AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10042, 21 May 1898, Page 3

AUCKLAND

Auckland, May 16. District matches were continued on Saturday, when there was a very big attendance at Epsom, "the gate" totting up to just on £70 at sixpence admission, with ladies free. Great interest was centred in the match between Parnell arrd Ponsonby, for the Ponsonbv team won the championship last year, aud "Parnell were runners-up. The contest ended in Parnell winning by 7 points (a goal from the field and a penalty goal) to 6 (a try and a penalty goal). Laws was in great form for the winners, and played the best back game on the field. Thomson, who played full-back, also distinguished himself over and over again. Ponsonby were overmatched in the forward division. The game was won in the first spell, and it was rather remarkable that neither side could score in the second half. All the Parnell backs played well, and the forwards were a grand lot, Murray especially being brilliant. Harrison, the Ponsonby crack, got very few chances to shine, but he played a strong defensive game, as indeed did all the backs, particularly. Riley and Masefield. Among the forwards, Wilson, Barker and Graham showed up well. For the winners, Laws potted a goal, and Fred. Murray get a goal from a penalty kick. For Ponsonby, Gailloway secured a. try, and Riley kicked a penalty goal. Graiton met City, and to the surprise of

all the former won by 3 points to nil. Tait crossed the line for the winners, but Smith failed to convert. The game was an even one, there being no score in the first spell. At the North Shore, Newton met North Shore, the match ending in a win for Newton by 6 points to nil. For the winners, Eaton landed a goal, and Freeman got a try. which Wilson failed to convert. Among the North Shore players was that good forward C. Marshall, also "Tab" Wynward and Breen. Buddie, who played in junior representative team in Wellington two years ago, did good work for the Shore. Two accidents occurred on Saturday during the Rugby Cup matches. The Ponsonby full-back. R. Masefield, had one ( of his ribs broken in the course of the game against Parnell. He was attended to on the ground by Dr. Everson. At £)cvenport>, during the Newton —North Shore match, the Newton three-quarter, uamed Woods, had his collar bone broken through colliding with a North Shore player.