LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 189, 9 August 1920, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE SECOND TEST. WON BY EXGLAXD. NINETEEN iPOINTS TO THREE. MATCH IN THE RAIN. (Special to "Star.") CHKISTCIiruCH, this day. . Despite heavy rain the match lietween England and New Zealand was played at Lancaster Park. There was a good attendance, but the ground was In parts under New Zealand kicked-off. and from the return New Zealand set up a passing rush, which took play to the English line. A free kick for offside brought England down to the New Zealand line, and from a scrum a passing rush endeil In a short punt Delng marked by Mitchell. The kick relieved, but England continued the attack, and Bacon sent a long pass but It was intercepted. and New Zealand attacked. A Hard English kick went to Lovprldge. and England nearly scored. Kroni the scrum a passing rush was set up. which resulted In Stone sidestepping the full-back and scoring at the corner. Gronow's kick failed. England :s. New Zealand 0 McClymnnt took a long pass well and ran up-field and passed in to V\"oaf:!ey. who enrried it he nttauk near England's line before he was stopped. Davles relieved by a clever run from a scrum, but the New Zealand attack was only stopped by an English hack taking a Hying kick which landed the ball out to touch. Stone made a great run down the line, and was pushed out a few feet from the line. Krom the scrum the ball went over the line, and Stone dived on top of it. Gronow's kick failed. England f>. New Zealand 0. Poison sa* on the ball to stop a rush, and was pushed about ten yards along the ground and over the goal line, K'vlng a force-down. Gulney uribb'.ed the hall along the line, and it was taken infield by several New Zealanders. Guiney followed the play, and taking a pass scored. Stormout's kick failed. England (i. NewZealand 3. England attacked, and from a free kick Gronow kicked a goal. England 8. New /viand :i. Half-time came with the play in inldnVluV

lmnipdlatply aftpr thp sprond spell opened a free kick was Riven ugainst England, but Mitchell failed to convert. Xew Zealand | pressed, and Kn gland forced. From a scrum! (Jronow dribbled Into the New Zealand: quarter, and the forwards continuing the| movement I*arkln scored in the corner. | Ornnow's kick. though a good one. failed. 1 England 11. New Zealand :i. An Interchange of kicks between the backs was followed by an English passing rush, which was spoilt. •Bacon knocklnjf on. Kroni a free kick for New Zealand on thefr B oal-Une a further Interrbanse of kicks took place. liny slowed down considerably, and the next incldeDt was a good run by Stone, and the'i a New Zealand attack was beaten off by good drlbblliiK hy the vlsltlna forworn*. An Knplish passing rush from their twentyfive was spoilt liy a long pass to Wapstaff belns too low. but he kloke<i up-Held, anl Stone, followlns up fast, scored near the posts. Cronow converted. England Hi. Xew Zealand H. A New Zealand attack Ran' Ball kick over the line, and Boron forced. An Kng-llsh attack looked serious, birt l>avles slipped and fell when In a Rood position to score. From the scrum New Zealand forced. A lone New Zealand kick down Hie line wns followed up so fast thnt Kneland was compelled to force. When folloT.lnK up n hard kick Bas-s- slipped nml Injured his leg and retired from the name. riay went down New Zealand territory. romped over. The kick failed. England lit. New Zenla #l :f. An English dribhllnc rusli took play right to the New Zealand line, but I.overidge saved by kicking out. McClymont took a wild pass very well, but was stopped.-and a good run back by V.nzland was spoiled by Stone umlllng a nhs* when riffht on the line. Npw Zealand cleare<l. and play ended: Euslanii 1!> New Zealand :f A crowd of aooo attended the match in spite of continuous rain. CLUB CONTESTS RESUME. POXSOXBY LOHES TO XEWTON. MARITIME] TUinDiniS. AX EASY GAME FOX CITOT. \fter a spell of a fortnight.occasioned by the visit of the English feam, the club competitions of the Auckland Rugby league were resumed at the Victoria I'nrk on Saturday afternoon. The three siiiiim which were played on this ground attracted a large number of people, and, despite the fact that the various teams were at a disadvantage through hnvlng a number of rbelr players away with the New Zealand team, good play wn«* witnessed.

On No. 2 ground the game between Ponsonhy and Newton Rangers soon developed Into an interesting contest, and tbe spectators in tbe Park, with the discrimination which a crowd always displays, soon began to devote their attention to the work between tbese combinations. The contest was fairly even throughout, and fast, too. The Rangers' win of l<) to 0 was due in ■part to the work of their forwards, which wan slightly better than that of their op•ponente. Poll son by backs, though keen throughout, were too fond of lone-handed efforts which iWd not eventuate in any although the ball frequently evaded the players' grasp at crucial moments. This, however, only added to the excitement of th<» game, which, it will he remembered, is the second which the Rangers have won against Pousonby this season.

The game between Maritime and Devonport wae marked by exceedingly fast play, during which the ball passed freely up and down the Held. The watersiders got the •better of Devonport to the tune oT 24 points to 19. but not without n strong opposition being put up against the';;.

A disappointing conteet resulted between City nnd Griiftnn, in which the former team piled up their scores to a total of Cβ. <inifton played up at times with momentary flashes, but for the remainder were nonpluKsetl by tbe quicker passing anrl greater pace of their opponents. Apnlnst City's big score they succeeded In registerIng 13 points. The championship positions are:—

'P. W. D. 1.. IF. A. P. nty 10 r — 2 KM :nt> Iβ Maritime f> 7 — J Q2T fK H Marist .. s> r> l a re 61) 11 Newton . 10 r> 14 lit 121 H Ponsofihy IK -2 -2 0 11.1 132' « Devon p - t !> 2* :! r> 74 IH4 (i Grafton .93—8* 7.» 213 2 •Default. POVSOXBY V. NEWTON RANGERS. Newton Rangers registered their second win this season against Ponsonby. in a came which »«s fairly even, although the victors managed to secure ill points to nil. was they did some good work with their solo efforts, but, unfortunately for. tbe Ponies, all proved imremune-atlve. Cross and Walsh were the best of the Ponsouhy backs. On the Newton side. Lovett. rioke. and Dufty were in splendid form, the last named giving frequent exhibitions of fine kicking;. A. .lames and P.axtPr were in the frotvt Rinonf! the Rimgers' forwjinls. thi? pick of the opposing forwards including Henderson nnd ?outncrnwood. Clolie and Ballautyne se'-nred tlie two tries in the game, and Dufty got two goals. MARITIME V. OEVONPOKT. A game full of interest was played between Hevonport and Maritime on No. :( ground at the Victoria Park. Devonport started off well, nnd* had registered seven points before Maritime had scored. Tlie game wee very even throughout, although finally Maritime came off the better to the rune of 24 points to 10. The players maintained Rood combination on both sides, and put up a general good game. CITY V. GRAFTON. The match between City and Grafton on the No. 1 ground at the Victoria Park wan decidedly one-sided. City ran up a cricket Ecore of G6 points against 13 Grafton, however, was suffering the heaviest of all the senior teams owing to the absence of players with the New Zealand team. Tbe game afforded some interest in the first spell, but in tbe latter one It was allowed to become very careless. Second Grade.—Marist Old Boys 3, beat, Xortheote 2. Fourth Grade. —Ponsonny 13. beat Maritime 3. Jensen (2 goals). Speers, Winters, (2) and Grantley (1) scored for Maritime. Fifth 10, beat North Shore 6. Sixth Grade..— Manukau 6, beat North Sbore 3.