FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17914, 17 October 1921, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

FINAL GAME OF SEASON

THACKER SHIELD MATCH

CITY DEFEAT PONSONBY.

The final game of the season under League rules was played at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when City (challengers) defeated Ponsonby (holders) in a challenge game for the Thacker Shield by 25 points to 10. Much interest was evinced in the match, notwithstanding that City were expected to win, and it is estimated that between 7000 and 8000 people witnessed the game.

The margin of points by no means represents the difference between the teams on the day. The luck of the game was with the winners as well as a slight superiority in scoring ability due to the pace of the backs. Two tries were awarded to City that occupants of the press stand considered should not have been allowed. In the first spell, when Francis took the ball over the Ponsonby line it was forced by a Ponsonby man before the City forward reached it In the second spell Hawkes was awarded a try after having taken the hall offside in a dribbling rush. The try was a certainty if no infringement had taken place and it would have been hard luck for City to have lost it. Still, the infringement occurred in the excitement of the game, when the referee wag in such a position that he could not detect it The game was hard-fought and exciting from start to finish, and was a fitting nnale to a most successful season. City's triumph gives that club the distinction of having won all the senior grade competitions in Auckland under League rules lor the season. The Rub of the Game. Immediately after the kick-off Ponsonby were penalised, an d W. Davidson hadTfrui' St p at!Ml - Pkly then «™red for une till Ponsonby rushed the ball to the- City twenty five McClymont bad a shot at goal and Citv forced. Ponsonby had the better of S r,f; hangeß ' *** play hun * '<* "time thTlo * ? 110 7- W «therall picked up in he loose and made a good dash, sending the eaiher on to Mackie when blocked. The" he Un^^ 611 tT^ h * A. McGregor near Wf H?° Ponaonb y forwards cleared to fhi'b^i'.t 1 ? 611 A k McGre^ broke away wit* he b*ll »* foot but Wetherall nipped m and wlti :K S °?? P^ run by City saw Wetherall tackled with the ball at the Ponmov/d D y fiTe A Penalty to Ponsonby removed may to centre. Both sides were endevouring to open up the game, but the ball was not coining cleanly from the scrums, and S« w^ Ut f W ** Had *? C ° me from the »«>•»■ Flay was fast nevertheless, the baD travelling up and down the field at a great rate, A good kick by A. McGregor sent the ball out near the City corner. McClymont made a dash over the line, but lost the ball and City forced. Ponsonby kept up the pressure, and play hung m the City twenty-five. A penalty gave Hanlon a shot •* goal, but the ball went wide. The drop-out removed play to half-way. The Ponsonby forwards made (Tr/I A " cGreg <* *** « «"«coe£ VnrZ? "u KOaJ - From *» drop-out A McGregor by a good kick again put City on the defensive. The City backs then got K, and a pass from Wetherall to B. Davidson sent the latter away racing for the line. Dei. grosso tackled well, and th* ball went out at the Ponsonby twenty-five- Paki tnen made * fSf dafcQ down the line, but was well tackled near the goal line. The Ponsonby forwards cleared. Then Francis broKwav no ,ty *J* d raoed to the Ponsonby fullback uo passed, and in a scramble again Sotn^L i KK 10a a a d He a iO, p the ** h ™ "he line, and a Ponsonby man fell on it vem*. iUOWC<I - W Gideon 21 oon- ! City then began to get the ball from thscrum and feed the backs, but u£ Ponsonby tackling proved equal to aU demande From a h^'Way W ' laVded ba^l he Ij¥ i ' ononby ,-..forwards worked the bad to the City twenty.five. Citv broke away from the ruck and Mil che L getting the ball, sent ™ on to £f J J?i r£.t'lt Dik T r t d , to Hawkey the fatted be. rig tackled and held up i„ the Pcnsonbv bTote «*5 W *** th * ESS f SnY Wet^^^ e '-^ 6 - fng ch bS hS'f > vldson failed to convert. Just before half-time a ui °» passing run started b M 7 or4an ™«« *** the ball 0 Morman. and the latter, cutting in well SS& Cly. ft &nbyV 5 ~ The Second Spell. After resuming, play was of the »,*_. « j ! way dC i r *»" City were penalised '.I* half* ' TwJntv ba "> 108 . 86111 °?* at the Ponsonby -S & fiT S- »A, n< , at massing run by line lltiSi al stl°°* U '% to A Penalty a o am t t C.ty gave Ponsonby an advantage Another penalty gave A. McGregor a, «W at goal, but the ball went wide" W. Vvioson returned the kick and a City rushtook play to the « Ponsonby twenty-five. Good work by the forwards removed play to halfway and a timely kick by A ifcGreso gained further ground. A long kick by W fl l ir d in° DSaW r osso tackledl with the ball m Ponsonby-s twenty-five, and a hot battle was waged near the line. City making strenuous efforts to K ™' The Ponsonby orwards cleared, l but a City , rush back and the ball was kicked hard over the line into touch in goal. Immediately a:terwarc!s W. Davidson had a fruitless shot at goal from a penalty. The Uity backs were next seen in motion Wilson made a good opening and sent on to Wetherail. the latter being tackled near the line. City made strenuous attempts to break through but the Ponsonby defence proved sound. The Ponsonby forwards then broke away and rushed the ball to the Citv twenty-tive. Good, kicking by W. Davidson turned defence into attack, play being removed to Ponsonby quarters. Walsh broke away with the bail and. picking up, sent to Morman who transferred to McNeil. The latter raced for the hue,, but «", pulled down at the C.tv tweiity-fivt- .Hanlon was the next to make a dash, being tackled near the lineLhe ball went into the loose and the City forwards broke away with a rush, progress being, stopped by Delgrosso. A fine da-ih hy it ins opened up a Ponsonhv attack. The "?*?," i y tive-eishths was obliged to kick and Paki stopned the rush. City were penaimed i and A. McGregor had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Keeping up the pressure, Pon-6on,b-Y_ opened up an attack. Walsh. Hing and Hanlon making a concerted dash. City broke away with a rush to the Ponsonby twenty-five, but Walsh. Hing and McGregor returned with a good rush, the ball reaching tap City line. It was kicked out to the 1 onsonbv backs but E. McGregor and Morman failed to pick up cleanly and a chance to score m, lost. Good kicking by the ( lty backs and fast following up by the forward? to- play to the Ponsonby twentyfcve. f erkha.m, getting the ball from "a scrum, worked the blind s : de and made an opening. Re passed to B. Davidson and the latter outpaced the opposition and scored behind the posts- W. Davidson converted. Following tne resumption of p!av the City forwards broke away. Markie and Hawkes dnbhl-Tig the ball over the line, enabling the latter to score- W. Davidson converted. Play continued fast and Pon«ionbv rushed the ball to the City twenty-five. Hing obtained possesion in the loose and transferred to A. McGregor, who dodced through the opposition and scored. Delcrrosso converted. Pon=cnbv maintained the pressure and a iZ'-od rush saw Blackie forced into ton near the City come,. A rush to the twrnty-'li'e frave relief and a penalty aeanwt Ponsonby re-noved r'ay to half-way. The ball woe kirked to Morman. who. in returnin; mi«kicked. W. Davidson snapped up th" leather and ran in to score an easy trv The same plaver f-onverted lust aa the be'l rang to rease play and the game concluded with the scores: — City 55 Ponsonby . . 10 HOUSE MATCH. A Rusty League match between teams representing -.ho So dew n reez : ng Works and the Wej-tfield Freezing Works was played at On<l.ui-.-;a -..n Saturday, and resulted in a win tor Southdown by 24 jwmts to (i The ','lay wa.s even in the first spell, liii.-h_ end';d _ w.'.hout a score, but in "the scene ha'f Southdown over-ran their opponent*, scoring s i tries, three of which were cj-M.vertc-d Tries were scored by Price (S', Casey, Hargrave and Crotty.

JUNIOR G MR The l*a-:ur match between Citj 6A and Maritime 6A resul'etl in a. draw, five points each. For City Reed scored a try. which Green converted, and for Maritime Johnston scored and Neil kicked the £<->&!.

CADETS' PETITION'. Tin- 'P'h Company of Se:i'<v Cadets defeated the l"'h Company by 7 poults to 2, thereto ramie* the ohamjiaiiahip.