FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4875, 2 July 1877, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

A maxcii between the Auckland and Ponsonby Clubs was played on Saturday, on the Metropolitan Ground. The players were limited to twelve a side, and the arrangement hardly worked well, as it threw too much, work on the forwards. Auckland won the toss, and took the lower goal, so Warbrick kicked off for Ponsonby. The play was confined to the middle of the ground for some tim«v when -IJiug had a good chance, and secured a try for Auckland. Abrams took the ball out, but no goal resulted from the place kick by Carter. Ponsonby thou played up better, and Bravewatcr, following well up, succeeded in ruuning in for them, and from the try Kerr kicked a goal. Shortly after this ends were changed, and the Auckland men compelled their opponents to touch do\7S c'tveral times, the bal! being for the most part in the Ponsonby qu»rtcr, but no advantag > in tho way of seoriug was gained, .the scorns at the end of tin: second period of twenty minutes being— Fivttionby, 5; Auckland, 2. On goals being changed both side 3 pulled • thein'"es together, Warbric'.", for Ponsonby, h'. 'dng several good rum; while Henderson and Sliakcspcarc were cnusp'cuous ou the Auckland side, a run by the latter half the length of the gronud being one of the best we have seen this year. Still as no score was made the hopes of tho backers of Ponsonby ran high, ail., when the last twenty minutes of play v. j i commenced, it, seemed as if they wero going to win against a certainly better team. However, it was not to be, for Henderson wisely contenting hum elf with one whole baelc player, the ball was carried right up to tho Pousouby gaol line, and a try obtained by C. liurgess, but so near to the touch line that, a punt out was deemed advisable, aud, though the ball was well caught by Nolan, no good resulted. It was " now or neverwith Auckland, as only 10 minutes remained until no side was called, aud Ponsonby were still ono point ahead ; but Nolan speedily ran in and touched down close by tho Pousouby posts. Tho try, an easy one, was missed, and the game ended by a maul in gaol, in which Abrams played a conspicuous part, Auckland thus winuiug by 15 puints (three tries) to s(a goal). For the winners Nolan was well on the ball throughout, anil Shakespeare again pr.oved himself tho houest worker we thought him the first timo u"c saw him. Henderson and Carter also were good, but the want of a re liable place kick was very apparent-, as out of the three tries secured, two were very easy ones, and yet no goal was kicked. For Ponsonby Kerr kiekvd well, aud Warbrick aud the c.iptain (J. Micky) were useful. There was one feature iu tho game which demands men iou, aud that was' the evident r.luctaucc of some of tho playcra 1.0 yet on aide, even though asked to do so, and that repeatedly.