FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16902, 15 July 1918, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

UNDER LEAGUE RULES. NEWTON BEATS PONSONBY. A ' ONE POINT WIN. Ohs of the finest Northern Union matches witnessed in Auckland was played on the Domain on Saturday. Newton Rangers defeating Ponsonby United by 11 points to 10. Play was spectacular from start to finish, and great enthusiasm was evinced by a crowd of about 7000. By Newton's win the two teams are placed on an equal footing for championship honours. In the first few minutes Newton (red and white) pressed, but good kicking by Minogue, the Ponsonby (blue and blaok) fullback, relieved the situation. A passing rush, headed by A. Ilea and G. lies, bore play to tho Ponsonby line, where G. lies scored Newton's first try. The kick fell short. Newton, 8; •Ponsonby, 0. Newton continued to attack, and several scrums brought play to midfleld, where, from a scrum. Keenan got the ball and made a fine rush, • but. wae blocked in the blue twenty-five. A free kick to Ponsonby enabled Catalan to make * fine dash, but he was collared. Ponsonby rallied, and for some time kept play in the red territory. From a scrum new the side-line Ponsonby got the ball, and tried hard to score, but a knock-on by. Mathevs spoiled their chance. Prom a penalty free .Trick Newton secured, but a scrum .in their own twenty-five resulted. Maddison had a shot at goal from a free kick, but just missed. Ponsonby continued to press, and a scrum took play near the red posts, but Newton gained a penalty free kick. From a fine forward rush Hani in knocked on, but the attack kept on, and Newton w»s_ compelled to force. A rush, in which Maddison was prominent, was stopped short near tho red fine, but in a few minutes Southernwood scored the first try ) for Ponsonby, Maddison converting. New-1 ton, 3; Ponsonby, 6. .... Ponsonby kept on the initiative, and. play was continually in" the Newton twenty-five. Minosue made a fine attempt at a 'try, - but was stopped near the posts.' Newton then got the ball, G. lies bringing it into the blue twenty-five, and from the ruck Keen an scored: for Newton, the kick failing. Newton. 6: Ponsonby, 5. One point behind Ponsonby played bard, and in a few minutes Edwards scored a fine try. which Maddison converted with a, good kick. Newton,, 6; Ponsonby, 10. Ponsonby forwards were keeping up "the pressure, but a'red back baffled them, and Castles ran, right down field, being brought up near the line. From a free kick Miller scored for Newton, Newton, 8; Ponsonby, 10. . . ; Half-time came without fuitl&r score. Upon resuming Newton attacked, Minogue clearing. After a few minutes of hard play Ponsonby was compelled to force. Prom a scrum near the side-line Cadman got the ball, but only reached the opposing twentyfive. Later Mathews reached "the line, but Newton' forced. From a free kick Ponsonby kicked out. and' a scrum sent Newton to the attack, but Minogue cleared. He was playing a brilliant game, never missing his chances. After a scrum in the blue twentyfive I-ovatt got the ball and scored for Newton. Castles falling to convert Newton, 11; Ponsonby. 10. ' . From a scrum at centre' Newton got the ball, and just before time things looked dangerous for Ponwnby. but good work by Minojue- relieved. The final scores were:— Newton .. .. .. ... 11 Ponsonby • > • • 10 Mr. Hill was referee. THE RUGBY GAME. EIFLES BEAT UNIVERSITY. The Auckland Bugby Union's championship competitions were continued on Saturday. On Eden Park College Rifles beat University' by 9 points to 3 and Grafton beat Marist Bros, by 6 points to 3; and on the Show Ground Grammar Old Boys beat Ponsonby by 9 points to 8.

COLLEGE RIFLES V. UNIVERSITY. University (light blue) went at once to the attack, find Thomas had a shot at goal, which fell short. Both sides made the pace fast, and College Rifles (dark blue) made a bold bid for a score as the result of a rush headed by Munro and Grierson. After fast play University resumed, the attack, and bore play down field until stopped at the Rifles twentyfive. At the change-over a forward rush, .headed by Thomas, took operations to tho College half, but the dark blue forwards increased their efforts, and a free kick gave McLean' a shot at goal, which fell short. Rifles opened up a fine 'passing bout, in which Laxon, Grierson, and Pooley carried the ball as far as the line, but they could not break the defence, and the dark blues were sent back to the centre- Another attaok by the Rifles ended in Wilson scoring, McLean failing to convert. From the drop out University determined to even ■ matters, and from a scrum, Campbell got the ball out to White, who eent to Brinsden, the latter scoring University's first try Brinsden failed with the kick. With equal scores both teams played hard, and. from a penalty free kick McLean finally kick a goal for Rifles. In the last spell Rifles continued to press, ana eventually Laxon secured from the ruck and passed to Grierson, who eent to Macmanemin, who scored. The final scores were: College Rifles 9 University ft ~ i . 3 Mr. J. E. Donovan was referee.

PONSONBY V. GRAMMAR OLD BOYS Ponsonby (blue) kicked off, and after looee play at centre Ross sent the ball out, but Minoguo intercepted, spoiling -the forward rush. A likely centring kick in the blue twenty-five went too far, and a force was registered. From a scrum in the Ponsonby twenty-five Grammar got the ball, and Marsden missing a pass Newman secured and sent on to Adams, who defeated the opposition and scored near the corner. Marsden failed to convert. Ponsonby was missing Delgroeso . from the backs, and Gramma; were having the advantage. Later Goodwin got the ball and scored for Grammar. Marsden failing with the kick. On the change over Ponsonby took the initiative, and a free'kick near the twenty-five lino was taken by Kelly, who scored Ponsonby's first Bcore. Delgrosso came Into, and materially strengthened the Ponsonby back divisionFrom a scrum near the white line Brown scored another try for Ponsonby. Grammar, however, was not to be denied, and Taylor secured in the loose, and Marsden receiving a long pass sent on to Adams, who scored. The final scores were:— Grammar Old Boys ■< . i 9 Ponsonby . • .. <> ~ 8 Mr. Ensor was referee GRAFTON V. MARIST BROTHERS. Grafton took the kick, and Marists brought back the ball to the corner until a breach relieved. Play was at halfway until Grafton net up an attack, and the forwards sweeping down Marshall scored. The kick failed. A free kick awarded to Grafton wa3 taken by Nixon, who had a shot at goal, but failed. Even play followed until the Grafton pack got away again, and after a.tussle .on the line LongviUe scored, the kick going wide. The second half opened with Grafton forcing matters. Marist then took the initiative, and forced play to the line, whore Man* ion scored. The final scores were:— Grafton .. ,-. .. >. 6 Muirt Brother! « »« •« 6

SECOND GRADE. ' University, 15 points, dofeated Grammar 5; Maris t Old Boys, 10 points, defeated College Rifles, 8. THIRD GRADE. Suburbs, 18 points, defeated Marist Brothers Old Boys, 0: Ponsonby, 8 points, drew with Green Lane, 8; Normal, 61 points, defeated Grammar Old Boys, 6. " SECONDARY SCHOOL MATCHES. Second Grado: Grammar B drew with King's College, 3; Grammar A, 3 points, defeated Grammar C. 0 Third Grade: Grammar A, 6 points, defeated Grammar B, 0. PRIMARY SCHOOLS' MATCHES. s A Grade: Napier Street A, 35 points, defeated Vermont A, 0; Remuera. 6 point*, defeated Mount Eden, 4: Bayfield and Parnell drew, no score. t > B Grado: Ponsonby, 9 points, dofeated Vermont B, 3; Normal, 17 points, dofeated Onehunga-. 0; Mount Albert, 8 points, defeated Epsom. 3; Te Panapa, S3 points, defeated Beresford Street, 0; Nelson Street, 9 points, defeated Point Chevalier, 0. C Grade: Newton, 3 points, drew with Mount Roskill, 8: Ellerslie, 23 points, defeated Newton West, 0; Takapuna, 3 points- Jb.'Mtcd Newmarket, 0; Avondale, 22 foiled, dofeated Napier Street, 0; Grey inn, 55. defeated Mount Albert, 0. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. PRESBYTERIAN V. SHORE. Devonport Presbyterian met North Shore at the Domain on Saturday. After a good game, in which splendid individual play was witnessed. North Shore won by 9 goals to 1. For Presbyterian, Le Grice scored, and for North Snore, P. Cook and Allison. Mi. King was referee. PONSONBY V. WILD ROSE. This game was played at the Domain, and provided an interesting contest. Ponsonby had the hotter of the play in the first half, bat in the second half Wild Rose rallied, and won by 8 goals to 2. For the.winners, Hayes, Walbran, and Sager scored, and Tantrum scored for Ponsonby. Ponsonby's second goal came as the result of • miskick by a Wild Rose player. Mr. O'Doll was referee.

BROTHERHOOD V. Y.M.C.A. This game was played on the Domain, and resulted in an easy win for Brotherhood by 11 goals to 8. SECOND DIVISION. Brotherhood, 6 goals, defeated Y.M.O.A, 8; Tabernacle, 6, defeated Technical School, 4; Northcote. 5. defeated Devonport Presbyterians, 1, FIFTH DIVISION. Technical, 2 goals, defeated Wild Rose, 0; Takapuna. 3, dofeated Mount Albert, 0; Presbyterians, 8, defeated Northcote, 1. SIXTH "DIVISION. North Shore, 1 goal, defeated Northcote Oj Belmont A, 1, defeated Technical, 0.