Marist Brothers Old Boys, wbo seemingly liad no great difficulty In defeating City to the tune «'f nineteen points to five. In this game the Inconsistent winners demonstrated what they can really do, for their true quality Is nor always made apparent by the games they play. Over at the Shore Devonport turned out with a strong combination prepared to do battle with Grafton, but the visiting team failed to turn up, so the game goes to Devonport by default. PONSONBY V. MARITIME. A KOIUVAKD GAME. The snnie began with Ponsonhy, led by I-:. McGregor, making MicmnelvoH dangerous. but little advantage «mie°to either party, and tbe stniggle stayed for a long time among tbe pacts, none of the back work helug anything tike fast enough or accurate enough to hold off the forward play. Stitton made n bripiU long dash into Ponsonby territory, handing the leather over t» Avery when bugged him. The back of this attack broken, the waterslders lost no time in launching another, but the defi nec was very virile, and this kept them away. Then happened a scrum, almost on the Vonsonby twenty-ftve. The defenders won it. and Martin, the half, slid it out to Menymont, to Cross, to Strickland. to 'Dujgle" McGregor. McClymout flashed round and took a nice pass, and dashed away, swinging part Bricn. the full, to cap a brilliant run with a. try between the posts. Then be converted it. That broke the spell, and thereafter the play was more open. Twice lively I'oasonby attacks were held up by over-eager-ness, hut there was no question about the spirit put into the woek by tlie two teams. Once A. Cndman had his boot In undue prominence when tackling a man of Maritime, and ho was ordered off the Held by; the referee. With just a few minutes ot the first spell to go tbe Maritime , pack made a great sortie, and, led by Avery, a wedpe pushed itself through the opposition. It was a grand effort, aud H. Grey went over in a long dive. The kick mhised. an* the spell closed:—Ponsonby 5. Maritime 3. MeClymont and "Dugsle" McXJregor, who had gone in to centre, tripd a dual bout when she was set running again, but it was nipped In the bud. and tie waterside" went ahead till a ecfinn was packed in front of the Ponsonby posts. A fine dual turn between Lawry and B. 'McGregor saw the latter almost over on th.c far corner. Sutton intercepted his pa«s in to I«wry, and with a streak along (he line opened uP a counter-attack that sent the sphere rolling swiftly to the Ponsonby cud, and ended with a splendid ■Mflritime try. C,. Grey, following fast pfter a fcTgh Wef,.'.'grass**~ the man who took the ball on the Ponsonby line. The attacking pack won tlie scrum In in a series of fast long passes from Lang* to Ynrdley, to Button, to J. McGregor, who struggled over on the corner. C. Grey kicked a fln e goal. Again the long passing happened. Sutton getting It eeross a large cap to Yardley, hence to Grey. A free helped 'Ponsonby to regain some ground. I Then the oval went down to the 'Ponsonhy end per medium of MKJregor and t* Cadman, and Cross, who kicked to centre and made of It a race for tlie ball behind the line. Maritime won and forced. The kick-out wns the beginning of » swift and exciting movement. Kirst of all Yardley and the two Grey Brothers headed a great dash, and Avery following on took hold of the leather. He was too slow, anrt before he could reach the line McGregor had him down, and MeClymont got the ball away. It went right down to Brlcii. who gathered it up in quick thne snd started out on one of bis spectacular runs througU the mob. .But as usual he held on too long, and was run out well Inside Ponsonby territory. Tbe game quickly cniiio across, and a close hard struggle was ■malntained. Herrlng gave it out to big Avery, who pushed his way through the ruck to within a few yards of the line. Sutton took it over from him, nnd made a game fight, but just on the goal-line tbe ball slipped from his fingers. Before iPonsonby could force young B. M<-Gregor slipped in with a long dive, and there was the third Maritime try. The kick-missed. Followed a good deal of scrummage work, In which Herring and Awry did good work, breaking fast aud hustling the lonaonby backs, while their passing was just beginning. There came a midden opening, and Cross Hew along, kicking just as Brlen grassed him. The ball trundled away across the cortier. nnd two Maritime men missed it. "Duggie" McGregor dived - L.w '„ ", s %l ml later for ♦■Uβ tW- The Ponsonby's. The g " me <* d^-M°ri, ta e 11, CITY V. MARIST OLD BOYS BIG WIN. City Btarted out wilu the sun directly in game passed up and down Bcld. Hing. Tail hut I«in e ° r Pr SboWeU ,1 " ln S««i form! hee. S Laln pVeft d v cft'v" resulted on Jhe part of the Davidsons «n.? S V ?{ . s 'ewart. and a lively tussle ensued. ■Marist now took up a strong offensive, and good passine ensued between Mc.Namara. Hfng. and Stormont City responded, but Marist maintained a persistent attack, and pood passing from nine tn Turner and from that player to Ghenr enabled the Issf named to register the first try of the afternoon. The goal failed, and tnp score stood: Marists ::, City 0 With their opponents standing ibree points ahead of them City began to showi SPtr iV •\ , " 1 g ?P 6 , to™*"} work resulted. Mansts replied, and Iltns wis again to Ihe fore. When the wlilirtle for half-time sounded no addition had been made lo the score. Cpou kicking off for the second half Marist took up the offensive and Loverid-c and Sheehan took (he ball down fleld Tn good style. Eustace and Ghent came up to support. Eustace finally received the l>ail and registered Marists' second try in the corner. Stormont failed to goal. City pushed the attack, and good forward work ensued. Eustace, however, nipped n good attempt in the bud. Wetherall later bung on to the ball too long. Marist were close at hand, and assumed a strong offensive A pass down the line by City was smartly intercepted -by Eustace. McNamara also was to ,the front in smnrt tackling. Tling was very clever and wily with the ball. l»verldge and McNamara came up to support good forward work. 'Stormont was cleverly collared by 'Long near City's goai-posts. IMcNamara, however, received the ball, and passed to Ghent, who scored behind the posts. The goal succeeding, Marists were accredited with five more points. The Davidsons and Lalng began a strong offensive on going back to half-way, but ■Mnrist began to develop speed, and outpaced their opponents. Stormont took the ball upfleld along near the line. A tussle ensued, And later McNamara received the oval, and although hard pressed placed the ball -behind the poets, scoring a most brilliant try. The goal was successfully kicked. Oity forwards were seen in good work, which smartly toot the game down field. W. Davidson was at liand, and gaining possession of the ball forced R in a good position. Davidaon also took tbe kick. Which was tttesded with success. City continued a strong attack, and while they came to light in good combUmtion MarUt were too fwt for them. A male near the line ended In Stormoot gaining the ball and registering a farther try, ioverldge failing to goal. IMartat 19 City ~. 6 at»V y«ja»-*rae ■refttee*-,^*-"—"'""""

GRAIFTON'S DEFAULT. TO DETOXIPOTtT UNITED. Oraifton were due to play Devonport United on the Shore park on Saturday afternoon, but when the home team assembled In force to fight out an issue with' their visitors, no opponents -were forthcoming from across tb* harbour. The failure of Grafton to send a foam across disappointed a fair number of expectant spectators, but It gave Devonport a win by default. SECOND GRADE. Maritime 15, beat Northcote o. Tonsonby 10, beat North Shore I) 5. .THIRD GRADE. Mannkau 12, beat Xortb Shore 10. FOURTH GRADE, ntnhnhn 11, beat Richmond S. Poiisonhy won 'by default from Northcote. FIFTH GRADE. Otjihuhu .".. beat Richmond •'. Manukau '£i. beat North shore fi. Richmond A 111 beat Maritime 3. For the winners Perkins. Madden, llylan.l and Grigg scored tries, and McNeil and McFarlane converted. SIXTH tiIIADK. Maritime accounted for llevonnort United to the tune of H points to 0, Tonsouby 6. beat ..Manukau 3. For the winners Chapman and Cole sored. Manukau 3. lost to l'onsonhy C.