FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18210, 2 October 1922, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

ROOPE-ROOSTER FINAL. J PONSONBY DEFEAT ATHLETICS. *' \CLOSELY CONTESTED GAME. The fms.l match of the Roope Rooster knock-out competition under Lcacaa rules via played at Carlaw Park on Saturday. between Ponßonby and Athletics teams, the tonaw winuine a close and exciting conteat by IX points to 10. ■ The fixture is el ways a popular on*, it betas the League's charity match of the season, and a- large crowd attended to witness the came, .the vate receipt*]'totalling £159 13a. The name was a strenuous one throughout, thouch the play Jacked the %niah and team work seen in other contests earlier in the season. Both sides indulged in a great deal of kicking. but the Ponaonby backs got more of the ball from the scrum than tbeir opponent* end were seen more frequently in attack, particulariy in the second epeli. Athi«tica had the better o( the game in the first spoil but were outplayed by Poueoaby in the second half. The difference in the points just about indicatso the morita of tbtegaroe and Ponsonby woiiid have been uniucky to From the kick-off Athletics started a rush and, Ponnonby bera a penalised. Yardley had an uaaucceuerul ahot at goat. Ming returned, but Wissins. pickinc qp, made * tine dash and. p&s.Msi to .Nicholson, who scored at. the corner. Yardley failed with the kick at igoa}: Athlotica, 3; Ponaonby. 0 Alter some niidfieid play, WUuame, . for Ponsonby. made a nice dash and sent the ball, out in the Athletics' twenty-five. Good work by Nicholson drove r the invaders back. The Ponaonby backs began to throw the ball about, but faulty handling spoiled promising openings. Eventually Williams broke away and transferring to E- McGregor, the latter kicked high, and Yardley'e return was smothered. Strenuous work near the Athletics' line resulted in McClymont snap-, ping up the ball from » scrum and dims over the line. A. McGregor failed to convert: Athletics, 8; Ponaonby, 3. Fast give-and-take play followed, the attempts of the Ponsonby backs' to combine .in passing bouts beink well stopped by good t*cklin*. A good passing run by the Athl«*io»' backs looked dtongerous, but Lonergaa was well tackled by J>aigrosso, Then Nicholson sent the ball to Avery who made ground and sent on to Grey, who »eored. The same player added the goal points. Athletics, 8; Ponsonby. 3. A Ponsonby rush took play to the Athletics twenty-five, and McClymont sent the ball ont near the corner- A. McGregor market! a kick by Wisrgine and bad a truitleee shot at goal. Continuing to press. **» ronsonby forwards rushed the ball to the Athletic*, twenty-five but a counter-rush cleared. Hard play in midSeld followed, neither aide beinj able to send the backs away in attack. F«r a time there was much resultless kicking. A penalty acainet Athletics gave Ponsonby « chance at goal, but A. McGregor's kick went wide. An Athletics' rush washed Port'eonby territory, and a' passing run by the invading backs was spoilt by a bad transfer to Wiggins. Another passing; bout met a like fate, but Ponsonby "Were penalised and Gray juet failed to land a goal. Maintaining the pressure the Athletics' forwards reached the Ponaonby line but a' penalty drove them back. Play bung near the Ponsonby twetoty-five (till Williams broke away, a good kick sending the ball' into touch at the Athletics' twenty-five. The defenders were penalised and Delerosso had a shot at coal. The ball went across the front of the goal and MoNeal. dashing up, secured poeseaeion and dashed serosa. • McClymont converted, and the spell ended with the scores:

Athletics . . ...-'--.; •'• ? Ponsonby .. .. .. .. 8 The second spell opened with kicking exchanges, of which AthloticsJhad the advantage. A return by Williams was smothered, and the ball rebounded over the dead-ball line. After a period of forward play the Ponsonby backs broke away and E. MaGregor reached the Athletics fullback. Ho kicked and Grey recovered, but his,, return was smothered, the ball goins over the line, a force resulting. An Athletics rush was'' stoppe>d near the Ponsonby twenty-five. A penalty against Ponsonby gave Grey a shot, and he kicked a fine goal. Athletics, 10; Ponsonby, 8. The Ponsonby backs then, began to get the ball from the scrum, and a couple of combined effo'ts made ground foir the side. McClyr mout had a shot at goal, the ball going just outside the post. Tb« Ponsonby backs again got going, and Delgrosso got over at the corner, but his foot had gone into touch and a "scraia resulted. Hot work followed near the line, and McClymont, sending a long pass, out to Deigrosjso, the latter was iust stopped at the corner by Sutton. Some kicking followed, the ball reaching niidfieid. when the Ponsonby backs again moved in attack. Delgrosso again being stopped by good tackling. Then McCiymont. workina the blind side of the scrum, sent E. McGregor away for the line. The latter was well tackled, but passed in to McClymont, who scored. A. McGregor failed to convert. Ponsonby, 11; Athletics. 10. , . ,>. . Immediately after the kick out the Ponsonby forwards swept up-field with a rush A try seemed certain an three men dived for the ball, but Yardley forced. Hard play ensued in midfie'ii. the 'Athletics' backs indulging in a great/deal of kicking. Tb« Poniionby backs madu ground with a paasinß bout, the bail going into touch in the Athletics' twenty-five. The defenders were penalised and Delgrosso shot unsuccessfully at goal. The Ponsonby forwards oontinued to secure the ball in the scrums, and McClymont aent "the backs away several times, but good tackling held them up. Eventually Bing took a pass from McNeil and dodged through a bunch of opponents. He kicked, but the ball* went over the dead-ball line. An Athletics rush gained, ground, but a counter rush returned play to midfield. A long kick b,7 Grey found touch in the Ponsonby twenty-five. Ponsonby were penalised, and Grey had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Midfield play followed till a penalty to Ponsonby placed them in a position to attack. McClymont sent the ball but to the backs, but Grey intercepted a pass and broke away. A knock-on spoilt a good chance fo score. Ponsonby were penalised, and Yardley just failed with a shot at goal. The same ended shortly afterwards with the scores: Ponsonby J '. . .. .. 11 Athletics J. .. .... 10 JUNIOR GAMES." *. Second Grade. —Devonport, 13 points, defeated Manulrau, 6; Newton, 20. defeated City. 3. '^ Cadet Competition. — 22nd Company, 13 points, defeated 36th Company. 0, snd won the cadet championship. !

DEFEAT OF„AUCKLANDERfc.

WIN FOB WAIKATO TEAM. [BT '.nnjJGBAPH.—OWN COB&KSPONDENT.] HAMILTON. SMurdiay. The liMfrue match between Auckland and South Auckland was played at Steele Park this afternoon in the presence of about\BoQo There was » breeds 'hlowinW in favour of the team defending the northern goal, and Auckland had this in their favour m the first half.: While both teams were evenly matched some of the prominent players were miliums from each side. The game opened quietly, but once the playo b*c»mc warmed to their work they threr. the ball about with an abandon which. was delightful to watch. The spectators were frequently worked, up to a keen pitch ott enthusiasm. It wjmi certainly the best of several League games seen in Hamilton, and •should do much to popularise the code here. After 26 ■ minutes' play Auckland scored the first try. B. Davidson intercepted a home. passing movement, and ran in from nearly half-way. Poison sealed. - As the outcome of a collision between. Guthrie jind Harrison, when the former was dashing toward the'visitors' line, the ba.ll waa dropped fobs* at Auckland's northeastern twenty-five, and Hemingway p(oked up to run round behind the posts practically unopposed. The scorer kiojwe! the goal, /'< ,' ■■ ... ".- South Auckland got a nice try .in thd next few minutes, Hail, the halfbaokV picking - up cleverly and sending out to Paki. who-"raced between the posta. Hall convertedPlay continued of a fast nature- Neiwr naif-time Bishop picked up and dived over,' and (Hemingway goaled; the spell ending:' South Auckland. 15; Auckland. 6. Auckland were aggressive ott resuming, and G. Davidson dashed over at the earner nfter all the backs had handled in a fine effort. In which Brown put in a prominent run. The shot failed. . W was then South Auckland's turn, but riot before the* had stalled off several hot challenges. Wilson, gathering from the loose at the vigitovs' twenty-five, made a strong run. lasting long enough -to. get the ball down between the posts. Hall added the extra points, 'v.. „'» Auckland were now 12 points down, and shortSy the margin went to 17, when Jackson eluded several players cleverly and scored for the home team. Hemingway jteittcd. Smprt work by Poison, who was playing a fin* ffs.me for the visitors, enabled him to n't™ NoUon in a scoring position, arid 'W".'herall converted.: Then n cr"iit solo dash by Brc-wn diigonally ■ acr<"?.» ff*m the western twenty-five lp the. north -r?'}.- rn corner saw tho visitors' rentre out"'"" all opposition and register a fire try. vWij was not converted. Play contiruM to be of a fas}, nature, and just' oti, Mime. H"'l. Wilson and Guthrie were seen ir. »..short-/lash, which gave the latter a try in the corn-r- Mot 1 South 'Auckland. The wmetle mounded with the final score: South Auckland. 26;, Auckland, It. -