GRAFTON SWAMPED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 133, 7 June 1926, Page 10

GRAFTON SWAMPED.

The flags were idly flapping In a light south-west breeze when Lucas kicked-off for Ponsonby from the southern end. After si-veral minutes desultory play in midtield. the blue and black rearguard opened out in a passing rush, a smart piece of reverse passing between Lucas and Pelham enabling the former to score in the corner. McWilliams made a splendid attempt to convert, his kick missing by inches only. Both sides continued in a lackadaisical manner until a penalty against Ponsonby gave Austin a good chance to goal, but he missed the opportunity. Directly after, a fine run by Cammicb completely beat the Grafton defences, and Lucas galloped over for an easy try, which McWilliams converted.

On changing over for the second quarter play continued in a casual sort of way until Pelham. smartly fielding a pass from the ruck, worked a splendid bit of in-and-out passing between himself and Tonkin the Ponsonby left wing crossing in the corner for a good try. McWilliams missed the kick. The Grafton forwards now commenced to put a good deal more ginger into their play, and at times they were pushing the opposing eight all over the place, and giving McManus a hard time of it-. Two or three hot dribbling, rushes severely tested the champion club's defence, but on each occasion the Ponsonby backs managed to clear, and presently from a ruck in Grafton territory. McManus Hashed out in a nippy run which caught the opposition napping. The little half-bacK set Matson alight, the latter streaking like a greyhound half the length of the ficid for a spectacular try. From a good way out. McWilliams' kick went just outside the posts. The only other incident of note up to half time was a penalty against Ponsonby for illegal interference, from which Austin narrowly " failed to land a goal.

On re-opening, Finlayson and Stewart shewed out in a good breakaway from the loose, taking the ball through to Hook, who saved well. Lucas changed defence into attack - with a smart dash. Grafton had some anxious moments on' defence in the near top corner but Stokes relieved well, and the Grafton forwards bunched nicely for a hot rush down the centre, which swept up Hook, ball and all. until an over-head kick enabled a Ponsonby back to receive possession and clear to touch. Keary. Farmer and Stewart again cut loose in a solid rush, which ended in Ponsonby being penalised for offside play. Austin took the kick, and landed a beautiful goal afrom outside the Ponsonby twenty-five. This score seemed to put fresh heart into the Grafton fifteen, and they were doing the bulk of the attacking until the change over.

Hardly had play re-started when Lucas flashed out in a fast dash to the Grafton twenty-five. Tackled, he passed to Tonkin, and Hook coming up like a bolt • from the blue, whipped up an almost hand-to-hand pass from Tonkin, and was over the line before Grafton seemed to realise what and happened. Hook had no difficulty in goaling from straight in front. A minute later, an almost similar movement, with the exception that it was Pelham.who came up to take Tonkin's pass, gave the former a try in the corner, which McWilliams failed to convert. The Grafton defences now commenced to sag- and finally crashed altogether before successive dashes by McCarthy and Cammick. both of whom secured a try. Hook converting the latter. Grafton then roused themselves for ■a. final effort, and after some good play by their backs. McGregor hnd a shot at goal from a mark, but had the bad luck to hit the post just when it looked like going over. This was Grafton's last effort to hold their' opponents off. In the last minute or two Hook and Pelham scored a couple of "anyhow" tries, neither of which were converted, making the final score: ,

Ponsonby 36 Grafton 3 . ' Mr. F. E. Sutherland controlled tbe game.