LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 203, 29 August 1927, Page 14

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WON BY NEWTON.

HARD GAME WITH PONSONBY.

GOALS DECIDE ISSUE

Football of the hard, exciting kind was provided in the epic struggle in which Xewton emerged victorious over Ponsonby as the champions of the 1927 season, a meteoric rise from mediocrity, seeing that the new premiers held but a lowly position last season. The play was desperately keen throughout, without rising to the classic heights, although the tenseness of the struggle keyed a J>ig crowd of 13,000 spectators up to a hfgh pitch of excitement. For half the game consistent play by Ponsonby eclipsed flashes of brilliance by Newton, but in the second half of the game the Newton forwards rose to magnificent heights, found support from their backs, and were most often in the ascendancy. They failed to cross the Ponsonby line, but three goal shots in from the western suburb's twenty-five were true in direction, and decided the championship. The outstanding feature of the play was the frenzied tackling of both teams—for once defence was superior to attack. The teams were:— Newton: Herewini, Hardgrave, Dufty, Little, McLeod, Morman, Mclntyre, Stack, Somers, Hall, Rhodes, Clark, Henry. Ponsonby: Grey, Dclgrosso, Usher, Gardiner, Riley, K. Pcckham, T. Peckham, McNeill, Payne, Hutt, Ward, J. Peckham, Fagan. Ponsonby Open Score. After nineteen minutes of even play Ponsonby got the opening score. Jambed on the sideline Usher moved across infield and sent a low kick ahead. Herewini completely misjudged the flight of the ball, and when he stumbled over it McNeill kicked across the line, followed fast and scored amid enthusiasm. Delgrosso sliced a fairly easy shot. Ponsonby 3 Newton 0 The Ponsonby backs began to come away with passing runs that Jud plenty of sparkle, sound tackling alone keeping them out. The Ponsonby backs got off a spectacular attack, a passing run that Went three different ways, the crowd roaring delightedly when T. Peckham joined in it for the third successive time. Except that the Newton forwards were occasionally breaking through, Ponsonby were having the better of the game, and Herewini was called on repeatedly to clear. | Brilliant play by Clark put the reds' vantage in, but after the Newton backs had tried hard to finalise the chance, Grey, with a magnificent clearing kick, sent them back. Play was on the Newton line when half-time came. Ponsonby 3 Newton 0 Newton Face the Son. Newton started the second session with the disadvantage of a bright sun. Little got off a brilliant gallop, eluding two opponents close to the side-line, then forging ahead with swift changes of direction, a meteoric flit that eventually carried him into the arms of two converging tacklcrs. There was some hard play near the flag, Usher being hurt while defending, and carried off. It necessitated Hutt coming out of the pack to take the vacant place on the wing. This was bad luck for Ponsonby, as Usher had been playing brilliantly, with great speed and dash.* "Give it to Dufty," was the collective cry of the Newton supporters when a free came the reds* way a moment later. It was easy range, but the angle was acute. Kicking deliberately, Dufty sent the ball sailing midway between the top flags on the posts—a beautiful shot that made the reds' supporters rejoice. Ponsonby 3 Newton 2 Newton Take the Lead. Amid a long drawn crescendo of en* couragement the Newton pack, with Clark in the lead, drove at the Ponsonby line, and amid desperate repulse play in the goal-mouth Ponsonby were penalised. The ball was set for Dufty, and amid a tempest of cheering he put it safely across. Newton 4 Ponsonby 3 Herewini Pots a Goal. With three minutes to go came the sensation of the game, Herewini gathering a clearing kick on the fringe of the Ponsonby twenty-five, and potting a spectacular goal. Newton •»•• •■ 6 Ponsonby 3 With the final bell the delighted Newton supporters rushed the field and the stars of the side were carried shoulder high. AUCKLAND REPS. EIGHTEEN FOR SOUTHERN TOUR. The following eighteen players have been chosen by the selectors (Messrs. Asher, Fox and Blakey) to represent Auckland on tour in the South Island. Backs.—Gregory (Marist), Dufty, Little (Newton), Brisbane (Marist), List (Kingsland), Wctherill (City), Riley (Ponsonby), Prentice (Richmond), Webb (Devonport), Mclntyre (Newton). Forwards. — O'Brien (Devonport), Somers (Newton), Hutt, Payno (Ponsonby), Dixon (Devonport), Hall, Clarke (Newton), Bass (Richmond). Those unable to make the trip arc asked to communicate with the selectors. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. The junior selectors, Messrs. Davis, Hopkinson and Short, will select a team to travel to. Rotorua on September 3 from the following players:—Casey, Paltridge, Hunt (Devonport), Stevens, Wilson (Ponsonby), Ronage, D. Ross (Remuera), J. Davis, Barrett (Richmond), Biseett, Clarke (Athletic), Crura, Firth (New Lynn), H. Carter, Ramn (Kingsland), J. Boddy, Craiko (Mangere), Hemming (Glen Eden). The above players are to be in attendance at the League rooms on Tuesday, August 30, at 7JO p.m. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CBRISTCHTJRCH. Hornby 14, beat Sydenham 5. Addlngton 16, drew with Marist 16. DUNEDIN. Tbc first League representative inarch of the season was played at the • Caledonian I Ground on Saturday, between Otago and West Coast. Otago won by 11 points to t. The conditions made really good back play , impossible,' bnt a falr-slsed crowd witnessed an interesting game, with more than occasional flashes of brightness.

JUNIOR MATCHES. SECOND GRADE. Devonport 38. bent Richmond 0. THIRD GRADE. Devonport 6, beat Ponsonby 3. Athletic 3, beat Glen Edea 2. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. City 2. beat Ellerslle 0. FOURTH GRADE. Somervlllc A 5. beat Papatoetoe 1. FIFTH GRADE. ■ Richmond 5. beat Ponsonby 0. SIXTH GRADE. Marists 2. beat Kingsland 0. Richmond 6, beat Pt. Chevalier 0. Akaraua A 11. beat Athletic 3. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HAMILTON. Seniors: Frankton 12. beat Athletics 9. For the Ball Cup (Junior competition), Ngaruawahia 25. beat Frankton 5.