RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 145, 21 June 1937, Page 15

RUGBY LEAGUE

FAST, OPEN GAME

PONSONBY AND ST. GEORGE

In a game which sparkled during the whole t>o. minutes of play, Ponsonby, one of the leadin? Auckland Rugby League teams, drew with St. George, at Newtov.n Park on Saturday. The home team had much the better of it in the first spell, rattling on 18 points to their opponents' three, but, there was a different story to tell of the second spell* the, visitors being decidedly unlucky not to have won. For this they can blame their feeble goalkicking, several easy shots being missed, this being the only blemish in a delightful game. The teams were as follows: —

Ponsonby.—P. Rush, A. Kay, B Riley, A. Nurse, W. Stockley. (captain), F. Halloran. D. Black, R. Blackman, X Brown, D. Keane, C. Peterson, S. Davis, L. Bain. St. George.—W. Spencer, T. Cook, C. Mulholland, C. McNeil, L. Merson, B. Bayley, A. O'Connor, A. Swanberg, L. Simons, A. Selwood, A. Broadhead, M Moisley, J. Cootes. . FORWARDS IN CONTROL. The'lively St. George forwards soon had the measure of the opposition, the Ponsonby backs making desperate efforts to open up the game, but the home side's vanguard, led by J. Cootes, played havoc .with them and three minutes from the start, O'Connor crossed as' the result of pome dashing work by Cootes. The kick missed. St. George 3, Ponsonby 0. Ponsonby still remained on the defensive, but the deadly tackling kept the home side quiet for a time, though McNeil was nearly over, being tackled a yard from the line by. the Ponsonby fullback, who was proving himself a difficult man to pass. Cook was the next to score for St. George, but O'Connor failed with the kick. The same player,- who was snowing great dash on, the home side's right flank, collected another try a little later and at this stage.it looked as if the visitors were becoming demoralised by the. assaults of the St. George pack. Mulholland was the next to add a try. but there should have been' another a few minutes before. Simons failing to send the ball out when he had several supports handy. McNeil made St. George's tally 15 when he ' side-tracked three, or four would-be tacklers. Up to this stage, Ponsonby had rarely invaded the home side's territory, but a movement initiated by Halloran, who transferred to Black, who sent on to Davis, ended in their first score. O'Connor countered for St. George, the half-time scores being: • St. George 18. Ponsonby 3. FONSONBY'S RECOVERY. The first half had been ■ conducted at a fierce tempo and there was no relaxing in the second, though it was apparent half-way through that the home team lacked the stamina of the Aucklanders. They opened the scoring, Stockley breaking away to send on to Riley, the latter grounding in a handy position for Keane to add the ektras. St. George 18, Ppnsonby 8. The margin was further reduced when Kay broke away, the easy kick going awry and the scoring riot was continued by Peterson, St. George's lead having been reduced to six points Some zestfulplay was now seen, each side throwing the ball about in' delightful fashion, but it was mostly in favour of Ponsonby, Keane and Peterson each adding a try. making the game a draw, 20-all, Mr. G. Bell was referee.