Ponsonby Is Defeated

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 250, 21 October 1944, Page 2 (Supplement)

Ponsonby Is Defeated

CITY FORWARDS PAVE THE WAY FOR SUCCESS BY FOUR POINTS-15-11-AFTER BRIGHT CHAMPIONS' MATCH: CARLAW PARK SEASON CLOSES

Under good conditions, the final League match of the season was played at Carlaw Park this afternoon, when, in the champion of champions match, City, the club champion of the season, beat Ponsonby, winner of the Roope Rooster competition, by 15 points to 11. City had the advantage that its forwards were superior to the opposing six,, and when the ball was free City used a swift-covering defence to cramp Ponsonby's inter-play. Good forward play was the best feature of a bright and open match, in which City led at the interval by 10 points to 4. City drew further into the lead early in the second half. Near the end two of the new Ponsonby backs showed up, Littlejohn landing a field goal, and Nordgren showing great pace to get a try between the posts. On the day City was the better team and deserved to win the Stormont Memorial Trophy.

The teams were:— , Ponsonby: Littlejohn, Roy Nurse, Jordan, Nordgren, Kay, Manley, Black, Fielder, Hull, Hardwick, Hadley, Mullett, Lohenet.

City: S. W. Clarke, Matthews, Salaia, Taylor, Silva, Cossey, Cunningham, Mataira, Leatherbarrow, James, E. Donovan, 'Ellis, Gee. Playing with great dash, the City forwards dominated the play in .the early stages, with Ponsonby playing hard on the defensive. As opportunity came, Ponsonby played to its backs, but with a swift City covering defence it was hard to make progress It was fast and open football, but the standard at this stage was not consistently good, and the hopes of the spectators were not being realised.

Ponsonby worked to the City end, and from a penalty Kay got Ponsonby the opening points with(r*a brilliant angle shot. Ponsonby 2, City 0. City forwards went to the Ponsonby end with raiding play, E. Donovan being held up right on the Ponsonby try-line. He got the ball away to Gee at his side- and the latterdived over between the posts to scorc. Silva converted. City 5, Ponsonby 2.

In the set scrums City was holding I the advantage, and in loose play the City backs were quick to move up and cramp Ponsonby's style. and Jordan were playing well and trying hard to get fast wings in Nurse and Nordgren going. With a long-drawn raid Ponsonby went -down the left wing, where the movement was checked with resolute defence by Littlejohn. A penalty went to City, and from the widest of angles Silva landed a magnificent goal. City 7, Ponsonby 2. The game went on with Ponsonby still unable to get. the ball from set scrums. Cunningham had good chances to get his backs going in orthodox passing, but the City inside backs were not certain in their handling. Amid excitement Nordgren got away on the Ponsonby right wing. He ran to Taylor and then passed infield. Kay and Jordan took up the running in a spectacular way. An infield pass reached Black, but Mullett dropped the next pass, the ball coming low. City was penalised, ,and Kay landed his second goal. City 7. Ponsonby 4. From a set scrum close to the right sideline, Cunningham sent the ball to Silva, who raced past the Ponsonby inside backs. James was up in time for the pass, and sent the ball on to Gee, who ran in to score by the flag. Silva's shot was wide.

The half-time score was: City 10 Ponsonby 4 When the teams turned round Ponsonby forwards stormed through to the City end. There were Ponsonby hopes when Lohenet, with sharp raking, got the ball and it went from Black to Manley to Kay. It was a move stopped by sharp defence by Silva and Salaia. In response to calls from its pupporters Ponsonby opened up the play, and the ball was thrown about freely in attempts to get the wings going.

It was a challenge that City took up, and City rose to it with interplay of real class. The outstanding player for City at this stage was the veteran Mataira, who threw out to his backs passes of extraordinary lengths. The changeful nature of the play held the interest.of spectators with brilliant raiding. Fielder and Hardwick led the Ponsonby forwards. In a swirl of play the ball went over the City try-line between the posts, and both Selwyn Clarke and Nordgren dived for possession. Nordgren appealed for the try, but a forcedown was ruled.

In an all-out way Ponsonby forwards struck with Hull and Mullett doing great work. City had a long spell of defence, but the players eventually cleared their hard-pressed line. Then City worked to the Ponsonby end. Play was at the right side of the field when Mataira threw a long pass across, Silva getting the ball and- kicking towards the wing. Both Taylor and Cossey raced for possession, and when Manley did not clear Cossey snapped up the ball, circled in and scored behind the posts. Silva converted. City 15—4. Ponsonby was having the experience of being able to play just as well as an active opposition allowed. There was one bright bit. of play when Hull broke clear with Mullett in support. Three times Hull passed, and three times Mullett safely gathered the ball, and sent it back to Hull. It was shuttle play of a kind that made the crowd enthuse. Next, Mataira stood out with solo plav and hard running which thrust tackles aside until Nordgren dived in hard and low.

Ponsonby vvas attacking hard when a clearing kick sent the ball up field to Littlejohn. With plenty of , time, the Ponsonby full-back sighted carefully, and registered his first points in the League code with a spectacular field goal. City 15, Ponsonby 6. The play was still* open, but the teams were tiring, and for Ponsonby it was a lost cause. Mullett. was hurt, and went off, Ponsonby carrying on a man short. A penalty came to Ponsonby, and Fay kicked for up and upder. Nordgren flashed in to gather the ball, and dived over to score between the posts. Kay converted. City 15, Ponsonby 11, City was attacking when the end came, with the final scores City 15 Ponsonby 11 Mr. G. Kelly was the referee.

THIRD GRADE MATCH Curtain-raiser at Carlaw Park this afternoon was the final of the third grade knock-out between Newton and Point Chevalier. Newton won 20—8. ★ BANTAM ROOSTER Pt. Chevalier won the schoolboys' seven-a-side knock-out final to become the first holder of the Bantam Rooster.