PONSONBY'S ILL-LUCK

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 110, 12 May 1930, Page 14

PONSONBY'S ILL-LUCK

The unexpected happened in the City and Ponsonby encounter. It was quite on the ; cards that the tables would be turned on western suburbs for the first time in many years, but even the most sanguine City supporter did not predict their crushing defeat to the tune of 24 points to 8. On the day the run of luck was against last year's champions. Kot only did they lose the services of their great general and captain, Delgrosso, but in the dying stages four of their best men were forced to retire. Another was so seriously disabled that he was practically useless. The result of the match, with eight and a half men opposing thirteen, was inevitable. And the margin of difference between the teams would have been even greater had it not been for the sporting spirit shown by sveral of the City players, and Clark, their great battling forward, in particular. Some of the old hands, however, no doubt nursing memories of ignominous defeats at the hands of their old rivals, had the pressure' on till the death, and it was only their erratic handling that saved the perplexed, defence. Clark's sportsmanship was a glorious example of League tradition at its best. On one occasion he could have walked across for a try, and deliberately waited for Angelo to clear. Again, he put the ball up in the air when a shot at goal was the obvious thing to do. Up to the point when casualties intervened, the game was interesting and evenly contested, while not rising to spectacular heights. At the interval the teams were on even.terms, 8 points all, and it was Ponsonby who had drawn first blood. The suburbanites were in the ascendant for a while in the second stanza, but the defence was rocklike, and' they did not score again. With Thompson, Riley, P. Skclton, and Delgrosso on the injured list their defence was so hopelessly disorganised that City were able to make a cake-walk of the match. The game, while it possessed a few' ugly features, was not excessively rough, and the casualties can be attributed to the lack of fitness of the Ponies and the adamantine surface. It is doubtful whether Ponsonby would have won, even with their full complement, for ! City were more than their equals in all departments. George Perry was one of the outstanding backs on the field, and, in scoring three tries he put up some brilliant dashes on the wing. He is a much improved player, and deserves his inclusion among the players chosen to practise for representative. honours.- Wetherill was the brains of ; the City attack, and as safe as a church on 'defence, while Ben Davidson gave yeoman service outside of him, being conspicuous for pretty changps of pace on the move. Shortland was on ris game behind the -scrum, though he spoilt an otherwise bright display by hanging on a trifle long at times. Clark was .the outstanding forward on the ground, and his best supports were Iverson, Hamilton, and Pascoe. Angelo gave a fine exhibition of defensive play against great' odds for Ponies, and fitted into many roles during the day. Pat Skelton was on his game with a vengeance until his ankle gave out, and was responsible for most of his side's points, while Thompson gave of his best in marking the redoubtable Wetherill. Winters and Riley were the pick of the three-quar-ters, their alertness to turn defence into attack and inter-play being features of the match. Delgrosso's stay was all too short, but his last run was a dazzling effort, typical of the veteran at his best. Pagan, Skelton, Goodwin, and McLeay were the hardest grafters in Ponsonby's-pack. For the winners, tries were scored by G. Perry (3), M. Watene, McLaughlin, and Clark, while Wetherill goaled on three occasions—24 points. Ponsonby's points came from tries by Thompson and Riley, and a conversion by P. Skelton —8 points.